UK Electric Car Buyers: Here Are The Best Ones

 

With the buying online thing we have going, we make shopping and buying an electric car even more easier than ever before! These are our Top 10 recommendations for you. Click on to see what we have available for you.

1. Hyundai Ioniq 5

The Ioniq 5 has its sights firmly set on premium rivals such as the Audi Q4 e-tron, Volkswagen ID.4 and Tesla Model Y. Make no mistake, the Ioniq 5 is impressive across the board, showcasing next-gen electric car tech along with capable performance and charging ability normally reserved for high-end models like the Porsche Taycan and Audi e-tron GT.

Two battery options are available with three power outputs: the entry 58kWh battery is paired with a single 168bhp motor driving the rear wheels, delivering a 0-62mph time of 8.5 seconds and a range of 238 miles. The 214bhp mid-spec version offers the best range, with a 73kWh battery increasing the total distance able to be covered on a single charge to 280 miles. The top-spec variant uses the same 73kWh battery, but adds a second motor at the front, giving a combined total of 301bhp and 605Nm of torque. Overall range falls slightly to 267 miles, although performance is much improved with 0-62 taking 5.2 seconds. 

2. Skoda Enyaq

The Enyaq is an all-electric family car that is typically Skoda: that is to say it's practical, well-equipped, comfortable and decent to drive. With top-spec models able to cover over 300 miles from a full charge, it soothes any range anxiety and just gets on with being an excellent family car - that just happens to run on battery power.

Skoda has come up with an innovative way of helping you to personalise your new Enyaq; instead of standard trim levels it offers five individual 'Design Selections' - Loft, Lodge, Lounge, Suite and ECO Suite. Each provides a distinct design approach, with different materials used to create a certain style.

Standard kit is generous with 19-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, a Virtual Cockpit digital instrument display, climate control, cruise control and rear parking sensors all featuring on the base model, while the price is attractive too - coming in at just under £35,000, the entry Enyaq iV 60 model qualifies for the government's plug-in vehicle grant which takes a further £2,500 off the on-the-road cost.

3. Fiat 500E

The Fiat 500 nails its city car brief perfectly; it's competitively priced, offering low running costs and plenty of Italian flair. Although the third generation car is a little bigger than its combustion-engined predecessor, the 500 EV is still at home darting through urban traffic, while you shouldn't have any trouble parking as even the entry-level models come with rear parking sensors as standard. 

Two battery options are available: a 42kWh ‘Long Range’ version and a 24kWh ‘City Range’ variant. The City Range offers up to 115 miles of range from a single charge, although the bigger battery gives you a more practical 199 miles before needing to recharge.

Inside, the cabin is suitably stylish, while you'll benefit from a host of on-board tech. Base cars offer a 7-inch infotainment screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, while moving up through mid- and top-spec models brings a rear-view camera and a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen.

4. Kia EV6

The Kia EV6 is the sister vehicle to the Hyundai Ioniq 5, so it's a great pick if you love that model's technology, but aren't quite as sold on its retro-futuristic looks. The EV6 is arguably the more conventional of the two, and it's a bit lower and more sporting. This is reflected in its handling, with slightly firmer suspension offering sharper responses.

It's offered in Long Range RWD, Long Range AWD and a high-performance GT version, and the entry-level version is our favourite. It not only offers the best range figure of up to 328 miles from its 77.4kWh battery, but we also found its 7.2-second 0-62mph time to be quick enough. With all-wheel drive, the next step up is undeniably faster, lopping two seconds off its benchmark sprint time. But it also has a slightly shorter range, costs considerably more and doesn't feel entirely comfortable to drive quickly.

Every version features impressive ultra-rapid charging at up to 250kW, so if you can find a fast enough public charger, a top up from 10 to 80% is possible in less than 20 minutes. Its interior is no less desirable, thanks to a dashboard dominated by a pair of curved 12.3-inch screens for the instruments and infotainment setup. 

5. Ford Mustang Mach-E

The Mustang Mach-E is Ford's first all-electric SUV, and is one of the most important cars for the blue oval in a generation. Starting from around £43,000, the Mach-E is a practical and well-priced EV that offers great handling and a generous list of standard kit.

It doesn't compromise on pace, either, with the fastest 346bhp all-wheel-drive version capable of 0-62mph in 5.8 seconds. The model range consists of 68kWh 'Standard Range' battery variants with either rear- or four-wheel-drive. The former offers up to 273 miles of range and the latter 243 miles.

Move up to the 88kWh 'Extended Range' cars and you'll benefit from more miles on a single charge - a claimed 379 miles for the RWD model and 335 miles for the AWD First Edition SUV. The Mustang Mach-E is nothing like its iconic sports car namesake, but it's a well-crafted electric SUV that still offers a breadth of skills. And, if you're after more pace, the 480bhp Mach-E GT performance model is even faster, and boasts 'MagneRide' adaptive suspension.

6. Porsche Taycan

The new Porsche Taycan is a brilliant car to drive, remaining true to its maker's heritage and leaving you in no doubt that this is a 'proper' Porsche sports saloon.

