An Electrified New Year: New 2020 EVs Worth Your Time

As an increasing number of automakers jump on the EV bandwagon and plan exciting new vehicles for upcoming release, 2020 might just be the year you rethink your opinion on electric cars. From economic, urban-minded family haulers to hair raising, high-performance plug-ins, the list of new 2020 EVs might have even the biggest detractors saying “touché.”

Read on for a round-up of the most exciting debuts hitting American shores at the start of the new decade.

2020 Mercedes-Benz EQC

The first entry on our list hails from one of the most-recognized brands on the planet, especially when it comes to upper-crust luxury. The 2020 Mercedez-Benz EQC is a fully electric SUV featuring styling cues similar to the likes of the Tesla Model Y and Jaguar I-Pace—a design that’s slowly taking over the EV space and auto industry overall.

Set to drop early next year, the EQC is loosely based on the familiar GLC-Class. Sharing much of its structure with the compact luxury SUV keeps costs down to a reasonable (for Mercedes, at least) $67,900. However, that price can drop further, due to the $7,500 tax credit available on new EVs from automakers selling less than 200,000 units.

Featuring twin 10.25-inch in-dash screens for a comprehensive heads-up display and customizable lumbar adjustment options to provide that familiar, ultra-comfortable Mercedes-Benz driving comfort, the EQC boasts a roomy and luxurious interior to rival any entry on our list of new 2020 EVs.

Packing an impressive 80 kWh lithium-ion battery, handy 7.4-kilowatt on-board charger, roaring dual motors for improved range, and all-wheel drive capability, the EQC puts a new spin on German engineering. However, it still feels like a luxury electric SUV for Mercedes customers, rather than an innovative Mercedes for EV customers. Especially as it’s poised to compete with its perennial rival BMW, whose comparable iX3 SUV is due in the second half of 2020.

Mercedes customers must be interested though, as the EQC has already sold out for the year, sparking some excitement ahead of its official launch.

2020 Tesla Roadster + Model Y

One of the most established and trendy names in the EV space is poised for another big year come 2020 with the launch of the new Tesla Roadster and Model Y.

The Roadster, a cutting-edge all-electric supercar, is rumored to have a 0 to 60 time of 1.9 seconds, top speed of 250 mph, a massive range of 620 miles, and standard AWD. The more economical Model Y is a sporty little EV designed to seat seven, with 280 miles of range and dual-motor AWD. Both are bound to be popular new EVs for 2020.

As production Roadsters are still in the works, we can only speculate on details, but it’s safe to assume the interior will seat four, feature a removable glass roof, and sport a distinctly Tesla-esque button-free design, with most controls appearing via an in-dash touchscreen. The Model Y is expected to borrow heavily from its Model 3 sibling, maintaining a near-buttonless design and embedded digital screen while adding an optional third row of seating in certain models.

The Roadster is by far the pricier of the two, with base models estimated to cost close to $200,000. The Model Y comes in at a much more reasonable $48,200. It’s worth noting that the Roadster is technically still a concept car at the moment, so we’ll have to wait until next year to see if Elon Musk’s claims are true that that it’s the quickest car in the world. (If it does indeed arrive in 2020…)

While neither model will qualify for that $7,500 tax credit, both remain rock-solid EV options from one of the most well-known brands in the ever-growing EV space.

2020 Polestar 1 & 2

Progressive EV brand Polestar hits the ground running in the new year with two impressive EVs. The Polestar 1, a high-performance plug-in hybrid 2-door coupe dripping in modern technology is now available for pre-order. But it’s the Polestar 2 that has us really excited. A true electric sedan priced around $40k, it’s one of the first recent EVs to pose an actual threat to Tesla.

Packed to the brim with high-tech features like an 11-inch in-dash touchscreen, futuristic phone-as-key technology, an on-board Google Assistant, and pixel LED headlights, the Polestar 2 even made a commitment to using no animal-based materials in the interior, making it the only new 2020 EV that’s also vegan.

