Top 8 Most Energy Efficient Electric Vehicles of 2023
Driving range isn't the only important efficiency metric for EVs, how much energy the car uses is also a telling factor. Here are the most efficient EVs on the market today.
2023 Tesla Model S - 120 MPGe
While it would make a lot more sense to measure the efficiency of an electric-powered system using kWh, MPGe has been explicitly created for electric vehicles to give consumers an idea of the car's miles-per-gallon equivalent in energy usage. It's not a straightforward formula like MPG, but it helps us understand which electric cars use electricity most efficiently.
When we get into the 100+ MPGe range, we're talking about the upper echelon of EV efficiency. And the 2023 Tesla Model S falls into that category, with 124 MPGe in the city and 115 on the freeway. But the sedan isn't the only Tesla on this elite list.
2023 Hyundai Kona Electric - 120 MPGe
Matching the combined energy efficiency of the Model S, the Hyundai Kona Electric is a great choice for those looking for a practical and relatively affordable entry into the EV world. It has an EPA-estimated 134 / 106 MPGe for city and highway.
2023 Chevy Bolt EV - 120 MPGe
Topping our list of most affordable EVs on the market, the Chevrolet Bolt EV also has a combined estimated efficiency of 120 MPGe. That is 131 / 109 for city and highway. With a decent driving range of 259 miles, EVs don't come economical and practical than this little Chevy.
2023 Lucid Air with 20-inch and 21-inch Wheels - 121 MPGe
From one end of the spectrum to the other. The Lucid Air has a prominent presence on this list. Amazingly, the wheel design you select for your Air will largely affect the car's efficiency. Any Lucid Air trim on the 20 and 21-inch wheels achieves a healthy 121 MPGe combined. But that's not the best the company has to offer in terms of efficiency.
The trims included in this rating:
Touring AWD with 21-inch wheels
Touring AWD with 20-inch wheels
Pure AWD with 20-inch wheels
G Touring XR AWD with 21-inch wheels
G Touring XR AWD with 20-inch wheels
2023 Tesla Model Y - 123 MPGe
The second of three Teslas on the list, the base trim Model Y AWD has an EPA-estimated efficiency of 129 / 116 MPGe for the city and freeway respectively, for a combined estimate of 123 MPGe. Option for the Long Range variant brings those numbers down slightly to 127 / 117 for a combined 122 MPGe.
2023 Tesla Model 3 - 132 MPGe
And rounding off the Tesla presence on this high-efficiency top eight is the Model 3. The maximum energy efficiency capability of the Model 3 is 132 MPGe combined (138/126). But selecting the Long Range battery and AWD decreases that efficiency by a tiny bit, down to 131 MPGe combined (134/126).
The Model 3 was the standard in this department for a long time. But it has since been dethroned by a pair of worthy challengers.
2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 - 140 MPGe
There's a tie for first place on the list, with the Hyundai Ioniq 6 taking the co-champion title. The newest addition to the Korean manufacturer's lineup of highly efficient electric and hybrid-powered vehicles is this striking EV. The design might not be everyone's cup of tea. But the 140 MPGe efficiency is undeniably impressive. And with a maximum driving range of an estimated 361 miles, it's also a top contender in that category.
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2023 Lucid Air Touring AWD and Pure AWD with 19-Inch Wheels - 140 MPGe
The other car with 140 MPGe in 2023 is another variant of the Lucid Air. Equipped with the 19-inch wheels, the Touring and Pure trims of the Air can achieve 141 MPGe in the city and 140 on the highway. With the same wheels, the G Touring XR trim has an EPA-estimated efficiency of 131 MPGe (130/132), which puts it neck and neck with the Long Range Tesla Model 3.
