5 of the Coolest Electrified Vehicles You Can't Buy in the U.S.

The list of options isn't shrinking in the electrified era.

Ronan Glon | 

Mar 27, 2024 | 3 min read

Citroën

Electric vehicles (EVs) tend to sell globally without the constraints associated with gasoline-powered models because EVs don't need to comply with emissions regulations. Factors such as size, price, and battery capacity, however, can keep some great cars away from the United States market. These five options are unavailable domestically but are cool electrified choices.

Jeep

Jeep Avenger

While drivers in the U.S. might associate the Avenger nameplate with a sedan Dodge once offered, motorists in Europe primarily know it as Jeep's first series-produced EV. The front-wheel-drive, 160-inch-long crossover shares its platform with the Citroën ë-C4, and it won the coveted European Car of the Year award in 2023.

The Avenger was developed to slot below the Renegade in terms of size and to make the brand accessible to a wider audience. Jeep sells the Avenger with a three-cylinder engine or an electric drivetrain, but neither model is coming to the U.S. because the firm's CEO said it's too small for our market.

Dacia

Dacia Spring

Made in China and marketed as one of the cheapest EVs in Europe, the Dacia Spring features a rugged-looking design and dimensions tailored to crowded European cities. It could work well as a second car for some families in the U.S., but its appeal may feel limited.

The Dacia Spring offers about 140 miles of range, depending on road conditions, and takes more than 19 seconds to reach 62 mph from a stop, which is on par with a 1972 Volkswagen Super Beetle.

Citroën

Citroën C5 X

Citroën's C5 X straddles several segments: It's part sedan, part station wagon, and part crossover. The C5 X offers multiple powertrains, including a plug-in hybrid system that delivers 225 horsepower and up to about 40 miles of electric range.

While the lack of available all-wheel drive might be a detriment to popularity in the U.S. market, the central hurdle could likely be the same as the ë-C4's: Citroën's long-term absence from the U.S. market.

Citroën

Citroën ë-C4

Citroën offers gasoline- and battery-powered variants of the current-generation C4. The model stands out from other crossovers with a fastback-like or coupe-like design. The EV can drive for 260 miles on a charge, but the odds of seeing the ë-C4 here are low because Citroën left the U.S. market in 1974 and hasn't announced plans to return in the near future.

Honda

Honda e

Previewed by the Urban EV concept car at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show, the Honda e is a four-door electric city car that stretches a mere 153 inches long. It's characterized by a friendly looking exterior design that borrows styling cues from older Honda models, including the original Civic.

Its 35.5-kilowatt-hour battery pack delivers 137 miles of range and it starts at £37,000 in England (around $46,500). For reference, the Honda e costs more than the Hyundai Ioniq 6 yet it has less than half the range.

Ronan Glon

Ronan Glon is an American journalist and automotive historian based in France. He enjoys working on old cars and spending time outdoors seeking out his next project car.