10 Electric Cars With The Most Horsepower Per Dollar

Since EVs were adopted into the mainstream, many of them have offered car enthusiasts horsepower and torque figures that dwarf those of their Internal Combustion Engine counterparts. Yet despite manufacturers such as Tesla and Ford – on its electrified range at least – slashing the cost of vehicles at the start of 2024, those looking to convert from an ICE to an EV or even upgrade their existing electric car, will have to do some number crunching to figure out what gives them the most value. After all, things are not cheap out there at the moment in light of the cost of living crisis.

To assist EV buyers with their decision-making, this guide showcases 10 electric family sedans on sale today that offer the most horsepower per dollar. After all, horsepower is an important factor when purchasing a new car, so we’ve ranked them from the most expensive per (electric!) horse, to the cheapest.

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. The models below have been ranked based on their cost per-horsepower from the highest to the lowest.

10 Mercedes-AMG EQS Sedan

$227/horsepower or 0.0044 horsepower per dollar

The Mercedes EQS is Stuttgart’s first attempt at an all-electric luxury sedan, with the ‘S’ in the car’s name meaning ‘S-Class’. Like its ICE counterpart, the EQS is supremely luxurious, and supremely well-equipped. In AMG form, it’s also supremely fast and supremely expensive at almost $150,000. The car’s twin-motor configuration – one on the front axle, another on the rear – affords it the EQS a massive 751 horsepower accompanied by 752 pound-feet of torque. The result is a supercar-rivaling 0 to 60 mph sprint in three seconds.

Performance Specifications

At just over five meters long, the EQS is no small thing. Thankfully, though, Mercedes has decked it out with four-wheel steering to help navigate urban areas slightly easier. Charging the big Mercedes can be done with anything from a standard 7-kilowatt wallbox charger, to a 200 kW charger – the latter of which will give the car 186 miles worth of range in 15 minutes.

9 Genesis G80 Electrified

$207/horsepower or 0.0048 horsepower per dollar

The Genesis G80 Electrified is exactly what it says on the tin; an EV version of the South Korean brand’s highly acclaimed G80 sedan. Instead of the lusty V-6 usually found in the G80, the Electrified G80 is driven by two electric motors, which silently bring the car to a top speed of 140 mph. Unlike the other cars on this list, the G80 is not a ground-up EV, meaning slight compromises have been made on its practicality thanks to the addition of the lithium-cooled, lithium-ion 87.2-kilowatt battery pack under the floor.

Performance Specifications

Buyers will be pleased to know that electrification has not come at the expense of any of the G80’s gentle character, and the luxurious cabin remains unchanged with plenty of high-quality wood and leather on offer. With an MSRP of $75,625 and generously equipped in both entry-level ‘Advanced’ and ‘Prestige’ top-tier trim, it’s also one of the better value EVs to make this list.

8 Mercedes-AMG EQE Sedan

$173/horsepower or 0.0058 horsepower per dollar

The Mercedes EQE is a shrunken version of its all-electric EQS flagship, so it’s just as luxurious as its big brother. What’s more, this high-performance version very much adheres to AMG’s ethos of shoehorning as much power as possible into a ‘standard’ Mercedes road car. Given the car EQE is a mid-sized sedan weighing in at 5,547 pounds, the 677 horsepower and its surge from 0-60 mph in just 2.8 seconds are a little short of staggering.

Performance Specifications

The EQE AMG has a 90.6 kilowatt hour battery located under its floor, which gives the car a low center of gravity for optimal road holding, and a range of 225 miles. Unsurprisingly, the extra power of the AMG does come at a cost, though – the slower EQE350 4Matic returns a bigger range of 260 miles. What’s more, the EQE’s styling may not be for everyone with the car’s distinctive appearance being compared to car a “wet egg” in certain quarters.

7 Hyundai IONIQ 6 SE AWD

$147/horsepower or 0.0067 horsepower per dollar

South Korean carmakers have embraced the EV revolution with gusto, and with its distinctive, streamlined styling, the Hyundai IONIQ 6 fits very much within this remit. The Hyundai IONIQ 6 is available in three trim levels, and the SE model sits at the bottom end of the line-up beneath the SEL and the Limited. The all-wheel drive, twin-motor model has 320 miles on tap, which is more powerful than the standard rear-wheel drive car, albeit with significantly less range. The cheaper car will return 361 miles.

Performance Specifications

The IONIQ 6 has an MSRP of $38,650 making it the most affordable EV on this list. What’s more, it was named TopSpeed.com’s Best Electric Car of 2024. Should the IONIQ 6’s banana-inspired looks prove too challenging, then the Hyundai IONIQ 5 – a car with which it shares Hyundai’s Electric-Global Modular Platform ‘E-GMP’ underpinnings – is also on sale in parallel.

