Best electric cars 2025 - our fully updated list of the best EVs

► The best electric cars to buy in 2025
► Our guide to the UK’s top EVs
► Electric car buying advice and more

Welcome to our completely rewritten list of the best electric cars on sale in the UK. Fully updated for 2025, on this page you’ll find the very hottest EVs, the ones the expert team at CAR completely recommends.

You might also note a slightly different approach from this update compare with previous versions of this page. Instead of simply saying ‘buy a Porsche Taycan’ – which is still good advice, even if their reliability is proving patchy – we’ve now listed the best electric cars across 10 different categories.

This way regardless of whether you want the best electric SUV, the best electric performance car or the best small electric car – or anything in between – you’ll find our top pick and two alternatives in the full list below. Here are some of the key highlights.

Best electric cars at a glance:

• Best electric family car: Tesla Model 3 – find out more
• Best affordable electric SUV: Renault Scenic E-Tech – find out more
• Best electric style icon: Renault 5 E-Tech – find out more
• Best electric performance car: Hyundai Ioniq 5 N – find out more

Not quite ready to fully commit to the plug? Lord knows you’re not alone in the UK right now, so perhaps check out our best hybrid cars page instead. There’s also a brief FAQ section at the end of this page that might help you make up your mind, and don’t forget you can always find out more about how we test cars. Read on for our full best EVs list.

Best electric cars 2025

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 (but that would push up the price)

If there’s one small electric car that’s going to have an impact in 2025, it’s the Renault 5 E-Tech. 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 – but as a functional runabout with a smart, practical and clever interior, the R5 is superbly on point. Even the infotainment system is relatively painless. An opportunity to make an affordable electric car desirable that hasn’t been missed. Renault, we could kiss you. And that’s before the mad 500bhp Renault 5 Turbo 3E turns up in 2026.

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 (funkadelic looks and the promise of keen pricing could give the R5 a bloody nose)

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 for our liking

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 £29,495; 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); Vauxhall Frontera Electric (cheap, spacious, worthy – no, really)

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 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, 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 outstanding 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); BMW i4 (just brilliant, especially in basic rear-wheel drive guise)

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

Volkswagen hasn’t exactly covered itself in electric glory thus far, 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 S6 e-Tron (similar underpinnings but with 543bhp and 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 large chunk more than the 570-litre BMW i5 Touring in maximum passenger configuration (though the i5 closes the gap with 1700 litres rear seats folded). The VW goes further than the BMW between charges, however, with up to 424 miles WLTP to the i5’s 340-mile max.

To find out more, read our full VW ID.7 Tourer review

Or try: BMW i5 Touring (it’s good, but not as good); 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 a bit compromised

Renault was an electric car pioneer, so perhaps it should be 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)

Polestar 3

Best premium electric SUV – a genuinely different take on luxury performance

Pros: very satisfying to drive and sit in, very long driving range, lots of passenger space
Cons: smaller boot, avoid the bumpy Performance Pack

There are some mighty fine cars in the premium electric SUV segment – it’s a little easier to accommodate those ranks of batteries in a machine that’s already supposed to be big and tall, after all. But while we love the BMW iX and the Porsche Macan, it’s the Polestar 3 that took the accolades in our comparison test, thanks to its refined blend of Scandi-cool, innovative design and impressive performance.

On the outside it’s sleek and distinctive without verging into the ugly or mundane, while the interior is spacious and calming and very high quality. It’s based on the same dedicated EV platform as the Volvo EX90, which helps – the lengthy wheelbase means plenty of room for people and enough batteries for up to 438 miles WLTP. But it’s the ‘uncommonly good’ handling, as our review puts it, that helps the Polestar 3 stand out.

