Electric vehicle performance has progressed faster than many thought possible, and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. EVs once impressed by simply driving down the street without sound, but that party trick got old fast. Fortunately, the technology lent itself to massive improvements in a very short period of time, leading us to the electric rocketships on sale today in nearly every price bracket.
One of the coolest features of this technology was how it managed to turn everyday-looking vehicles into drag strip icons. Take the sedan. Today, if an automaker produces an electric one, nine times out of ten, they also produce a high-performance version. With so many on the market to choose from, the options are starting to become overwhelming, but we’ve made it easy. Below are some heavy-hitters that can all shoot from 0–60 mph in less than 3.5 seconds, ensuring you’ll put all your combustion friends to shame.
In this article, we take a look at eight sports sedans that can sprint from 0–60 mph in less than 3.5 seconds, and we’ve placed them in order from the slowest to the fastest. Manufacturer-supplied 0–60 mph times are the only metrics used, so some cars show a 0–62 mph (0-100 km) time instead.
Mercedes-AMG EQE 53
0-62 MPH: 3.5 Seconds
Powertrain
Dual-motor AWD
Horsepower
617 hp (677 hp with boost)
Torque
701 lb-ft (738 lb-ft with boost)
Transmission
Single-speed automatic
Price
$96,600
The first car to land on this list is the Mercedes-AMG EQE 53, and it’s one of the tamer options. We know, it’s a bit crazy calling a car that can produce 677 horsepower tame, but this is one of those vehicles that will easily fly under the radar because it doesn’t look all that different from its non-AMG siblings. This only means you’ll be able to catch unsuspecting rivals with their guards down, and then float off into the sunset at speeds that would make the previous combustion E63 S blush.
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It’s potent, but the design and styling will split opinions.
Beyond that, it’s also supremely comfortable, with an air suspension that soaks up the bumps with ease, and rear-axle steering that makes it much more agile than it appears. While it may lack the character of some of the other cars on this list, its luxury is practically unrivaled.
Where research meets the right deal
Audi S e-tron GT
0-60 MPH: 3.3 Seconds
Powertrain
Dual-motor AWD
Horsepower
Up to 671 hp
Torque
546 lb-ft
Transmission
Two-speed automatic
Price
$125,500
Built on the same platform as the Porsche Taycan, the Audi S e-tron GT has 96% of the same performance, at a much better price. For 2025, the E-Tron GT lineup was overhauled, with tweaks to its looks and significant changes to its performance. The S model replaced the base GT from before, and this time around, it makes 583 horsepower and 546 lb-ft of torque, which can be boosted up to 671 horsepower for up to 10 seconds.
This increase in performance means it’ll hit 60 mph in a smidge over three seconds, and we wouldn’t be surprised if it could do it even faster. The interior is gorgeous, and the exterior is minimalist, but imposing. We think it’s one of the better looking EVs on sale today, and should probably give you pause before pulling the trigger on the Porsche since it starts at $125,500.
Where research meets the right deal
Tesla Model 3 Performance
0-60 MPH: 2.9 Seconds
Powertrain
Dual-motor AWD
Horsepower
510 hp
Torque
547 lb-ft
Transmission
Single-speed
Price
$54,990
The Tesla Model 3 Performance is one of the best deals in performance to date, and that’s after the EV tax credit was kicked to the curb. For approximately $55,000, you can purchase yourself a Tesla Model 3 with 510 horsepower, a track-tuned adaptive suspension, plenty of customizable settings, lightweight wheels, and performance brakes.
The looks have been improved over previous Model 3s, and you still receive nearly 300 miles of range, though, this will drop like a rock under hard driving. With a 0-60 mph sprint of 2.9 seconds, it’s wicked fast, much faster than nearly anything else in its price range. You may not be fond of Tesla, but you can’t help but admire what this car is capable of.
Where research meets the right deal
Zeekr 007 AWD
0-62 MPH: 2.8 Seconds
Powertrain
Dual-motor AWD
Horsepower
637 hp
Torque
523 lb-ft
Transmission
Single-speed
Price
$36,000
The Zeekr 007 should make every automaker on the planet nervous. Introduced a couple of years ago, it looks like a mix between a Lucid Air and a VW ID.7, with an interior that looks every bit as good as the best executive sedans on the market. This shouldn’t be surprising, given Zeekr is Geely’s premium brand. It’s also not surprising it packs a serious punch, thanks to 637 horsepower from dual motors.
