Top 7 Most Efficient EVs in Canada

Electric vehicles (EVs) are much more efficient than internal combustion engine (ICE) cars and far less polluting over their lifecycle, even when considering their production.

Advanced electric motors in EVs today can achieve an efficiency rating of over 90 per cent, meaning that 90 per cent of the energy from the battery gets converted to forward motion. The most efficient internal combustion engine would be lucky to muster an efficiency rating over 40 per cent.

But not all EVs are built equally. Differences in motor types, battery chemistry, and software are significant factors for efficiency and range. Weight is also crucial. Batteries are the heaviest component in an EV, making them heavier than a comparable ICE car.  Since most consumers demand at least 500 km of range, efficiency naturally drops as battery sizes increase. This is why aerodynamics and rolling resistance play a greater role in the efficiency of an EV.

To help get an idea of which EVs are the most efficient, we’ve compiled a list of the top seven for sale in Canada, listed here in ascending order. Any of these will get the maximum range out of each kWh of electricity pumped into the battery and will have the lowest annual charging costs.

Note: This data was sourced from Natural Resources Canada’s (NRCan’s) fuel consumption rating search tool, and some results were omitted because if a make/model made the list once, we didn’t include the other trims and variations of it to avoid repetitiveness. We use the kWh/100 km measurements in these rankings. The yearly cost to charge assumes an average driving distance of 20,000 km per year at a price of 18 cents per kWh.

Audi A6 60 e-tron ultra

Efficiency: 17.4 kWh/100 km combined

Range: 606 km

Annual Fuel Cost: $626

The new A6 ditched its internal combustion engine in favour of electric propulsion, and its new wind-cheating shape is Audi’s most aerodynamic ever, with a drag coefficient of just 0.21.

The A6 e-tron and more powerful S6 e-tron are based on a new electric platform that also underpins the Q6 e-tron and the Porsche Macan EV. With an 800-volt architecture, efficient electric motors, and silicon-carbide-infused inverters, the A6 uses the latest technology to deliver an impressive 606 km of range on a full charge. It’s quick too, with up to 456 hp when using launch control. Charging speeds are rapid, reaching 270 kW with a powerful enough charger, good for 10 to 80 per cent in just 21 minutes.

Tesla Model S

Efficiency: 16.9 kWh/100 km combined

Range: 660 km

Annual Fuel Cost: $608

The Tesla Model S is one of the brand’s oldest nameplates, launching in 2012 after the limited-production Roadster was discontinued. The Model S was easily the most advanced EV in the world when it launched and it catapulted Tesla into the spotlight. It was the best-selling electric car in the world in 2015 and 2016.

The Model S was ahead of its time, and its design has endured for 13 years, albeit with a few big updates, including new motors and better battery technology. With 670 hp and an impressive range of 660 km, the base Model S is still one of the efficiency leaders in the EV world, but it’s expensive, with prices starting from $139,990.

Hyundai Ioniq 5 Long Range

Efficiency 16.9 kWh/100 km combined

Range: 504 km

Annual Fuel Cost: $606

Hyundai’s retro-inspired Ioniq 5 EV has been a big success for the Korean automaker, earning awards and accolades for its design and technology. There are multiple variations, including a bonkers 641-hp N version that does an excellent impersonation of a fire-breathing rally car with simulated shifts and a raucous exhaust note.

Of course, the N isn’t the most fuel-efficient version by a long shot; that honour goes to the rear-wheel-drive Long Range version with the updated 84-kWh battery that gives it a nice bump in range to just over 500 km. That 500 km number is becoming somewhat of a theme among new EVs, even with more affordable options like the Ioniq 5, which has a starting MSRP of $52,999. 

The Long Range version is $55,499. The Ioniq 5 has an 800-volt system, something you typically only find in premium EVs like the Porsche Taycan. It’s great value and a fun vehicle to drive, and thanks to continuous technology updates, it’s also one of the most efficient EVs you can buy.

Tesla Model Y Long Range

Efficiency: 16.7 kWh/100 km combined

Range: 525 km

Annual Fuel Cost: $601

Seeing another Tesla on this list shouldn’t be a surprise, as this company has always been a leader in EV tech and software. The Model Y is also the most successful of all Teslas, probably because it’s a one-size-fits-all compact crossover. Despite being much more expensive than the Toyota Corolla, the Model Y took the long-held throne from Toyota to become the best-selling car globally, and the first EV to claim the title. It still held that position as of the 2024 model year.

Like the Hyundai, the Long Range Model Y gets a single electric motor driving the rear wheels, but it makes close to 300 hp, which is significantly more. It has an 82-kWh battery and an impressive range of 525 km.

Hyundai Ioniq 6 Long Range 18-inch wheels

Efficiency: 16.2 kWh/100 km

Range: 550 km

Annual Fuel Cost: $583

The Hyundai Ioniq 6 might look strange, but that streamlined shape is the result of class-leading aerodynamics. The Ioniq 6 boasts the same drag coefficient of 0.21 as the Audi A6 e-tron, which is also on this list. It’s interesting to note that this low drag number for both the Hyundai and the Audi is only possible when they are equipped with the digital camera side mirrors, which aren’t legal in the U.S. and Canada.

As a testament to how big a factor aerodynamics are for EV efficiency, consider that the Ioniq 6 makes 225 hp, the same amount as the Ioniq 5, but gets 50 km more range per charge while equipped with a smaller 77.4-kWh battery.

Tesla Model 3 Long Range

Efficiency 15.3 kWh/100 km combined

Range: 584 km

Annual Fuel Cost: $551

The runner-up here is, wait for it, a Tesla. This time, the Model 3. It has the same power as the Model Y but a slightly smaller 79.7-kWh battery and better aerodynamics than the Y. After the latest “Highland” update, the Model 3 gets an improved drag coefficient of just 0.22, and range goes up to 584 km.

The Model 3 was Tesla’s first affordable vehicle and still sets the standard for EVs globally. Many factors contribute to its remarkable efficiency, including being relatively lightweight and having advanced propulsion motors, battery chemistry, and software. Teslas also benefit from the best charging network in North America. Prices for the Model 3 Long Range start at just under $60,000 in Canada.

Lucid Air Pure with 19-inch wheels

Efficiency: 14.4 kWh/100 km combined

Annual Fuel Cost: 676 km

The Lucid Air is one of the most advanced EVs today and was launched as a direct competitor to the Tesla Model S.

The Air is more luxurious, better built, and has more advanced technology than the Tesla. It's also considered one of the best driving sedans and EVs. 

Lucid’s top spot on this list is thanks to a superbly efficient electric powertrain and unmatched aerodynamics. The Air is one of the most aerodynamic vehicles in the world, with a remarkable drag coefficient of 0.197, the lowest on this list. The Pure trim is the base model with a single motor driving the rear wheels and the least amount of power, but it still has 430 hp, which is more than reasonable. 

With an 84-kWh battery and equipped with the smaller 19-inch wheels, the Air Pure can travel an amazing 676 km per charge, the largest range on this list, beating the Tesla Model S. Its combined efficiency of 14.4 kWh/100 km is also incredible and nearly 1 kWh better than the runner-up.