2022 Tesla Model Y

inaugural Best Electric Vehicle award comes at a time when the availability of mass-market EVs is closer than ever to a tipping point. General adoption is still distant because the challenges that limit accessibility — such as affordability, truly fast public charging, education about range and more — haven’t been solved, but new EVs are popping up left and right, including several late additions that weren’t available for this year’s voting (Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, Lucid Air and Rivian R1T among them). Dozens more models are waiting in the wings.

Of those available, we choose the Tesla Model Y as our Best Electric Vehicle of 2022. The Model Y excels at being a consumer-friendly EV in addition to being a roomy SUV with towing for up to 3,500 pounds. It’s one of the most effective at easing range anxiety through a surplus of range — an EPA-rated 326 miles for the Long Range All-Wheel Drive version — plus actionable information about efficiency to inform drivers how to maximize remaining range. Tesla’s network of Supercharger DC fast chargers is also larger and has been more reliable — and more reliably fast — than others in our experience.

When charging, the Model Y’s efficiency translates to more miles of range per hour at a given power versus many EVs, and the Model Y can finely throttle charging to work with a variety of home electrical circuits. It comes standard with a 120- and 240-volt mobile charger for respectable charging speeds, and Tesla throws in a J1772 adapter to pair its proprietary connector with non-Tesla chargers.

Driving the Model Y is perhaps more polarizing: It lacks a conventional instrument panel and relies on a 15-inch touchscreen mid-dashboard for everything, including the speedometer. and its ride firmness is more akin to a sports car’s, but so are its dynamics — it’s entertaining to drive, making the firm ride at least worth it. Quicker acceleration can even be unlocked with the push of a button (and ,000 cost), as the Model Y can change significantly through over-the-air updates.

We’ve praised some newer EVs for matching what Tesla has been doing for years plus selling in all 50 states, a requirement we dismissed for this new EV award. Even though some states don’t allow direct-to-consumer sales, it’s not stopping Tesla buyers, and we suspect it won’t stop similar EV brands, which might be eligible for this award in coming years. Tesla sold about as many Model Ys as Subaru Foresters in the first nine months of 2021 — 130,000 vehicles — ushering EV adoption faster than any other model. Most newcomer EVs have the technical capacity for over-the-air updates and plenty that demands immediate revision, but we’ve yet to see anything close to Tesla’s track record of using the capability to improve and evolve the products. Truth be told, they’re all just playing catch-up to Tesla. That’s just one more reason the Model Y is Best Electric Vehicle of 2022.