6 BMW i5 M60

$141/horsepower or 0.0070 horsepower per dollar

Named the i5, this latest BMW 5 Series marks the first time that BMW’s executive car has been fully electrified in its 52-year history. There are three trim levels of i5 available: the entry-level rear-wheel drive eDrive40, the mid-range all-wheel drive xDrive40, and the flagship M60 xDrive; an all-electric version of the legendary M5 super sedan.

Performance Specifications

Whilst the i5 M60 cannot offer the roaring, turbocharged V-8 soundtrack of its ICE sibling, its twin-motor configuration gives the driver almost 600 horsepower on tap, and 605 pound-feet of torque to play with. To add to the car’s ‘silent assassin’ character, this family sedan will reach 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds.

5 Polestar 2 Performance

$138/horsepower or 0.0072 horsepower per dollar

The Polestar 2 has been around since 2019. Yet despite approaching its fifth year of production, it proved to be one of the United States’ best-selling EVs in 2023. For 2024, the Polestar 2 received a mid-life update, which extended its range, added a new front end, and offered buyers a Performance Pack, which upped the power of the twin-motor, all-wheel drive cars.

Performance Specifications

The Polestar 2 isn’t the fastest EV on this list, and it certainly isn’t the newest. Yet with its Volvo-inspired styling, unique Scandinavian character, and sensible MSRP of $55,300, it certainly remains one of the most popular EVs around. Rivals include the BMW i4 and Tesla Model 3.

4 Tesla Model S Long Range

$136/horsepower or 0.0073 horsepower per dollar

A rival to the Mercedes EQS, Porsche Taycan, and the Audi e-tron GT, the Tesla Model S is a big, all-electric luxury car that’s gained a cult following for its eye-swiveling performance in Plaid spec, and excellent range across the board. The Model S was completely updated in 2022, and weighs in at over 100 kilograms lighter than the car it replaces. What’s more, in Long Range trim, it offers a 405-mile range and a top speed of 155 mph.

Performance Specifications

Prices for the Tesla Model S Long Range start at $74,630, meaning it will cost buyers $136 for its 534 horsepower.

3 BMW i4 M50

$130/horsepower or 0.0076 horsepower per dollar

The BMW i4 is an electrified version of the BMW’s four-door 4 Series Gran Coupé and is Munich’s riposte to the likes of the Polestar 2 and Tesla Model 3. There are three trim levels in the i4 range: first is the entry-level eDrive 35, then comes the mid-range rear-wheel drive eDrive40, and the all-wheel drive xDrive40. Meanwhile, the i40 M50 is the flagship, and represents an all-electric alternative to its ICE siblings, the BMW M3 and M4.

Performance Specifications

The BMW i4 M50 will launch from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds, making it faster than an M4 in a straight line. With an MSRP of $69,700, plus a 536 horsepower output, this all-electric Bahnstormer offers up $130 per horsepower, or 0.0076 horses per dollar.

2 Lucid Air Grand Touring

$125.6/horsepower or 0.0080 horsepower per dollar

The Lucid Air Grand Touring has been in production since 2022, and for the 2024 model year, the US-based EV-only carmaker has sought to make its luxury sedan even better. Now, the Grand Touring has a range of up to 516 miles, and returns a power output of 819 horsepower with a top end of 168 mph. Inside, the Grand Air Touring takes a leaf out of Polestar’s book with an interior inspired by the nature of Lucid’s homestate, California.

Performance Specifications

Originally known as Atieva, Lucid was re-launched in 2016 by Tesla’s ex-Vice President of Engineering, Peter Rawlins, who also served as the chief engineer of the first Tesla Model S, which first launched in 2012. The Lucid Air has a drag coefficient of 0.197, making it the most aerodynamically efficient production car on sale today. Luxury all-electric include the aforementioned Porsche Taycan, Mercedes EQS, BMW i7, and Audi e-tron GT.

1 Tesla Model 3 Performance AWD

$107/horsepower or 0.0092 horsepower per dollar

In 2023, the Tesla Model 3 was the best-selling EV Stateside and for 2024, it’s undergone a series of improvements including a facelift, an improved interior, and a series of technical upgrades. The Model 3 is available in three trim levels, with the Performance AWD being the most driver-focused of the bunch thanks to its planted drive and supercar-rivalling performance.

Performance Specifications

By far the fastest all-electric mid-sized sedan here, the Model 3 AWD Performance boasts 510 horsepower, and top end of 163 miles per hour, and a supercar-beating 0-60 mph time of 2.9 seconds. In fact, the Model 3 can best the likes of the Lamborghini Huracán Evo and Aventador in this respect. With a starting MSRP of $41,490, Tesla’s best-seller represents a strong value entry point for car owners seeking to make the jump into the world of family-orientated, tech-focused, performance EVs.