The longest-range electric cars
Back when electric cars entered the mainstream car market, there were a few major talking points: their credentials as zero-emission transport, their prices and, perhaps most importantly, their range.
EVs have come a long way in a short space of time. Thanks to a decade and a half of battery and motor development, some of the longest-range electric cars can now match their petrol counterparts for how far they’ll go on a ‘tank’.
Cast your mind back to 2010: the Nissan Leaf, widely regarded as the world’s first mass-market electric car, offered just 100 miles of range and took eight hours to charge from a home socket.
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In 2025, even 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.
The undisputed range champion – that’s the car with the highest range available in the UK today – is the Mercedes-Benz EQS, which is capable of 481 miles of range.
But which other models make the top ten? The figures we quote here are from the official WLTP testing routine, but you can be assured that the majority of entries here have cracked the 400-mile barrier.
In real-world use, it’s unlikely that many of these cars will hit these promised figures consistently – although you might get close if you’re feather-footed or a keen hypermiler. Read on to see which other electric cars feature in our list.
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 Mercedes EQS boasts the highest range of any electric car on sale in the UK today, with a claimed figure of 481 miles when equipped with its huge 118kWh battery.
It's helped significantly by its impressive drag coefficient of 0.20, which makes it the slipperiest car currently in production.
Even if you do somehow manage to drain the battery in one go, you won’t have to wait long to fill it back up again. The EQS accepts charging speeds of up to 200kW, so a 10-80% top-up will take just half an hour.
The only real downside is that it’ll set you back over £100,000 if you buy one new…
Read our Mercedes-Benz EQS review
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2. Audi A6 E-Tron
Pros Impressive performance and rangeCompetitive with rivals on priceControlled and contained handling Cons Lower-tier models not available with plush air suspension or 4WDRivals have bigger bootsHigh floor
Range: 463 miles
Alright, it's not quite here yet – but the Audi A6 E-tron will come with one of the longest ranges of all the electric cars on sale in the UK when it arrives later this year.
We've already driven it in Europe and we liked it, particularly its impressive on-paper range of 463 miles, which eclipses the BMW i5 and the Mercedes EQE.
In classic A6 fashion, drivers can choose between saloon and estate body styles, although the latter does sacrifice 26 miles of range as it's slightly less aerodynamic.
The range opens with the 362bhp rear-motor model, while the range is topped by the S6, which gets 543bhp.
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3. Polestar 3
Pros Genuinely good fun to drive on a country roadVery roomy and nicely finished interiorLess expensive than equally rangey rivals from BMW and Mercedes Cons Refinement isn’t as good as you may expectInterior shares a lot of parts and design features with its Volvo EX90 siblingTouchscreen dependency can be irritating
Range: 438 miles
Polestar’s smart-looking SUV comes with some seriously impressive stats. It carries a massive 111kWh battery pack which, with a single rear-mounted electric motor, offers a claimed range of 438 miles.
There’s plenty of power too, with 295bhp and 361lb ft of torque available, which propels the Polestar from 0-62mph in 7.8sec – enough to challenge most other vehicles on the road today.
Genuinely fun to drive, the Polestar 2 is one of the best-handling cars in the class. The most important aspects of the car’s drivetrain are adjustable, including its supple air suspension, steering weight and power delivery, so drivers can truly make the driving experience their own, in addition to travelling long distances.
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4. 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 new-age, electric equivalent to the popular Passat, the Volkswagen 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. Partnered with the largest available Pro S battery, it will do 436 miles between charges and charge as fast as 200kW.
Even if you don’t opt for the Pro S, the entry-level Match still offers 381 miles, while the performance GTX drops slightly to 365 miles.
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.
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5. 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: 436 miles
Tesla’s incredibly popular saloon gained a substantial update in 2024, receiving sleeker styling, an updated interior and efficiency updates.
The US brand has certainly delivered on its promises, with the Model 3 now offering a huge 436 miles of range in long-range, rear-wheel drive guise.
In addition to that long range, you get some serious performance. The Model 3 long range, rear-wheel drive gets 351bhp and a 0-62mph sprint of 4.9sec, which is enough to challenge most sports cars.
Regardless of which specification you choose, the Model 3 will always officially offer you over 350 miles of range, and with that power and a 594-litre boot, what else could you ask for? Maybe some interior buttons…
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6. Mercedes-Benz EQE
Pros Isolated interiorGentle rideLots of technology in the cabin Cons Hard to hit top advertised range figuresInterior quality could be betterPricey
Mercedes' mid-sized saloon is also one of its rangiest, with range figures starting from 342 miles.
One specification stands out from the rest: the EQE 350+ Sport Edition Saloon, which offers a WLTP figure of 428 miles.
In addition, you'll get a charging speed of 170kW, plus some decent all-round performance figures.
Power stands at 290bhp and 416lb ft, which propels the EQE from 0-62mph in a hot-hatch-esque 6.5sec.
Read our Mercedes-Benz EQE review
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7. Peugeot e-3008
Pros Excellent interior designFresh, modern materialsQuiet and refined to drive Cons Expensive next to rivalsHandling is dullFirm ride
Range: 423 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, and that means there’s ample space for a huge 97kWh battery.
The e-3008 is capable of yielding 4.5mpkWh, which means that cars with the 98kWh battery pack can do 424 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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8. 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: 423 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.
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9. 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: 423 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 the gargantuan 98kWh unit seen in the e-3008
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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10. 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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HOW WE TESTED AND SELECTED
This list of the electric cars with the longest range has been curated using factual figures obtained from all of the car brands available in the UK. Range figures used are taken from official WLTP test results, which may differ to real-world driving conditions.
FAQs
What is an electric car?
An electric car (EV) is a vehicle powered solely by electricity – so there are zero emissions produced from the vehicle. Power comes from a battery mounted beneath the vehicle floor, which can be charged at home or at a public charging station.
Which EV has the longest range?
The Mercedes EQS saloon is the car on sale in the UK with the longest electric range. The brand claims a range of 481 miles on a single charge, but we’d wager you’d struggle to hit that figure in the real world.
What affects the range of an electric car?
The range of an electric car depends on several factors, including battery size, driving style, efficiency, the weight of the vehicle and the outside temperature. Running the climate control or other high-energy functions will also heavily impact your driving range. Electric cars are particularly impacted by external temperatures, running more efficiently in the summer and less efficiently in the winter.
Which car brands produce long-range electric cars?
More and more car brands are building long-range electric cars every year. Mercedes has been in the game a while with the EQS and EQE saloons, while Volkswagen’s ID 7 is also a good option for those after an electric estate. Electric SUVs are growing in number too, with brands including Volvo and Polestar matching ranges offered by brands including Tesla.
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