Best electric cars 2024: Top 10 EVs to buy in the UK

Most new car shoppers today will think about buying an electric car, whether they want one or not. And many will realise that with more choice, lower prices, tempting deals and many of the range and charging infrastructure challenges disappearing fast, owning and running an EV now makes real sense.

Prices for new EVs start at under £15,000 for the cheap and very cheerful Dacia Spring, with other brands offering big discounts and zero per cent finance offers (including Tesla) to make monthly payments more affordable, in many cases, than petrol or diesel models.

Then there’s charging. On the road, there’s a new plug-in point being installed every 25 minutes, while smart charging from the likes of E.ON Next can take your fuel bills down to about a quarter of that of an equivalent petrol model.

But which EV should you buy? We’ve come up with a list of ten of the very best, covering every need and every budget.

All our car testing starts with you in mind. We consider how you’re likely to use your electric car and what needs and priorities you might have.

We’re testing cars in real-world situations: parking them in car parks, filling them with shopping, fitting child seats, fiddling with the infotainment, turning the stereo up loud and driving them on a variety of roads in the UK and abroad,

We won’t be taking a family-friendly SUV around a race track, but we’ll take it along B-roads, around the M25 and into city centres. Then we run the numbers to compare buying and running costs with rivals so we can make a recommendation you can really trust.

Best: Overall

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Independent rating: 10/10

The Tesla Model 3 has long been the model that every other EV is measured by. And the problem every other EV has is that the Tesla is not only brilliant, but costs from just under £40,000.

This year saw updates to the Model 3 that gave it a subtle, slightly more elegant look, improved quality – an old Tesla bugbear – and some of the most advanced EV tech in the market. That translates to more efficiency than ever with the Model 3 Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive boasting a 436-mile range and the Model 3 Performance getting from 0-60mph in 2.9 seconds.

The Model 3’s interior is spacious, but there’s not much in it – it takes minimalism to a whole new level with pretty much everything controlled via a touchscreen. It does all work well, though, although you’ll have to get used to using buttons on the steering wheel to indicate.

Read our full Tesla Model 3 review

The latest upgrades also mean the car is more comfortable over lumps and bumps, especially – bizarrely – the performance model, which gets adaptive damping. And even the cheapest model will do 318 miles between charges and can get from 0-60mph in 5.8 seconds. Every model comes well equipped with only non-white paint, wheels, interior trim and self-driving tech optional.

What every Tesla owner does get is another killer feature – access to the brilliant and fast Tesla Supercharging network.

Tesla isn’t averse to the odd deal, either, with zero per cent finance popping up now and again. But as with all Tesla deals, they can come and go rather randomly.

Best: Budget EV

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Independent rating: 8/10

While many brands still fail to offer electric cars for less than £25,000 or even £30,000, Renault-owned Dacia has performed an undercutting masterclass by pricing its new EV, called the Spring, from just £14,995.

It’s already been a smash hit across continental Europe, and we see little to believe it won’t be a success with UK customers too. It’s another typically well-judged vehicle from Dacia, in fact, with no real frills but just enough of what most people will need in daily use. As such, the interior has space for two adults and two children, the boot is big enough for a week’s groceries and, while the range and charging speeds aren’t exactly set up for long-distance cruising, they are perfectly acceptable for suburban use.

Read our full Dacia Spring review

To that end, the Spring has a claimed maximum range of 140 miles, and although the battery charges much slower than most rivals, its small capacity of just 25 kWh means it’ll fill from empty using a home charger in about five hours. You can even feasibly charge it up using a a regular, three-pin wall socket, with a complete charge taking around 11 hours.

Our pick of the two options is the slightlymore expensive Dacia Spring Extreme, since it costs only an extra £2,000 but includes 10in dashboard display (where the base model goes without), plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It’s also quicker and more powerful than the base car.

Best: Seven-seat EV

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Independent rating: 7/10

Kia may be seen by many as a mainstream brand, but the EV9 is proof that it’s moving towards the premium end of the market. This big, seven-seat SUV is the first of its kind to go on sale, beating the Volvo EX90 and Range Rover. And yes, it can be considered alongside those brands, the quality is that good.

The futuristic look of Kia’s EVs sits happily on its largest model, but there’s no denying this is a big, heavy car – which has an impact on its electric range and performance, although a claimed range of 349 miles from its huge 99.8kWh battery will be okay for most people. The EV9 gets handy fast-charging tech, too, so if you find the right charger you can add 154 miles in just 15 minutes.

Read our full Kia EV9 review

It’s the spacious and airy interior that really marks the EV9 out, though, with plenty of usable tech without overloading the driver. There’s decent space for all seven passengers, while many of the interior fabrics are made from recycled materials.

And the EV9 hides its bulk on the road, too – the view out is great, while a host of cameras make things easier when parking. It’s a comfortable cruiser, quiet with a nice ride that isn’t too bumpy and – thanks to the square shape – surprisingly easy to manoeuvre around town.

Best: Sports EV

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Independent rating: 9/10

Most electric cars are quick in a straight line, but can they handle like a sports car, too? The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N proves that they can – few cars, whether electric or not, can put a smile on your face like this one.

