► We list the electric cars with the longest driving range
► Top 10 includes Tesla, Mercedes, BMW and… Porsche
► All claim to travel more than 380 miles on a charge
For many, driving range is the most important consideration when buying an electric car. For good reason, too – waiting for your car to charge at a motorway service station can be frustrating, especially if you’ve got a long way to go. Worse if you’re on a tight schedule.
So car manufacturers are working hard to give their electric vehicles (EVs) the ability to cover long distances as conveniently as combustion-powered models. And progress is coming through increases in efficiency as well as battery size, though there’s also still some way to go before charging infrastructure is universally equivalent to rocking up at a petrol station.
Even so, there are now many electric cars you can buy in the UK that can cover more than 350 miles on a single charge. On this page you’ll find the top 10 according to the official WLTP figures.
The best longest-range EVs at a glance
If you’re thinking about buying an electric car, but are being held back by their range capabilities, read on for our list of the best long-range EVs money can buy. Do note that real world ranges vary wildly with differing driving conditions and climate, but all these cars should set you up for some serious miles in elegant silence.
The top 10 electric cars with the longest range
BMW iX xDrive50
Great to drive, but not necessarily to look at
Pros: Technically brilliant, surprisingly good to drive, opulent interior
Cons: The Swarovski hippo line just won’t leave our heads
Range: 382 miles
BMW’s design language has always been somewhat controversial – and many would argue that nowhere is that more evident than on the iX SUV. The combination of slim headlights and stout grille makes it look part ninja, part beaver – and it’s hard to imagine the same company conceived the i8 just a few years previously. But we digress.
You’ll need the iX xDrive50 model if you want the longest range possible in the line-up; it costs just a shade over £100,000 but can cover up to 382 miles on a single charge. It also has all-wheel drive, 516bhp, a 0-62mph time of 4.6 seconds, and is part made out of carbonfibre. It’s unquestionably one of the best electric SUVs around.
To find out more, read our full BMW iX review
BMW i7 xDrive 60
Limo-like luxury experience with added handling chops
Pros: Impressive tech, luxurious inside, deft handling
Cons: Making the iX look handsome was a tough job, but…
Range: 387 miles
In the market for a high-end luxury electric car? BMW’s i7 is a top choice. Yes, it costs north of £110,000, but it offers a sublime mix of driving dynamics, outright comfort and gratifying technology – including the fabled cinema screen option for the rear seats.
Go for the BMW i7 xDrive60 and you’ll potentially be able to cover up to 387 miles on a single charge. And although that’s starting to look a little unimpressive compared to some rivals, the big BMW is also capable of 0-62mph in 4.7 seconds, thanks to its dual all-wheel-drive-enabling electric motors and combined system output of 536bhp. Not to mention surprisingly nimble on its feet.
To find out more, read our full BMW i7 review
Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV 450 4Matic
Best for those who want an EQS but want to sit higher
Pros: Luxury, performance, and advanced tech in a spacious package
Cons: Ride quality less refined than competitors, gauche
Range: 401 miles
Looking for a premium electric SUV with seven seats? Here’s another reason to put the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV on your list. It’s effectively a Range Rover competitor – yes, an all-electric Range Rover is on its way – but it also competes with the likes of the Tesla Model X and the Volvo EX90. It’s not cheap, and not especially nice to drive, but you do get a lot of tech for your money.
Go for the EQS in 450 4Matic AMG Line Premium Plus specification and you’ll get a 355bhp SUV, with all-wheel drive, that can accelerate from 0-62mph in six seconds flat. More significantly, after the latest round of updates, it’s capable of travelling up to 401 miles on a single charge – in theory. You also get standard-fit features such as heated and cooled front seats, heated second and third-row seats, an array of advanced driver assistance features, the Mercedes MBUX interior assistant, and a Burmester surround-sound system.
