At this point, anyone following the EV industry is well aware that a lot of Tesla owners are bailing out. They’re upset about Elon Musk‘s politics and voting with their wallets (if they can) by selling their cars and choosing another brand. Some people are skipping over Tesla entirely, as evidenced by falling sales in key markets. In April 2025, the company’s European sales were down 49% year-over-year, despite the fact that the region’s overall battery EV sales were up 34.1%, as CNBC reports.

If you’re looking to avoid Tesla, the variety of options out there can be a little intimidating at first. The good news is that the EV industry is advancing rapidly, so there are plenty of worthwhile models to choose from — this list just has some of the biggest contenders. In a few years, Tesla could become an also-ran in the industry it helped kickstart.

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1

Chevrolet Equinox EV

Range for the dollar

Chevrolet

I’ve never been a huge fan of Chevy vehicles. I don’t like most trucks and (full-size) SUVs, and the only rental car worse more disappointing than the Spark I drove was a Chrysler PT Cruiser. It’s hard to ignore the value proposition of the Equinox EV, however — for $33,600 before fees, you get an SUV with 319 miles (513 kilometers) of range. That’s surprisingly close to Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y while costing thousands of dollars less. You also get an Android-based 17.7-inch touchscreen interface with preloaded apps like Spotify and Google Maps, plus access to more software via the Play Store.

Indeed, there aren’t any serious drawbacks to the Equinox unless you insist on using CarPlay or Android Auto, both of which are unsupported. You may also need to spend extra if you live somewhere with freezing winters — in the base trim, there isn’t any heating for the steering wheel or front seats.

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2

Rivian R1T

The best electric pickup

Rivian

Many of the people switching away from Tesla have opted for a Rivian, which makes sense, particularly if they bought (or were considering) a Cybertruck. The R1T is arguably the best electric pickup truck on the market, with ample passenger and cargo space, including a unique “gear tunnel” if you need more than the flatbed can provide. It’s loaded with Tesla-style tech features too, including a 15.6-inch touchscreen interface built off Android. Upgrade options include larger batteries and tri- or even quad-motor configurations, the latter of which provides 1,025 horsepower and 1,198 pound-feet of torque. With the right trim, the truck can carry 1,764 pounds, or tow 11,000 — just be aware that the heavier you go, the lower your range will be.

There are a few other drawbacks to the truck. First, while the cheapest trim (Adventure) is probably the best for most people, even that costs $71,700 while only providing 258 miles (415 kilometers) of range. You’ll have to choose a $7,000 battery upgrade to get to 330 miles (531 kilometers), or an even more expensive pack to reach 420 miles (676 kilometers). A fully-equipped Quad-Motor Premium R1T is going to set you back $111,700, at which point you should be considering whether it’s really worth dipping into your child’s college education.

Some people will also resent the absence of CarPlay or Android Auto, though Rivian’s software may be good enough to compensate. Don’t feel too pressured into signing up for a Connect+ subscription — this primarily adds cellular internet with an integrated hotspot. You can tether to your phone if you’ve got enough data on your plan.

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3

Hyundai Ioniq 6

Excellent range if you’re willing to pay

Hyundai

I’m on record for disliking sedans. If that’s your bag, though, the Ioniq 6 is worth considering, specifically its SE Long Range trim. That can reach up to 342 miles (550 kilometers), which compares very well with the 363 miles (584 kilometers) of the longest-range Model 3, at a slightly lower $43,995 price tag (before any tax incentives). It’s generally well-equipped on the tech level, too — for instance, supporting both CarPlay and Android Auto — so no ego on Hyundai’s part here. If you want to save money, you can get the $39,045 SE Standard Range, although you’ll be sacrificing both range and horsepower.

There’s actually not too much else to say about the Ioniq 6. That’s a good thing, since it does what you’d expect — it’s quiet, drives well, and includes all the driver-assist features you could want short of true self-driving. The only things I’d call out are that, as a sedan, there’s not much cargo space, and even its rear seats don’t have much headroom.

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4

Kia EV9

For large families

Electrify America

The Tesla Model X was a big deal when it first arrived, being the only three-row electric SUV at the time. Since then, however, options have expanded, and it’s hard to top the Kia EV9 if you want to be efficient. The main attraction is the price — $56,535 gets you a 230-mile (370-kilometer) trim, and if you upgrade to Light Long Range ($61,395), you’ll get 304 miles (489 kilometers). Those ranges do fall below the Model X, but even the cheapest X configuration starts at $86,630. I’d rather save $20,000 if all I need to do is haul family and groceries around town.

Otherwise, the story is much the same as the Ioniq 6, in the sense that it’s spectacularly unspectacular — it does everything you’d hope for without much fuss. It’s a comfortable vehicle with plenty of cargo space. You can opt between six- and seven-seat configurations, the difference being whether the middle row has a bench or two captain’s chairs.

Each row has two fast-charging USB ports. And yes, drivers do get support for CarPlay or Android Auto, which project on a 12.3-inch touchscreen.

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