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I've tested 15 electric cars — these 6 blew me away with game-changing features

The 2022 Polestar 2.
The 2022 Polestar 2.Tim Levin/Insider
  • I got behind the wheel of 15 electric cars in 2022.

  • Six awesome features made six models stand out from the growing pack.

  • Tesla's Model Y is incredibly easy to charge, while Pininfarina's Battista packs mind-bending acceleration.

More electric vehicles are on sale than ever before. In 2022, I got to drive well over a dozen of the latest and greatest models.

Looking back over hours and hours of testing, six features from six vehicles stood out.

The Rivian R1S's ruggedness

The Rivian R1S electric SUV.
The Rivian R1S.Tim Levin/Insider

Electric-vehicle startup Rivian's SUV is big, comfy, and ferociously quick. What really sets it apart, though, is its tremendous off-road capability.

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The Launch Edition model I drove had four motors, one driving each wheel. This setup not only allows for tons of power — 835 horsepower and 908 pound-feet of torque, to be exact — but also helps the R1S's advanced all-wheel-drive system find grip when the going gets steep or slippery.

The Rivian R1S electric SUV.
The Rivian R1S.Tim Levin/Insider

I know next to nothing about off-roading, yet I had a blast trundling over boulders, fording streams, and climbing up steep hills. The SUV's air suspension can change height and ride stiffness to match different types of terrain. And with the help of a built-in air compressor, Rivian owners can refill their tires after a day on the trails.

The Ford F-150 Lightning's frunk

The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning.
The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning.Ford

An electric version of America's most popular pickup, the F-150 Lightning is a game-changer. One of its best features is its massive front trunk.

Pop the Lightning's "hood," and you gain access to a cavernous compartment complete with a divider, a power outlet, and under-floor storage. It's the perfect solution for any things you want to keep secure and out of the exposed bed. One bonus: The entire grille area lifts up with the hatch, providing a conveniently low loading zone.

The Pininfarina Battista's absurd acceleration

The Pininfarina Battista.
The Pininfarina Battista.TangentVector

Most EVs are pretty quick, thanks to the instantaneous torque of electric motors. But the Pininfarina Battista blows every Porsche, Audi, and Tesla out of the water.

Powered by four motors worth 1,900 horsepower, the $2 million supercar blasts to 60 mph in less than two seconds. (It recently notched a time of 1.79 seconds, claiming the title of the quickest production car in the world.)

The Pininfarina Battista.
The Pininfarina Battista.Tim Levin/Insider