To find out more, read our full Polestar 3 review

Or try: BMW iX (the ‘Swarovski hippo’ has got some serious moves); Porsche Macan (sheer electric SUV brilliance in a slightly smaller package)

Kia EV9

Best seven-seater EV – space for everything

Pros: very spacious, well put together, very fast charging (when connected to suitable power)
Cons: not sensationally efficient, a little dull to drive (for now)

Kia makes cracking electric cars, and the EV9 is the best example of this right now. It’s an enormous six- or seven-seater SUV that manages to look sophisticated in spite of its bulk; modern with a manga-like style that makes it seem as if it’s just rolled off the set of a particularly slick sci-fi movie. It’s a similar story inside – modern without being over the top – and provides all the quality and space you’d expect from the £65,025 minimum price.

The electric tech translates into 349 miles WLTP at best from the 200bhp variant, dropping to 313-316 miles from the 378bhp versions. But maybe more importantly, ultra-fast charging promises up to 154 miles more in just 15 minutes in some cases. It handles itself confidently and makes a fine family wagon. The six-seater even offers lounge-style swivelling middle-row seats, while the EV9 GT coming in 2025 will have 501bhp and virtual gearshifts like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N.

To find out more, read our full Kia EV9 review

Or try: VW ID.Buzz LWB (great-looking electric bus finally makes sense in seven-seater form); Peugeot E 5008 (if you need something smaller – and cheaper – this works well)

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 5 N

Best performance EV – no other car has moved the electric performance game on in this way

Pros: staggering attention to detail in the virtual drivetrain, huge power and speed, handles
Cons: it could be less powerful and still brilliant (which might also make it cheaper)

There are plenty of really, 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, RS e-Tron GT or 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.

Some will say the simulated gearbox is just reality meets Gran Turismo, and there is certainly an element of that. But fair play to Hyundai, because its engineers have gone in hard with a level of attention to detail that almost beggars belief – the simulated drivetrain shunt being a particular example. It would all be for nothing if the chassis wasn’t also exceptional, while the small matter of 641bhp means it does the really, really, really fast thing convincingly as well.

To find out more, read our full Hyundai Ioniq 5 N review

Or try: Porsche Taycan (doesn’t matter which one, they’re all brilliant); Alpine A290 (the more affordable electric hot hatch king)

Electric car FAQs

Which electric car has the longest driving range?

The EV with the longest driving range in the UK is the Mercedes-Benz EQS, which has a WLTP driving range of as much as 481 miles per charge. Which is seriously impressive. However, the creaky build and wildly unsubtle interior lightshow means we’d still rather put up with stopping more regularly in the rival BMW i7.

Are electric cars more expensive than regular cars?

Electric cars, generally speaking, remain more expensive than a like-for-like petrol or diesel equivalent, but a number of carmakers are now challenging that convention. Vauxhall in particular has been championing parity of pricing of late.

The pricing difference is due to the cost of the technology, especially the batteries. And EVs are still a long way off achieving true economies of scale that will help bring costs down. Making things worse, buyer uncertainty about used electric cars, again related to the batteries (over generally unfounded durability concerns) means EVs don’t hold their value very well.

Great if you’re after a nearly new bargain – some models halve in value within the first 12 months – but not ideal if you’re trying to get a decent deal on new car finance.

What is the cheapest electric car?

That accolade – if we can call it that – goes to the Dacia Spring, which is available for as little as £14,995. Trouble is you only get 44bhp for that amount of money, and the car itself is poor enough that we only rate it two stars. You’d get much more value from a nearly new model that’s based on much better engineering.

Which EV has the most space?

If you want the most spacious EV, there are two routes to go down: SUVs and MPVs. If you want an SUV, the Kia EV9 or Mercedes EQS SUV are the best options, each available with lots of room inside and seven seats. The EQS is very expensive and otherwise not very good, however, so we’d highly recommend going for the Kia.

The Volkswagen ID.Buzz now comes as a seven-seater and also offers plenty of room in a stylish package. There are a number of van-based electric MPVs on the market as well, including the related Vauxhall Vivaro Life Electric and Peugeot E-Traveller.

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 to a date when they’ll phase out anything that’s not an EV.

Car buyers aren’t so convinced, though. And despite mandated 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 looked at. A number of firms are 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 – most notably Porsche and Mazda – are looking at so-called synthetic e-fuels as an alternative to carbon-based petrol and diesel.