Did you know that three in four Americans reported they intended to take at least one road trip in the summer? While most said the trip would be within 100 miles of home sweet home, about 6% said they would drive 1,000+ miles from home.
Road-tripping is almost a rite of passage for many people. Whether going alone, with family, or with friends, people hit the open road for epic adventures and scenic drives.
EVs Make Good Road-Tripping Vehicles
While EVs still represent a small portion of vehicles on roads today, that doesn’t mean they aren’t out there. Some fully electric cars, trucks, SUVs, and crossovers make capable road-tripping vehicles.
Sure, you’ll spend time at charging stations, but an EV that charges faster than average won’t hold you back too much. After all, you can put that charging time to good use by taking a walk, getting something to eat, or even taking a power nap.
Average EV Range Suggests Many Are Okay for Road Trips
According to Coltura, the average range of EVs is nearly 300 miles. Moreover, The source adds that some EVs can travel more on a single charge than some internal combustion engine vehicles can travel on a tank of gas.
Considering that many people plan road trips of well under 300 miles, you might gain more confidence in getting an EV as a road tripper.
Unfortunately, There Are Some Stinkers Out There
Some EVs are capable road trippers, but others are probably best for commuting to and from work, taking the kids to soccer practice, or heading to the grocery store. Avoid certain EVs if you road trip often unless you want to make a long trip much longer.
Here are Some EVs to Avoid if You’re an Avid Road-Tripper
Understanding your use case and the best models makes sense when looking for a new vehicle. We’re here to help by discussing 12 EVs that don’t necessarily make the best road-trippers.
Mazda MX-30
The Mazda MX-30 has three model years in the United States—2021 to 2023. Unfortunately, its range is underwhelming. According to The Verge, the 2022 Mazda MX-30 features a 92-mile range. If you want something for short daily commutes, it’s worth considering. Otherwise, give it a pass and look elsewhere.
Mini Electric Hardtop
If you need a road tripper, the Mini Electric Hardtop isn’t it. On a full charge, the 2022 two-door EV model achieves about 114 miles, according to MINI USA. It has 181 hp and does 0-60 mph in 6.9 seconds.
Smart EQ Fortwo
If you like small, quirky EVs, the Smart EQ Fortwo is worth considering. The 2019 models are capable cars if you do a lot of city driving, according to Car and Driver. But the coupe’s 58-mile range and the cabriolet’s 57-mile range mean they won’t be doing many road trips.
Fiat 500 Electric
The 2024 Fiat 500 Electric has an aesthetic of its own. It is small enough to drive on busy city streets. Its range is superior to the previous entries on this list—162 miles in the city and 149 miles of combined city and highway driving.
While its range might be enough depending on your commuting needs, it’s not a road-tripper and wasn’t intended to be one.
Chevrolet Spark EV
Another EV that’s best suited for short commutes is the Chevrolet Spark EV. Edmunds says the 2015 Chevy Spark EV is suitable for 82 miles of range. That’s enough to make serious road-trippers chuckle.
One InsideEVs writer claims he’s “never come close to running out of juice” with his 2015 Chevy Spark EV. That hammers home the point that any EV is a good vehicle when used properly. But you can’t turn a Chevrolet Spark EV into a capable road tripper. According to AutoEvolution, it was only manufactured from 2013 to 2016.
Volkswagen e-Golf
Car Magazine reports that the 2023 Volkswagen e-Golf can do around 186 miles on a single charge—though previous model years had less. While 186 miles isn’t anything to sneeze at, longer road trips will be cumbersome and tiresome.
Nissan Leaf
The first generation of the Nissan Leaf offered a range of about 107 miles. But if you were to buy a used first-gen Leaf, like a 2013 model, due to battery degradation, it might only have a range of about 70 miles.
Leafs have been around for a while, and there’s lots to like about them. But are they road-trippers? No, not by a long shot—unless you want to spend as much time charging as you do driving.
Toyota bZ4X
Green Toyota says the 2024 Toyota bZ4X offers a range of 253 miles for the FWD model and 228 miles for the AWD model. While these are not insignificant numbers by any stretch, they don’t make the electric SUV the ultimate road tripper if your trip is long-distance.
Audi Q4 e-tron 40
The Audi Q4 e-tron 40 is another EV with a range that isn’t horrible but isn’t great either. For most people, its 265-mile range is more than enough. But people who love to hit the road for long-distance trips likely need something with more range.
Mitsubishi i-MiEV
The Mitsubishi i-MiEV is a textbook example of an EV made for the city. Looking like a motorized shopping cart, the Mitsubishi i-MiEV has its detractors. “The 16-kilowatt battery and compact, rear-mounted electric motor ensured that the i-MiEV’s driving range reached up to 62 miles (EPA official range) and offered excellent performance,” says Mitsubishi Motors, which might have exaggerated the “excellent performance” comment. It’s underpowered and slow as molasses, so you’re better off driving it on city streets and leaving the highways to the big dogs.
Mini Cooper SE Countryman All4
Is 230 miles of range enough for your road trip adventure? Depending on how far you drive, maybe. But if your road trip would take the better part of a day or multiple days, the 2025 Mini Cooper SE Countryman All4 might not be the road-tripper you want.
“On paper, the all-electric Countryman’s specs are lacking when put up against the Mini’s closest competitor, the Volvo XC40 Recharge,” says Car and Driver.
BMW i4 eDrive35
According to BMW of Peoria, the 2023 BMW i4 eDrive35 has 285 hp and 295 ft-lbs of torque, can do 0-60 in 5.8 seconds, and offers between 235 and 256 miles of range. That’s not bad. But again, if your EV needs to be a capable road tripper, you’ll probably want something with more range.
Avoid These EVs if You Want a Long-Distance Road-Tripper
Most of these EVs are great vehicles with lots to offer. But since this list focuses on models that might underwhelm on road trips—especially long-distance ones—buyers beware.
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