2. Kia EV6
s 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.
Skoda Enyaq
The Enyak 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.
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.
BMW iX
All versions of the BMW IX feature a four-wheel drive, dual-motor setup and, although this contributes to a rather hefty kerbweight of over 2,400kg, the iX handles surprisingly well and grips reassuringly through corners. The ride is incredibly refined, too, with the suspension doing an excellent job of absorbing the vibrations and bumps of even the most pothole-riddled roads.
Make your way inside and you’ll be greeted by a plush, distinctively-styled cabin filled with high-quality materials. Not only does it look and feel good, it performs well, too, with a dual-screen infotainment setup featuring the latest version of BMW’s iDrive.
6. Ford Mustang Mach-E
Is the 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.
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 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.
8. 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.
9. Tesla Model 3
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.
10. Tesla Model Y
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.
