The 10 longest-range electric cars you can buy right now
Early electric cars couldn’t go all that far on a single charge, and the options for topping up their batteries were often limited to draping a three-pin plug out of a kitchen window. But thanks to a decade and a half of battery and motor development, the longest-range electric cars will now match their petrol counterparts for how far they’ll go on a ‘tank’.
The first Nissan Leaf, for example, was an electric car primarily bought by early adopters. It had a 100-mile range and took eight hours to charge from a home socket.
Indeed, some of the cheapest electric cars currently on sale will easily deliver double the range of the original Leaf, and with much faster charging options to boot.
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In fact, most entries have cracked the 400-mile barrier and the longest-range electric car on sale in the UK is a Mercedes EQS capable of 442 miles.
The figures we quote here are from the official WLTP testing routine. In real-world use, it’s unlikely that any of these cars will hit these promised figures consistently – although you might get close if you’re feather-footed and a keen hypermiler.
Let’s cut to the chase. Which cars offer the longest range? Read our top 10 list below to find out.
The longest-range electric cars
1. Mercedes-Benz EQS
Pros Rear-wheel steering provides surprising agilityEffortless long-distance mannersGreat overtaking ability Cons Huge Hyperscreen can be tricky to use on the moveLacks refinement at low speedsQuestionable interior quality
Range: 481 miles
The jelly-bean styling of Mercedes’ EQ saloons has proven controversial, but it’s largely a case of function over form. The EQS’s drag coefficient of 0.20 makes it the slipperiest car currently in production, and that brings a significant boost to driving range.
In entry-level guise (if a £100,000-plus tech-fest can be called entry-level), badged EQS 450+ AMG Line Premium, it will officially do 481 miles between charges.
That makes it the longest-legged electric car currently sold in the UK. It can be charged at up to 200kW, too, meaning a 10-80% top-up can take as little as half an hour.
Read our Mercedes-Benz EQS review
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2. Volkswagen ID 7
Pros Roomy cabinImproved interior quality compared with other ID EVsGreater usability of touchscreen infotainment system Cons More expensive than equivalent BYD and TeslaInterior is plain compared with premium rivalsHandling evidences the car’s weight
Range: 436 miles
Effectively the electric equivalent to the popular Passat, the ID 7 serves as a statement of intent for Volkswagen’s next generation of EVs.
It introduces a new, more efficient ‘AP550’ rear motor, which brings a boost to efficiency.
With the bigger Pro S battery, it will do 436 miles between charges and charge at rates of up to 200kW.
There’s also an estate version called the ID 7 Tourer that trades nine miles of range for greater practicality. It has a whopping 1714 litres of space with the rear seats folded down.
Read our Volkswagen ID 7 review
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3. Peugeot e-3008
Pros Excellent interior designFresh, modern materialsQuiet and refined to drive Cons Expensive next to rivalsHandling is dullFirm ride
Range: 422 miles
Peugeot's latest-generation 3008 has morphed into an SUV-coupé to better differentiate it from the rest of the French brand's line-up.
It’s the first car based on Peugeot parent company Stellantis’s new STLA Medium platform, which places a high priority on energy efficiency.
Indeed, the e-3008 is capable of yielding 4.5mpkWh, which means that cars with the 98kWh battery pack can do 422 miles on a single charge.
Charging rates are capped at 160kW, though, which isn’t best in class.
Read our Peugeot e-3008 review
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4. Porsche Taycan
Pros Outstanding handling and driver appealSweet compromise of space, range, performance and valueFast DC rapid-charging provision Cons Second row is tight for full-sized adultsStandard charging cable is bulkyReliability concerns
Range: 422 miles
Porsche’s debut electric car recently received a generational upgrade, with a new rear motor bringing extra power, torque and efficiency. The battery was also reworked, adopting a different chemistry for lower internal resistance.
The result was a massive improvement in the car’s range: entry-level cars with the optional 105kWh Performance Battery Plus can cover 422 miles between charges.
Plus, Taycan model line boss Kevin Giek has claimed that the new Taycan Turbo GT – a track-focused version with a huge 1093bhp – could beat this, thanks to its reduced weight.
Read our Porsche Taycan review
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5. Peugeot e-5008
Pros Powertrain is slickSpacious, versatile interiorShould be efficient Cons Exterior design has a few unflattering anglesNot the most dynamically rewarding on this listTiny steering wheel not for everyone
Range: 411 miles
Electric seven-seaters have always been in short supply. Indeed, the Mercedes-Benz EQB has pretty much had the market to itself for years. But now other manufacturers are catching up.