To find out more, read our full Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV review
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Polestar 2 Long range Single motor
Quite possibly the best interior on this list
Pros: Cool and groovy design ethos, lovely interior, rear-wheel drive range
Cons: Not especially exciting, unsettled ride
Range: 408 miles
Oh look! It’s the new Ford Capri! No, wait, it’s the other one… Yes, if you buy a Polestar 2 now you are probably going to be hearing a lot of that over the next few months. But proof that the high-riding coupe-like saloon isn’t just about appearances comes from the Scandi-Chinese brand’s increasingly impressive distance capabilities. The Long range Single motor variant of the Polestar 2 is now said to be good for 408 miles per charge.
And let’s not forget just how good the interior design is in these things. Ok, so dynamically it’s never going to trouble the BMW i4, and the ride’s a bit fussy, but if you want to arrive in understate style, and not stop too often during the journey, this is worth a serious look.
To find out more, read our full Polestar 2 review
Porsche Taycan with Performance Battery Plus
Best for the combination of comfort and performance
Pros: Great to drive, high quality inside, more than quick enough
Cons: Big battery costs extra, not Porsche’s most reliable model
Range: 422 miles
Perhaps one for the spec nerds, this. Porsche updated the Taycan in 2024 with new motors, batteries and charging technology, giving it a major driving range boost right across the line-up. Almost every model gets all-wheel drive and the biggest battery as standard, but there is still a basic entry-level rear-wheel drive Taycan with a smaller battery, dinky wheels – and a big dream.
That dream is to be your long-distance premium companion. You will need to fork out nearly £5k more to really make the most of it, though, as this is what the upgrade to the bigger Performance Battery Plus costs for this model. Take the plunge, though, and the official driving range shoots up from 367 miles to 422 miles, earning Porsche’s premier EV a solid mid-level placing on this list. A superbly comfortable sporting saloon that still boasts 429bhp and 0-62mph in 4.8sec.
To find out more, read our full Porsche Taycan review
Mercedes-Benz EQE 350
Best for Mercedes fans who want a more sorted car than the disappointing EQS
Pros: Mercedes’ best electric saloon, high tech feel, interesting interior
Cons: Weird moving brake pedal, BMW EVs better to drive
Range: 429 miles
Signs of how quickly the electric car market is moving include: the EQE 350 getting a 51-mile bump in its official range but still falling down the rankings in this top 10 of the longest-range EVs. Still, if you don’t need to get the greatest possible distance this is still the electric Mercedes we would choose over all others. It feels structurally stiffer, has a less overwhelming interior, and looks exceedingly similar to the EQS on the road, too.
It isn’t the most exciting car to drive, and the moving brake pedal is frankly disconcerting (it’s supposed to encourage you to one-pedal instead). But it charges quickly and according to the latest official figures, the 288bhp EQE 350 can cover up to 429 miles per charge. Mercedes also offers an AMG 53 4Matic+ model with a whopping 616bhp and a 0–62mph time of 3.5 seconds. But it’s probably better to waft in one of these.
To find out more, read our full Mercedes-Benz EQE review
Volkswagen ID.7 Pro S Match
Yet another reason to be impressed by VW’s best electric car
Pros: Properly efficient, comfortable ride, spacious
Cons: Legacy image problems, too calm for its own good?
Range: 436 miles
Until the ID.7 came along things were looking a little bleak for VW’s electric cars. The notorious software issues, the 12v battery problems, the excessive used of touch-sensitivity and the disappointing lack of innovative practicality from the ID.Buzz were all areas the cynical and jaded could point to as failings. Yet, the firm has done anything buy give in – and in the ID.7 finally delivered on all that electric promise with a comfortable and dynamic EV saloon.
The ID.7’s crowning glory has got to be the impressive driving range Volkswagen has managed to get out of it. Admittedly, a hefty 91kWh battery pack is involved, but the Pro S variant in attractively specced Match trim claims a socking great 436 miles of driving range per charge. And in a recent hypermiling publicity stunt, VW even exceeded that claim in real-world driving on public roads. An 80 per cent charge in 26 minutes is possible, too. Plus there’s the ID.7 Tourer estate to think about as well. Mmm.
