Tesla Model S

This sleek, fully electric four-door luxury car seats five (or seven with the optional rear-facing jump seats). With its standard 75-kWh battery and all-wheel-drive we found its range to be 235 miles, and it can be charged in about seven hours on a dedicated Tesla connector or topped off for free at Tesla’s proprietary network of Superchargers. Performance is exceptional, with quiet, thrilling acceleration, pinpoint handling, and a firm yet comfortable ride, particularly on its 19-inch tires. The hatchback design aids versatility and the front trunk is a bonus. A huge tablet center touchscreen controls most functions but it is highly distracting. Other drawbacks include somewhat awkward access, restricted visibility, and range limitations, especially in cold weather. The AutoPilot system lets the car stay in its lane and adjust speed according to traffic.

The Tesla Model S is a great four-door luxury sports car that just also happens to be an electric vehicle. A large, low-slung hatchback, it easily seats five, or seven in a pinch when fitted with rear-facing jump seats. With its optional 85 kWh battery, the Tesla can travel between 180 and 225 miles per charge, at least twice as far as other electrics. It can also be fully charged in as little as five hours. Performance is exceptional, with thrilling acceleration, pinpoint handling, and a superb ride. A huge iPad-like center screen controls nearly all accessory functions. Drawbacks include tight access and restricted visibility. All-wheel drive versions were added in 2014, along with an optional Autopilot suite of advanced electronics, which give the car limited self-driving capabilities.