What’s New With Electric Vehicles for 2021?


Automakers have promised for years that they would soon unleash a flood of battery-electric vehicles. That’s happening now, though it’s still a steady flow more than a gush of new models. EVs are moving from novelty status to mainstream in the 2021 model year as more manufacturers jump into territory that has been dominated by Tesla, and they include the types of vehicles that Americans crave: SUVs and pickup trucks. Rest assured that more are on the way.
Related: Should I Buy an Electric Car or Plug-In Hybrid?
Here are the new EVs on sale for the 2021 model year and some that are scheduled to debut during the year as 2022 models:
BMW i4

Based on the 3 Series sedan, the i4 is due later in 2021 and was unveiled as a concept. BMW says the production version will have a range of around 270 miles, more than 500 horsepower and a 0-60-mph time of 4.0 seconds.
Another coming attraction from BMW, as a 2022 model: the iX compact SUV, also with a range of more than 300 miles and around 500 hp.
Ford Mustang Mach-E

Ford has taken its iconic sports coupe in a direction few even imagined just a few years ago. The all-electric Mach-E is a small SUV available with rear- or all-wheel drive and in versions with 266, 290, 346 or 480 hp and driving ranges from 210 to 300 miles.
For 2022, Ford plans to give another iconic model, the F-150 pickup, full electric power.
GMC Hummer EV

Due in late 2021, the Hummer EV will take pickup capabilities — and prices — to the extreme. Horsepower ratings will run from 625 to 1,000, depending on model, and the driving range for the initial model, the Edition 1, will top out at about 350 miles. Available features will include four-wheel steering and Crab Walk, which will allow the truck to move diagonally at low speed. The Edition 1 will start at $112,595 (including destination). Cheaper models will arrive over the following three years, but GMC says the bottom rung will be $79,995.
Mercedes-Benz EQC400

This compact SUV was supposed to arrive as a 2020 model but was pushed back to the 2021 model year. Mercedes says it will have dual electric motors, 402 hp, all-wheel drive and a 0-60 time of 4.8 seconds. The automaker still hasn’t said what the driving range will be as of this writing, and the EQC has not yet received a mileage rating from the EPA.
Nissan Ariya

Due to arrive near the end of this year as a 2022 model, the Ariya is a compact SUV about the size of the Rogue that will be available with front- or all-wheel drive. Front-drive models will have a single electric motor and a 65-kilowatt-hour battery, and the AWD models will have two motors and a 90-kwh battery with a range of up to 300 miles.
Nissan says the front-drive Ariya will have a starting price around $40,000 before federal tax incentives.
Polestar 2

Polestar is Volvo’s performance electric brand, and the Polestar 2 is its first fully electric model. It was preceded by the 2020 Polestar 1 coupe, a plug-in hybrid. This luxury sedan has all-wheel drive, 408 system hp, a driving range of 233 miles and a starting price of $61,200 (including destination).
Rivian R1T and R1S

Rivian is an EV startup based in the Detroit area that says it will launch an electric pickup, the R1T, in June with a range of more than 300 miles and a starting price of $67,500. An SUV called the R1S is set to follow in August.
The crew-cab body style of the R1T fits between full-size and midsize pickups. Features will include four electric motors, all-wheel drive and an air suspension. Rivian says it will add a 400-mile range version in January 2022 (the EPA has not certified the range of either Rivian vehicle).
The R1S will have seats for seven, up to 108 cubic feet of cargo space and a range of more than 300 miles. Prices will start at $70,000 at launch.
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Tesla Cybertruck

Leave it to Elon Musk to up the ante on electric pickups. The stainless steel Cybertruck looks like a prop from “Blade Runner,” and Tesla claims the most powerful version will hit 60 mph in 2.9 seconds. As with everything Musk does, however, the Cybertruck’s specs and arrival are fluid: The original schedule called for the pickup to be on sale by the end of 2021, but that now might only be when production starts.
Tesla says there will be single-, two- and three-motor models, and the driving range will be between 250 and 500 miles. Payload capacity will top out at 3,500 pounds and towing capacity at 14,000 pounds.
Volkswagen ID.4

The ID.4 is a rear-drive small SUV with seats for five and conventional styling that gives few clues that it’s an EV. It’s powered by a 201-hp electric motor and has a range of 250 miles. Prices start at $41,190 with destination. A 302-hp version with all-wheel drive is coming, though VW hasn’t said what the range will be.
Volvo XC40 Recharge

Volvo is moving to a totally electrified lineup, and the XC40 Recharge is the brand’s first fully electric model (others will follow under the Recharge label). The XC40 EV is a compact SUV (derived from the gas-powered XC40) with a 402-hp motor, all-wheel drive and a driving range of 208 miles. Base price is $55,085.
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