British automotive online marketplace Autotrader recently released its highly anticipated list of the Best 10 Electric Vehicles of 2023.
Surprisingly, the list does not feature any Tesla models, despite the brand’s prominence in the EV market. The omission has raised questions about the criteria and evaluations used in the selection process.
Criteria
Electric vehicle models must meet certain requirements to be among the candidates on Autotrader’s list, including the following:
- they must be from the 2023 model year
- have an MSRP below $100,000
- be readily available to the public in at least 15 states
However, meeting these requirements does not guarantee inclusion. The organization highlighted that each vehicle undergoes evaluation and scoring by the Autotrader editorial team.
In response to inquiries from another online automotive marketplace Autoblog, Autotrader explained that the team actually considered the famous Tesla models. However, they did not receive sufficiently high scores from the editorial team to qualify for the top 10.
Therefore, the selected EVs outperformed the Tesla models in the evaluation process, leading to their inclusion on the list.
“We are in the midst of a sea change in the industry as EV sales become a growing slice of the American automotive pie. More and more shoppers are hungry for new EVs, and automakers are continually developing and introducing new EV models as the demand continues to surge – with no signs of slowing.”
Brian Moody, Autotrader Executive Editor
Interestingly, EV-a2z recently reported the results of JD Power’s latest 2023 Initial Quality Study (IQS). It ranked Tesla, along with Rivian, Lucid, and Polestar, at the lower end of the list, with over 250 reported problems per 100 vehicles.
This result raises questions about the quality of Tesla cars and whether it influenced Autotrader’s decision. Interestingly, the Rivian R1T and the Lucid Air secured positions on Autotrader’s list despite receiving lower scores than Tesla in the JD Power survey.
The 10 EVs that Autotrader chose for its 2023 list represent a diverse range of brands and models. Below are the selected EVs in alphabetical order by brand, including the descriptions from the evaluator who rated them:
Nonetheless, a different website AutoTrader UK recently named the Tesla Model Y the “Best Car for Families 2023,” while Tesla was recognized as the car brand with the best technology in 2023.
See Also:
- Tesla Model 3 and Y most desired electric cars among new buyers
- Tesla Model S dominates in Norway summer range test
- Tesla Model Y advances as the world’s best-selling car in Q1 2023
- Tesla Model Y leads the Chinese all-electric SUV market in March
- Tesla Model 3 now qualifies for the $7,500 EV tax credit
The absence of Tesla models on Autotrader’s Best 10 list has generated varied opinions among automotive enthusiasts. As the EV market continues to evolve and intensify, the exclusion of Tesla highlights the increasing competition and advancements made by other manufacturers in the industry.
Autotrader’s Best Electric Vehicles of 2023
- 2023 BMW i4
- 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning
- 2023 Genesis Electrified G80
- 2023 Genesis GV60
- 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5
- 2023 Kia EV6
- 2023 Lucid Air
- 2023 Nissan Ariya
- 2023 Porsche Taycan
- 2023 Rivian R1T
