Our Q1 2023 quarterly roundup of new EVs coming to market in Canada through the end of March includes a few luxury EVs as well as new trims of old favourites

The calendars have turned over to a new year and with that comes several new electric vehicles hitting the roads around Canada.

The theme for this quarter appears to be variety. The EVs coming to market in Q1 2023 represent a range of price points as well as some unique features (see the crab-walking Hummer EV).

As well, there is a new retail opportunity for Montreal with the opening of Lucid’s new Studio, delivery and service centre in that city. This is the automaker’s third Studio location in Canada and its first service centre in Quebec.

And coast-to-coast the market is responding positively to zero-emission transportation as Canadians are embracing EVs more than ever, the data shows.

In the last quarter of 2022, Transport Canada’s rebate statistics show 14,593 federal EV purchase rebates were issued nationally. For entire year over 58,000 rebates were claimed.

Let’s look at the new EVs available at dealerships now or expected soon in Q1 2023 as well as upgraded models of vehicles already available.

2023 BMW i4 eDrive35

BMW has a solid roster of electric vehicles including the i4 sport-sedan, the iX SUV and the i7 flagship sedan, but for 2023, Canadians will be able to buy more trim levels.

In Q1 2023, the automaker will finally offer the entry-level model of its latest EVs: the i4 eDrive35.

The eDrive35 is a rear-wheel-drive model, which uses a single, 281-hp motor. It might not sound impressive, but BMW estimates that this motor will help the sedan sprint from 0-100 km/h in just 6 seconds, which is plenty fast.

The battery in the eDrive35 is slightly smaller than the other i4 models, measuring 70.2 kWh compared to 83.9 kWh in the eDrive40 and M50. As a result, the range of the i4 eDrive35 is just 412 km on models with 18-inch wheels, and 378 km when riding on 19-inch wheels.

The eDrive35 features a lower price than the other trims. It’s the most affordable path into an electric BMW thanks to a federal and provincial rebate eligible MSRP of $54,990. For reference, the eDrive40 is $61,390 and the M50 is a whopping $77,500.

2023 Cadillac Lyriq

Cadillac is ramping up its deliveries for the more powerful, all-wheel-drive versions of the Lyriq EV this quarter.

This model features 500 hp compared to just 340 in the rear-wheel-drive model, and will be capable of driving up to 494 km, while the RWD model manages 502 km. The AWD model is rated to tow up to 3,500 lbs, making it more practical for hauling a trailer around.

So far, only the rear-wheel-drive version of the Lyriq has been delivered to Canadian customers. The automaker tells Electric Autonomy its hopeful that the AWD model will arrive in customers’ driveways near the end of Q1, but is more realistically targeting Q2.

General Motors has been quiet about the Canadian pricing of the AWD model, but south of the border, the automaker offers the AWD model for just US$2,000 more than the RWD, which costs $69,898 in Canada.

2022 GMC Hummer EV

The Cadillac isn’t the only fancy EV that General Motors is selling to Canucks.

The massive GMC Hummer EV made a big splash when it was revealed back in 2021, thanks to its huge size, eye-popping performance and the official return of a storied nameplate. The super-truck, as it’s known, packs 1,000 hp, which allows it to blast off to highway speeds from a standstill in just 3 seconds.

It features a removable roof that can be stowed in its front trunk and an innovative “crab-walk” mode. (Crab-walk turns both the rear and front wheels in the same direction to allow the truck to move sideways.)

Now that production on the vehicle has restarted after GMC’s much-needed factory retooling and battery issues have been resolved, the keys of this big pickup are expected to land in the first customer’s hands sometime near the end of Q1.

The big EV starts at $88,898 and ranges up to $125,898 for the Edition 1.

2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4MATIC and EQE 500 4MATIC

Mercedes is making good on its Q4 2022 pledge to have the EQE sedans available in Canada by early 2023.

Things seem to be on track for a February arrival of the 2023 EQE 350 4MATIC and EQE 500 4MATIC sedans. And by way of update the German-automaker has released the pricing for each at $85,600 and $95,000, respectively.

The vehicles are not eligible for any rebates, nor is their more powerful sister vehicle, the EQE 4MATIC+ sedan, which will arrive in Canada in summer 2023 with an eye-watering $121,500 price tag.

VinFast VF6 and VF7

What good is another quarterly update without some VinFast news?

At CES, the Vietnamese automaker unveiled its VF6 and VF7 vehicles. VinFast will begin taking early reservations for both this March.

Keep your eyes peeled for more news about these new models as VinFast gets its momentum going this year in Canada.

2023 Kia Niro EV

Expensive luxury-oriented EVs aren’t the only story line to start the year.

For the more affordably minded, the new 2023 Kia Niro EV (along with its hybrid variants) begins arriving at dealerships this quarter, offering a less expensive EV alternative to the popular EV6.

The Niro EV uses a 64.8 kWh battery, that empowers a driving range of 407 km. The front wheels of the Niro EV are motivated by a 201-hp motor. While these figures are all significantly less than that of the Kia EV6, so is the Niro EV’s price point. The vehicle starts at just $44,995 (federal and provincial rebate eligible) before delivery and destination fees.

Speaking of the EV6, the 576 hp and 545 lb.-ft. of torque GT model is also arriving in customers’ driveways this quarter, satisfying those who are in desperate need of emission-free speed and acceleration.

2023 Mazda MX-30

Not every EV available is designed for long-distance driving. If you just need a neighbourhood or city-oriented runabout, the 2023 Mazda MX-30 might be a good fit.

When it first debuted, the vehicle was only offered in Quebec and British Columbia. It will be available across the country starting this spring.

However, it’s important to note that the MX-30 offers just 161 km of range from its 35.5 kWh battery. Then again, it features an attractive, compact design with unique rear-hinged rear doors. A 143-hp motor powers the front wheels, and no all-wheel-drive models are available. (Earlier this year, Mazda unveiled a plug-in hybrid version of the MX-30 with a rotary engine range extender, but it’s unlikely this model will be available in Canada.)

Customers can get into a MX-30 GS trim for just $42,650, while the better equipped GT model costs $47,650 and includes more technology like a Bose sound system, a power moonroof, auto levelling headlights and 18-inch wheels.

2023 Volkswagen ID.4

One final and interesting note for our Q1 2023 EVs round-up involves the Volkswagen ID.4. Production of the mass-market EV has finally shifted from Germany to the automaker’s Chattanooga, Tenn., plant. All trims and models of the ID.4 are now available across the country, compared to the limited selection and availability when the vehicle first hit the market.

For 2023 model year vehicles, there are three key trims of the ID.4, including a $42,207.22 entry-level offering that uses the smaller 62 kWh battery and rear-wheel-drive for a driving range of 336 km. The $46,207.22 ID.4 Pro uses a bigger battery to deliver 443 km of range, while the $51,207.22 AWD versions feature a total of 410 km of range.

All the 2023 models are federal and provincial rebate eligible.