► Our guide to the UK’s top EVs
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► Electric car buying advice and more
Welcome to our list of the best electric cars you can buy, updated as we head swiftly towards 2026 when even more outstanding electric vehicle (EV) technology is set to arrive in dealerships. We constantly stress-test this selection to ensure this page features the very hottest zero-emissions machinery available – the EVs the team at CAR completely recommends – and that now includes the first of BMW’s Neue Klasse efforts, the brand new iX3.
Even so, rather than listing a whole bunch of direct competitors, we’ve built a top 10 here that covers each major category of electric car. So instead of simply saying ‘buy a Porsche Taycan’ – which is still reasonable advice, even if their reliability continues to be patchy – we’re aiming to help every kind of EV buyer with a top-flight recommendation.
This way, regardless of whether you want the best electric SUV, the best electric performance car, the best small electric car or anything in between, there’s a carefully curated choice on this page to suit you. Plus two alternatives that we also suggest you take a forensic gander at. Here are some of the key highlights.
Best electric cars at a glance:
Not quite ready to fully commit to the plug? You’re not alone; perhaps check out our best hybrid cars page instead. There’s also a brief FAQ section at the end of this article that might help you make up your mind. And don’t forget you can always find out more about how we test cars for further reassurance.
Best electric cars 2026
This is CAR‘s list of the top 10 best EVs currently on sale in the UK.
Renault 5 E-Tech
Best small EV – it’s aspirational and affordable, and Renault didn’t mess it up
Pros: Real head turner, nice inside, fun to drive, great value
Cons: We wish the driving range was longer, cramped rear seats
Forget the year of the snake, 2025 was the year of the small EV – with the Renault 5 E-Tech leading the way. This is one of those remarkable moments where the car industry has truly delivered on the hype. In resurrecting a much-loved classic nameplate for the electric age and pricing it from just £22,995, Renault has managed to create and build a car that looks great, doesn’t cost the earth and is actually fun to drive.
Ok, so the 255-mile WLTP driving range isn’t sensational, especially as it falls back to around 170 miles in the real world. But as a functional runabout with a smart and clever interior, the R5 is superbly on point. So good, in fact, that the Alpine A290 hot hatch version feels a bit pointless. This doesn’t mean Renault has everything it’s own way, though – the Hyundai Inster and the Fiat Grande Panda also do small, funky and electric exceptionally well.
To find out more, read our full Renault R5 review
Or try: Mini Cooper Electric (stylish and fun, but not as practical inside); Hyundai Inster (modern not retro, and very spacious with it)
MG 4 (Long Range)
Best hatchback EV – it’s cheap, comfortable, spacious and capable, as long as you get the right spec
Pros: Mega value, good to drive, generous kit
Cons: Interior is a little too Playmobil
The MG 4 may go down in history as the thin edge of the wedge. Not only did it instantly rescue this long-lamented British brand from the brink of irrelevance, it’s proven to be the vanguard for a new wave of Chinese EVs that are showing every sign of reshaping the European automotive landscape – and its associated industry. Changes the MG 4 only makes possible by being really rather good, as well as significantly cheaper than its mainstream rivals.
Do buy the right one, though. While they’re all fundamentally fine it’s the Long Range variant that’s the sweet spot of the line-up, by virtue of its better ride and handling balance. The MG 4 XPower, for instance, is hilariously fast but lacks the chassis upgrades to match. Go Long Range and you get 201bhp, up to 281 miles of WLTP range and a staring price of £29,745; the cheapest VW ID.3 costs more for 168bhp and 214 miles WLTP.
To find out more, read our full MG 4 review
Or try: Cupra Born (ID.3 in fancy dress does a great job, especially VZ hot hatch); Renault 4 E-Tech (retro-cool like the Renault 5, only bigger)
Tesla Model 3
Best family EV – aggressive pricing plus benchmark performance and driving range
Pros: Great efficiency, mad performance, no fuss access to Tesla charging network
Cons: Fiddly, touchscreen uber alles interior
Tesla has changed the car industry. And though it’s leader is somewhat divisive and some of its line-up is now not worth the effort, the Model 3 has been a consistently high achiever and makes an excellent electric car for regular family duties. If you can cope with the saloon bodyshape and narrow boot opening. Interior quality is improved for the latest version, and while the obsession with putting everything in the touchscreen is a little irritating at least the software is tolerable.