The Polestar 2 can stand its own when it comes to under-the-hood power, as well. An impressive range of 275 miles gives drivers plenty of opportunity to flex the EV’s muscles. Muscles that are rather impressive, thanks to a powerful 78 kWh underfloor battery pack paired with twin electric motors creating 402 horsepower and 487 lb-ft of torque. And with a 0-60 time below the five-second mark, the Polestar 2 is nothing to sneeze at—especially for the price.

Keep an eye on Polestar’s parent company Volvo this coming year, too. The German brand plans to drop its first pure electric SUV in 2020—an EV version of the XC40, which will come in under $50k with incentives.

2020 Porsche Taycan

We’ve talked about the Taycan here on the blog before, detailing the vehicle’s two electric motors, all-wheel drive, 750 hp/774 lb.-ft. of torque and sub-3 second 0-60 time.

Although the top speed on this fully electric Italian stallion is electronically limited to 162 mph, the impressive 250-mile range and lightning-quick charging functionality, (boosting from 5 to 80 percent in about 20 minutes) help make up for it.

All that capability and brand cachet carries a significant price tag though. Both the Turbo and Turbo S sit pretty in the $150-$200k range, while their less-powerful sibling the 4S starts around $100k.

While the Porsche Taycan is one of the most gorgeous entries on this list, proving that EVs can be just as indulgent and, frankly, extra as any other Porsche on the market, that price tag will need to come down significantly before it poses a viable threat to established performance models in the segment like the Tesla Model S.

2020 Audi e-tron

Joining the coming horde of quality SUV EVs for 2020, the Audi e-tron sets itself apart from the pack with a more traditional Audi package that exemplifies the company’s luxury bloodline. The e-tron is more focused on establishing a foothold for people who are interested in the EV space, but not so interested in the groundbreaking self-driving tech, buttonless dashboards, or anything else too fancy. Basically, it’s here to do what Audi does: look great, drive well, and be classy.

Featuring standard all-wheel-drive functionality, a max 4000-pound towing capacity, and a 200-plus-mile range perfect for a daily commute to and from the office, the e-tron steps in where your last standard combustion engine vehicle left off. Twin motors—one at each axle—pull power from a 95.3-kWh lithium-ion battery, generating 355 horsepower and 414 lb.-ft. of torque while an expertly implemented new braking system brings it all to a smooth stop.

Debuting at the LA Auto Show was the Sportback e-tron, an exciting step up on the e-tron food chain that packs a little more juice than the base model. Better range and charging time are joined by a bump in horsepower and torque to 402 and 490 lb.-ft., respectively.

2020 Mini Cooper EV

For many folks, the only thing preventing them from picking up an EV of their very own is the price. By far the cheapest new 2020 EV on this list, the electric Mini Cooper is—to use an English phrase—cheap as chips. A price tag of $29,900 puts the EV in direct competition with the likes of the Nissan Leaf, while undercutting established EVs like the Chevy Bolt.

The Mini’s power output (181 horsepower/199 lb.-ft of torque) and range (146-168 miles) won’t blow you away, but certainly maintain the vehicle’s fun-to-drive reputation. Besides, the brand-new EV comes with standard Apple CarPlay compatibility, a 6.5-inch display screen for navigation, active-safety features, and rapid charging capability that sees it power up to 80% in only 35 minutes.

Set to hit U.S. streets in March, the Mini Cooper EV is a fantastic mix of affordability and EV function, making it a stand-out option when it comes to new 2020 EVs.

Other models to keep an eye for in the New Year:

… Ford Mach E. While it likely won’t arrive until 2021, if all the stars align, it might crop up at the very end of 2020.

… Jaguar XJ. The flagship Jaguar sedan birthed in the 1960s hasn’t seen a generation remix since 2010. As the current model ended production this summer, the brand is making some bold moves for its next-gen XJ, introducing an all-new EV-only model. C&D predicts sales will start in 2020 at price near $100k.

… Volkswagen ID4. The crossover addition to VW’s ID line is planned for a 2020 release but 2021 seems more likely. Worth mentioning, however, is that Volkswagen has already hit the U.S. market with a charging infrastructure—before it’s even launched any of its MEB vehicles here. (We call that smart planning.)

What do you think? Are you excited for any of the new 2020 EVs on this list? Let us know in the comments.