In a short space of time, Hyundai’s N division has proven that it can deliver proper sports cars that can be mentioned in the same breath as Volkswagen GTIs and Rs, Audi RS models and BMW M cars. It’s not surprising, really, as former BMW M boss Albert Biermann is the man responsible for the hot Hyundais, honing them at the company’s bases at Germany’s infamous Nürburgring race track and Hyundai’s own Namyang R&D centre – the latter gives the N brand its name.

Read our full Hyundai Ioniq 5 N review

This car is quick, the steering is super-sharp, the handling is safe and secure meaning you can throw it through bends at surprising speeds and there’s all the measuring tech on board today’s hot hatchback fans love.

Then there’s the noise – you can either just listen to the holistic whirring and cracking from the electric motor or turn on the electronically generated sounds that mimic revs rising and even the pops and bangs of a sports exhaust. It might sound a bit Playstation, but it actually adds to the whole experience, making your grin even wider. And as with all great hot hatchbacks, there’s a sensible side to the Ioniq 5 N – it’ll double up as a sensible and comfortable family car when it’s not at the race track.

Best: For long range

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Independent rating: 8/10

If it wasn’t for the Tesla Model 3, the Volkswagen ID. 7 would be much higher up this list. It’s a great looking 5-door – even better in Touring (VW-speak for estate) form – that’s strong on space, comfort, range (where it even beats Tesla) and tech.

Most EVs are quiet, but the ID. 7 takes it to a different level – it’s super-silent on the motorway where the soft suspension makes it a great cruiser. There’s plenty of tech on board, including voice control that uses Chat GPT to respond to your questions, but it’s all controlled through Volkswagen’s stupidly fiddly and laggy infotainment screen.

And although there are a few models to choose from with different batteries, the ID. 7 suffers the same fate as so many other EVs – the Tesla Model 3 is just cheaper and better.

Read our full Volkswagen ID.7 review

That said, if range is what you want most from your EV, then the Volkswagen ID. 7 should definitely be on your shopping list, especially with some of the leasing deals we’ve seen the car offered at recently. Go for the Pro S Match model and the claimed range is a whopping claimed 436 miles – way ahead of what a Tesla Model 3 will give you.

The ID. 7 is also a clear indication that Volkswagen – at last – is on the right path when it comes to EVs. It may be dull to look at, but its talents are thankfully more than skin deep. There are two other areas where the ID. 7 really stands out, as well as the range, and they both come under the heading of comfort. There is loads of space in the back seats, while the ride is truly limo-like – it feels more like a Mercedes than many Mercedes models do these days.

Best: For sustainability

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Independent rating: 8/10

The Polestar 3 is a full-size SUV with a big battery and, if you’re gentle on the accelerator, a real-world range closing in on 350 miles. It also benefits from fast charging, a roomy and stylish interior packed with kit as standard, and an on-road poise that will please keen drivers. It’s not a sports car by any stretch of the imagination – and you’re best off buying the least powerful model in return for maximum range – but the 3 goes well and feels composed, even nimble, for its size. Thankfully, it rides far better than the overly-stiff Polestar 2. It’s properly impressive, even on our broken British roads.

Polestar’s interior tech is among the best, but some buyers might be frustrated by the lack of physical controls for key functions like the cabin temperature and mirror adjustment, while others will admire the clean and tidy Android interface. Optional extras are bundled into packs, which can quickly get expensive (especially if you just want the excellent Bowers & Wilkins stereo), but the 3 still feels like good value compared to rivals from the better-known German brands.

Read our full Polestar 3 review

The Polestar 3’s cavernous interior has seating for five (not seven, unfortunately) and is a masterclass in minimalism. Volvo fans will recognise some of the switchgear, which is no bad thing, and the 3 is fitted with recycled ‘WeaveTech’ fabric as standard. Nappa leather is available as an upgrade with the Pilot and Plus packs; the latter also includes active noise cancelling to reduce road noise, a head-up display, heated rear seats (on the fronts are heated as standard) and the phenomenalB&W sound system, complete with Dolby Atmos surround sound.

Best: For luxury

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Independent rating: 8/10

BMW has taken a different approach to its electric cars by simply offering electric versions of its traditional range – so this is the electric 5 Series, which sits alongside its petrol and plug-in hybrid brethren.

In true BMW fashion it’s great to drive with a good blend of driving comfort and driver appeal, although the steering feels a little vague at times, which is very un-BMW.

Read our full BMW i5 review

Standard models are quick enough, but there’s also a 601bhp M60 xDrive (the xDrive designating four-wheel drive) that’ll do 0-62mph in 3.8 seconds, about the same as the new plug-in hybrid BMW M5. Don’t worry, though, a full-on M version of the all-electric i5 is expected.

The 5 Series has always offered space, quality and the latest in tech and this model is no different – with the added appeal, currently, of company car tax benefits which make the i5 of more appeal than ever for business users. BMW has stolen a bit of a march on its premium rivals, though, by offering an all-electric estate – or Touring – version of the i5, something that’s missing from the current Mercedes and Audi line-ups.

