@Amelia
I had a 2017 Chevy Bolt, my first American car in years. Great car, but the lease buyout was too high.
My wife and I have been Ford fans for a long time, so when we went electric, we stuck with Ford—she got the Mach-E, and I got the Lightning. A big reason was our local Ford dealer, which has treated us well for years. Plus, the Ford EVs still feel like Fords, just electric versions of the cars we’re used to.
Before going electric, my wife drove Mustangs, and I drove Ford SUVs (loved my Flex from 2011-2023). I used to drive Subarus in the '90s and early 2000s, and my favorite car back then was my Subaru WRX, which I held onto for a long time.
I eventually sold my WRX to focus on woodworking, and I needed a pickup truck for hauling lumber and tools. I was leaning toward an F-150 or Ranger, but the Lightning had the right bed size and promised lower operating costs than its gas counterpart. It’s now my all-time favorite vehicle.
The Lightning is perfect for daily driving, and while charging infrastructure could be better, I just got the NACS adapter and hope access to Tesla chargers will help.
My wife loves the Lightning so much that she traded her Mustang for a Mach-E GTPE, which she says is her favorite car ever. I considered the Toyota bZ4X and Subaru Solterra, but they didn’t compare to the Mach-E, and Ford’s 0% financing sealed the deal.
@izael
I’m thinking about getting a Mach-E once my Leaf’s warranty expires, hopefully used prices will drop by then.
Don’t overlook the Hyundai Ioniq 5 or Kia EV6. They’ve gotten great reviews for a reason. I’d also recommend looking at vehicles with Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capability, which lets you power your home during blackouts.
@Nathan
Agree, plus the Kia/Hyundai platform has 800v batteries, so charging is fast. I’ve seen Fords start at 180kW but drop quickly to around 75-100kW.
kwame said:
@Nathan
Agree, plus the Kia/Hyundai platform has 800v batteries, so charging is fast. I’ve seen Fords start at 180kW but drop quickly to around 75-100kW.
My EV6 has been great, and dealerships near me are practically giving away the 2024 models at $15k below MSRP! My insurance even dropped by $500 after switching from my older car. The buying experience was so good I’m still waiting for the catch!
kwame said:
@Nathan
Agree, plus the Kia/Hyundai platform has 800v batteries, so charging is fast. I’ve seen Fords start at 180kW but drop quickly to around 75-100kW.
Ford EVs have a strange charging curve. They charge at a high rate for 5-10 minutes, then drop down to about 1C until 80%. So, for example, a Lightning with a 131kWh battery might start at 175kW but drop to around 120kW. Ford EVs seem better for frequent short charges rather than long stops.
@Nathan
Absolutely agree about the V2L feature. It’s a game changer during blackouts and could convince more people to go electric.
olivia said:
@Nathan
Absolutely agree about the V2L feature. It’s a game changer during blackouts and could convince more people to go electric.
Which cars have V2L? I know the Lightning does, but what else?
@Howard
All Hyundai e-GMP cars (Ioniq 5, EV6, etc.) have V2L with an adapter.
@Howard
The EV6 has it.
Robert said:
@Howard
The EV6 has it.
Yep, the whole EV* series has it.
@Howard
Here’s a quick list of cars with V2L or similar capabilities: Ford F-150 Lightning, Genesis GV60, Hyundai Ioniq 5/6, Kia EV6/Niro, and more.
@Nathan
The VW ID.4 has been great too. They’ve done a lot to improve the software on the 2024 model.
I’ve never been loyal to a specific brand. It’s not like brands have been loyal to me.
diallo said:
I’ve never been loyal to a specific brand. It’s not like brands have been loyal to me.
You get what you give. Some brands do recognize customer loyalty, though not many.
No real brand preference here. I just go with what fits my needs and budget at the time.
The EV shift has allowed brands to reinvent themselves. Hyundai/Kia used to be considered boring, but now they’re making some of the most desirable cars out there. GM is also doing interesting things in the EV space. On the flip side, Japanese brands like Toyota and Subaru seem to be dragging their feet, and their offerings have been underwhelming.
@martin
That’s what I’ve noticed too. People used to get so attached to brands, but now, with EVs, everyone seems more open-minded.
unknown said:
I choose brands that don’t tick me off. Ford lost me when they raised the Mach-E price to match the federal EV rebate.
I bought a Mach-E because Ford dropped the price earlier this year. We’ve been enjoying it.