Elon Musk’s controversial public persona has led some potential buyers to reconsider Tesla, despite their strong electric vehicles. Fortunately, the electric car market has exploded with fantastic alternatives from both established automakers and exciting newcomers. If you’re committed to going electric but seeking options beyond Tesla, you’re in luck. Here’s a curated list of 10 of the best electric cars available in 2024, covering a range of needs and preferences, all personally reviewed except for the upcoming Vauxhall Frontera.
Best Affordable EV: Dacia Spring
Price: From £14,995
Range (Claimed): Up to 140 miles
Battery Size: 26.8kWh
The Dacia Spring proves that affordable EVs are not just a concept. While it may not boast high-end luxury, it excels as a practical and budget-friendly urban runabout. Its 140-mile range is perfectly adequate for city driving, and the comfortable ride quality absorbs bumps effectively. Inside, it comfortably accommodates two adults and two children, with enough boot space for daily errands or carry-on luggage. Air conditioning comes standard on all models, and higher trims feature a user-friendly 10-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for seamless smartphone integration. A dedicated app even allows remote control of charging and pre-heating or cooling the cabin. While the base model is appealing for its price, upgrading to more powerful versions with enhanced features is often a worthwhile step for a minimal increase in monthly finance costs. With a starting price under £17,000 for even the higher-spec models, the Dacia Spring is a compelling entry point into electric vehicle ownership.
Best Small EV: Renault 5
Price: From £22,995 (TBC)
Range (Claimed): Up to 250 miles
Battery Size: 40-52kWh
Beyond its striking retro-futuristic design, the reborn Renault 5 is poised to be an exceptional and user-friendly small electric car. Its appealing aesthetics are even more impressive in person than in photos. Despite its compact dimensions (under four meters long), the interior is surprisingly spacious, comfortably seating four adults and offering a deep boot capable of holding a couple of cabin suitcases or a week’s worth of groceries. The Renault 5 truly shines in its driving experience, delivering a comfortable ride that effectively smooths out road imperfections. Its nimble handling makes navigating city traffic a breeze, ensuring a fun and engaging driving experience that’s sure to turn heads. The quality and features offered are remarkable, especially considering the anticipated competitive price point. Battery options provide a range of nearly 200 miles for the smaller battery and an extended 250 miles with the larger pack, making it versatile for both city commutes and longer journeys.
Best Used EV: Kia Niro EV
Price: From £13,000 (used)
Range (Claimed): Up to 283 miles
Battery Size: 39-64kWh
As the used EV market expands rapidly, the Kia Niro EV stands out as a top choice. Its initial popularity, particularly among ride-sharing drivers, has resulted in a healthy supply on the used market. However, high demand means these models tend to sell quickly. The Niro EV is a well-built and spacious family car with a generously sized boot, making it a practical option for various needs, including taxi services and family trips. It’s known for its ease of driving, excellent visibility, reliability, and comprehensive equipment levels. The larger 64kWh battery variant offers a substantial range of nearly 300 miles on a single charge, and real-world experience confirms the accuracy of the range estimations. Purchasing a used Niro EV wisely may even allow you to benefit from the remainder of Kia’s outstanding seven-year new-car warranty, adding further peace of mind.
Best Seven-Seater EV: Kia EV9
Price: From £65,025
Range (Claimed): Up to 349 miles
Battery Size: 99.8kWh
The Kia EV9 is a standout seven-seater EV, impressing with its striking design and high-quality interior. The cabin is bright, airy, and spacious, featuring some of the most appealing sustainable fabrics available. Beyond aesthetics, the EV9 delivers a comfortable driving experience and impressive efficiency for its size. Despite being Kia’s most expensive model in the UK, it offers excellent value compared to similarly sized all-electric SUVs. The substantial 99.8kWh battery is necessary to power this large and heavy vehicle, providing a long claimed range and enabling strong performance. The EV9 masterfully combines practicality, luxury, and eco-consciousness in a compelling electric package for larger families.
Best Electric Sports Car: Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
Price: From £65,000
Range (Claimed): Up to 278 miles
Battery Size: 84kWh
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N redefines the electric sports car, offering exhilarating handling with exceptional grip, sharp steering, and superb body control for agile cornering. It’s equipped with all the visual cues of a performance vehicle, including sporty stripes, a muscular body kit, a wealth of performance-focused dials and controls inside, supportive bucket seats, and even an engaging soundtrack. While EVs are typically silent, Hyundai has ingeniously incorporated a sound generator that replicates the noises of a traditional hot hatchback, complete with revving sounds and exhaust pops and bangs. Far from feeling artificial, this sound enhancement is surprisingly addictive and enhances the driving excitement. However, this high-performance EV comes at a price point that might make traditional hot hatch enthusiasts reconsider.
