Racking up the miles? These are the electric cars with the longest battery ranges that you can buy in the UK
Electric cars are becoming a more common sight on UK roads. In response to upcoming bans on combustion-powered cars, manufacturers are in a race to get new all-electric models on sale. This has resulted in technology rapidly improving to produce electric cars with much longer ranges than those offered only a few years ago.
Gone are the days where an electric car would fail to come close to the range that a tank of fuel could bring. And although range anxiety can still be a factor in the minds of potential electric car buyers, it's a fear that is fading.
As more and more charging points crop up around the country, it's easier than ever to run an electric car, even one with a relatively short range. If you want to be sure that you can drive long distances without having to stop, though, the cars we’ve listed below are the ones to go for.
Read on to find out more about the top ten longest-range electric cars you can buy in the UK. The figures shown below are all derived from the WLTP efficiency test, which is designed to be more representative of the range drivers will actually achieve in the real world than the old NEDC test.
The longest range electric cars on sale in the UK
10. Mercedes EQS SUV – 366 miles
This SUV version of Mercedes’ all-electric flagship is anything but subtle. The EQS SUV weighs 2.7 tonnes, and it’s an imposing car that’s crammed full of the latest tech and top-end luxury. However, it still boasts one of the most impressive claimed battery ranges of any electric car.
The EQS SUV uses the same platform as its saloon sibling, but its added weight and reduced aerodynamics mean that it’s not able to match the sleeker car’s class-leading efficiency. The SUV’s range is still one of the best out there, though, and the interior is cavernous, so you can truly stretch out and relax in your armchair-like seat.
When it’s time to recharge, you won’t need to be away from the EQS SUV’s comfort for too long, as a 10-80 per cent charge will only take 31 minutes at a rate of 200kW.
9. Ford Mustang Mach-E – 372 miles
Although a very different car from its V8-powered namesake, the Mustang Mach-E sets a standard in its own way. Not only does it offer a large amount of space for family use but the entire range offers over 270 miles of battery range, all the way up to 372 miles if you choose the Extended Range model.
The range-topping GT inherits some of the traditional Mustang’s drag-strip credentials, with a 0-62mph time of just 3.7 seconds – although this isn’t quite as quick as some of its rivals. Selecting the ‘Untamed’ drive mode from the three available options also adds a fake V8 engine sound into the cabin – should that appeal to you.
Inside, the Mustang Mach-E feels a little more premium than some other Ford models, with standard kit including dual-zone climate control, a rear view camera, heated front seats, heated steering wheel, a 15.5-inch touchscreen and a 10.2-inch digital instrument display.
8. Tesla Model 3 – 374 miles
The Tesla Model 3 has been on sale in Britain since 2019, and although it finds itself with more rivals than ever, it’s pretty easy to figure out why so many UK EV advocates have bought or leased one.
The Model 3 is Tesla’s cheapest model, but there are no sacrifices when it comes to battery range as every version offers over 300 miles. There’s plenty of the brand’s signature tech to be found on-board, too. Standard equipment includes a 15-inch high-resolution infotainment system, a keyless entry system that can recognise your phone as a key, heated front seats with 12-way electric adjustability, four USB ports and docking for two smartphones.
7. Polestar 3 – 379 miles
Polestar’s first SUV is only its third model overall, but, if the Polestar 2 is anything to go by, the 3 should be cause for concern amongst its more established competition.
The Polestar 3 takes aim at the premium end of the electric SUV market, with rivals such as the Audi e-tron and BMW iX in its sights. Sharing a platform with the Volvo EX90, the 3 is fitted with a notably large 107kWh battery pack. Polestar claims that this unit is good for up to 379 miles of range, and a 250kW charging capability means a 10 to 80 per cent rapid charging time of just 30 minutes.
Inside, the Polestar 3 is equipped with a generous helping of luxurious creature comforts. These include a panoramic glass roof, ambient lighting, a 360-degree parking camera, soft-closing doors, cabin air filtration, heated rear seats, and a 25-speaker Bowers & Wilkins stereo.
6. BMW iX – 380 miles
The iX is BMW's flagship electric SUV, and although this car is anything but compact, it boasts a range figure of up to 380 miles. Admittedly, the iX’s styling is rather divisive but there’s no cause for argument when it comes down to sheer capability.
Even though the iX is a 2.4-tonne SUV, its performance figures are exactly as you’d expect from a BMW. Even the least-powerful xDrive40 will accelerate from 0-62mph in 6.1 seconds, while the xDrive50 drops this time to 4.6 seconds. Both versions have a top speed of 124mph.
