As of October 2026, the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 6 holds the top spot on Kelley Blue Book’s list of the best electric cars, with an expert rating of 4.6 out of 5. The streamlined sedan starts at $39,095 and carries an estimated range of 342 miles, the best combination of score and distance among the five cars on the list.
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That ranking is a snapshot of how KBB’s editors rate vehicles on sale now, so it can shift when a new model year arrives or a car is re-reviewed. For shoppers weighing an electric sedan under $40,000, though, the current order says a good deal about where the market sits.
What the Ioniq 6 earns its 4.6 for
The best electric cars list on KBB puts the 2025 Ioniq 6 first at 4.6, with the $39,095 starting price and the 342-mile estimate shown beside it. On its own review page for the 2025 Ioniq 6, KBB describes the sedan as “brimming with charisma as well as capability.” The reviewer says the styling has grown on them since launch and calls the car enjoyable and comfortable to drive.
Charging is a headline strength. KBB’s reviewer reports the battery going from 10% to 80% in 18 minutes, a time the review describes as hard to beat, and the page lists fuel economy of 135 MPGe. Listed pros are fast charging, a 361-mile maximum range and styling, while the one named con is limited trunk space of 11.2 cubic feet.
Owner opinion is thinner than the expert verdict. KBB’s review page shows a consumer rating of 4.2 out of 5 from six reviews, with 68% of those owners saying they would recommend the car. Styling is the highest-scoring consumer category at 4.3, and value is the lowest at 3.0, a split that fits a sedan priced near $39,000 that owners love to look at but feel could cost less. With only six reviews, the consumer score is a loose signal and carries far less weight than the editors’ 4.6.
Reading the 342-mile figure and the price
The 342-mile number is the figure shown on the list, and the review page carries a wider spread. Its header lists 240 to 342 miles depending on configuration, and the text cites a 361-mile maximum for the SE with the long-range battery and 18-inch wheels. The same review puts the all-wheel-drive SEL at about 270 miles. Shoppers comparing trims should therefore treat 342 as the list figure rather than a promise for every Ioniq 6.
Pricing works the same way. The $39,095 figure is the manufacturer’s suggested retail price for the SE Standard Range, and the Limited tops out at $52,345. KBB’s Fair Purchase Price, an estimate of what buyers actually pay, runs $1,195 to $1,645 below those sticker prices, at $37,900 for the SE Standard Range and $50,700 for the Limited.
The cars just behind it
Two vehicles tie for second at 4.5. The 2026 Dodge Charger Daytona starts at $61,990 with a 267-mile range, which makes it a very different proposition from the Hyundai: a performance sedan that costs about $22,900 more at the starting line and goes about 75 miles less per charge on the list’s estimates. The 2026 Nissan Leaf starts at $31,535 and lists 303 miles of range at the top end.
KBB’s Leaf review explains that the third-generation car has moved from a hatchback to a small crossover with front-wheel drive only. The reviewer praises its range and efficiency, 35.9 cubic feet of cargo space and fairly quick charging, and notes it is the only mainstream electric car with two charge ports, so it works with public chargers without an adapter. Trim ranges run 259 to 303 miles, with the S Plus expected to be the most popular choice. The review also warns that Leaf resale values have historically run below average for the segment.
Further down, the 2025 Fiat 500e scores 4.1 with a $32,495 starting price and 149 miles of range, a city-car profile that explains the lower rating. The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt rounds out the five at 4.0, starting at $28,995 with 262 miles, the cheapest car on the list.
How another reviewer sees the Ioniq 6
A second opinion shows the score is not universal. Edmunds rates the 2025 Ioniq 6 at 7.8 out of 10, with a range of 303 miles in its own real-world test and an MSRP span of $37,850 to $54,600. Edmunds praises strong range, fast charging and a well-built cabin, and lists limited rear headroom and poor rearward visibility as weaknesses. Its numbers differ from KBB’s because the two outlets use different scales, trims and test methods.
The practical takeaway for a shopper is to read the list as a starting point. A 4.6 at $39,095 with 342 miles is a strong package on paper, yet the trunk space, the trim-by-trim range spread and the gap between sticker price and typical transaction price all decide how it looks on a specific lot. KBB’s Fair Purchase Price figures are the place to begin negotiating.
This article was produced with the assistance of AI and reviewed by Morning Overview editors prior to publication.
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