Best electric cars to buy in 2025

Hyundai has led the pack when it comes to affordable electric cars with long ranges, along with its sister brand Kia. The original Kona Electric, for example, came along in 2018 with almost double the range of its electric small SUV rivals. But now it's the Ioniq 5's that is one of the range setters among electric cars. 

Although it's shaped like a big hatchback, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is larger than you might expect and similar in size to the Skoda Enyaq iV. A key part of the Hyundai's appeal is its styling, with a funky blend of futuristic and retro details to make it really stand out.

While the inside isn't as dazzling on the eye as the outside, it is a very nice place to sit with a spacious, airy feel, great technology and clever features including (on all but the basic Advance model) 'vehicle to load capability', which lets you power anything from a domestic socket via the car itself. 

If you don't want all the bells and whistles, even the reasonably-priced entry-point model offers up a WLTP range of 273 miles (or 240 miles in earlier cars). But go for the 84kWh model and you'll get up to 354 miles out of a single charge, while charging is done pretty rapidly, with an 80% top-up possible in under 20 minutes. 

On the road, there might be faster and more exciting EVs, but the Ioniq 5's impressive comfort, decent performance and easy about-town driving make it a doddle to get about in. Should you still want your thrills in an Ioniq 5-shaped car, there's also the N version that is supercar quick and hugely entertaining to drive.

The Skoda Enyaq could be the electric car that many of us need. It's certainly one of the very best electric cars you can buy right now. 

Based on the same platform as Volkswagen's ID.4 and the Audi Q4 e-tron, we think it's the Enyaq that's the best choice out of the three cars. Don't get us wrong, the Volkswagen ID.4 and Audi Q4 e-tron are very good electric cars, it's just that the Enyaq offers greater practicality, more generous kit levels and a more affordable price tag.

Skoda's second all-electric car (after the small but very capable Citigo-e iV), the Enyaq is family-focused and that big on space. There's a roomy, comfy cabin with a large 13-inch media display dominating the dash, while there's plenty of stowage space and a big boot to, eh, boot. 

It's just as good to drive as its more expensive siblings, and the Enyaq offers an even more comfortable ride and a slightly better range, and the interior still feels well made and generously equipped. Skoda really has knocked it out the park with the Enyaq. 

Think the idea of a Kia - and an electric one at that - is mind-numbingly dull? The EV6 will make you think again. 

It's best to consider the Kia EV6 as the Niro EV's cooler, sportier uncle, and putting the two side-by-side hammers that analogy home. Its striking exterior combines with a modern-looking, well-executed interior that offers both dazzling tech and a number of neat practicality features. It's even pretty roomy.

What makes the Kia such an accomplished all-rounder for its relatively modest outlay is the driving experience. With punchy electric motors, agile handling and a grown-up (if slightly firm) ride, the EV6 makes almost everything else on the market feel a bit soulless.

There's a dual motor version that does 0-62mph in 5.3 seconds and a super-fast GT version that'll bait a Tesla Model 3. But, really, the single-motor version is plenty powerful enough for most people's needs. That's also the version with a 347-mile range. What's more, it can even power household devices or even charge up other EVs from outside the car, which is a very clever feature.

The Porsche Taycan is properly quick. Already a fast car at the time of its launch, Porsche has since updated the car and increased power figures across the range. This means the Taycan Turbo S now produces an enormous 952PS, and that's not even the most powerful version. Now, there's a range-topping Taycan Turbo GT with a frankly obscene 1,034PS, and the ability to hit 0-62mph in 2.2 seconds and top out at 190mph when the Weissach pack is fitted. 

Really, though, the 408PS entry-level model has more than enough performance for most, and at - we're not joking - £100,000 less than the GT. More relevant to most owners, the base Taycan gets an impressive range of 420 miles if combined with the Performance Plus battery. 

All Taycans blend impeccable handling with impressive long-distance comfort. Indeed, it's long-distance touring that the Taycan perhaps does best. Along with the increased battery range, there's a surprising amount of room inside, with enough space for adults in the back and a big boot. There's even an estate-like Cross Turismo model available, providing a sportier alternative to electric SUVs like the BMW iX.

If you're shopping for a compact executive car, you'd have to be a die-hard German car hater to not at least consider a BMW 3 Series. BMW wants this to also become the case with the all-electric i4, which is one of the brand's most accomplished EVs. 

The BMW i4 is effectively a rival to the Tesla Model 3 and Polestar 2. But unlike those cars, it doesn't shout about being electric. In fact, you'd be hard-pressed at a glance to tell it apart from a regular 4 Series Gran Coupe. And that's key to the i4's appeal: by not trying too hard, it's basically taking what we know and love about BMWs with engines, and applying it to an EV.

That means the interior is familiar but brilliant, with excellent quality and one of the best infotainment systems on the market. It's fantastic to drive, with a real sense of sharpness and balance to the handling. 

