Think back 10 years and most people barely knew electric cars existed, let alone thought about buying one. Early flag bearers included the BMW i3, Nissan Leaf, Tesla Model S, and Renault Zoe but today there are dozens of models. And, in 2023, electric vehicle (EV)s accounted for 16.5% of all new cars sold in the UK.
However, EVs have divided opinions and most of us will have read headlines in the national papers or had a friend in the pub giving us their opinion, good and bad. Sure, EVs won’t suit everyone right now and that’s okay – but with so many new models available, they’re increasingly able to meet a wider range of needs.
That said, buying, or even leasing a car, is one of the biggest financial decisions anyone can make – so it can help to equip yourself with as much knowledge as possible.
To help, we’ve pulled together a list of 10 of the best EVs available today. We’ll also take a quick look ahead to see what’s still to come in 2024.
1. BMW i5
The BMW 5 Series has been a stalwart of executive saloons since it was first introduced in the 1970s. The latest generation is now available as a fully electric model – and BMW does know a thing or two about electrification, having given us the i3 more than a decade ago.
The i5 looks every bit like the Bavarian executive and delivers lots of space, luxury, and tech. Some of the interior lighting is a bit 1990s disco, but you’ll find an off button in one of the many menus, which these days also replace some of the traditional buttons.
Prices start from £74,105 and you can add £20K if you want the performance of the i5 M60 xDrive, which will give you 601hp and hit 62mph from start in just 3.8 seconds. Or, if the driving range is more important, there are i5 versions that can achieve up to 357 miles.
A bonus is that, early in 2024, BMW revealed the i5 Touring – so, if you’ve been waiting for a premium electric estate, you won’t have to wait much longer.
2. BYD Seal
You might not have heard of BYD but it’s one of the biggest electric car companies in the world, and it also makes most Apple iPads. Some of its cars have a badge on the back saying ‘Build Your Dreams’, which is a bit cheesy – but not on the Seal, which looks different to anything else on the road.
The BYD Seal is a rival to the Tesla Model 3 and has a premium feel to the interior that, in places, shows the German brands a thing or two. The technology is easy to use and it has a party trick in the form of a rotating touchscreen.
It’s not just gimmicks and tech though, the Seal drives well on most road surfaces and has a bit of fun built in too. With an 82.5kWh battery capacity, it can also travel up to 354 miles between charges – although, like all EVs, the real-world numbers will be less.
Prices start at £45,695 but lease deals can be a bit expensive until there’s more data on resale values.
3. Hyundai Kona Electric
The Hyundai Kona Electric and Kia E-Niro are mostly the same car, meaning the choice is really about styling. For the purposes of this guide, we’ve chosen one – the Hyundai. It’s not as characterful in its design as Hyundai’s edgy electric Ioniq 5, but it looks good and has an honesty about it that’s endearing.
Starting from £34,995 it’s a firm favourite with owners, mainly because it’s good to drive, has every piece of kit you could possibly need, and the interior is comfortable and well-designed.
With a choice of 48.4kWh or 65.4kWh batteries, you can travel up to 319 miles on a full charge, which is more than enough for most journeys.
4. Kia EV9
Kia has emerged as one of the biggest names in EVs, sharing the spotlight with its sister company, Hyundai. It’s won numerous awards for its stylish EV6 and there’s great anticipation of its EV3, EV4, and EV5, which are all coming in 2024.
This, however, is the EV9 – a huge car that’s available with six or seven seats and has road presence on a par with something from across the pond. It’s not cheap in the Kia sense with prices starting at £65,025, though, for that, you do get a lot for your money.
The EV9 might be big and heavy at 2.8 tonnes, but with a large 99.8kWh battery pack, it can drive up to 349 miles on a full charge. You can also add 154 miles in just 15 minutes if you can find a fast enough charger. And it has Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capability, meaning you can use it to power laptops, charge an e-bike, or even run your camping accessories. It’s definitely better than buying a posh minibus!
5. MG4
The MG4 was one of the biggest surprises of 2023. The once British name is now owned by Chinese car company SAIC and, until recently, had been making cars that didn’t really grab the attention.
The MG ZS is decent and the MG 5 EV is a star for being one of the few EV estates – but then the MG4 came along. Priced from £26,995 it’s a lot of hatchback for the money with unique looks, a comfortable interior, and an impressive driving range of up to 323 miles.
If you’re thinking it probably isn’t that good to drive, you’ll be very pleasantly surprised. It’s just as happy around town as it is on the open road – and if you want more power, there’s a performance version called the MG4 EV XPower, which can rearrange your insides!
6. Polestar 2
Polestar has become popular in the UK in recent years. It’s a sister brand to Volvo, which focuses on producing EVs that are stylish and great to drive. In 2023, the Polestar 3 was the fifth best-selling EV in the UK.