Peugeot is the latest to join the party with this e-5008. Seven-seaters lend themselves to electrification, because their large platforms allow huge batteries, and the e-5008’s impressive range comes courtesy of a gargantuan 98kWh unit.
We’re yet to verify the range, but we reckon it should get pretty close to the 411-mile claimed total.
Away from the big mileage claims, the electric 5008 has reassuringly tidy handling for a big seven seater. Inside, it will seat four tall adults and a couple of older kids in the rear without too much elbow-bashing.
Read our Peugeot e-5008 review
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6. Polestar 2
Pros Improved cruising efficiency and electric rangeRear-driven chassis balance and punchier accelerationRetains appealing compromise of size, space and versatility Cons Not in the league of other electric crossovers for passenger spaceRivals still go a touch further on a charge for similar moneyUnsettled ride
Range: 406 miles
This stylish electric saloon recently made the radical switch from front-wheel drive to rear-wheel drive as part of its mid-life facelift.
That, plus an extra 4kWh of battery capacity, boosted the Long Range version to a whopping 406 miles between charges. That’s more than the rival Tesla Model 3 Long Range (390 miles) and BMW i4 eDrive40 (365 miles).
Peak charging rates were also increased from 150kW to 205kW, and in our testing it delivered a weighted average of 124kW.
Read our Polestar 2 review
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7. Tesla Model S
Pros Excellent efficiency enables a strong rangePractical and well equippedStaggering straight-line speed Cons Lacks handling finesseLeft-hand drive onlyFiddly controls
Range: 405 miles
The Tesla Model S was one of the earliest mainstream electric cars, but a multitude of updates have kept it on pace with the competition.
The Dual Motor version dispatches the 0-60mph sprint in a supercar-baiting 3.1sec yet can still cover 405 miles between charges.
The tri-motor Plaid (pictured above) loses 15 miles but is up there with the fastest-accelerating cars ever built.
There is a major catch, though: the Model S is now built only in left-hand drive, and in the UK you can only buy one from Tesla’s existing (and limited) inventory in Southampton.
Read our Tesla Model S review
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8. Polestar 3
Pros Good fun to driveRoomy interiorCheaper than some rivals Cons Fidgety low-speed rideTouchscreen dependancy can be irritatingInterior looks like a Volvo
Range: 403 miles
Peculiar, charming and very recommendable is how we’d sum up the Polestar 3.
It looks and feels like nothing else in a class of electric SUVs that can seem rather samey, and it’s decent value for money given the long range and huge standard kit list.
More than that, it strikes a very happy blend of comfort, pace and modest handling zing. But despite the overly optimistic marketing spiel, this is not a sports car.
And that’s fine. Because the long-range single-motor model should crack more than 400 miles. And, ultimately, in an EV you care more about range than pure unadulterated driving thrills.
Read our Polestar 3 review
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9. Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV
Pros Decent efficiency and enormous battery result in long rangeVery relaxing on long distancesHugely spacious Cons Interior doesn’t have the versatility of the best seven-seaters, or the opulence of the best luxury carsLow-speed ride is quite poorVery expensive
Range: 401 miles
Take the EQS saloon, jack it up and infuse it with yet more luxury touches and you get the EQS SUV. It’s a hulking beast, such that it needs rear-wheel steering to complete manoeuvres in tight car parks.
It gets a huge 118kWh battery, which naturally delivers a big range of 404 miles. Charging rates match the 200kW of the EQS saloon.
Read our Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV review
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10. Tesla Model 3
Pros Huge range for the moneyFabulously easy to live withDeep-seated sense of agility Cons Choppy rideNot enough buttonsAutopilot a bit hit and miss
Range: 390 miles
The Tesla Model 3 is sensationally good value. Even in its cheapest, lowliest form, it blends competitive saloon car practicality, striking performance and reasonable handling dynamism in a manner that makes it a fine all-rounder.
It’s not perfect. Many will find the lack of buttons inside baffling and it’s still no dynamic high-water mark, despite the near-super-saloon straight-line pace of the dual-motor model.
Neither is it the most relaxed tourer, which is a shame because the Long Range model will crack 390 miles.
But the fact remains that the Model 3 is an enjoyable thing to drive on a daily basis, and something that will appeal to lots of different people because of its stellar range.
Read our Tesla Model 3 review
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