The headline model in the i4 range is the M50, with its punchy 544PS and dual electric motors. While that'll give a Model 3 Performance a run for its money, in the real world the 340PS eDrive40 model is plenty quick enough, and that's the version with a Tesla-matching 359-mile range from its 83.9kWh battery. 

In 2024, BMW gave the i4 a light refresh, tweaking the exterior styling and the cabin while leaving the powertrains alone. 

Even those with a dislike of the Tesla brand can't deny the sheer objective excellence of the Model 3. And buyers haven't, either, because the Tesla Model 3 is one of the most popular electric cars in the world right now, even a few years on from its launch.

Why? Well, it's one of the longest-range electric cars money can buy, yet despite new prices increasing of late it's still relatively affordable. The Tesla Model 3 Long Range can officially manage up to 436 miles on a charge, but even when that does run out, you don't need to worry too much because Tesla's brilliant Supercharger network will always have your back. 

The Model 3 is not the most inspiring thing to look at inside or out, but the technology on offer via that giant central touchscreen makes VW's efforts look half-baked. You'll need to get used to everything (and we mean everything) being controlled through that screen, however, and there are better quality interiors around. But the Tesla is spacious and well-equipped. 

We can't complain about the way the Model 3 drives, with a sorted ride and composed handling. Even the basic ones are very fast, but the Tesla Model 3 Performance is astonishingly rapid, going from 0-62mph in 2.9 seconds. Want to bait supercars without the local pollution? This is the car. 

The Kia EV3 might just be the most impressive entry yet in the Korean brand's all-out assault on the electric car market. It's every bit as stylish as the flagship EV9, with which it shares strong aesthetic family ties, but is a much more manageable (yet still decent) size and is considerably more affordable. 

The range starts from just £32,995, making it by far Kia's cheapest EV and cheaper than a lot of rivals. Admittedly, you'll only be getting the smaller 58.3kWh battery pack for that price, but that still comes with an official range figure of 270 miles, which should translate to comfortably over 200 miles of 'real world' driving.

Opt for the bigger, 81.4kWh battery and that increases to 375 miles, so in the right conditions, you'll be able to drive 300 miles between charges. The upgrade costs around £3,000, so it's not like the EV3 is unduly expensive if you do need that extra range.

The EV3 is also as good to look at from the inside as it is from the outside and is a surprisingly fun car to drive. Little wonder it scooped the overall title of UK Car of the Year.

Who'd have thought it'd be MG that cornered the market for cheap electric cars? But the MG4 EV is one of the best electric hatchbacks on sale, and that's before you factor in the sub-£30k price tag.

For the price of a small car, you get a Golf-sized family car with a decent range (up to 323 miles) and a seven-year warranty, not to mention a long list of standard equipment. Even the top-spec MG4 EV Trophy is significantly cheaper than the Volkswagen ID.3 (its main rival) and comes with a genuinely impressive kit list, including a 360-degree camera, built-in navigation, heated front seats and a heated steering wheel.

What really makes the MG4 EV stand out against other MG models (including the MG5 and MG ZS EV) is its clever packaging. It's been designed from scratch as an EV, without the need to accommodate a big petrol engine. That means it's a lot more spacious inside than many cars of this size. And as the electric motor on the cheaper models drives the rear wheels, it's also a lot of fun to drive: good news for traditional MG buyers who have fond memories of cars like the MG B. 

An MG4 XPower with an extra motor on the front axle provides all-wheel drive and a potent 435PS output, but it's not quite as fun to drive as you might expect. 

It says a great deal about the Polestar 2 that it continues to be one of most desirable and coveted electric cars even though, in EV terms, it's been on sale for quite a while.

The effortless Scandi cool of the Polestar, which has rubbed off from parent company Volvo, helps a great deal. So does the excellent build quality, cabin space, and comfort that all make the Polestar 2 remarkably easy to like and live with. For anyone dipping their toe into the EV water for the first time, the Polestar is a fantastic jumping off point.

A driving range of up to 408 miles also makes a strong case for the Polestar 2 as you won't be fretting about where's the next charge station even on longer drives. And you will want to drive this car as it's good at covering ground in a composed, cosseting manner.

Impressive though the Skoda Enyaq is, it's too large for a lot of buyers. Happily, that Skoda sensibility and value we love so much have been distilled into a smaller model called the Elroq. As for how big it is, the clue's in the name, which is a portmanteau of 'electric' and 'Karoq'. 

It sits on a different platform to the Karoq, though, adopting the same Volkswagen Group 'MEB' bespoke EV architecture as the Enyaq and stylish Volkswagen ID.Buzz you can also read about on this page. That means it takes full advantage of its low-lying battery pack and lack of engine to provide a really spacious, airy interior. 

The cabin is nicely designed, as well, being a far cry from dull Skoda cabins of old. The Elroq is also a looker from the outside, if not quite as alluring as something like a Kia EV3. What we like about the car most, though, is its price - you can buy one for just £31,500. 

That gets you the SE 50 with a range of about 230 miles, while the £33,350 SE L up that figure to 250 miles. The Elroq Edition 85 can manage an impressive 360 miles between charges according to the official figures, and costs £38,650.

