What’s great for early adopters is that automakers are using advanced electric models as a testing ground for new and interesting designs and capabilities.
The Tesla Model Y.
Tim Levin/Insider
I’ve driven over a dozen electric cars from Ford, Tesla, Porsche, and others and experienced many cool features, but a handful stand out.
The Porsche Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo 2021.
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California upstart Rivian wants to become the Tesla of rugged pickup trucks and SUVs.
The Rivian R1T.
Tim Levin/Insider
The vehicles are packed with interesting features, but the coolest part of the R1T truck has to be the gear tunnel.
The Rivian R1T.
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It’s a bonus, a unique storage space that runs between the rear seat and the bed of the R1T.
The Rivian R1T from 2022.
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Simply point the seven-seat SUV at a deep creek, steep slope or mass of boulders and hit the accelerator. Its four powerful engines, adjustable air suspension and advanced four-wheel drive do the rest.
The Rivian R1S.
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Tesla rejects almost all conventional buttons and meters in favor of a sleek and uncluttered appearance.
The Tesla Model Y.
Tim Levin/Insider
And tech geeks will get a kick out of the big, snappy touchscreen that controls the vehicle’s basic settings and receives software updates.
The Tesla Model Y.
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Fun built-in features like a racing game (which uses the actual steering wheel), drawing pad, and Netflix mean you’ll never get bored while charging.
The Tesla Model Y from 2022.
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Kia’s spaceship-esque EV6 has a trick up its sleeve in the form of bi-directional charging.
The 2022 Kia EV6 GT Line.
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The smart feature involves using an adapter that plugs into the charging port.
The Kia EV6 from 2022.
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But the best thing about riding the Ioniq 5 is how cool you feel.
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 from 2022.
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Its retrofuturistic styling — complete with origami-esque corners and lights made up of dozens of tiny pixels — sets it apart from ordinary blob-shaped SUVs.
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 from 2022.
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It can charge at a peak rate of 270 kilowatts, faster than most electric cars, meaning 5% to 80% can be done in just 22.5 minutes.
The 2022 Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo Turbo S.
Tim Levin/Insider
That’s a game-changer for long car journeys with multiple charging stops.
The Porsche Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo 2021.
Tim Levin/Insider
The thought of going without plain buttons may repel some buyers. But the sporty sedan’s Google-powered infotainment system isn’t clunky like some other vehicle touchscreens.
The 2022 Polestar 2.
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Instead, both the main display and the digital instrument panel are remarkably intuitive, simple and beautiful to look at. Hyper-realistic graphics of the vehicle are a nice touch.
The 2022 Polestar 2.
Tim Levin/Insider