To find out more, read our full VW ID.7 review
Tesla Model 3 Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive
The best price-to-range ratio of any EV on sale in the UK
Pros: VERY efficient, spacious cabin, clever driver-assistance tech
Cons: Build quality and customer service concerns
Range: 436 miles
Tesla might have a bit of a dodgy image these days – a combination of quality control issues, poor customer service and a head honcho who thinks he’s god’s gift to the earth don’t help – but it’s very hard not to be impressed by what the firm is able to do with its continually improving Model 3. This is Tesla’s smallest and cheapest model, but also, unequivocally, its best. Updated for 2024 already, now there’s an additional Model 3 Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive variant, and its scheduled for first deliveries in November.
You don’t have to be a genius to work out we haven’t actually driven this version. But we will do soon and we have driven plenty of other Model 3s – including as part of an EV group test in winter that saw the preceding efficiency champion in the line-up achieve 4 miles per kilowatt hour in challenging conditions. An outstanding result. This new version, without the drag of an additional motor on the front axle, claims 5 miles per kilowatt hour. At just £44,990 and a promised 436 miles per charge that certainly qualifies Tesla’s other claim that it has the best price-to-range ratio of any EV on sale in the UK.
To find out more, read our full Tesla Model 3 review
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Polestar 3 Long range Single motor
Best for those who want Volvo safety with more style and more performance
Pros: Impressive range, polished performance and bags of space
Cons: Small boot, faster models are uncomfortable
Range: 438 miles
Polestar now offers the deeply impressive 3 SUV in single-motor configuration, bringing a sensational boost in claimed driving range in the process. Go for this Long range variant, and you’ll be the proud owner of the EV with the second greatest driving range of any easily available to buyers in the UK. But more than that you’ll be getting a great car that isn’t afraid to do things differently.
Avoid versions with the overly stiff Performance Pack, and you can enjoy what we’ve described as ‘uncommonly good’ handling together with the ability to deal with rough surfaces all wrapped up in a stylish package with a truly excellent interior. While 295bhp means it’s quite a bit slower than other Polestar 3s – taking 7.5sec to go 0-62mph compared with as little as 4.5sec – it’s also a good deal cheaper. We say enjoy life at a more measured pace and reap the range benefits here.
To find out more, read our full Polestar 3 review
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Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+
The longest-range EV on sale in the UK
Pros: Huge range, spacious cabin, technophile’s dream
Cons: Not quite the electric S-class it’s supposed to be
Range: 481 miles
The Mercedes-Benz EQS is the electric equivalent of the fabled S-Class and as such, its target audience wouldn’t be best impressed if they had to spend half their day parked up at a seedy service station waiting for the battery to recharge. Luckily, the EQS has a very long wheelbase, and Mercedes has filled that space with a whopping 108.4kWh battery. That battery grants the EQS 450+ variant up to 481 miles of driving range on the WLTP test cycle, making it the longest range EV you can easily buy in the UK.
It’s no slouch, either, dispatching the 0-62mph dash in 6.2 seconds despite a kerb weight of 2,480kg. The trouble is the creaky, overly tech-swaddled interior doesn’t quite pull-off the cyberpunk limo vibe we suspect Mercedes was going for. It’s fine if you really must go as far as possible per charge, but it wouldn’t be our first choice on this wholly impressive list of long-range electric cars.
To find out more, read our full Mercedes-Benz EQS Saloon review
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Any other long-range electric cars worth considering?
A few, yes. First of all, if you’ve got money to burn and really want to go as far as possible, get yourself on the phone to Lucid and see about importing a Lucid Air (pictured below). We’ve driven a few now, and they have always massively impressed us. More to the point, there are versions now knocking on the door of 550 miles per charge (WLTP). Crikey.
