10 Fastest RWD Electric Cars In 2024

The electric car industry is showing us how brands can achieve new power and acceleration records simply by adding more motors. Obviously, this isn’t too different from how older cars would just increase displacement to increase output, but the benefits we’re seeing from modern electric performance cars are just unbelievable. The downside of this is how much weight an additional motor adds to the overall construction. Manufacturers also have to fit larger batteries to appropriately balance the energy consumption, resultantly increasing the weight further.

As of 2024, there are very few single-motor rear-wheel drive electric cars you can consider. These options are perfect for those who want a superior driving experience that prioritizes handling characteristics more than straight-line speed. One of the best ways you can improve a car’s handling is by reducing its weight. Of course, some brands offer rear-wheel drive options with smaller and cheaper alternatives to make their catalog more accessible. Some of these still happen to benefit from some impressive performance and handling abilities.

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including Car and Driver, Edmunds, MotorTrend, and the EPA. The models below have been ranked based on their claimed 0-60 MPH times, from slowest to fastest.

10 Mercedes-Benz EQE 350 Plus

0-60 MPH: 6.2 Seconds

The base-level EQE 350+ features a single permanently-excited motor producing 228 horsepower and 417 pound-feet. Mercedes-Benz claims this model accelerates from 0-60 MPH in 6.2 seconds, but independent tests prove that it can be as fast as 5.6 seconds in the right conditions. The brand limits the top speed to 130 MPH.

Performance Specifications

The base-level EQE sedan starts at $74,900 before options and fees, making it one of the more aspirational options on this list. The brand doesn’t necessarily see this as a performance model, but you can specify an AMG Line package to make it look similar to the dual-motor AMG 53 variant.

9 Hyundai Ioniq 6 RWD

0-60 MPH: 6.0 Seconds

The Hyundai Ioniq 6 is another car on this list that prioritizes efficiency over performance. In fact, this base rear-wheel drive SE derivative is one of the most efficient electric cars you can buy in 2024, with an impressive 140 MPGe EPA-estimated combined energy consumption figure.

Performance Specifications

Hyundai fits this model with a single permanent magnet motor to the rear, generating 225 horsepower and 258 pound-feet. Despite these relatively lower figures, the brand claims it’ll hit 0-60 MPH in 6.0 seconds, but private tests indicate that it’s about 0.2 seconds slower in real-world conditions. The brand limits the top speed to 115 MPH.

8 Polestar 2 Single-Motor

0-60 MPH: 5.9 Seconds

For 2024, Polestar opts to transfer the 2‘s single-motor from the front to the rear axle, resulting in improved power output and performance claims. This unit generates 299 horsepower and 361 pound-feet, resulting in a claimed 5.9-second 0-60 MPH time and 127 MPH limited top speed.

Performance Specifications

Independent testers prove that it can be as fast as 5.7 seconds in ideal conditions. The base model starts at $57,600, which is $7,800 more than the 2023 Polestar 2 front-wheel drive example. The new configuration also improves the model’s efficiency from 107 MPGe to 115 MPGe.

7 Mercedes-Benz EQS 450 Plus

0-60 MPH: 5.9 Seconds

Like the aforementioned EQE, the EQS Sedan’s base model adopts a rear-wheel drive configuration, but with an increased 329 horsepower and 417 pound-feet output. Mercedes-Benz claims that it will cover 0-60 MPH in 5.9 seconds and hit a 130 MPH top speed.

Performance Specifications

Reviewers have been able to get this model from 0-60 MPH in 5.4 seconds. The EQS Sedan is the German brand’s flagship electric sedan option, which explains its $104,400 starting price before options and extras. This makes it one of the most costly options on this list.

6 Tesla Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive

0-60 MPH: 5.8 Seconds

The base rear-wheel-drive Tesla Model 3 has always offered a pleasant blend of affordability and performance. The recently updated model is no exception, with its single rear-mounted permanent-magnet motor, producing 271 horsepower and 310 pound-feet.

Performance Specifications

Tesla claims that you can use this to get from 0-60 MPH in 5.8 seconds before hitting the 125 MPH top speed. The brand didn’t issue any Model 3 rear-wheel drive units to independent testers, so we don’t have a clear idea of how fast it is in real-world conditions. Considering the American EV maker is usually conservative with its claims, we can assume that it’s a little faster than that in real-world conditions.

5 BMW i5 eDrive40

0-60 MPH: 5.7 Seconds

The BMW i5 eDrive40 is one of the Bavarian brand’s slower rear-wheel drive electric car options, but it’s still an impressively rapid model. The single rear-mounted excited-synchronous motor produces 335 horsepower and 295 pound-feet, affording it a claimed 5.7-second 0-60 MPH time and limited 120 MPH top speed.

Performance Specifications

BMW starts the i5 range off at a competitive $66,800 before options and additional fees. The eDrive40 also excels at delivering impressive efficiency, with an EPA-estimated 105 MPGe and 295-mile range claim on the standard 19-inch wheels. The premium 21-inch wheels cuts these figures down to 91 MPGe and 256 miles.

4 BMW i4 eDrive40

0-60 MPH: 5.4 Seconds

Using the same motor configuration as the aforementioned i5, the smaller i4 Gran Coupe benefits from a slightly faster 5.4-second 0-60 MPH acceleration time, but with a marginally lower 118 MPH limited top speed. Real-world test conditions reflect an impressive 4.8-second acceleration time.

Performance Specifications

If you desire a simpler configuration, you can opt for the new eDrive35 base trim, producing 282 horsepower and 295 pound-feet. Despite this power reduction, it’s still able to run from 0-60 MPH in 5.8 seconds, while maintaining the same 118 MPH top speed.

3 BMW i7 eDrive50

0-60 MPH: 5.3 Seconds

The i7 is currently the only EV sedan from the Bavarian brand to feature its more powerful eDrive50 excited-synchronous motor on the rear axle. This generates 449 horsepower and 479 pound-feet, granting it a claimed 5.3-second 0-60 MPH time and 120 MPH top speed.

Performance Specifications

With the base 19-inch wheels fitted, you can expect to enjoy energy consumption figures as low as 90 MPGe, which is exemplary for a car competing in this class. This model also covers 321 miles on a single charge, which is quite a bit more than the all-wheel drive alternatives.

2 Porsche Taycan Performance Plus

0-60 MPH: 5.1 Seconds

The Porsche Taycan is the only dedicated rear-wheel drive performance EV sedan that we feature on this list. In fact, it’s the only one of its kind currently available in the U.S. As standard, it comes with the brand’s Performance battery, which generates 402 horsepower and 263 pound-feet.

Performance Specifications

If you specify the Performance Plus battery, this increases to 469 horsepower with an unchanged torque output. Both Taycan options return a claimed 5.1-second 0-60 MPH time and 143 MPH top speed, but independent reviews prove that it can be as fast as 4.3 seconds.

1 Lucid Air Pure

0-60 MPH: 4.5 Seconds

The Lucid Air Pure’s position on this list is highly impressive, considering it’s built by the youngest brand that we feature in this list. The entry-level luxury EV features a single permanent-magnet motor mounted to the rear, producing 430 horsepower and 406 pound-feet.

Performance Specifications

This is enough to get it from 0-60 MPH in a claimed 4.5 seconds, but tests highlight that it can easily cut this time by 0.2 seconds. This would theoretically tie it with the Taycan in real-world conditions. The American EV builder limits the Air‘s top speed to 124 MPH.