Most importantly, the Model 3 is brilliant at being an electric car. It offers oodles of smooth performance and we’ve repeatedly seen it demonstrate rival-crushing real-world efficiency in our testing. The entry-level RWD version is currently £39,990 and gives you a 318-mile WLTP driving range; upgrade to the Long Range RWD model at £44,990 and this jumps to 436 miles. Meanwhile, the Performance variant will do 0-60mph in 2.9sec and offers 328 miles of driving for £59,990. Bonkers.
To find out more, read our full Tesla Model 3 review
Or try: Kia EV6 (sleek and chic – two words we never thought we’d write about a Kia); Mercedes-Benz CLA (400 miles or real-world range, super-slick tech)
Volkswagen ID.7
Best large EV – don’t be a badge snob, this is a proper silent banger
Pros: Supremely comfortable and refined, goes a long way between charges
Cons: Amorphous streamliner looks, badge snobbery
Up until this point, Volkswagen hadn’t exactly covered itself in electric glory, but the ID.7 is an exceptionally good EV – beating the BMW i5 and the Mercedes-Benz EQE in our large electric car group test. The VW impresses particularly with its focus on comfort and refinement, making it a relaxing and capable cruiser that underlines these major benefits of switching to electric power.
As such, we’d stick to the 282bhp rear-wheel drive models. There is a faster 335bhp all-wheel drive ID.7 GTX that cuts 0-62mph down from 6.5sec to 5.4, but this costs at least £6k more and doesn’t feel significantly different. Better to keep the cash and embrace the standard versions’ spacious tranquillity – which you can enjoy for up to 436 miles between charging stations if you opt for the Pro S variant.
To find out more, read our full VW ID.7 review
Or try: Audi A6 e-Tron (far more power and good range, as well as cushy air suspension); BMW i5 (good to drive, but comparatively inefficient, expensive and cramped)
Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer
Best estate EV – no electric load-lugger is bigger or better than this right now
Pros: biggest EV estate boot, wonderfully comfortable, long driving range
Cons: VW still can’t get the infotainment right
Electric estate cars are a minor niche – we suppose most people will buy an SUV instead these days – but we still love them, so it’s worth celebrating the best here. And right now that means a second entry in this list for the ID.7, which currently has the largest boot of any load-lugging EV to add to the accolades it already has in hatchback form. Namely: outstanding amounts of comfort, space and driving range.
The boot, though. This gives buyers 605 litres to play with before lowering the rear seats – at which point you get 1714 litres. That’s not just enough for a fairly spendy trip to Ikea but a chunk more than the 570-litre BMW i5 Touring in maximum passenger configuration. The VW goes further than the BMW between charges, too, with up to 424 miles WLTP; the Audi A6 Avant e-Tron promises up to 437 miles, but its 545-litre boot doesn’t cut it.
To find out more, read our full VW ID.7 Tourer review
Or try: Audi A6 Avant e-Tron (goes even further, carries somewhat less); Peugeot E-308 SW (tidy to look at, tidy to drive – a solid smaller EV estate)
Renault Scenic E-Tech
Best ordinary electric SUV – does all the important things very well
Pros: Spacious and practical but still chic, efficient and agile performance
Cons: Firm ride, rear visibility compromised
Renault was an electric car pioneer, so perhaps it’s no surprise its current generation of models is showing a lot of other manufacturers the way. The family sized electric SUV category is now one of the most closely contested, with lots of really decent choice, but we’d put the Scenic E-Tech at the top of our shopping list. It has a lovely interior, is relatively lightweight, and manages to be practical and fun, too.
