Continuing the discussion from Is the US EV market dead?:
By class. Small. Luxury. Truck. Whatever class strikes your interest.
I’m looking at small. Personally want less controls requiring screens use.
I want a Rivian R2.
I mentioned this in the prior thread, and am absolutely biased (!) but I love my 2025 Prius PHEV (formerly Prime). I have the most basic model, the LE, with little trim, and it was just under $35k new in August. It’s not super small - it looks smaller than it’s footprint indicates, but I consistently get around 45-55 miles in all Electric, and 50-55 mpg in gas mode. It’s designed to use level 1 charging (can support slower level 2 though) and figure it get’s about 9% of it’s total electric range back an hour on level 1.
The screen controls Toyota’s navigation and entertainment suite, but I don’t recommend using it - it’s a pay service after the initial year and not worth it, and clunkier than a lot of options. Instead use Android auto (me) or the Apple equivalent and you should be fine.
Minor complaints, so I do a better job of fairness. One, the connectivity seems to be worse than some other vehicles, I probably get a burp and drop off Android auto once a week, which normally comes back within a minute, but about once a month I have to touch the screen and turn off my “connected device” and then turn it back on for the system to remember.
Secondly, the screen on the base model is smaller than on some similarly priced models, where they’re trying to sell you the upscale models with the 12.3 inch screen. Not as much an issue for you at a guess, but if you need a bigger screen for navigation, it’s a non-zero issue.
My wife’s 2024 Rav4 Prime (also PHEV) is a very reasonable sized SUV, and I’d recommend it more for people who don’t want to sling themselves down low to get into a Prius. But it’s very popular, and more spendy, and while not large for an SUV these days, it’s not compact either.
[ don’t currently have a BEV, but we were strongly considering the Ioniq as our preference ]
PHEVs and EREVs are a fair category to include!
Also in that thread I have, and like, the ‘24 model, then called the Prius Prime. Generally have only filled it up on road trips. As a daily commuter no need.
Lucid is my fantasy car but I’d never spend t hr at kind of money on a car.
When it was first announced I thought the Chevy Equinox was a nice-looking, affordable, and practical EV with decent range. I haven’t been tracking it closely as I’m not currently in the market for a new car but definitely worth a look.
I like the idea of getting a RAV4 Prime, though I’m not sure I can justify the additional expense, over the conventional RAV4. (And I’m also thinking about a Subaru Forester, though it’s not available as a PHEV.)
People really like the Ioniq. It’s larger than what i was looking for, but i gather it’s a really nice car to drive.
The new Slate vehicles are about the same footprint as my Subaru Impreza hatchback, slightly bigger body, although about 10” taller. Base model is a 2-door pickup, you can configure it with a cover on the back, or as an SUV with slanted back and with or without a back seat (if I get one, it will be the slanted back and no back seat). Way fewer electronics, no screen at all, not even electric windows, but there’s lots of stuff you can add to get close to what you want. The first ones are supposed to be available before the end of the year, in order of when you reserved yours ($50 refundable deposit). Also, apparently a lot of room in the front seat for getting in and out, one of my requirements due to the arthritis in my hip. I have mixed feelings, I’d really like to see it and try it out.
Well, granted, when we bought it we got $7.5k in dealer “lease” incentives for EVs as a weasel around the Fed tax incentives, plus another $4k in Colorado state EV incentives. My Prius got $4.5k in lease incentives and nearly $7k in state incentives (more state because it was just under the $35k threshold for “cheap” EVs).
Without the incentives, yes, it’s hard to push the Rav4 because they’re mostly selling above MSRP due to the comparative scarcity - high demand for them, and Toyota’s keeping supply moderate to prevent fludding the market per the dealer. But I’m mostly keeping to the OP’s request for smaller options on a vehicle.
Ooh, that’s really cool i wonder if it will make it to market.
The problem with the Slate vehicles is whether you want to spend the money on something from a relatively new startup. I would be afraid of the company failing and leaving me without anyone to support it. The same issue is there for other new companies, like Rivian, though they at least have the contract to build Amazon delivery vans to perhaps keep them going.
The market for Slate is at an intersection of those willing to take a big risk and those looking for a low-cost EV. Not sure how much overlap there is in that market. It may be an innovative idea, and even a spectacularly good idea, but I sure as hell wouldn’t be wanting to hold shares in that company.
Wasn’t their slated (snerk) base price point at just under $20k with the $7.5k incentives if it had continued? If that means the new “base” price is $27k+, then I suspect a lot fewer people are going to want to roll the dice.
As I was typing this, I decided to try and look it up:
So, yes, reported now as likely being in the mid $20k range, even after apparently trying to work with their suppliers to keep the costs down. Per the article a Slate reply in the video comments reads:
TLDR; we’re on track for a blank Slate price in the mid-twenties in late June.
IMHO, since that’s the most basic, minimal feature (not none though), screenless option, it means a model with slightly more features is going to be $28-30k, which means it’ll be competing with small pickups like the Maverick. I don’t think that’s a good place to be considering it’s an untested model likely needing to work out some kinks, but I’d like to be wrong.
We are starting to shop for a true EV to replace our diesel (we also have a Yaris hybrid) and expect to make a purchase within the next year maximum.
We’re looking at the sporty/midsize category — two kids, enough space for luggage on road trips, but not a full-size SUV or van, because European carparks often have narrow entrances and vehicle spaces which are prohibitive for larger cars. A couple of months ago, I lightly scraped the side of the Qashqai going up the spiral ramp of a train station garage.
One of our neighbors has an Ioniq 5, and I like how it feels, so I’ll be interested in checking out Hyundai’s other models; they do tend to be a little on the spendy side, though. My wife is leaning toward the Peugeot E-3008, not because she’s ever been in one, but because she likes the “vibe” of having a French car in Europe. 
Based on our experience with the Yaris hybrid, I probably wouldn’t get another Toyota; it’s fine but it feels like the company is doing the bare minimum to get a foothold in the category. My kids are begging us to get a BYD because they like the modernist interior, but I just want to drive a car, not fly a spaceship. Also, the BYDs are pretty expensive here (terrific range and charging speed, though).
Also, for reference, the Ars reviewer likes the Nissan Leaf in the “smaller budget EV” category. This isn’t big enough for our family needs, but I’m adding it to the thread for others’ reference. I’m a little leery of Nissan in the long run, given their company’s well-publicized instability (which is also motivating our replacement of the Qashqai — our dealership occasionally is delayed getting parts during maintenance visits), but I may just be conservative and risk-averse.
I’ll be following the discussion and others’ comments with interest.
What prompted my starting this thread was that our ‘19 Leaf was T boned and we replaced it with a ‘26. Our specific vehicle was a lemon and Nissan is actually refunding us.
The model itself was fine and I’d have it in any mix if it worked. Infotainment screen was a physical reach for us. Heated steering wheel only in top trim. Used to be in mid trim.
Mid trim package though is a good value - assuming it works! Time for us to change brands.