The 10 Best Electric Cars to Buy If You Want to Avoid Tesla
Elon Musk’s public pronouncements, from commentary on the far-right to his outspoken support of Donald Trump, have spurred some Tesla owners to reconsider their allegiance to the brand. While Tesla produces excellent electric vehicles, there’s a growing need for quality alternatives. Fortunately, established automakers and newer companies have responded with impressive EV offerings. Steve Fowler, with over 30 years of experience in the automotive industry, provides his expert picks for the best non-Tesla EVs.
1. Best Affordable EV: Dacia Spring
- From: £14,995
- Claimed range: up to 140 miles
- Battery size: 26.8kWh
The Dacia Spring excels in urban environments. While not the most sophisticated, it offers a comfortable ride and up to 140 miles of range. Although space is limited, it comfortably accommodates two adults and two children. Standard features include air conditioning and a 10-inch touchscreen with smartphone connectivity in more expensive models. An app allows remote control of charging and climate control systems.
2. Best Small EV: Renault 5
- From: £22,995 TBC
- Claimed range: up to 250 miles
- Battery size: 40-52kWh
The retro-futuristic design of the Renault 5 is a standout. This compact car offers a surprising amount of interior space for its size, comfortably seating four adults, and a practical boot. Its comfortable drive makes it easy to handle in traffic. The quality and features are impressive, especially given the price. It offers a range of nearly 200 miles with its smaller battery, and an extra 50 miles with the larger one.
3. Best Used EV: Kia Niro EV
- From: £13,000
- Claimed range: up to 283 miles
- Battery size: 39-64kWh
The Kia Niro EV is a popular choice, especially on the used market. Its popularity among private hire drivers speaks volumes. The Niro offers a spacious, well-made family car with a practical boot. It’s easy to drive, reliable, and well-equipped. The 64kWh battery model offers nearly 300 miles on a charge, and the range predictions are generally accurate. Purchasing a used model might mean you get the balance of Kia’s seven-year warranty.
4. Best Seven-Seater EV: Kia EV9
- From: £65,025
- Claimed range: up to 349 miles
- Battery size: 99.8kWh
The Kia EV9 impresses with its style and quality, especially the sustainable fabrics in its spacious cabin. It delivers a comfortable driving experience and efficient battery performance. While it represents Kia’s most expensive offering in the UK, it provides good value compared to other electric SUVs of similar size.
5. Best Electric Sports Car: Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
- From: £65,000
- Claimed range: up to 278 miles
- Battery size: 84kWh
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N offers excellent handling with grip, sharp steering, and body control, making quick maneuvers easy. It boasts sporty features like stripes, a body kit, a variety of dials and gadgets, bucket seats, and a distinctive sound created by a sound generator to mimic a hot hatchback.
6. Best EV for Sustainability: Polestar 4
- From: £59,900
- Claimed range: up to 385 miles
- Battery size: 100kWh
The Polestar 4, a premium coupe SUV, is one of the carmaker’s most eco-friendly vehicles. It incorporates recycled materials like PET plastics, fishing nets, and post-consumer steel, and the supply chain for the metals used in the EV system is carefully monitored for responsible sourcing. Polestar provides detailed information about the materials used, from the leather to the rare-earth metals in the battery, as well as the vehicle’s carbon footprint.
7. Best EV for Range: Volkswagen ID.7
- From: £50,550
- Claimed range: up to 436 miles
- Battery size: 77-86kWh
The Volkswagen ID.7 competes directly with Tesla, particularly the Model 3. It offers impressive space and range. The ID.7 Pro Match with its 77kWh battery provides a range close to the Model 3. The ID.7 is known for its ride quality and quiet operation which is more like a Mercedes-Benz.
8. Best Luxury EV: BMW i7
- From: £101,765
- Claimed range: up to 387 miles
- Battery size: 105.7kWh
The BMW i7 surpasses the Tesla Model S in all-around luxury. The luxury car market has primarily been controlled by Mercedes, however, BMW has stepped up offering its 7 Series with the electric i7. It is distinguished by its silent operation; BMW commissioned composer Hans Zimmer to create a unique sound for the car. The vehicle’s sound system is a highlight, featuring a 31-inch 8k screen that descends from the roof and a 36-speaker Bowers & Wilkins sound system.
9. Best Family-Friendly EV: Renault Scenic E-Tech
- From: £37,495
- Claimed range: up to 379 miles
- Battery size: 60-87kWh
The Renault Scenic has been reimagined as an all-electric SUV. It continues to target families and features spacious rear seats, and ingeniously designed armrests with swivel phone holders and USB charging sockets. Upfront, it has a Google-powered touchscreen, digital screen for the driver, and multiple storage spaces. While it’s not the fastest EV, it provides a comfortable ride.
10. Best EV Coming Soon: Vauxhall Frontera
- Price from: £23,495
- Claimed range: up to 248 miles
- Battery size: 44-51kWh
The new Vauxhall Frontera offers great value at a reasonable price, identical for the electric and petrol hybrid models. It stands out with its stylish design and practical interior, including two digital displays and seats designed to reduce pressure on the lower back on longer trips. It offers decent space with a 460-litre boot which can increase to 1,600 litres with the seats folded.
