Though few things in life will ever be quite as satisfying as hearing a souped up V8 roar, the truth of the matter is that electric vehicles are becoming the norm in this world. But the good news is that over the past decades, EVs have actually become fun. Long gone is the day when your only options were either a Tesla or (hybrid) Prius. Electric cars have become more beautiful and luxurious, and they’ve also gotten fast. Our friends over at MotorTrend put together a list of the cars they’ve tested that have had the quickest 0-60 times. And though a Tesla has made the number 1 spot—they’ve had the most experience, after all—it was only a tenth of a second faster than the all-electric Porsche runner up.
Lets take a look at some of the European and imported competitors—because those are the most interesting, after all.
2023 BMW iX M60: An SUV That Takes 3.2 Seconds to Get to 60
We all know BMWs are quick, but it’s certainly impressive when it’s an SUV that ranks 9 in the list of the top 10 fastest electric cars. With a curb weight of nearly 3 tons thanks to some impressive and impressively heavy batteries, the iX M60 hurtles itself to 60 mph in only 3.2 seconds. The BMW’s dual motor, all-electric engine produces a satisfying 516 hp with 564 lb-ft of torque that will get you where you need to go in a hurry. And though people aren’t in love with the iX M60’s iconic kidney grilles—especially since they are clearly more of a style choice than a necessity in an EV—they do a great job of screaming that it is a BMW that is currently overtaking you.
2022 Mercedes EQS: An Electric Counterpoint to the S-Class
If you are looking for a luxury EV that’s quick on its feet, you won’t have to look farther than the Mercedes EQS. The EQS is comparable in style and luxury to the Mercedes S-Class, which has has been the standard that other luxury car companies have been trying to reach for around 50 years. The EQS looks good, feels good and—as number 5 on the MotorTrend list—will get you from 0-60 in a mere 3 seconds. Clocking in at a little under 6,000 lbs, this dual motor beauty produces 516 hp and 631 lb-ft of torque. And though we are impressed with the 0-60 time, and the 11.4 second ¼ mile, the fact is, that when it comes to a Mercedes, “speed isn’t the point.” The EQS is the height of luxury and EV innovation from a brand that’s been doing it better than nearly anyone else for nearly a century. And it shows.
2022 Audi RS E-Tron GT: Lighter, Sleeker and Faster
At number 4 on the list, the Audi RS E-Tron GT is obviously going to be faster than the previous names on the list. In this case, tenth of a second faster from 0-60 than the EQS, with a time of just 2.9 seconds to make it there. The Audi clocks in at 5,151 lbs, which is nearly 1,000 less than its slightly slower counterparts. It commands 522 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque, which it uses to its advantage to make the ¼ mile in just 10.9 seconds. At the end of those 10.9 seconds you will be going 129 mph, a speed which will excitingly “squeeze breath from lungs like a laundry mangle,” which is a feeling you may get used to the more you drive electric.
2020 Porsche Taycan Turbo S: The EV Built for Speed and Fun
The first thing to note about the Porsche Taycan Turbo S, which comes in at number 2 on the MotorTrend list, is that it’s an electric car. Which means it can’t actually have a turbo. Once that’s been cleared up, we’d like to point out that no matter what is underneath the hood, it’s still a Porsche—and it shows. So, its little surprise that this non-turbo Taycan Turbo S can get you to 60 mph in a supremely fast 2.4 seconds. It’s a little bit heavier than the Audi, clocking it at 5,221 lbs, but it gives you an exciting 750 hp to play with that produce 774 lb-ft of torque from the dual electric motors. Which means it will take you less than 8 car lengths to reach 60 mph. Luckily, you won’t have to walk far to pick up your gut from where it fell out after experiencing 1.0 g of force just by pressing the Taycan Turbo S’s gas pedal.
Anyone Who Thinks EVs Are Boring Isn’t Paying Attention
It’s been almost 3 decades since the first mass-produced electric car hit the market. A lot has changed in the intervening years. So if you haven’t taken a look at the options available these days, the MotorTrend list is a great place to start.
