Between now and the end of 2026, around 150 new plug-in hybrid Electric Cars will be available in US showrooms. That might be a record-breaking expansion for the industry – and a record-breaking opportunity for you to either locate the right EV or become hopelessly overwhelmed.
The 18 plug-in cars listed below are the ones I’m most excited to see in 2023 since they’re likely to have an impact on the electric car scene. This list contains pure electrics and hybrids but doesn’t delve into the weeds on the range, as it’s getting less different between pure electric cars at around 225-300 miles, which is plenty for the average driver to charge once every few days most of the time. And be wary of the old idea that you can reduce any pricing I specify with a tax break, as the new federal tax credit plan takes time to influence the market.
Let’s start with GM because it will undoubtedly be the company with the newest EVs in 2023.
Lyriq Cadillac in 2023
The Cadillac Lyriq slips into my list since it will be available in late 2022 but will really make its presence known in 2023. This midsize SUV will be GM’s first car to use the revolutionary Ultium battery technology, which employs novel pouch cells in a modular skateboard configuration rather than the standard cylinder cells that dominate the EV industry.
According to GM, this and other factors will enable Ultium to scale up and down its lines. GM also requires Ultium to put a significant gap between itself and the radically different battery design that supports the Chevy Bolt and all of its bad press. The Lyriq is the first step in that journey, with prices starting at about $63,000.
Chevrolet Equinox and Blazer
The Equinox, a tiny crossover that looks beautiful or tacky depending on the paint choice, will be the least expensive of these two, which are frequently described in the same breath.
The base configuration with 250 miles of range will cost roughly $30,000, with fancier versions going up to 300 miles. That higher-range model also has an important charger improvement that can recharge the battery 51 miles in an hour, an important number because it implies the average person can get a day’s worth of driving even if they don’t plug in until they get in the shower before leaving to work.
The Chevrolet Blazer EV, inspired by the Camaro in response to Ford’s Mustang Mach-E, is more ambitious and slightly larger than the Equinox. The electric Blazer is a whole new vehicle, not a conversion of the current gas-powered Blazer. When in WOW mode, which stands for Wide Open Watts, it will produce 557 horsepower and 648 pound-feet of torque and accelerate to 60 mph in under 4 seconds. In a minute, we’ll see a similar fun-centric mentality with Dodge.
Chevrolet Silverado Electric Vehicle/GMC Sierra Electric Vehicle
These are significant since Ford has already arrived, and we all want to see how GM can capitalize on its second-mover advantage. The introduction of these two electric full-size trucks will officially put to rest the old notion that such vehicles would be difficult to sell in America. The electric Silverado powered by Ultium will join the market in spring 2023, followed by the electric Sierra later that year, if the supply chain cooperates. Ford has already raised the price of the F-150 Lightning twice, so any pricing on the GM trucks would appear to be premature speculation at this point.
Electric Hummer SUV
I suppose the electric Hummer SUV needs to be included on this list, however, I believe it is only a niche product with high-profit margins. However, this electric monster’s SUV body type should be more relevant than the existing pickup.
Tesla Cybertaxi
It’s difficult to know where the Cybertruck stands three years after it was debuted and mistakenly vandalized on stage, much like a Twitter acquisition on wheels. Elon Musk just stated that it will be available in 2023, and while I remain skeptical that it will appeal to enough people to be a major factor, it could be the most exciting new EV story of 2023 based on buzz and intrigue.
BMW i5
BMW I vehicles began as niche oddballs in the nerdy early days of EVs, such as the dorm fridge-shaped i3 and pseudo-supercar i8, but the brand has done a 180 toward mainstreaming EVs with the iX, i4, and i7. The i5 will be an electrified version of the company’s 5-Series sedan, which would ordinarily make it less of a bellwether in the US market. The 5 Series, on the other hand, is no average sedan, and it still carries a lot of BMW brand strength. As of this writing, the i5 is expected (mostly on hearsay) around late 2023.
BMW i5
BMW I vehicles began as niche oddballs in the nerdy early days of EVs, such as the dorm fridge-shaped i3 and pseudo-supercar i8, but the brand has done a 180 toward mainstreaming EVs with the iX, i4, and i7.