Renault has focused on FWD efficiency rather than AWD ferociousness – although you do get a choice of power output and battery size. Maximum driving range is a useful 379 miles WLTP, with nickel manganese cobalt battery tech and a heat pump helping to eke out the distance. The sharp steering makes it feel remarkably agile, with a slightly lumpy ride its only significant negative.
To find out more, read our full Renault Scenic E-Tech review
Or try: Skoda Elroq (yes, Skoda has cracked the practical family thing yet again); Kia EV3 (Kia’s impressive electric tech downsized very successfully)
BMW iX3
Best premium electric SUV – brand Neue and all Klasse, it’s sensational
Pros: Next-gen tech lives up to the hype, fresh design, great to drive, fantastic quality throughout
Cons: The lack of physical buttons nearly caused a punch-up in a press conference. True story
BMW has been brilliant at electric cars since it started making them – the original i3 remains a masterpiece of clever design fused with cutting edge technology, and could probably still be successful if it was still on sale today. However, the firm has still managed to deliver a seismic shift with the first of its Neue Klasse range of next-generation EVs, the brand new BMW iX3.
From the crazy design – if you think that chinny exterior is wild, wait until you clock the steering wheel and dashboard – to the clever, user-friendly technology, and of course the sensational driving experience, the iX3 sets new standards for every kind of electric car. News Editor Jake Groves describes it as ‘the best, most complete car’ he’s driven all year. It has a 500-mile driving range, Gen6 motor technology and 463bhp. Believe the hype.
To find out more, read our full BMW iX3 review
Or try: Polestar 3 (‘uncommonly good’ handling but is the interior too minimalist); Porsche Macan (sheer electric SUV brilliance in a slightly smaller package)
Hyundai Ioniq 9
Best seven-seater EV – with space for everything and a smoother ride
Pros: Massive battery, massive interior, comfortable ride
Cons: Rolls a bit in the bends, infotainment is befuddling
The Hyundai Ioniq 9 is our favourite seven-seater electric car, dethroning its closely related cousin, the Kia EV9. They both make maximum use of the impressive E-GMP underpinnings that are already so well proven by so many of Hyundai-Kia’s electric cars, but the marginally newer Ioniq 9 packs in an even bigger 110.3kWh battery while offering a more cossetting ride. Advantages that we believe are more relevant to you if you’re in the market for a large electric people mover.
While the looks perhaps aren’t quite as dramatically manga as the EV9, and it’s still not a very efficient electric car, it delivers a vast amount of interior space. Power runs from 215bhp for the entry-level RWD model to 429bhp for the top spec dual-motor Performance AWD, while WLTP driving range tops out at 385 miles. Interior quality is good enough to challenge the £82,600 Volvo EX90, yet the asking price begins at £64,995. Like the Kia, you can have an even more luxurious six-seater layout, too.
To find out more, read our full Hyundai Ioniq 9 review
Or try: Kia EV9 (formerly front-running, the Ioniq 9’s cousin is still an excellent buy); VW ID.Buzz LWB (great-looking electric bus finally makes sense in seven-seater form)
BMW i7
Best electric limo – looks ugly, drives beautifully
Pros: Stunningly modern blend of luxury and tech, fast, comfortable, enjoyable to drive
Cons: Comparatively poor efficiency, a contender for ugliest car on sale
We spent half a year living with a BMW i7, making sure it’s as good as we thought. And believe us, given time, you can get over the way it looks. Though as we’ve remarked before, when you’re on the inside you can’t see the outside anyway. And there’s always the optional rear cinema display to distract you, not to mention all the intricate glowing surfaces and unusual materials. This is modern BMW luxury, and it all works incredibly well.
This is also one of those limos that can be enjoyed from the front and the back, offering lashing of laid-back lounging yet tight handling and massive performance. Even the slowest model hauls its 2.7 tonnes 0-62mph in 5.5sec while the top spec M70 has 650bhp and does the deed in 3.7. Only slight wrinkle is that despite the huge 101.7kWh battery pack, maximum WLTP driving range is 387 miles – an EQS can go almost 100 miles further.
