California Buyer's Reality: Long Commutes, EV Charging and Weekend Sierra Escapes

Few states put as many new electric vehicles on the road as California, and a daily commute of 40 or 60 miles round trip fits an EV well. Two electrics from the lineup are worth knowing about. The Jeep Wagoneer S starts at $65,200 and Jeep lists an EPA range of up to 294 miles; on a DC fast charger, 20 to 80 percent takes about 23 minutes. The Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack Plus starts at $77,490 with up to 267 miles of range and a standard NACS port.

If you cannot charge at home, think hard about how much of your energy you will buy on public chargers. In an apartment-heavy city like Los Angeles that can be a real constraint, so ask your landlord or HOA about charging before you decide.

For drivers who want better mileage than a standard SUV without a plug, the Jeep Cherokee hybrid starts at $35,130 and Jeep estimates up to 37 mpg combined. Its small battery charges through braking, so there is no cord at all.

A trip from Sacramento or the Bay Area to Tahoe, Mammoth or Yosemite means gaining thousands of feet, and in winter that often means chains, winter tires or all-wheel drive at some point. When chains are required is set by Caltrans and changes with conditions, so check current Caltrans road information before every trip and carry chains if you will be on the passes.

Vehicles with all-wheel or four-wheel drive handle slow, slippery stretches more calmly than rear-drive cars. The Jeep Grand Cherokee comes in two rows or as the three-row L, starts at $39,730 and tows 6,200 lbs; 4x4 is standard on Limited Reserve, Summit and Trailhawk. The Dodge Durango makes all-wheel drive standard from $43,875. Neither is a substitute for good tires, which matter more than any badge on the back.

If you ski often, also look at cargo and roof-rack practicality: the Grand Cherokee lists up to 70.8 cubic feet of cargo, and the L reaches 84.6.

Southern California's deserts are a different problem from its mountains. The Mojave, Joshua Tree and Anza-Borrego reward drivers with long dirt roads, sand washes and rock gardens, and punish low-clearance vehicles with sidewall cuts and high-centering.

The Jeep Wrangler is the common choice, starting at $36,635. Fitted with the LT315 tires, the four-door Rubicon reaches 12.9 inches of ground clearance. The Gladiator Mojave, from $56,200, is the desert-tuned pickup, with FOX bypass shocks and 11.6 inches of clearance. The Jeep Recon, at $66,995, brings electric torque to the trail, with an estimated 222 miles of range on the Moab and 9.1 inches of clearance.

Remember that charging is scarce far from the highway. If you drive a Recon into remote desert, plan the round trip with a margin of safety, because range figures fall on soft sand and in extreme heat or cold.

Along the coast from San Diego to Santa Cruz, driving is a mix of steep hills, tight parking and salt-tinged air. Smaller vehicles are easier to park and often cheaper to run. The Jeep Compass starts at $29,990 with four-wheel drive standard, a 200-hp turbo four and a rating of 21 city and 29 highway, a sensible fit for dense neighborhoods.

Wildfire is part of life in many parts of the state. Keep a go-bag, know two ways out of your neighborhood, and keep a good charge or at least half a tank in the vehicle during fire season. Smoke can also load up cabin filters, so ask about the replacement schedule.

If you tow a boat to Lake Havasu or a camper to the Eastern Sierra, the Ram 1500 starts at $42,575 and is rated to pull up to 11,530 lbs with the Hurricane engine, with the Durango close behind at 8,700 lbs with the Tow 'n Go package.

California has its own rules for registration, emissions and incentives, and they change. This guide does not quote any of them. Before you sign, check the California DMV site for the current registration process, and ask your dealer in writing about any state or utility programs that may apply to an electric purchase.

It also helps to compare how a vehicle fits the way you actually drive. A 25-mile commute with a home charger is a very different case from a 90-mile one with only public charging. Run your own numbers on your regular routes and treat the manufacturer's range figures as an upper bound.

Finally, consider where you park. Many California buyers live in condos or apartments with limited garage space, so a long truck like the Ram 1500 may be harder to live with than its capability suggests, while the Compass or Cherokee fits tight spots far more easily.