Best EV for Sustainability: Polestar 4
Price: From £59,900
Range (Claimed): Up to 385 miles
Battery Size: 100kWh
The Polestar 4, a premium coupe SUV, prioritizes sustainability in its design and construction. It incorporates recycled PET plastics and reclaimed fishing nets in its seats and carpets, utilizes steel from post-consumer and post-industrial waste, and meticulously tracks the precious metals used in its EV system to ensure ethical sourcing. Polestar’s website provides unparalleled transparency regarding its use of recycled and natural materials, detailing the origins of everything from the leather trim to the battery’s rare-earth metals, and even offering detailed carbon footprint analysis across various production stages. One unique design feature is the absence of a traditional rear window, relying instead on cameras and screens for rear visibility. Beyond its eco-conscious approach, the Polestar 4 is visually appealing and offers a refined interior, strong performance, ample space, and a comfortable ride. The integrated Google system further enhances user experience with intuitive technology.
Best EV for Range: Volkswagen ID.7
Price: From £50,550
Range (Claimed): Up to 436 miles
Battery Size: 77-86kWh
The Volkswagen ID.7 marks Volkswagen’s serious entry into direct competition with Tesla, particularly regarding range and practicality, although Tesla still holds a price advantage with the Model 3. The ID.7 excels in offering generous interior space and exceptional range, addressing a key concern for many EV buyers. The ID.7 Pro Match, equipped with a 77kWh battery, nearly matches the Tesla Model 3’s impressive range with a claimed 381 miles. Upgrading to the Pro S Match with an 86kWh battery extends the claimed range to an outstanding 436 miles. The ID.7 stands out for its relaxed and comfortable driving character. The ride quality is remarkably refined, reminiscent of a Mercedes-Benz in its smoothness, and the cabin remains exceptionally quiet at speed, making it ideal for long journeys.
Best Luxury EV: BMW i7
Price: From £101,765
Range (Claimed): Up to 387 miles
Battery Size: 105.7kWh
While the Tesla Model S is currently unavailable in the UK, the BMW i7 surpasses it in overall luxury. BMW has risen to the top of the luxury EV market, arguably overtaking Mercedes-Benz with its 7 Series, despite the polarizing upright front-end design featuring an oversized grille. The electric i7 prioritizes silent luxury to an unprecedented degree. While most EVs are quiet, the i7 elevates this to a new level of serenity. BMW even collaborated with composer Hans Zimmer to create a subtle sound to provide auditory feedback while driving. Sound plays an even more significant role in the rear cabin, featuring a massive 31-inch 8k screen that descends from the ceiling and a high-fidelity 36-speaker Bowers & Wilkins sound system, transforming the rear seats into a mobile cinema.
Best Family-Friendly EV: Renault Scenic E-Tech
Price: From £37,495
Range (Claimed): Up to 379 miles
Battery Size: 60-87kWh
The Renault Scenic has long been synonymous with family cars, pioneering the affordable compact MPV segment. Now reimagined as an all-electric SUV, the Scenic E-Tech remains squarely focused on family needs, albeit with a more rugged, off-road-inspired aesthetic. Large rear doors provide easy access to a spacious back seat that comfortably accommodates three passengers. Tech-savvy kids will appreciate the innovative armrest with integrated swivel-out phone holders and USB charging ports. The front cabin features a large, Google-powered touchscreen infotainment system, a digital driver’s display, and ample storage compartments for family essentials. The Scenic E-Tech prioritizes comfort over outright speed, delivering a relaxed driving experience. However, be mindful of wheel size, as the optional 20-inch wheels can sometimes result in a slightly firmer ride.
Best EV Coming Soon: Vauxhall Frontera
Price: From £23,495
Range (Claimed): Up to 248 miles
Battery Size: 44-51kWh
Forget the utilitarian Vauxhall Frontera of the 1990s; the new Frontera represents a significant leap forward in sophistication while retaining its SUV form factor. It’s also exceptionally affordable, with the entry-level electric model priced the same as the petrol hybrid variant, starting at a reasonable £23,495. The Frontera boasts attractive styling and will be offered in six color options, all featuring a contrasting roof. The interior provides decent space, with a 460-liter boot that expands to 1,600 liters with the rear seats folded, easily accommodating a bicycle. Despite its competitive price, the Frontera isn’t a basic EV. It includes dual 10-inch digital displays for driver information and infotainment, and the front seats are ergonomically designed with sustainable recycled materials to reduce back pressure on longer trips.