To find out more, read our full BMW i7 review
Or try: Rolls-Royce Spectre (super-luxe, super-expensive); Lucid Air (not technically available in the UK, but if you can get one they’re sublime)
Hyundai Ioniq 6 N
Best performance EV – yes, it’s even better than the game-changing Ioniq 5 N
Pros: Ferociously fast, awesome artificial ‘gearbox’, yet more mature and multifaceted than the 5 N
Cons: You could get actually lost in some of the sub-menus for the driving modes
There are plenty of really, really fast electric cars around – the egalitarianisation of higher performance being one of the enduring attractions of going zero-emissions. But while a Taycan Turbo GT, an RS e-Tron GT or a top-spec Tesla can rearrange your insides the way mescaline can rearrange your head, it wasn’t until Hyundai came along with the Ioniq 5 N that anyone began to seriously tackle the tricky business of making an EV actually involving.
Well, now Hyundai has upped the ante even further with the introduction of its second electric N model. While the Ioniq 6 N may look a little try hard, it offers the same huge power and gobsmackingly detailed pretend dual-clutch gearbox in combination with the added appeal of deeper sophistication and increased maturity. It rides better and feels less ‘hair trigger’, as reviewer Piers Ward put it, resulting in an even more roundly appealing electric shock machine. We can’t wait for the Ioniq 9 N that’s been rumoured…
To find out more, read our full Hyundai Ioniq 6 N review
Or try: Porsche Taycan (doesn’t matter which one, they’re all brilliant); Abarth 600E (proper LSD and sharp handling vs. garish details and too much bonging)
Are electric cars the future?
There’s increasingly a global acceptance that the sale of fossil-fuel cars needs to come to an end to bring down pollution caused by the transport sector. Many manufacturers think electric cars are the solution and have invested heavily in product plans and some have even announced a date when they’ll phase out anything that’s not an EV.
Not all car buyers are proving so easy to convince, however. And despite ZEV mandate sales ratios, many brands are now rowing back on their electric commitments. There are interesting times ahead as this all works itself out, with rumblings of increased prices for internal combustion engines (ICE) vehicles and delayed deliveries as car makers try to swing public opinion in the direction of electric.
Battery electric vehicles aren’t the only zero-emissions solution being considered. Some carmakers continue to explore hydrogen as an alternative fuel. This isn’t without its own problems, but refuelling is faster and it has some additional versatility since it can be used both as a source of electricity generation in a hydrogen fuel cell or burn like petrol in a hydrogen combustion engine.
Other brands – including Porsche, Toyota and Mazda – are looking at so-called synthetic e-fuels as an alternative to carbon-based petrol and diesel.
Electric car FAQs - CAR answers some frequently asked questions about electric cars
Which electric car has the longest driving range?+
The EV that officially goes furthest in the UK is the Mercedes-Benz EQS, which has a WLTP driving range of up to 481 miles. Impressive. But the creaky build and wildly unsubtle interior lightshow means we'd still rather put up with stopping more regularly in the rival BMW i7. We have a whole page on long-range EVs, too.
Are electric cars more expensive than regular cars?+
Electric cars are typically more expensive than like-for-like petrol or diesel models, but things are improving. That the difference remains is due to technology costs, especially the batteries. EVs also often don't hold their values well. This does mean you can get a bargain buying nearly new, though, with some models halving in value within the first 12 months.
What is the cheapest electric car?+
The UK Electric Car Grant has muddied the waters a bit here. Until this arrived, the cheapest EV was the £14,995 Dacia Spring; but now Stellantis is discounting the Leapmotor T03 by £1500 to £14,495. You get a lot more car for your money, too. But we strongly suggest a nearly new mainstream alternative over either of these cheapos.
Which EV has the most space?+
There are plenty of van-based EVs available now, notably from the Stellantis group of companies. But if you can't face that, try a VW ID.Buzz LWB, a Hyundai Ioniq 9 or a Kia EV9. There's also the ultra-expensive Mercedes EQS SUV, but we don't rate those very highly.
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