It boasts Scandinavian style and elegance but looks athletic at the same time. Inside, you’ll find more of the same, with a real focus on design and quality, combined with sustainable materials and technology that’s simple to use.
The space inside is good and with a driving range of up to 339 miles, it’ll cruise over long journeys with family or friends enjoying the ride in comfort. It’s nice to drive too, with a bit of motorsport-inspired engineering to add to the feeling of driving electric.
The Polestar 2 recently had a bit of an update ahead of the arrival of the new Polestar 3 and 4, and prices start from £44,950.
7. Porsche Taycan
Porsches are not known for hanging around and the famous sports car maker was quick to get in on the electric game. Its first EV arrived in 2019 in the form of the Taycan; a saloon that delivers performance, luxury, and a combined range of up to 421 miles. It’s also one of the quickest to charge and drive with its Turbo version – which doesn’t actually have a turbo – able to hit 62mph in just 2.4 seconds.
Unlike the famous Porsche 911, it has four doors, can comfortably seat four people, and offers reasonable boot space. However, if you need more room, there’s an estate called the Sport Turismo; and the Cross Turismo, which sits slightly higher off the ground and is ideal for a bit of country lane driving.
Buying outright will set you back from £86,500 but there are loads of PCP deals and you can pick up a decent used one from £55,000. An updated version was revealed early in 2024 with more power, better range, and improved interior comfort.
8. Renault Megane E-Tech
The Renault Megane doesn’t feature in the top-selling lists, many don’t even know it exists, and Renault doesn’t make a big song and dance about it – unlike its upcoming new electric Renault 5.
That’s not a bad thing though, because it makes it a bit of an insider secret; one that we’re happy to share. The design is one of its biggest attractions because it looks great and the same is true of the interior. There’s a great mixture of new and sustainable materials, the technology is easy to use, and its 60kWh battery will give you a range of up to 280 miles.
The Renault Megane E-Tech is a very easy EV to live with, has ample space for the family, and starts from £34,495.
9. Skoda Enyaq
Skoda’s Enyaq was the 10th top-selling EV in the UK in 2023 and, with its SUV design, high driving position, and ability to travel up to 353 miles on a charge, it’s proven popular with owners. The model is also being updated in 2024, with some design tweaks for both the regular Enyaq and its more sporty coupe sibling.
But, more importantly, most models have improved driving range, more power, and quicker charging times; all of which make living with an Enyaq even better than it was already. There’s plenty of sensible tech, a voice assistant called Laura, and you can have a performance version in the form of the vRS or go all in on luxury with the Laurin & Klement model. Prices start from £38,970.
10. Tesla Model 3
Mention electric cars and the first name that always springs to mind is Tesla and its exuberant CEO, Elon Musk. Its cars have been the poster children for the EV revolution and Tesla’s Supercharger network shows how charging should be done.
The Model S is no longer on sale in the UK unless you want it in left-hand drive – but the Model 3 and its slightly more bulbous SUV version, the Model Y, are the big sellers. In fact, the Model Y was the top-selling car worldwide in 2023.
However, for this list, we’ve chosen to focus on the Model 3, which is smaller and cheaper. It’s available in standard rear-wheel drive, with a driving range of 318 miles or there’s a long-range, all-wheel drive version that’ll take you up to 390 miles. Plus, you can add as much as 175 miles with a Tesla charger in just 15 minutes – so it’s easy to see why these cars are so popular.
The interior is very minimalist and zen-like with almost all controls on a large touchscreen and you can have it with a vegan interior. It’s not short on gimmicks either, with kids big and small able to play games on the screen while charging or make fart noises come out of the speakers – because that’s what we really want a car to be able to do. Prices start at £39,990.
Electric cars still to come in 2024…
Perhaps one of our 10 choices grabs your attention, or maybe you’re holding out for something else. If so, you’re in luck as 2024 will see more new EVs launched than ever before.
This includes a trio of eagerly anticipated affordable models in the form of the Citroen e-C3, Kia EV3, and Volvo EX30. Volvo will also launch its EX90 luxury SUV and, if it’s luxury you’re after, then the first-ever…drum roll, please…electric Range Rover will launch this year. Plus, Ford will launch its Explorer in the UK and we could see a bunch of new Chinese brands hitting our streets too.
If you want something urban, then the new electric Mini and its various spin-offs are on their way, as well as some not-so-small Smart cars, while MG will launch its cool Cyberster roadster. And, finally, Cupra will launch its Tavascan, Mercedes will probably release something but they don’t like to talk about it, and Audi will debut its new A6 e-Tron and Q8 e-Tron.
Yes, it’ll be a busy year and where, once, the number of EV models was limited, today we really are spoilt for choice.
Have any of the electric cars on this list caught your eye? Is there any other motoring content you’d like to see from us? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.