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Which models will qualify for the full $7,500 of the updated EV tax credit? Are Tesla’s recent price reductions leading to increased sales of EVs? This is the Week In Reverse from Green Car Reports for the week ending on April 7, 2023. We have first-drive reviews of four new models that are arriving soon, as well as a prototype preview drive. 

In our first drive review of the U.S.-spec 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6, we found that this electric sedan was optimized for efficiency and calm and quiet. It is more spry than sporty and not as thrilling as the Tesla Model 3. We also drove the 2023 Toyota Prius Prime, which goes up to 44 all-electric plug-in miles before becoming a hybrid. It is rated at up to 51 mpg combined, making it better than the Chevy Volt on the hybrid front. However, it doesn’t match the electric miles of the pioneering GM model offered when it was discontinued five years ago. We wondered if the new model will be plugged in by owners, with the same striking design as the new Prius hybrid. 

During a first drive review of the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV, we discovered that it offered impressive luxury, comfort, and long driving range, considering its smaller battery pack than the larger EQS SUV. However, its charging time isn’t leading-edge. In a review of the 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid, we found that this small crossover or boxy wagon optimized value and fuel efficiency, with a sticker price starting under $30,000 and up to 42 mpg. However, refinement and performance are not luxury-level. 

We also had an opportunity to preview drive the 2025 Volkswagen ID.7. This segment-buster EV was offering up to 350 miles of range in its coming U.S. version. It looks like a sedan, but it’s a hatchback, showing why aero rules for EVs and there is hope for cars after all. 

Toyota announced on Friday that it plans to increase plug-in hybrid electric range beyond 120 miles. Toyota RAV4 Prime is at 42 miles and the Prius Prime is at 44 miles. It’s a big change in the current PHEVs packaging. 

Ryder is planning to acquire 4,000 of GM’s BrightDrop electric trucks for its rental and leasing fleet. BrightDrop is producing these trucks at volume in Canada. Furthermore, Lyft has announced that it will expand its EV- and hybrid-exclusive ride-hailing services significantly. It is termed Gren mode, and it adds $1 to each ride, aiming to increase the number of EVs in the fleet. 

Finally, recent Tesla price cuts are thought to have encouraged stronger sales. However, production and delivery numbers from the EV maker released over the weekend suggest that it is continuing to build more vehicles than selling. Consumer Reports forecasts that mass-market automotive brands not meeting EV demand will lose market share, noting a 350% increase in EV demand from 2020 to 2022. If EV supply continues to fall short, consumers will look to other EV-savvy brands, or they will forgo buying obsolete models.