20 new and used electrified cars Americans should consider

The Honda Civic continues its tradition of setting the benchmark for compact cars thanks to its near-perfect balance of versatility, efficiency, solid interior refinement, and excellent road manners. It’s the kind of car that’ll never let you down, thanks to Honda’s proven long-term reliability, and isn’t a bore to drive.

The Kia Sorento is a bit of a dark horse in this segment, and it’s not until you spend some time with one that you realise the joy of pure functionality, with some clever details that show someone's put the thought into it. The fact that it’s wrapped up in a stylish package is the icing on the cake.

The Crown Signia SUV is effectively an Americanized version of the Crown Estate (read: wagon) Toyota debuted in Japan. It looks pretty good, with a cleaned up front end and handsomely sculpted sides. And it’s hard to argue with the functionality of a big ol’ boot – though, again, don’t call this one a wagon. It’s an SUV. Honest.

The Toyota Camry has been highly stigmatized as a mere appliance over its many generations, but underneath those looks lies a car that drives... better than you think it does. Frugal, too.

Competent, and in hybrid guise, it’s almost something of a catch. It may not feel exhilarating or luxurious, but it is dutiful, and many welcome features - both for safety and convenience - are included as standard. You could do a lot worse than the Corolla.

A brilliant utility solution that doesn’t ask for much of a compromise in lifestyle. For the most part, it drives and behaves like an affordable, compact car, it just so happens to have a truck bed. This makes it much more approachable than larger trucks in terms of usability and far less intimidating to those put off by the monstrousness of today’s typical pickup.

Toyota’s RAV4 continues to be the standard-setter for the mid-sized SUV segment. At its core, it remains a dutiful daily workhorse that runs the gamut between urban, suburban and even extra-urban tasks while maintaining a general level of comfort.

It’s not the sportiest, luxurious or most rugged vehicle out there, but it does well enough across the board where you’re left with very little to complain about.

The closest thing yet to the EV adventure pickup we’ve been dreaming about. Its range allows for a great deal of enjoyment on and off the road, and its capability for the latter means it’s not just sporting wilderness gear for the fashion - it can put it to use. Though given its price tag, we’d be hesitant to truly knock one around.

The Toyota Prius is the quintessential hybrid in America. That it drives reasonably well, is tremendously efficient and has very useful electric-only range should ensure that interest in the Prius is strong.

The new Rivian R2 is a very composed, modern utility vehicle that’s as capable on and off the road as it is comfortable throughout. It’s also jam-packed with tech designed to enhance the driving experience while elevating the aspects of your life adjacent to driving.

This list is full of cars that are a good idea to buy new or used, but the Taycan's a special case. Right now, used examples are going cheap.

A nationwide used-car search in America will return tons of Taycan listings in the $40,000 range, making a used Taycan a solid deal for anyone who wants electric luxury but doesn’t want to take the initial depreciation hit themselves.

We’re big fans of modern Volvos, and the XC60 is no exception. It takes most of the good bits from the bigger XC90 and distills it into a smaller package.

It’s relaxing to be in thanks to the superb, calming cabin (get it in a bright colour, you won’t regret it… unless you have kids), and mostly relaxing to drive. It does things differently to the equivalent BMW, Mercedes and Audi, and as good as those cars are, this one's all the better for it.

The Ioniq 5 N is an electric car that's as involving as a really good petrol car. In some ways it does that by brazenly impersonating a petrol drivetrain. The surprising thing is that's absolutely not just a gimmick.

Then in corners it has some original tricks of its own. It's not just fast, it's confident and playful – so it's fun even when it's not going fast. It's useful and versatile too.

So it has many of the talents you expect from an electric car, and many more that so far are unique in EVs. Which makes us call it a new and brilliant chapter.

Like other PHEVs in the wider Toyota family, the RX 450h self-charging facility goes heavy on the regenerative braking, boosting the combustion engine’s efficiency. This is not a car that enjoys or invites you to drive rapidly – it’s heavy and feels lardy, and the characterless engine and CVT deter enthusiasm – so the upside is a really solid overall real-world average mpg. Filling up is a much less terrifying prospect than with other full-size SUVs, and there’s something about the car’s entire MO that makes you a generally more considered sort of driver. Another point of difference with other full-size SUVs.

The Cadillac Optiq is an intriguing starter car for anyone looking for a bump in their EV-focused lifestyle. The focus on comfort and collection of standard tech features is an effective execution of a classic brand keeping up with the times. Its focus on comfort over sporty handling reminds us of the Genesis GV60 in many respects though its compact stature and streamlined cabin mirrors the Volvo EX30 experience.

For the asking price, you’re getting a minivan that will likely last beyond the childhoods of any kids being raised in it well into their formative years. The standard safety and convenience tech is a plus, and 35mpg isn’t bad.

The Kia Carnival is a great showcase of what makes a minivan superior to an SUV for suburban families, and manages to look quite stylish while doing so. Unburdened with the need to be a jack of all trades, the Carnival makes collecting, transporting and unloading a large group of people a breeze, and still has room for supplies.

Under that long, sweeping bonnet there’s a a 3.3-litre straight-six petrol that makes 335bhp and 369lb ft of torque. That engine is paired with a mild-hybrid system that uses a small electric motor to smooth out gearchanges and drive the CX-90 at very low speeds. Big car, this.

If you’re looking for a new SUV, the Palisade hybrid offers far more luxury than its price suggests.

It’s actually a properly well-thought out product – one that feels tough enough for everyday family life, feature-stuffed enough to be futureproof, and packing enough range and performance to justify a price that would’ve seemed laughable for a Kia – or any Korean car – a decade ago.