The Tesla Roadster was the first production car produced by the clean energy and electric vehicle company. Today, its best-selling nameplates are the affordable Model 3 sedan and Model Y small SUV.
Tesla's Roadster was a pricey performance-oriented enthusiast car designed to prove that EVs could be just as sporty (if not sportier) than iconic internal combustion engine performance vehicles.
Tesla is bringing back the Roadster, which will cost around $200,000, says MotorTrend. It costs $50,000 to reserve the new Roadster, according to the company's website. Is the $50,000 a worthy investment, or are there better performance EVs available within the same price range?
BMW's high-performance division is going electric
If I had $50,000 to put down on a new performance car with an electric powertrain,
the 2026 BMW i4 M60 is one of the first models I'd look into. It starts at $70,700 before taxes and fees.
The BMW i4 M60 produces 563 horsepower and 586 pound-feet of torque. It rockets from 0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds, which is quick for its size. The i4 M60 has around 278 miles of driving range.
BMW offers plenty of packages to upgrade the i4 M60 including an M Carbo Exterior Package ($2,900). You can also add a Driving Assistance Professional Package ($1,700) for camera and radar based highway and city driving.
The 2026 BMW i4 M60 is a solid, more affordable Tesla Roadster alternative because the German luxury automaker is known for producing some of the best enthusiast vehicles money can buy. It's also quick and powerful.
The Porsche Taycan is mind-blowingly quick
I tested a Porsche Taycan for USA TODAY Cars and can confirm that the EV has superb handling and is a blast to drive. The Taycan comes in plenty of trims, but the Taycan Turbo model is the best trim to compete with the upcoming Tesla Roadster while still being more affordable.
The Porsche Taycan Turbo starts at $184,600. A $50,000 down payment on the Taycan would still amount to a substantial auto loan, but Porsche's electric car has the performance specs and driving dynamics to justify its price to some drivers.
Porsche's Taycan Turbo produces a whopping 871 horsepower. It zooms from 0-60 mph in 2.5 seconds. When it comes to electric performance vehicles, the Taycan is a top-tier model.
Lucid's electric car boasts excellent performance specs
The Lucid Air Grand Touring isn't as quick as the Porsche Taycan, but it's significantly cheaper than the Taycan and Tesla Roadster, while still putting up great performance numbers. The Lucid Air Grand Touring starts at $114,900 and produces 819 horsepower.
It goes from 0-60 mph in 3.0 seconds. The electric car has 480 miles of driving range, which is extremely practical.
Buyers can add the DreamDrive Pro package for $6,750. This package includes Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) hardware that allows the vehicle to drive itself under supervision in certain scenarios.
I tested the Lucid Gravity SUV recently and enjoyed its futuristic software and features. The Lucid Air Grand Touring may not be as quick as other EVs, but it offers an ownership experience that's unique and convenient for drivers.
Tesla's new Roadster could set a new 0-60 time world record, but it's made for a very specific type of driver. If you aren't a die-hard Tesla fan willing to pay over $200,000 for a performance EV, it probably isn't worth reserving.
Charles Singh is an Autos Connect Reporter for The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network. Contact him at CSingh@Gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tesla wants $50K to reserve the Roadster: 3 EVs to buy instead
