Top EVs of 2025

Meet Steve Forster, our resident EV expert, fully recovered petrolhead and lifelong car enthusiast. Steve has driven just about everything on four wheels (and two!), from smoky hot hatches to luxury cruisers, and now spends his time separating genuine electric brilliance from overhyped nonsense. He absolutely loves cars and driving, which means these picks are all about what’s genuinely great to drive, live with and own.

Here are Steve’s Top EV Picks of the Year, with strong opinions included as standard.

Winner - Alpine A290

This is a car I’d personally consider buying.

The Alpine A290 is gorgeous to look at, with beautiful details – especially those front lights! It’s practical too, coming in at under 4 metres long, and crucially it hits a great price point. There’s absolutely no need to spend £50k, let alone £100k, to get great looks, strong performance and a genuinely sporty car.

This is the hot hatch reborn, and it’s all the better for it.

The 217bhp version is likely to be the star of the range. It’s relatively light, which should help deliver decent real-world range, and it’s definitely fun to drive. Alpine has made lots of changes compared to the already excellent Renault 5, turning it into a class-leading car with remarkable handling and ride quality.

Drive it hard and the range will drop, as you’d expect, but drive gently and 200 miles is very achievable. A proper driver’s EV.

Highly Commended - Hyundai Ioniq 5N & Xiaomi SU7 Ultra

The Ioniq 5N (and its sister car, the 6N) is a 640bhp monster. It’s an ultra-performance EV that’s practical, well-priced and genuinely delightful to drive. The standard versions are already good, but the N models turn things up to eleven. Decent range, loads of space and huge fun. Very tempting. Very, very tempting.

The Xiaomi SU7 Ultra makes the list despite not yet being launched in the UK. It’s the only fully Chinese car here, but with the insane performance figures promised (over 1,500bhp), most of us in the office want one. Its Nürburgring lap time shows this is a proper driver’s car, and I suspect it could convert even the most stubborn petrolhead into an electrohead.

Winner - Tesla Model 3 Long Range

The Model 3 Long Range delivers one of the longest real-world ranges available, typically around 350 miles. That’s thanks to exceptional high-speed efficiency, something very few rivals can match at this price point.

Yes, there are cars with bigger batteries, but Tesla wins on miles per kWh, especially on motorway journeys. It’s comfortable, charges quickly, and the Autopilot system is excellent, although the intrusive control quirks can get annoying at times.

A brilliant long-distance tool.

Highly Commended - Mercedes-Benz EQS Saloon

With its enormous battery, the EQS is the longest-range EV you can buy in the UK, approaching 400 miles in the real world. It’s expensive, but if luxury matters, it’s a superb long-distance cruiser with an exceptionally quiet, refined cabin.

The dashboard feels a bit like a PlayStation game (far too many flashy lights) but it’s undeniably a great place to cover serious miles. Some of the newer Merc EVs like the CLA and GLB are looking tempting too, although I’ve not had enough time behind the wheel yet.

Winner - Kia e-Niro

The Kia e-Niro is one of the best used EVs for families. It offers up to 282 miles of range, plenty of space, easy access, and Kia’s excellent seven-year warranty, which transfers to second owners.

A three-year-old example represents fantastic value and peace of mind.

Highly Commended - Nissan Leaf

There are loads of Leafs on the market, and if you don’t need huge range, they’re a brilliant inexpensive option. Practical, cheap to run and very reliable, with plenty of space and comfort.

Older examples, which are five to ten years old, are especially good value, making the Leaf one of the most affordable ways to enter EV ownership.

Joint Winners - Kia EV3 & Renault 5 E-Tech

The Kia EV3 is the standout new mid-size SUV EV for 2025. I tested it and achieved well over 300 miles of range – an impressive 372 miles! Build quality is excellent, higher-spec models come very well equipped as standard, and some of the lease deals are outstanding.

It beats many of the competitors flooding the market in terms of quality, ease of use, ride comfort and handling.

The Renault 5 E-Tech is one of the best-looking cars on the road, especially in yellow.

The blend of retro and futuristic design gives it real presence, and the interior is lovely. It’s also a great size; personally, I prefer it to a bigger SUV. With real-world range in the mid-200s and pricing starting around £21k (helped by the government grant), it’s a must-buy unless you need more space or range.

That said, if you want something boxier and a bit more practical, the Renault 4 is worth a look.

Winner - Dacia Spring

The cheapest new EV widely available in the UK, and perfect for short, local journeys. Yes, it’s cheap, but the quality is better than you might expect. With list prices around £15k (and decent discounts available), it’s excellent value.

If you can live with a mid-100-mile real-world range, it’s ideal, especially when most UK journeys are under 15 miles a day.

Highly Commended - Fiat Grande Panda Electric

Approaching 200 miles of range, cute looks, cheap to run and surprisingly practical. It has a generous boot for its size and is incredibly easy to drive. Everything inside is simple and intuitive. Perfect for town driving and mid-length trips.

Winner - BMW iX3 (New Generation)

I’ll be honest – I think it’s ugly. But other than that, it’s amazing.

With a claimed range of up to 500 miles and peak charging speeds of 400kW, it would have won the long-range award if it were already on sale. The interior is superb, BMW quality shines through, and usability is outstanding.

It will also support vehicle-to-grid (V2G), meaning it can power your house. Pricing is reasonable, although the options list is dangerous, very tempting and very expensive.

It could be a real game changer for BMW… even if I’m still struggling with the looks.

Winner - Classic Range Rover (converted by Inverted or Electrogenic)

A lofty driving position, iconic looks, and a surprisingly small and basic interior compared to modern Range Rovers (which actually makes it better). Less is more. Enough space for most people, and still capable off-road when done properly.

Highly Commended - VW Beetle (Electric Classic Cars)

Iconic, gorgeous, and more practical than you’d expect. Better than a Mini, far cheaper than a converted 911, and full of charm. I love these.

Winner - Porsche Cayenne Electric

Ludicrously expensive, especially the Turbo (a silly name for an EV), but outrageous in every measurable way. Incredible charging speed, range, acceleration and top speed. Phenomenal build quality and spot-on design.

It’s a proper Porsche SUV and will likely remain a premium product, although depreciation risk exists (just look at the Taycan). Still, if money really isn’t a concern, this is spectacular.