Four EVs that take on the Tesla Model Y |

The Tesla Model Y is a sales beast. Overtaking almost every non-truck vehicle - gas and electric combined – except for the ever-popular Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V, the Model Y continued its streak in 2024 as one of the industry's top sellers. As far as compact SUVs go, it's been a winner for Elon Musk's EV company.

While the Model Y and the Model 3 sold fewer units in 2024 than in 2023, when they enjoyed a sales boom (1.7 million and 1.739 million units, respectively, globally), the Model Y's pricing also dropped significantly by $6,000.

For those in the market for something similar without the Tesla nameplate, there are a handful of comparable EVs. Here are four options with a price tag and performance capability on par with the best-seller.

Best Tesla Model Y alternatives to kick off 2025

The Model Y is Tesla's "budget-friendly" SUV, at least compared to its $80,000 Model X. Its top trim, the Performance All-Wheel Drive, starts at $51,490. But even at its base, the Y offers families a safe, spacious, all-electric SUV.

While the Model Y has a growing list of competitors, only a handful of similarly sized compact SUVs really compete at the price point and range. More affordable options like the Nissan Ariya or Volkswagen ID. 4 don't even break 300 miles of range. Premium EV options like the Cadillac Lyriq and the new Polestar 4 are more comparable to the Performance Model Y but aren't as competitive as a family SUV overall.

Tesla Model Y specs for reference:

Price: $44,990 starting
Range: Up to 337 miles
Horsepower & Torque: 295 hp and 375 pound-feet
Battery Size: 75 kWh
Battery Efficiency: Up to 125 MPGe

Pros:

Tesla Supercharger network available combined with an impressive 300+ mile range
Third-row option for families
Qualifies for $7,500 federal tax credit (at least until Jan. 20)

Cons:

Sparse Tesla interior that can feel stiff and bare while overly reliant on the center touchscreen
Autopilot and "Full Self-Driving" features have glaring problems
No Apple CarPlay or Android Auto - you have to go all in with the Tesla ecosystem

1. 2025 Kia EV6

The Kia EV6 continues to chug along as a subtly top-performing electric SUV. In early January, Kia announced a new sales record for the EV6 in 2024 in the U.S., reaching 21,715 units sold compared to 18,879 in 2023.

For 2025, there's a new front-end with a bigger 63 kWh battery pack in the base model, which means more range and power, especially for the 650 hp GT trim.

Price: $44,000 (estimated)
Range: Up to 361 miles
Horsepower & Torque: 330 hp (AWD) and 258 pound-feet
Battery Size: 63 and 85 kWh
Battery Efficiency: Up to 117 MPGe

Pros:

Impressive range with fast charging
Updated exterior and battery size for 2025
Improved tech features, including a 12.3-inch front touchscreen

Cons:

Powerful GT version drains range
Doesn't qualify for federal tax credit if buying 2025 (but will qualify for 2026 MY)
About the same cost as the Tesla Model Y, so it's not a secret bargain

2. 2025 Ford Mustang Mach-E

Ford's foray into EVs that aren't trucks (see the F-150 Lightning) is still going strong with the SUV version of its Mustang muscle car. The Mach-E set sales records in 2024 with a 27% increase in sales from 2023. After a turbulent few years on the supply side, the Mach-E is available in Select, Premium, GT, and Rally with options for rear- or all-wheel drive. The extended-range battery pack is 91 kWh, while the standard is 72 kWh.

Price: $36,495 to start
Range: Up to 320 miles
Horsepower & Torque: 264 to 480 hp and 387 to 700 lb-ft
Battery Size: 72 and 91 kWh
Battery Efficiency: Up to 98 MPGe

Pros:

Autonomous driving system, BlueCruise, proficient at highway driving with automatic lane changes
Super fast for the GT and Rally trims. Even more torque with the Performance package for 3.3 seconds to 60 mph.
Under $40,000 for base

Cons:

Standard battery is the smaller 72 kWh option with less range
Price reaches up to over $58,000

3. 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV

The cousin to Kia's EV6, the Hyundai Ioniq 5, is also crushing it as a compact SUV. Hyundai announced a new U.S. sales record for 2024 early this month and credited EV demand for the increase. The Ioniq 5 is one of the most popular EVs in the U.S., with 2024 sales up 31% from 2023.

The Ioniq 5 lineup now includes the performance heavy-hitter N, but with great performance comes decreased battery efficiency. For the rest of us, there's SE Standard Range, SE, SEL, XRT, and Limited, with 2025 seeing the end of the N-Line top trim.

Price: $42,500 starting
Range: Up to 318 miles
Horsepower & Torque: 168 to 320 hp (601 ponies for the N) and 258 to 446 lb-ft (545 lb-ft for the N)
Battery Size: 63 and 85 kWh
Battery Efficiency: Up to 110 MPGe

Pros:

Bigger batteries for 2025 (standard version is up from 58 kWh to 63 kWh)
New XRT trim focused on tougher terrain
Some mild refreshes throughout the exterior (rear wiper!) and front seat

Cons:

Ineligible for full tax credit amount, but because it's produced in Georgia, only the partial amount is available
Range deteriorates with XRT and AWD versions

Final thoughts

The Tesla Model Y is a best-seller for a reason. It has the range, space, and safety features for a family car while offering the best of an EV driving experience with instant torque and power with a silent ride.

If you want out of the Tesla bubble, or don't enjoy the minimalist aesthetics, the compact SUV segment has plenty of choices, many of which are noticeably more affordable. But Tesla reigns supreme when it comes to battery efficiency and range, so it might be worth it to just accept why the Model Y is so popular.

Sasha Lekach

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Aaron Moody is a sports and general reporter for the News & Observer. Here is a second sentence for the bio because it will probably be longer than this. Maybe even longer I don't know. Support my work with a digital subscription

This story was originally published January 4, 2025 at 3:26 PM