Outline
Tesla Model S Long Range offers 405 miles range and rapid acceleration.
Lucid Air Dream Edition accelerates 0-60 mph in 2.5 seconds with 503 miles range.
Ford Mustang Mach-E combines electric efficiency with traditional performance heritage.
Hyundai Ioniq 5 offers 300 miles range, dual motors, and rapid charging capability.
VW ID.4 provides 250 miles range with spacious interior and advanced safety features.
The first time I experienced the Tesla Model S Long Range, I was astonished at how it redefined the possibilities of electric vehicles. This car can travel 405 miles on a single charge, completely alleviating range anxiety. The dual-motor all-wheel drive system performs exceptionally well on wet roads during rainy weather, with traction that makes you forget this is a nearly 5-meter-long sedan.
The acceleration capability of 3.1 seconds from 0 to 60 mph feels nothing like that of a traditional gasoline car; the instant thrust from the electric motor is addictive. The operation logic of the 17-inch central touchscreen takes about two days to get used to, but once familiar, it feels like controlling the entire car with a tablet. The most practical OTA update was last winter, where the system optimization improved low-temperature range by 12%.
The actual experience at Tesla Supercharger stations exceeded expectations. During a long trip, I charged 180 miles of range while having a bowl of instant noodles at a service area. The issue of battery degradation is much better than expected; a friend’s 2019 model can still run 380 miles on a full charge, thanks to the intelligent temperature control technology of the battery management system.
It's worth emphasizing that the battery pack uses a modular design, meaning that when a part is damaged, there’s no need to replace the entire battery pack. A maintenance technician informed me that this design reduces later maintenance costs by over 40%. For owners planning to hold the vehicle long-term, this is undoubtedly a relief.
The most intuitive feeling when driving an electric vehicle is the zero fuel costs. Based on my monthly commuting distance of 2000 kilometers, the electricity bill saves me 83% compared to fuel costs. With government subsidies and tax exemptions, it’s equivalent to a direct discount of $50,000 on the vehicle price. However, it should be noted that the electricity prices at Supercharger stations fluctuate significantly, with night charging being 35% cheaper than peak hours.
On the environmental front, although manufacturing batteries generates carbon emissions, after 80,000 kilometers of driving, the overall carbon footprint is already lower than that of gasoline cars. Research shows that when charged with wind energy, this balance point can be reached 20,000 kilometers earlier.
When test-driving the Lucid Air, I was indeed impressed by its sense of luxury. However, when it comes to charging convenience, Tesla Supercharger stations are more than three times denser than other brands. Once, while driving in the mountains, the only charging station within a 50-kilometer radius was a Tesla charging station, making this infrastructure advantage hard to surpass in the short term.
The Ford Mach-E is more suitable for family users, with 15% more rear-seat space than the Model S. However, Tesla’s autonomous driving is more reliable in complex road conditions, especially in identifying construction barriers, with an accuracy rate 20 percentage points higher than its competitors.
Driving the Lucid Air makes you understand what an electric supercar is. Acceleration from 0 to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds caused the passenger's phone to fly directly to the back seat; this wild power is nothing like that of a family sedan. The 113-kilowatt battery provides a range of 503 miles, and in real-world testing, it can travel 485 miles at highway cruising speeds, with error margins controlled quite accurately.
The power distribution system is very clever and automatically adjusts the torque between the front and rear axles during turns. Once, while driving aggressively on a mountain road, the car's posture was so stable that I doubted whether it had active anti-roll bars. However, energy consumption spikes during intense driving, and in a fully charged state, it can only maintain track driving for 45 minutes.
Opening the gullwing doors and sitting in the cockpit, the impact of the 34-inch curved screen is ten times stronger than in pictures. The genuine leather seats have 18-way adjustments, including calf support, making long-distance driving much more comfortable. Interestingly, the central screen's director mode can display navigation, media, and vehicle information simultaneously without appearing cluttered.
The voice control system can recognize accented English, which is better than Tesla does. However, the touch feedback is slightly sluggish, especially when quickly swiping, resulting in about a 0.3-second delay. Nonetheless, the color-changing function of the panoramic sky roof is very practical, automatically adjusting the transmittance under strong sunlight, eliminating the need for sunshades.
The acceleration feel of the Mustang Mach-E GT is quite interesting; although it goes from 0 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds, the power delivery is more linear than Tesla’s. This car excels in mid-range acceleration, requiring only 2.1 seconds for speeds between 80-120 km/h, which provides great confidence during overtaking. In real-world testing, the range was 12% less than advertised, mainly due to the non-adjustable regenerative braking, which does not maximize energy recovery when going downhill.
The all-wheel-drive system performs impressively on snow; once, on an icy road at -15 degrees Celsius, the tire grip was 30% stronger than expected. However, the charging speed significantly decreases in low temperatures, with fast charging power dropping to only 60% of the nominal value at -10°C.
The Hyundai 800V high-voltage system is truly not just a gimmick; in practice, it can charge from 10% to 80% in just 18 minutes. Even more astonishing is the vehicle-to-vehicle charging function, which allowed me to give a stranded Model 3 a 20-kilowatt boost, equivalent to extending its range by 80 kilometers. However, the charging cable does heat up during fast charging, requiring an active cooling system in the summer.
The texture of the recycled plastic used in the interior exceeded expectations; without the sales description, you wouldn’t guess it was eco-friendly material. The seat ventilation system is cleverly designed, with ventilation holes in the backrest, making it more thoughtful than many luxury brands.
The ID.4's rear seats can easily accommodate child safety seats, and the isofix interface is designed very humanely. The most practical feature is the sliding central armrest, which can be adjusted front and back by up to 15 cm, making it very convenient for feeding babies. The height of the trunk floor is 8 cm lower than that of the CR-V, making it much easier to lift heavy items.
The car's system was initially sluggish, but after upgrading to version 2914, the fluency improved by 40%. There’s a hidden feature: holding down the HOME button for 5 seconds can wake up the engineering mode, allowing you to check battery health and other in-depth information.