Alternatively, you can even inject the spirit of BMW’s legendary M cars into the all-electric iX by opting for the M60 model. This 611bhp variant will do the 0-62mph run in a mere 3.8 seconds, and continue onto a top speed of 155mph. All iX variants feature a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive setup.
This performance doesn’t come at the cost of comfort, though. The iX’s cabin is full of soft-touch materials and a high level of quality is evident throughout. Two 14.5-inch curved screens feature BMW’s latest iDrive system, which is one of the slickest infotainment systems on the market.
5. Hyundai Ioniq 6 – 382 miles
The Hyundai Ioniq 6 may look very different to the multi-award winning Ioniq 5 at first glance, but take away the streamlined saloon body and you’ll soon find that the two cars are rather similar where it matters most.
Based on the same e-GMP platform as the Ioniq 5, the Ioniq 6 is offered with a variety of different drivetrain and battery setups, and all of these offer well over 250 miles of battery range. Opt for the rear-wheel drive model fitted with a 77.4kWh battery and this ultra-aerodynamic model can travel up to 382 miles on a single charge. Also, thanks to its 800V electrical architecture, the Ioniq 6 can charge from 10 to 80 per cent in as little as 18 minutes, at speeds of up to 350kW.
4. BMW i7 – 388 miles
For the first time, BMW’s flagship executive saloon is available with all-electric power. Unlike its biggest rivals, the Tesla Model S and Mercedes EQS, the new i7 shares its platform with a combustion-powered sibling, the 7 Series. This doesn’t mean that any shortcuts have been taken with the i7’s powertrain, though, as it’s a solid performer.
Only one battery is offered with the i7, but this is a large 101.7kWh unit that BMW claims will achieve up to 388 miles of range. BMW has been clever with the battery pack’s design, too. It’s super-thin in order to prevent intrusion into the cabin space, a vital part of any luxury car.
A near-silent driving experience and high-quality materials mean that comfort can be found in abundance. If you are fortunate enough to be regularly chauffeured in your i7, it’s definitely worth taking a look at the options list. The Rear Comfort Pack will allow you to electronically recline and adjust the heated and ventilated seats, while the 31-inch 8K folding Theatre Screen will keep you thoroughly entertained.
3. Mercedes EQE – 394 miles
The Mercedes EQE is an all-electric saloon that works as the equivalent of the E-Class in the brand’s range. It uses the EVA2 platform that’s shared with the flagship EQS, and this allows for a large 90kWh battery in the EQE 350+ model.
This means a claimed range of up to 394 miles, using a single motor with 288bhp and 530Nm of torque mounted on the rear axle. The large battery and slippery shape means the EQE is among the longest-range EVs you can buy. The EQE also features 170kW rapid charging that takes around 33 minutes to complete a 10-80 per cent charge – and on this particular car, that amounts to a significant amount of range.
2. Tesla Model S – 405 miles
As the competition continues to get better, the car that cemented Tesla’s place in the electric car market, the Model S, received a major update in 2021. With a headline range figure of 405 miles with the Long Range model, the Model S remains one of the most highly usable electric cars on sale.
The range is just the start, though, as the Long Range Model S will sprint form 0-60 in just 3.1 seconds, keeping it well in the sights of top supercars. If for whatever reason that isn’t fast enough for you, the Model S Plaid brings this time down to an astonishing 1.99 seconds with its peak output of 1,020bhp – even if there are a lot of factors involved in order to achieve this kind of performance.
Technology is as plentiful as ever and the Model S retains its somewhat minimalist interior styling – the most obvious difference being the 17-inch touchscreen now being horizontal rather than vertical. Tesla’s Autopilot system is also available with the option of ‘full self-drive’ capability but, naturally, this carries some safety restrictions. Practicality is still a strongpoint of the Model S, too, with 894 litres of luggage space and plenty of space to comfortably seat 4 adults.
1. Mercedes EQS – 453 miles
The longest-range electric car currently on sale in the UK is also one of the newest: the Mercedes EQS. It’s the all-electric version of the brand’s S-Class saloon, and has a deeply impressive maximum range of 453 miles in the EQS 450+ model.
This is thanks to a huge 107.8kWh battery pack and a very low coefficient of drag, so it’s slippery through the air and therefore efficient at speed. Even the more powerful EQS 580 4Matic has a range of 420 miles, more than the longest-range Tesla Model S – though it’s not as fast as that car from 0-60mph.
That’s not what the Mercedes is about, though – it’s all about luxury here, and the interior quality is unmatched. It’s packed with cutting-edge kit, including a ‘Hyperscreen’ infotainment display that virtually covers the entire dashboard. It’s comfortable, fast, expensive, and one of the best electric cars you can buy.
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Keyword: Top 10 longest range electric cars on sale 2023