The i5 will be an electrified version of the company’s 5-Series sedan, which would ordinarily make it less of a bellwether in the US market. The 5 Series, on the other hand, is no average sedan, and it still carries a lot of BMW brand strength. As of this writing, the i5 is expected (mostly on hearsay) around late 2023.
R/T Dodge Hornet
The Hornet R/T is a sport crossover that aims to make you’re tree-hugging more enjoyable. Dodge claims it will be the fastest and most powerful compact utility vehicle under $30,000. The R/T has a captivating gimmick: PowerShot, a paddle-and-pedal-activated 15-second injection of 25 more horsepower and torque to shave a second off a 0-to-60 sprint.
Hyundai Ioniq 6
The Ioniq 6 will push Hyundai out of its rut of just having one electric-only car, the “hella stunning” Ioniq 5. However, the Ioniq 6 appears to be the result of a different business putting a Panamera and a Citroen DS through a juice press. I don’t like the outcome, but the current Hyundai Sonata took some time to grow on me as well. Hyundai has a good track record of proving naysayers wrong, from its rise from a laughingstock to the growing clout of its Genesis sub-brand.
Kia EV9
The EV9 is thrilling because it is daring. It appears to be heading to market in a form similar to the concept version that Kia says was inspired by water, and it looks very much like an electric version of the smash-hit Telluride conventional SUV. The EV9 is unlikely to be released until late 2023, with pricing still to be determined.
GV70 and GV60 Genesis Electrified
The GV60 is a battery-only luxury compact crossover, whereas the GV70 is a somewhat larger crossover with an electric version available, although not exclusively. The tiny GV60 looks great and gets our recommendation. When combined with the electrified GV70, you get a tight one-two punch from a firm that has recently been considered seriously as a luxury rival.
SUV Volvo
This speculative model is worth keeping an eye on because Volvo has several plug-in hybrids but only one pure EV, the C40 Recharge, and its perplexingly identical XC40 stablemate. The remaining Volvo electrified vehicles are plug-in hybrids. According to the rumor mill, Volvo will soon launch a huge electric SUV similar to the XC90, which I expect will find plenty of takers among the brand’s existing customers.
MX-30 Mazda
This new PHEV requires some explanation because it is a range extender, which means that its combustion engine is utilized to power a generator that recharges the battery rather than driving the car directly. That’s what the Chevy Volt pioneered, but Mazda’s car’s generator will be powered by a rotary engine that will be lighter, smaller, quieter, and smoother than a comparable piston engine. I’m worried that the electric MX-30’s tech story will be as difficult as the Volt’s, so it needs to arrive with fantastic baseline specs, which are still unknown.
MX-30 Mazda
This new PHEV requires some explanation because it is a range extender, which means that its combustion engine is utilized to power a generator that recharges the battery rather than driving the car directly. That’s what the Chevy Volt pioneered, but Mazda’s car’s generator will be powered by a rotary engine that will be lighter, smaller, quieter, and smoother than a comparable piston engine. I’m worried that the electric MX-30’s tech story will be as difficult as the Volt’s, so it needs to arrive with fantastic baseline specs, which are still unknown.
RZ Lexus
The Lexus RZ 450e will be the company’s first all-electric vehicle, using the same basic architecture as the unpronounceable Toyota bZ4x and Subaru Solterra. Its design has more sharp edges than your kitchen knife drawer, and the cockpit defies the current trend of excessive minimalism. The RZ claims to raise the bar for head-up display and direct access buttons on the steering wheel synchronization.
3 and 4 Polestar
Volvo’s electric subbrand will release its most significant vehicle to date in 2023. The Polestar 3 will be a genuine crossover, which is long overdue for a company that began with a PHEV luxury sedan you’ve never seen in the wild, followed by the all-electric Polestar 2, which simply looks frumpy to me. Under a curtain, a forthcoming electric utility car with a coupe roofline and the insanely fast Polestar 5, due in 2024, are both teased. Polestar has a busy few years ahead of it.