BMW's i5 is a great example of a supremely comfortable saloon cruiser. This all-electric 5 Series follows the brief of its combustion-powered predecessors: it’s good in almost every area with a refined driving experience and a fantastic look and feel. It stares the Porsche Taycan square in the face and laughs, with greater range and more space for passengers and luggage, while delivering a similarly immersive driving experience. 

Talking of range, the i5 can do up to 357 miles on a single charge, although real-world usage will likely bring that figure closer to 300. Still, that’s a decent slug, which will get you across a fair proportion of the country before you need to start considering a charging stop.

For those who want to really kick things up a notch, there’s an M60 variant, which will do 0-62mph in just 3.8 seconds, although max range drops to 315 miles.

The BMW i5 may be a little 'safer' when compared to some of the other vehicles in our best electric cars rundown, but it delivers a familiar BMW 5 Series experience, which means you're in good hands.

Volkswagen has a growing range of competent and long-range electric cars, but there's nothing that really tugs at the heartstrings, except the charming VW ID.Buzz.

Taking clear inspiration from a decades-old icon, the Type 2 Bus, the Volkswagen ID.Buzz MPV brings the same mix of practicality and style into the 21st century. And like the old bus, the engine (or rather electric motor) sits at the back, leaving a bluff front end and wheel-at-each-corner design to maximise space. 

There's plenty of that inside, with a vast front cabin and (optionally) electric sliding doors that reveal generous rear-seat space for three. It's a shame you don't get individual rear seats, and that we had to wait a little while longer for the seven-seat ID.Buzz LWB to arrive. Despite that, though, we love the airy and smart cabin, with its bright finishes and premium feel. 

Another thing that's notably un-van-like is the driving experience. In fact, it drives like a very well-sorted electric car, with SUV-like handling but an even smoother ride than other VW electric cars. It's really quiet, too, and there's even a performance version in the form of the ID.Buzz GTX. 

There was much excitement in the car world when the Volvo EX90 was first announced, due to it being the spiritual all-electric successor to the brilliant and hugely successful Volvo XC90. Then, however, we were made to wait the thick end of two years for it to arrive. Still, it was worth the wait.

Yes, the XC90 continues in a heavily revised plug-in hybrid form, but the EX90 takes Volvo's expertise with large seven-seat luxury SUVs, and brings it right up to date. And yes, the EX90 is very expensive, but that's partly because it's initially only offered in high-end trim levels with hugely powerful Twin Motor all-electric drivetrains and massive batteries. However, we do expect more affordable versions to be offered in short order, and these will probably be even more appealing.

But for now, the plushly trimmed and immensely spacious seven-seater cabin has just about every gadget you can think of, while the cool Scandi design is typically Volvo, and perfectly complements the car's imposing exterior style.

With those hugely powerful drivetrains, the EX90 is enormously quick for such a vast car, while the ride is impressively smooth and the handling is surprisingly agile. 

In recent years, there's been a steady stream of all-electric models from BMW, and that doesn't look like it's going to stop any time soon. For our money, the BMW iX1 is one of the firm's best.

That's for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, it's great to drive, like any BMW simply has to be. It provides a good balance of comfort and control, with the suspension mopping up the worst of road surfaces, but giving enough sharpness to allow you to have some fun. Performance is appropriately strong, and your progress is also appropriately quiet. Just what you want in a family SUV, then.

Worried that the teeny BMW iX1 isn't big enough to be a family SUV? Don't be. The iX1 has grown quite a bit compared to the previous X1, so it's really not that teeny any more. Four adults and a decent amount of luggage will fit very comfortably, and squeezing in a fifth person won't be out of the question, either. Best of all, as electric BMWs go, the iX1 is comparatively affordable, so buying one shouldn't break the bank. Chuck in the plush interior, generous equipment, impressive safety and very decent range, and you have a very capable all-rounder.

The new MINI Cooper Electric is certainly not the first all-electric version of the MINI hatchback, but it is comfortably the best. The all-important range has improved hugely for one thing. While the old MINI Electric would struggle to bust 100 real-world miles on a full charge, the official WLTP figures suggest you'll get up to 250 miles out of this new one.

An electric MINI has to be about far more than range, though. It also needs to be about style, fun and charm. It certainly has the style bit nailed, with retro-modern looks that, as always, take their inspiration from the 1960s original, but with a fresh twist for this generation. That goes for the interior, too, which has a funky design, high-grade materials and a one-of-a-kind circular touchscreen.

The fun bit is covered by the MINI's trademark agility. It may look the same as the petrol-powered MINI released at the same time, but while that car shares much with the previous MINI, the all-electric one is built on a platform that's brand-spanking new. As any MINI should, it dances from bend to bend with impressive alacrity, and the potent pace from the electric motor keeps you on your toes as well. Charm? Well, when there's this much fun to be had, you can't fail to be drawn in by the latest MINI.