Pros and cons
Xos Trucks Stepvan pros and cons — the honest buyer's verdict (2022)
3 min read·Last updated: 2022-01-01·By ev.care editorial team
TL;DR
3 pros, 4 cons. The Xos Trucks Stepvan is best for us last-mile fleets (parcel, financial-services armored) — within that envelope it is one of the strongest picks in its segment.
Some EVs win on price, some on range, some on charging. The Xos Trucks Stepvan sits in the middle of Xos Trucks's line-up and has its own particular shape — 3 clear pros, 4 clear cons, and a 290 km range figure that holds up under most conditions. Here is the full picture.
Xos Trucks Stepvan — the pros
These are the pros where the Xos Trucks Stepvan genuinely outpaces its segment. Strength 1 — 180 mi range competitive in step-van segment. On the Xos Trucks Stepvan specifically, this matters more than the brochure suggests, and it shows up clearly in daily use. Strength 2 — Purpose-built X-Platform chassis. On the Xos Trucks Stepvan specifically, this matters more than the brochure suggests, and it shows up clearly in daily use. Strength 3 — UPS/FedEx fleet adoption. On the Xos Trucks Stepvan specifically, this matters more than the brochure suggests, and it shows up clearly in daily use. Anchoring all of this: a 142 kWh battery, 290 km range, and a USD 150,000+ (US) starting price that defines the Xos Trucks Stepvan's value envelope.
Xos Trucks Stepvan — the cons
Owners who returned or sold their Xos Trucks Stepvan early most often cited one of these. Weakness 1 — Not sold globally. On the Xos Trucks Stepvan specifically, this matters more than the brochure suggests, and it shows up clearly in daily use. Weakness 2 — USD 150k+ pricing. On the Xos Trucks Stepvan specifically, this matters more than the brochure suggests, and it shows up clearly in daily use. Weakness 3 — Xos stock volatility post-SPAC. On the Xos Trucks Stepvan specifically, this matters more than the brochure suggests, and it shows up clearly in daily use. Weakness 4 — 75 kW DC charging slow. On the Xos Trucks Stepvan specifically, this matters more than the brochure suggests, and it shows up clearly in daily use. For a class 5/6 electric step-van weighing 5200 kg with 105 km/h top speed, these trade-offs are within segment norms but worth pricing in.
Who the Xos Trucks Stepvan is for
Xos Trucks pitches the Xos Trucks Stepvan at "US last-mile fleets (parcel, financial-services armored)", and that framing holds up. If your driving fits that shape, the pros above land hardest and the cons fade fastest. 290 km of range is enough for most weekly profiles, and 20-80% in 90 min (75kW DC) of fast charging keep occasional long trips practical.
Practical next steps
If the cons feel like dealbreakers, look at the next-trim-up — many Xos Trucks Stepvan weaknesses are addressed by the higher-spec variant for a small price bump.
Related Xos Trucks EVs
If the cons above are dealbreakers, look at workhorse w56, brightdrop zevo 600, ford e transit — each makes a different set of trade-offs. The Xos Trucks Stepvan wins more often than not in its tier, but cross-shopping protects you from buying the wrong shape.
Frequently asked questions
- Does Xos Trucks address the cons in newer models?
- Some, not all. Xos Trucks has improved the Xos Trucks Stepvan platform with each refresh — software updates close a few cons, hardware refresh cycles close more. But fundamental layout decisions (boot space, seating, charge port placement) are baked in for the life of the model.
- Is the Xos Trucks Stepvan worth buying overall?
- For us last-mile fleets (parcel, financial-services armored), yes. The Xos Trucks Stepvan's pros pay back week after week for that use case. For substantially different needs, you'll find better fits in other models.
- What's the biggest reason to choose the Xos Trucks Stepvan?
- Pick the pro in the list above that most matches your weekly use. If it's range, value, charging speed, or feature set — whichever sits at the top for you — that's the buy signal.
- Can the cons be fixed with aftermarket changes?
- A few — wheels, tyres, interior comforts, dashcam, charging cables. Most cons in the list above are structural and not modifiable after purchase, so buy with eyes open.
Pros outweigh cons for the Xos Trucks Stepvan as long as you are honestly looking for us last-mile fleets (parcel, financial-services armored). Buyers who try to force-fit it to a different role end up frustrated by the wrong things.