It is easy to be led by the various damning headlines that suggest demand for electric vehicles is waning to the point that big automotive players are completely rethinking their strategies.
Granted, the likes of Porsche and Ford have back-tracked on plans, shoehorning gasoline engines and hybrid set-ups into models that were destined to be pure electric, but this isn’t the case for everyone.
It’s a slightly different story in the US, where a reversal on incentives and tax breaks has slowed EV progress, often forcing many of the aforementioned brands to rethink their electric strategy in North America to ensure they remain profitable.
Polestar, Volkswagen, Audi and Mercedes-Benz all paused or scrapped plans to launch models in the US, but that hasn’t prevented homegrown talent from prevailing.
Tesla and Rivian continue to reach new buyers, Hyundai and Kia remain popular and Nissan’s recently release Leaf is making waves for its range and affordability.
1. Tesla Model Y
The updated Model Y is by far the best car Tesla has ever produced, blending excellent practicality, impressive range, reliably fast public charging and a quieter and more refined ride than previous generations.
Granted, the exterior styling remains divisive, but the recent refresh has certainly sharpened the approach, modernizing the lines and adding full-width light bars at the front and rear to ensure it attracts attention when out on the road.
Having driven both the Premium and Performance editions, it’s safe to say that unless you really like rollercoaster-like acceleration, the latter is the model to plump for – particularly in Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive guise.
If you can get past the badge and all of its modern connotations, the latest Model Y is hands-down one of the most efficient and easiest to live with EVs on sale.
2. MG IM5
Tesla has a new rival pop up every few weeks these days and MG’s latest premium badge, dubbed Intelligent Mobility, makes no effort to disguise the fact that it has the Tesla Model 3 firmly in its sights.
Hailing from China’s humungous SAIC automotive group, the vehicle rides on an all-electric platform that’s shared with a number of premium saloons in its domestic market. Although in Europe, things have been tweaked and changed to appeal to fussier buyers.
Specs are impressive: up to 441 miles of range, 17 minutes for a 10-80% charge and 3.2 seconds for the 0-62mph dash in the 751hp Performance model… that’s Porsche Taycan territory for a fraction of the price.
From most angles, it’s handsome car too, with little bits of Aston Martin at the rear and plenty of Taycan at the front. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right?
It also packs a plethora of advanced driver assistance and infotainment technology for not a great deal of money.
If you can look past the overly firm ride, the fact that everything is committed to a slightly annoying touchscreen and some terrible visibility out of the rear, it offers an impressive amount of performance, all-electric range and technology for less money than the Polestar 2, Mercedes-Benz CLA and, of course, the Tesla Model 3 it is actively pursuing in Europe.
3. Kia EV4
Kia’s line-up of pure electric vehicles is mightily impressive, spanning the upcoming (and tiny) EV2, through stylish saloons, crossovers and maxing out with the massive, seven-seat EV9 SUV at the very top of the range. There really is something for everyone.
The EV4 is one of its newest models and it is designed to tap into Europe’s love for a good old-fashioned hatchback, taking elements from its larger EV6 and smaller EV3, but packaging it up in something that isn’t yet another SUV or crossover.
Bold styling, a hugely comfortable ride and impressive range figures make for a tempting purchase, while Kia’s latest infotainment system is the sharpest and most technologically-advanced it has produced, with ChatGPT integration for natural voice interactions.
It’s got a big, practical trunk and, thanks to this not riding as high as some of its SUV siblings, it handles pretty well. Don’t expect Golf GTI levels of fun, but it’s an otherwise excellent all-rounder that’s entertaining enough for most.
4. Citroen e-C5 Aircross
Sometimes, the best cars are the ones that handle the basics well without any fuss or fanfare. Those cars that prioritize comfort and practicality over flashy design elements and face-melting performance.
Citroen’s latest e-C5 Aircross, which is its first model to ride on the STLA Medium platform from parent company Stellantis, is exactly one of these cars. It offers either 320 or 421 miles of range, depending on the battery specified, perfectly acceptable performance and one of the most comfortable rides around.
The suspension with ‘Progressive Hydraulic Cushions’ makes it feel like it is floating on air, while the big five-seat SUV offers a huge amount of storage space and very comfortable quarters for anyone traveling onboard.
Inside, it adds a little French design know-how with some of the most comfortable front seats I have ever experienced. The infotainment technology isn’t the greatest, but it all works and it’s easy to use.
Prices start at £34,065 (around $45,400 / AU$68,600) for entry-level models, which is hugely competitive for an EV that’s as practical and comfortable as this.
5. Renault 4 E-Tech
Despite driving this vehicle very early in 2025, it still remains one of the most memorable, thanks to its excellent mix of small car character, great handling dynamics and very tempting price tag.
Based on the equally excellent Renault 5 E-Tech, the R4 adds an extra dollop of practicality with slightly more room in the rear for passengers and more practical stowage space throughout. It still retains some of that R5 cheekiness in the way it drives and handles, though.
Above all else, it’s one of the best value EVs on sale in the UK and Europe, with prices starting at just £23,445 (around $31,250 / AU$47,200), yet it still manages to deliver head-swiveling looks on the outside, a premium-feeling interior and the latest in-car technology – including an Android Automotive-based infotainment system with Google Maps and other apps baked in.
6. Mercedes-Benz CLA
Mercedes sunk its engineering might into the latest CLA, not only imbuing it with a clever two-stage transmission (for efficiency, rather than performance), a low drag co-efficient and the latest 800V electrical architecture, but also debuting the marque’s cinema-quality Super Screen technology inside.
All of this results in a vehicle that can manage some 480 miles on a single charge, but can still dispatch the 0-62mph sprint in a respectable 4.9 seconds. Charging is lightning fast, too, while the interior boasts the sort of quality fit and finish you would expect from the German marque. The screen tech is on another level.
Base models start at £45,615 in the UK, which is around $61,000 / AU$94,000 roughly converted. This puts it in line with Tesla Model 3 and Model Y, yet it will go further on a single charge and brim its batteries much faster.
7. Smart #5
Smart no longer makes positively teeny city cars – well, not until the Smart #2 arrives – instead plying its trade in a variety of SUVs that blend elements from Mercedes-Benz and Chinese Goliath Geely.
I was not particularly convinced by the #1, as the Brabus model felt way too fast for its own good, the brakes were poor and it looked, well, a bit weird. The Smart #5 is altogether better, looking a bit like a rounded-off Mercedes G 580 and generally offering more space and practicality than its smaller sibling.
The interior technology is also a lot more impressive with a staggering 36 inches of screen real estate festooning the interior. There’s also a 25.6-inch augmented reality head-up display if you need more screen.
It’s a lovely place to while away the miles, with some models able to cover 366 of them on a single charge. The 0-80% top up time is under 18 minutes, too.
Of course, I drove the Brabus edition, which develops a frankly stupid 637bhp from its twin-motor set-up. That’s far too much for a family-friendly SUV and Smart simply doesn’t boast the performance engineering know-how to successfully translate that power to the road.
Opt for Pro+ or Premium trims and you get the larger batteries, the fast-charging 800V architecture and all of that interior for much less money and fewer hairier moments on wet roads.
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