This year has been great for electric vehicles, but we believe that 2017 can be even better. Here are some of the best green cars we are going to see in 2017.
1. Smart ED Range
Each car in Smart’s lineup will receive a pure-electric model and Fortwo ED, Fortwo Cabrio ED and Forfour ED will come out in September next year. The electric range won’t be something to brag about, but this will not affect the sales of Smart because this car is designed for city driving and short trips, enough so you can do your everyday errands.
The expected range of these Smart models will be between 96 and 99 miles per charge as the cars will be equipped with a 17.6 kWh battery. Brabus styling kits, smartphone app and a large number of personalization options will be included as well.
2. VW e-Golf and Golf GTE
E Golf and Golf GTE will enter 2017 with the upgraded safety equipment, infotainment systems and we expect a completely new digital instrument cluster. These two models should also see some changes to the exterior, while the GTE’s 1.4 TSI petrol engine in combination with an electric motor will remain the same. The combined output of this powertrain is 201 bhp with an electric range of only 31 miles. In addition, this car returns 166 mpg, whereas the emission of CO2 is rated at 39g/kg.
On the other hand, we have the e-Golf, which battery pack will be drastically enhanced. The new range of the e-Golf will be 186 miles per charge, which is almost two times better than the range of the previous model. The new VW e-Golf will come out with more power as well, all of which will bring it closer to the Hyundai Ioniq Electric and BMW i3.
3. Mini Countryman E
BMW has started producing some excellent EV’s, and one of those is coming soon – Mini Countryman E. The new version will be equipped with a 1.5-liter three-cylinder petrol engine paired with an electric motor for the combined output of 224 hp and 385 Nm of torque. The CO2 emission is estimated to 49 g/km while the car will return 134.5 mpg. Although the electric range is limited to 25 miles the new model will feature Auto eDrive and Save Battery driving modes. The new Countryman E will sport a 7.6 kWh battery pack, and the deliveries of this vehicle are going to start in February.
4. Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid
Kia’s plug-in hybrid contestant is called Niro, and we expect to see the new car with the powertrain from the Hyundai Ioniq Plug-In. If this is the case, the Niro will come with a 1.6 petrol engine under the hood in combination with an electric motor and an 8.9 kWh battery. The total range would be more than 30 miles, but let’s wait for the official powertrain announcement.
5. Toyota Prius Plug-In
In 2017 a plug-in variant of the Prius will be added to the lineup. The all-electric range of the new Toyota’s plug-in will exceed 30 miles per one charge, while it will emit only 22 g/km of CO2. The Prius will feature a heavy 8.8 kWh battery, and in order to offset the weight, the engineers added a range-extending solar roof. The new plug-in version will benefit from the latest hybrid powertrain that can be found on the conventional Toyota Prius.
6. Hyundai Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid
The new Hyundai Ioniq can already be found in Hybrid and Electric version and in order to battle against the Prius mentioned above, the carmaker will launch the Plug-In model next year. It will be equipped with a 1.6 Kappa GDI petrol engine and a 45 kW electric motor. The engineers inserted an 8.9 kWh lithium-ion battery, and the electric-only range will be over 30 miles. The plug-in will take most of the features from the Ioniq Hybrid and Electric versions. It is interesting to add that this will be the only car in the market with three different electrification options.
7. Kia Optima SW Plug-In Hybrid
If you are looking for a plug-in that boasts space, the Kia Optima SW is the best choice for you, and it will be available in 2017. Kia is trying to elbow its way into the dense market of the electric vehicles, and this Optima SW is very important, as it will certainly take some sales from the Mitsubishi Outlander plug-in.
The 2.0-liter GDI lies under the hood and with an electric motor it produces 202 bhp and 275 Nm of torque. The electric-only range is 33 miles and it emits 37 g/km of CO2, whereas the combined fuel efficiency is 176.6 mpg.
8. Volvo V90 Cross Country T8 TwinEngine
The Volvo V90 XC is both fashionable and practical, and it will come with the same T8 Twin Engine that can be found in the S90 and V90 models. The customers will find a 2.0-liter petrol unit in combination with an electric motor, and this system delivers 320 hp and emits 44 g/km of CO2.
9. BMW 530e
BMW decided to produce the 5 Series plug-in which will fill the gap between 330e and 740e. The BMW 530e will return 141.2 mpg while its CO2 emission and electric-only range will be 46 g/km and 29 miles per charge respectively. The engine inside the BMW will be good for 252 hp, but many buyers who opt for the 530e will do it because of low company car tax rating and green credentials. Three driving modes will be offered – Eco, Comfort, and Sport.
10. Volvo 40-Series
Volvo deserved to be on this list several times, and besides the V90 Cross Country, the 40-Series models will be launched in 2017 as well. New V40, S40, and CX40 models will be based on the 40.1 and 40.2 concept cars. All come as plug-in versions, but also as pure electric models. At this point, we are not sure whereas the latter ones will come out in 2017 or 2018. A compact three-cylinder Drive E unit will be integrated into these cars, paired with an electric motor, whereas the CMA platform is specifically designed to install electric parts and components.
