I’ve noticed that electric models from brands like BMW, Audi, and Porsche always look better than their gas-powered counterparts. Take the Audi Q8, for example—it’s a beautiful car, but the e-tron version just looks even better in terms of design and interior. Same with the Panamera vs. Taycan or the 7 series.
Is it because electric motors allow for better design flexibility, or do they have different design teams? I have no idea but would love to hear thoughts on why this seems to be the case!
One reason is that EVs give designers way more freedom. Without the need for a huge engine, transmission, or air intakes, they can experiment more with the design—sometimes for better, sometimes for worse.
@Imani
Exactly. There are also safety regulations, especially in Europe, that affect how the front of ICE cars can be designed to protect pedestrians, which limits what designers can do. EVs don’t have those constraints as much.
@Imani
Totally agree. I hope that in the future EVs will move even further away from traditional combustion car designs. Some of the design choices still feel stuck in the ICE (internal combustion engine) mindset, even though they don’t need to be anymore.
@zendaya
I think Hyundai is already doing that with the Ioniq 5 and 6. They didn’t bother adding a fake grill and just went with a smoother design. I also love how open the interior of the 5 is—it has a flat floor without the fake drive shaft tunnel.
@chozen
I drive the AWD version of the Ioniq 5 at work. It’s quick and handles great! The design feels so fresh—like it was designed from scratch without trying to mimic an ICE car. Skidding around in the snow is a blast too.
@Imani
But then you get GM’s early electric cars which were, well, not great looking. And what’s up with Mercedes and those oversized grills? The Silverado EV, though—that looks pretty nice.
Aerodynamics play a huge role in EV design. The more efficient the aerodynamics, the less battery material they need to carry, which helps reduce costs. Smaller fronts also help with that since they don’t have to house a bulky engine.
I think it’s a mix of things. The switch to electric gives car makers ‘permission’ to try something different, like with the Mustang Mach-E. It still has the ‘soul’ of a Mustang but looks more futuristic.
Also, EVs tend to target younger buyers who grew up dreaming about futuristic tech. Then, you’ve got companies like Tesla and Rivian who didn’t have any existing models to base their designs on, so they started with a blank slate.
I don’t totally agree with this. For example, the iX from BMW looks awful to me. While some EVs like the Taycan and Ioniq 5 stand out, I think many EVs sacrifice aesthetics for aerodynamics, which is why a lot of them start looking the same. That being said, efficiency is improving, and we’re seeing more variety now.
@Peggy
It probably depends on what you like: the sleek aerodynamic look or the boxy SUV style? EVs are forced to focus on aerodynamics, which gives them that streamlined look, whereas traditional SUVs can get away with being bulky and more ‘boxy’.
@Michael
Good point. If you look at a typical school parking lot, most of the gas-powered SUVs—like the CR-V, Escape, or Tucson—all look pretty similar. I do wish they’d make an electric Corvette! That would be the ultimate mid-life crisis car for me.
@Peggy
I actually think the Bolt EUV looks better than some of Chevy’s other compact models. I also love the EV6’s design. It’s got a unique look without trying to mimic other cars.
Mark said: @Peggy
I actually think the Bolt EUV looks better than some of Chevy’s other compact models. I also love the EV6’s design. It’s got a unique look without trying to mimic other cars.
My wife pointed out an EV6 the other day and said she liked it, which is rare because she’s not into cars. I also don’t mind the iX, except for the front grill. It’s hard to say no to some of these EVs, but sometimes practicality wins for me.
@Peggy
I just bought a used Bolt EUV about a month ago. It’s my first EV, and I’m really enjoying it. The iX is tempting, but the price tag is a little too much for me right now.
Mark said: @Peggy
I just bought a used Bolt EUV about a month ago. It’s my first EV, and I’m really enjoying it. The iX is tempting, but the price tag is a little too much for me right now.
Same here! I love my Bolt EUV. It’s fully loaded and honestly the nicest car I’ve ever owned. The iX is cool, but I’d feel guilty spending that much money when I could be putting it to better use elsewhere.
Not all EVs look better though. The Merc EQS and the BMW iX are ugly to me. The only EVs I think look great are the Audi e-tron GT and the Xpeng G6, especially in black!