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Here’s the catch, though: The brand will only be stateside for a few days, exhibiting three of its most interesting models at CES 2025.
This will sprint it to 60 mph in 2.8 seconds, but it’s not a track car like many of the others on this list. It’s a car that’s more well-rounded than the others, with 383 miles of range (CLTC), and the ability to add back 315 miles of that range in a mere 15 minutes thanks to its 800-volt architecture and DC fast chargers that can output up to its peak 500 kW charging speeds. China really is living in the future.
Lotus Emeya R
0-62 MPH: 2.78 Seconds
Powertrain
Dual-motor AWD
Horsepower
905 hp
Torque
727 lb-ft
Transmission
Single-speed
Price
TBD
Lotus’s first true electric sedan is a force to be reckoned with, and proof this isn’t the small British automaker of our forefathers. Produced under the watchful helm of Geely (yes, they own Lotus, too), the Emeya is meant to be the super GT for the discerning buyer. To that end, the looks are striking, with an alien appearance that should be a perfect match for its extreme power. That power tops out at the Emeya R, which utilizes dual electric motors to put out 905 horsepower.
The 0-60 mph time comes in the blink of an eye, and it’ll keep on pulling until it hits its 159 mph top speed. An adaptive suspension, active aero, and optional carbon-ceramic brakes round out the expected hardware, and they’re all necessary to counter the car’s considerable heft, making us nostalgic for the days of featherweight Elises.
Porsche Taycan Turbo GT (Weissach Package)
0-60 MPH: 2.1 Seconds
Powertrain
Dual-motor AWD
Horsepower
1,019 hp (overboost)
Torque
988 lb-ft
Transmission
Two-speed automatic
Price
$230,000
The Taycan Turbo GT with the Weissach Package is the 911 GT3 RS of EVs. This car was designed to do one thing, and that’s tear down track records with an ease that should really start to concern combustion and hybrid competitors. The Turbo GT has been doing just that, and it’s all thanks to up to 1,019 horsepower and the track-focused upgrades of the Weissach package.
This adds intense carbon-fiber aerodynamic elements, extra bracing, ditches the back seat, improves the brakes, and more to drop the weight by over 150 lbs. We do not doubt that it’s likely the best driving EV on the road today, and we love that supremely awesome purple launch color. At nearly a quarter of a million dollars, it doesn’t come remotely cheap, but at least the Weissach package is technically a no-cost option.
Tesla Model S Plaid
0-60 MPH: 1.99 Seconds
Powertrain
Tri-motor AWD
Horsepower
1,020 hp
Torque
1,048 lb-ft
Transmission
Single-speed
Price
$109,990
Finally, we get to the trusted Tesla Model S Plaid. It’s funny that this car is starting to feel old, because, as you can see, it’s still one of the quickest cars in the world to 60 mph, achieving the feat in a hair under two seconds. This comes courtesy of its tri-motor AWD system, which outputs over 1,000 horsepower, and can be paired with an optional tire and brake package, which bumps its top speed to 200 mph.
With specs like this, it’s hard not to still consider it the benchmark in the high-performance EV industry, but, as you’ve seen, competition has gotten fierce in recent years. Even with a recent refresh that aims to keep it feeling youthful, the age behind the nips and tucks is becoming impossible to ignore. However, Tesla has never been one to act its age.
Lucid Air Sapphire
0-60 MPH: 1.89 Seconds
Price
Tri-motor AWD
Horsepower
1,234 hp
Torque
1,430 lb-ft
Transmission
Single-speed
Drivetrain
$249,000
The 0-60 mph crown goes to the Lucid Air Sapphire, a model that came and conquered the mighty Tesla. This four-door luxury GT is a testament to how far we’ve come over the years. The specs are insane: 1,234 horsepower, 0-60 mph in 1.89 seconds, a 205 mph top speed, plus 427 miles of range. That last part is the kicker, because no other EV on this list even comes close to meeting those kinds of miles.
It achieves all of this with a near limousine-like room, a massive trunk, and all the tech you would ever want. The only downside is the pricetag, which comes in at about $140,000 more expensive than the Model S Plaid. Is it better than the Tesla? Undoubtedly, but is it $140,000 better? A bit of a tougher call, but at least they’re both produced right here in the US.
Sources: Audi, Mercedes-AMG, Porsche, Lotus, Tesla, Lucid, Zeekr.
