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Buying an EV? Don’t Waste Your Money on a Sporty AWD Model

You’re not driving on the track. Get the EV best suited to your needs.

ev, carMatt Chase

By Tyler Duffy

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Generally speaking, electric vehicles come in two flavors: single-motor and dual-motor.

Dual-motor EVs are more popular. They feature all-wheel-drive and come with more power, more torque and often some straight-line speed numbers that are seriously spellbinding.

By comparison, the less potent single-motor variations can seem downright pedestrian, but don’t be fooled. They may be the better overall option for most people. Here is why.

Combustion or not, you can use only so much power on public roads

No matter how fast you’d like to go (or how fast the manufacturer says you can go), there’s only so much power you can deploy safely (and legally) on public roads. How much difference will that extra 34 horsepower from the Polestar 2 Performance Pack bumping it to 455 hp make? Most owners will never discover that in everyday driving.

The single-motor EV may have all the torque most drivers will ever use.

The single-motor EV may have all the torque most drivers will ever use. And with immediate torque delivery from the electric powertrain, it will feel pretty quick. The mammoth amount of torque some dual-motor EVs provide will be less fun and more managing acceleration that can be downright alarming to drivers themselves, other motorists and pedestrians.

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Going all-out in an EV isn’t that much fun

There’s a reason we’re seeing manufacturers exploring adding things like artificial engine noise and unnecessary manual transmissions to EV sports cars: combustion sports cars are more engaging. The soundtrack and visceral feel are inherent parts of why driving fast is fun. Those are elements most current sporty EVs are missing.

kia, ev6
The Kia EV6GT is heavier than your typical sports car, and the soundtrack — or lack thereof — does little to enhance the driving experience.
Kia

Take the Kia EV6 GT, for example. Accelerating from 0-60 mph in 3.4 seconds is a neat party trick. But the times you’ll take your EV crossover to the dragstrip and prep your battery to do that will be few and far between.

It’s heavier than your typical sports car on track. And the soundtrack — pure silence punctuated by tire squeal — does little to enhance the experience.

You don’t need all-wheel-drive

All-wheel-drive is a significant reason buyers flock to dual-motor EVs. But AWD is overrated. It can help you start in the winter. But it doesn’t help you stop.

Modern two-wheel-drive cars with features like anti-lock brakes, traction control and independent rear suspensions will feel more capable than their forebearers. A set of good winter tires will provide far more grip than an extra motor powering the front or rear wheels.

Single-motor models offer more range

Two motors require more energy to operate than one. So most dual-motor EVs will be significantly less efficient, which means less range. The slippery Hyundai Ioniq 6 can deliver an incredible 361 miles of range per the EPA. But if you add AWD, that drops to a max of 316 miles. And the bigger-than-18-inch wheels in upper trims will drop it to 270 miles. The RWD Kia EV6 offers up to 310 miles of range. But the AWD drops that to 282 miles, and opting for the GT model dips that all the way to 206 miles.

Range anxiety is overrated. And 206 miles is far more than most drivers will use daily. But factor in charging to 80%, and you’ll be thinking about it constantly. The more range you have, the more owning an EV will feel as convenient as owning a combustion car.

There are some very compelling single-motor options

Those EVs we just mentioned? All of them offer compelling deals in two-wheel-drive spec. The Polestar 2 receives some significant changes for 2024, including a switch to RWD, a bump to 299 horsepower and 361 lb-ft of torque and an enhanced 300 miles of range (up from 270 miles). The 361-mile Ioniq 6 gives nearly a Lucid Air and Tesla Model S-low drag coefficient with some of the best charging tech on the market. And while the RWD EV6 can’t drag race with the EV6 GT, it offers more than 100 miles more EPA range and starts more than $10,000 less.

2024 Polestar 2 (RWD)

single motor electric vehiclesPolestar

The base model Polestar 2 switches from front-wheel drive to RWD in 2024 for better driving dynamics, gets 68 more horsepower and 118 lbft of torque and an extra 30 miles of range on a single charge.

  • Horsepower: 299
  • Torque: 366 lb-ft
  • EPA Range: 300 miles
  • Starting MSRP: $55,000 (est)
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2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 (RWD Long Range)

single motor electric vehiclesHyundai

Hyundai’s sequel to World Car of the Year Ioniq 5 is a swoopy and super-aerodynamic sedan with 361 miles of range in EPA testing for the RWD model, 21 miles more than anticipated.

  • Horsepower: 235
  • Torque: 258 lb-ft
  • EPA Range: 361 miles
  • Starting MSRP: $45,500
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2023 Kia EV6 RWD

single motor electric vehiclesKia Motors

The RWD trim of Kia’s EV6 is one of the best values on the electric market in 2023. And unlike some of its competitors, the EV6 is sold in all 50 states.

  • Horsepower: 225
  • Torque: 258 lb-ft
  • EPA Range: 310 miles
  • Starting MSRP: $48,700
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