The shiny, minimalist showrooms haven't changed much, but the numbers on the ledger certainly have. If you walk into a dealership today, the conversation isn't about whether an EV works anymore. It’s about which one is actually worth the monthly payment. Honestly, the answer to which electric cars are people buying has shifted from a "Tesla-only" monologue into a loud, crowded debate.
Tesla still sits at the head of the table, but the chair is getting a bit wobbly.
The King is Still Here (But He's Sweating)
Tesla’s Model Y remains the best-selling electric vehicle in the United States and much of the Western world. In 2025, it moved over 357,000 units in the US alone. That is a massive number. It accounted for nearly 40% of the entire EV market. People like the familiarity. They like the Supercharger network. But look closer at the data: the Model Y's sales actually dipped by about 4% year-over-year.
While Tesla's mass-market cars held on, their "prestige" models took a hit. The Cybertruck, Model S, and Model X saw steep declines as the novelty wore off.
Meanwhile, across the Pacific, a massive shift occurred. China's BYD officially snatched the global pure-EV sales crown from Tesla. In 2025, BYD delivered roughly 2.26 million battery-electric vehicles (BEVs). Tesla finished at about 1.64 million. That’s a 620,000-vehicle gap. It’s hard to ignore.
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The New Favorites: Who’s Winning the Middle Class?
If you aren't buying a Tesla, what are you buying?
The answer, increasingly, is a Chevrolet. The Chevy Equinox EV has basically become the "people's champion" of 2026. It moved nearly 58,000 units last year, surging into the third-place spot for US sales. Why? Price. With a starting tag around $33,000 to $35,000 before incentives, it hit a sweet spot that most other brands missed.
People are also flocking to:
- Ford Mustang Mach-E: Still a powerhouse with 51,620 sales in 2025.
- Hyundai Ioniq 5: The darling of the tech crowd, moving over 47,000 units.
- Honda Prologue: A surprise hit with nearly 40,000 sales, proving that brand loyalty to Honda is very, very real.
The Kia EV9 has also carved out a unique niche. It’s the first three-row EV that doesn't cost six figures and actually feels like a "normal" SUV. Families are choosing it over the Rivian R1S because it’s easier to live with and faster to charge.
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Why the Used Market is Exploding Right Now
The biggest secret in the EV world is the 2026 lease return wave.
Roughly 243,000 electric vehicles are coming off lease this year. That is triple the amount we saw just a year ago. What does that mean for you? It means a flood of used Mustang Mach-Es and Volkswagen ID.4s hitting the lots for under $25,000.
For the budget-conscious buyer, this is the "buy" signal they’ve been waiting for. These aren't the old, short-range compliance cars from a decade ago. These are modern machines with 300-mile ranges and fast-charging capabilities.
What’s Actually Driving the Purchase?
Range anxiety is dying. In 2026, most new EVs are pushing 300 to 340 miles on a single charge. But that’s not why people are signing the papers.
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It’s about the "Total Cost of Ownership" or TCO. Gas prices are volatile, but electricity is predictable. Maintenance is also a huge factor. No oil changes. No spark plugs. Regenerative braking means you barely ever touch your actual brake pads. JD Power data now shows that nearly 60% of new-car shoppers are leaning toward electric options.
The switch to NACS (the Tesla-style charging port) by almost every major manufacturer—Hyundai, Kia, Ford, GM—has also removed a massive barrier. You can now pull up to a Tesla Supercharger in a Chevy or a Kia and it just works.
The Luxury Tier: Lucid and Porsche
At the high end, people are buying the Lucid Air for one reason: efficiency. It can go over 500 miles on a charge. That is a technological marvel that has kept Lucid relevant against the Porsche Taycan and the new electric Cayenne.
Speaking of Porsche, the electric Cayenne is expected to be a massive hit for mid-2026. Buyers in this segment want performance that makes their stomach drop, and with outputs reaching 1,100 hp in some trims, Porsche is delivering.
What You Should Do Next
If you’re in the market, the landscape is finally in your favor. Competition is high, which means dealers are actually willing to negotiate.
- Check the Lease Returns: Don't buy new without looking at 3-year-old lease returns. You might find a $50,000 car for half price.
- Verify NACS Compatibility: If you're buying a 2025 or 2026 model, make sure it has the NACS port natively. It makes road-tripping much less stressful.
- Calculate Your TCO: Use a local utility rate tool to see exactly how much you'll save on "fuel." In many states, you're looking at $500 a year for electricity versus $1,500+ for gas.
- Test Drive the "Non-Teslas": The software in the Hyundai Ioniq 6 and the comfort in the Chevy Equinox EV might surprise you. Tesla isn't the only game in town anymore.
The "electric revolution" isn't a futuristic concept. It’s just the current state of the parking lot. Whether it’s a bargain-priced Chevy or a record-breaking BYD, the cars people are buying right now are more diverse, more capable, and finally, more affordable than ever.