The Taycan delivers sports car-like handling, with ferocious acceleration and great agility – yet still offers four seats and a usable range. It’s not often that a car comes along that feels truly revolutionary, but that is exactly what the Porsche Taycan is – and it shows how much fun a plug-in future can be.

Despite being a hefty a 2.2-tonnes in weight, it hides its bulk well, and is able to weave neatly through tight corners and demolish fast, sweeping bends. The Taycan's raw pace is, frankly, ridiculous; in 'standard' 523bhp 4S guise it manages the 0-62mph benchmark in 4.0s, although if you upgrade to the 750bhp Turbo S version, it's a staggeringly quick 2.8s.

Don't forget, though, the Taycan should also be pretty easy to live with as a daily driver. Refinement is top notch and, while ride comfort is firm, the air suspension does its job of dealing with the broken, uneven tarmac of UK roads. The Taycan clearly defines how Porsche sees its own future in the changeover from using fossil fuels to electric power. It's an accomplished first step, splendidly executed and one that should ease the minds of the driving enthusiast. 

7. Audi e-tron GT

The Audi e-tron GT combines dramatic styling with premium levels of comfort and plenty of power to match. Ride quality is excellent, and if you decide to crank things up you'll notice the precise steering and superb grip help to make the e-tron GT a rewarding drive.

Looking at the numbers for the e-tron GT underlines the performance and practicality on offer: 523bhp, 0-62mph in 4.1 seconds and a range of up to 298 miles. Charging is also a plus point; at up to 270kW at 800V charging stations, you can top up from 5-80 per cent in just 23 minutes, while 62 miles can be added in 5 minutes.

Priced from around £82,000, the e-tron GT includes great in-car tech, while the Vorsprung model costs a further £25,000 and brings 18-way electrically-adjustable seats with ventilation and massage functions, matrix LED headlights with Audi’s laser light technology, adaptive cruise control with semi-autonomous driving tech and a head-up display. The top-spec car also adds adaptive air suspension and a four-wheel steering system.

8. Tesla Model 3

The Model 3 was the electric car many had been waiting for. It’s a compact executive saloon rivalling the likes of the Mercedes C-Class and BMW 3 Series – a market with broad mainstream appeal – and it’s also one of the most convincing electric cars that money can buy. 

It combines minimalist style, space-age technology, grin-inducing performance, cutting-edge charging tech – supported by the expansive and dedicated Tesla Supercharger network – and, most importantly, a long driving range. The entry-level Standard Range Plus model claims up to 267 miles on a single charge, but it doesn’t sacrifice performance to achieve this. The electric motor drives the rear wheels and powers the car from 0-60mph in 5.3 seconds, while top speed is 140mph. 

The interior is nothing like what you’ll find in any BMW or Audi. The minimalist approach might not be to everyone’s taste but you can’t deny the wow factor. 

Spend a bit more, and the four-wheel-drive Long Range version has two electric motors and a larger battery for a range of 360 miles, with 0-60mph dropping to 4.2 seconds. Then there’s the Model 3 Performance, which scorches from 0-60mph in 3.1 seconds, but is still capable of 352 miles on a full battery.

9. Tesla Model Y

The Model Y is Tesla’s second SUV, and it has been designed to be more manageable and less flashy than the larger Model X. It wouldn’t be unfair to think of the Model Y as a larger version of the Model 3, both cars share similar styling and are even claimed to share 95% of the same technology. This is far from a bad thing.

Both the performance and long-range variants of Model Y are four-wheel drive, this means that traction is plentiful, resulting in impressive acceleration 0-60mph times of 4.5 seconds for the Long Range and 3.5 for the Performance. 

Although these figures are impressive, this small SUV performs well as a family-lugger, too. Space is more than enough for all five passengers, and with 854-litres of luggage space in the back plus 117-litres up front, the weekly shopping trip should be an absolute breeze.

Inside the Model Y is the usual minimalist interior, dominated by a horizontal 15.4-inch touchscreen that acts as the dashboard, infotainment and vehicle management systems, all of which perform very well.

When it comes to battery range, the Model Y falls behind the Model 3 but still offers plenty in either Performance or Long Range form, at 298 and 315 miles respectively.

10. Volkswagen ID.3

The Volkswagen ID.3 is a capable, all-electric family hatchback, nailing its brief with keen pricing, desirable looks and superb comfort - all presented in a practical package with a usable, real-world range.

Whereas the latest Golf feels only mildly different to what's gone before, the ID.3 represents a look into VW’s future. Aside from its funky looks, the interior also includes the latest tech, with everything in the ID.3 being touch-sensitive and, pretty much, controlled by the 10-inch touchscreen. The technology is way ahead of say, the Nissan Leaf, which feels very much last-generation by comparison. The 201bhp ID.3 is good to drive, with a well sorted suspension set-up providing a composed ride, while the quiet electric motor and lack of road and wind noise entering the cabin, just add to the air of refinement.

There shouldn’t be any issue with the ID.3’s range, as the mid-spec 58kWh version should be good for up to 263 miles on a single charge, while Volkswagen claims the top 77kWh variant will go 336 miles before needing to plug-in.

Whichever version you choose to fit your lifestyle, the ID.3 is an outstanding electric car and stands apart from its less-proficient rivals.