Best: Family EV

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Independent rating: 8/10

The new all-electric Scenic may not be as ground-breaking as the original small MPV, but its reinvention as a mid-size SUV hasn’t been without success – it’s the current European Car of the Year. Do we agree with the esteemed jury? Yes and no.

The Scenic is pretty mediocre to drive with a firm ride and lacking the pizazz of so many electric cars. Some of the interior plastics feel decidedly cheap, too.

Read our full Renault Scenic E-Tech review

But there are plenty of clever touches that will please the driver and passengers. A brilliant Google-powered touchscreen with excellent voice control is the star tech attraction, but anyone in the back will be in awe of the ‘ingenious armrest’ which not only includes the obligatory cup-holders, but clever fold-out holders for tablets or smartphones – complete with power sockets. There’s decent space in the back, too.

There’s also a long-range version with a handy 379-mile driving range although the Scenic prices aren’t quite so handy, starting at £37,495 for the 260 mile Comfort model going up to the range topper at £45,495 – putting it very much in Tesla territory.

Best: For small families

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Independent rating: 8/10

Whatever car you choose from the Hyundai family (which includes Kia and Genesis) you’ll be safe in the knowledge that as far as range is concerned, it does what it says it will. We’ve had numerous long journeys in a Kona Electric, which is remarkably efficient, making its 48kWh or 65kWh batteries seem larger than they actually are.

Read our full Hyundai Kona review

This latest Kona is also the result of listening to feedback from owners of the old model, so the boot is bigger, there’s more rear seat space and the tech has had a big upgrade, too. It’s best described as inoffensive to drive – not especially comfortable, or especially fun. But it’s well priced, well equipped and comes with a long warranty to back up Hyundai’s reputation for reliability.

Best: For fun

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Independent rating: 7/10

The highlight of Volkswagen’s somewhat unexciting line-up of ID electric cars is undoubtedly the cutest of the lot – the ID. Buzz. Put simply, it will make you smile and it will make people around you smile – that’s got to be a good thing, right?

Let’s be honest, there are flaws aplenty – the range and efficiency isn’t great and there’s that infuriating touchscreen system that, somehow, Volkswagen’s normally fastidious engineers let out while knowing it was troublesome.

But in spite of it being mechanically identical to the ID. Buzz Cargo – yes, a van – it’s actually quite fun to drive. Not in a ‘throw it through the corners’ sort of way, but the lofty driving position gives you a good view around you (if not of where the stumpy bonnet stops) and feels not unlike that of a Range Rover. The ride comfort is good for something based on a van, too.

The kids will love the space in the back, there’s room for bikes in the boot and some lovely little surprise and delight features – what VW calls secret sauce – that we won’t tell you about otherwise they wouldn’t be a surprise. Oh, it’s quite pricey, too, starting at £59,035, but there’s now a longer seven-seat version that’ll make even more people smile.

Think about the journeys you do and whether you could live with an EV, as well as when and how you would charge it. Let’s put it this way, many people buy an EV as their second car and it quickly becomes their main vehicle.

They’re cheaper to run, quieter and quicker, while the tech is often better. The biggest change is availability and time taken for ‘fueling’. If you’ve got home charging, you can just charge overnight and it’ll be cheaper, but public charging will take longer than just pulling in to a fuel station.

Full hybrid cars can run on electric power for a very short period of time before a petrol engine kicks in. EVs run on electricity full time – they tend to be quicker and quieter, too.

It’s simple – you have a home charger installed and pay for electricity for charging on your electricity bill. Get on a smart energy tariff like E.ON Next Drive and you can save money on overnight charging.

You can just plug and pay with a tap of your card these days, or you can have an account via an app. There are different speeds of chargers that will charge your car in different times; faster chargers are more expensive to use

New EVs are coming thick and fast with more choice available for every car buyer. We’re seeing improved ranges, the very latest tech and higher quality. The cars are getting more comfortable, and prices are coming down, especially if you look at some of the lease deals available.

Our pick of all EVs is the Tesla Model 3. It’s so good it’s a real thorn in the side for other car makers. Not only is it a great EV that’s got a good range, is great to drive, has space for all the family and the best tech you can get, there’s also the benefit of Tesla’s bespoke Supercharger network. And all that at a price that makes other EV makers wince.

That’s not to say there aren’t plenty of other outstanding EVs out there. We love the sheer affordability of the sub-£15,000 Dacia Spring, for starters. Or there’s the current World Car of the Year, the Kia EV9: a handsome car with a whiff of Range Rover about it, but with superb build quality, strong sustainability credentials and plenty of space for seven people.

Another Korean car will be most likely to put a smile on your face: the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N. It’s a modern-day hot hatchback that blends great fun (especially with the great sounds it makes) with a dose of practicality. It’ll carry five people and plenty of luggage, and is as happy at the shops as on a track day.

There are cheap EVs, luxury EVs, EV family cars and EV vans - with new EVs being launched every month. It really is a great time to buy an electric car.