Another 400-miler to consider is the Tesla Model S. No longer available in right-hand drive, but could be worth seeking out. At the other end of the scale, the Renault Scenic E-Tech costs comparative buttons and will go as far as 379 miles per charge (WLTP). We’d also wave a flag for the updated Audi e-Tron GT, which offers huge performance, great comfort and a claimed 378 miles for the S version – albeit at quite the cost.
How can I maximise the driving range of my EV?
A study by Kia UK and Motiv8, an independent automotive training organisation, published results in December 2022 showing that, whatever model you drive, the way you drive can impact the range of your electric car significantly. So even if you don’t have one of the longest range EVs shown here, you can still eek out a little more range.
David Taylor, director at Motiv8 International said, ‘The results speak for themselves; by changing simple inputs, drivers can easily optimise their vehicle’s efficiency and go further on a charge, save on recharging costs and reducing their energy use.’
Since the cost of public charging, particularly when using rapid chargers, is also getting more expensive, such methods are bound to be of interest to anyone looking to reduce the running costs of their electric cars.
‘With the average home charge costing around 3p/kWh and public rapid charging at around 7p/kWh, it is easy to see where savings can be made,’ said Taylor. ‘If you take the average improvement in the Kia study and extrapolate that over the UK average of 9,435 electric miles a year, an EV driver could save between £220 and £500 per annum.’
The study suggested the following techniques to maximise the range and benefits of an electric car:
Go easy with the accelerator: The torquey response of an EV might put a smile on your face, but it comes at the price of range.
Lighten the load: Unused roof boxes steal range. Don’t forget to unload any unnecessary clutter.
Maintain momentum: Careful route planning to avoid jams will remove the start/stop nature of driving that congestion causes. Anticipating the road ahead also enables best regenerative braking opportunities.
Slow down: Cutting speed from 60 mph to 50 mph can improve efficiency by up to 15%.
Do you need a long range?
Whether or not drivers need a car that can travel hundreds of miles on a full battery is a different matter entirely. There are plenty of owners that only need small electric cars for pottering around their home town – so they can get away with a short-range EV that can be easily charged up at home, such as the Honda E.
Which electric car has the longest range?
Many electric cars now offer a range of more than 300 miles – in our book, that’s plenty for the vast majority of drivers. Even on a long trip, that represents at least six hours of uninterrupted driving, at which point we’d say an enforced stop for charging isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
The longest-range model on sale in the UK is the Mercedes-Benz EQS saloon, which can travel up to 481 miles on a charge. The Lucid Air claims more than 500 miles of range, but that’s not officially sold here.
Do electric cars lose range over time?
Yes – but don’t worry about it. When EVs first started becoming mainstream, doom-mongers claimed that they’d be worthless in just a few years, with the original battery packs totally incapable of holding any charge. That proved to be false, and even some of the earliest Nissan Leafs – which are more than a decade old – still have at least 80% of their original battery capacity intact.
Of course, in a car that could only do 100 miles or so in the first place, even a small drop in range can be a problem, but for later models with bigger ranges this is less of a problem. And with better thermal management, electric car batteries look set to last longer than ever.
Every manufacturer warrants their electric car batteries against excessive loss of capacity. The typical plan is 80% of capacity warranted for eight years or 100,000 miles, but some are notably more generous.
Even if your EV goes out of warranty, there are garages training recruits on battery refurbishment, replacing individual cells rather than an entire pack. This should make repair costs for used EVs much more palatable.
Will electric cars ever routinely offer 500 miles of range?
Next-generation electric cars are set to offer even longer ranges; Mercedes, for example, has already revealed the Vision EQXX concept car which drove more than 1,000km (621 miles) on a single charge in April 2022. Granted, it’s still a technical showcase rather than a proper production car, but it demonstrates that electric car range anxiety will soon be a thing of the past.