The most efficient electric cars
For many electric car buyers, choosing which one to buy hinges on two key factors: how much range the car has, and how efficient it is.
While many electric cars have impressive claimed range figures, managing to achieve them is another story.
Electric car efficiency is measured by calculating its miles per kilowatt hour used, shortened to mpkWh. For example, a Volkswagen ID 3 with a 77kWh battery would require an efficiency of 4.5mpkWh to achieve its officially rated 347 miles of range.
Autocar Electric
- Vauxhall Corsa Electric update brings 266 miles of range for £29k
- Vauxhall Corsa becomes cheapest electric car in the UK
- Vauxhall Corsa Electric review
- Vauxhall plots £22,000 urban electric car as entry model
- Vauxhall Corsa turns 40 with Nova-inspired special
View all electric car news, advice and reviews
Efficiency is impacted by several variables, including battery size, driving style and outside temperature. Another important factor is weight.
The Audi Q8 E-tron, for example, is powered by a 106kWh battery, but weighs a staggering 2585kg, meaning it can deliver only around 2.9mpkWh.
Larger, SUV-style electric cars are also usually impacted more by drag, which reduces their range compared with sleeker, more aerodynamic sports cars and hatchbacks.
Then there’s the weather. Warmer temperatures mean a battery’s chemical reactions can occur faster and produce a higher range, whereas colder weather requires more energy, reducing range.
Other aspects dictated by the driver, such as how fast you drive and the use of climate control or air conditioning, also affect range. A car will often be able to travel further on a single charge in the city compared with on the motorway, as more power is required to sustain higher speeds and handle the increase in drag.
Now you know how an electric car’s efficiency is impacted – but just how efficient are electric cars in the real world, and which are the most efficient electric cars on sale today? Our list below details the best EVs to squeeze the most mileage out of your battery.
1. Vauxhall Corsa Electric
Pros Creditable real-world rangeWell-rounded and refinedUpdated front end adds premium style Cons Poor second-row passenger spaceImperfect driving positionLess fun to drive than some EVs
Claimed efficiency: 5.1mpkWh
Autocar’s test efficiency: 3.7mpkWh
That fresh face is probably the most dramatic – and welcome – change to come as part of the Corsa’s mid-life refresh. Matt Saunders, Road test editor
The Vauxhall Corsa-e gained a larger 52kWh battery in 2024 with a boosted 251 miles of range. Vauxhall doesn’t explicitly quote its miles per kWh figures, but using that official 251 miles range figure and the size of the battery produces a figure of 5.1mpkWh.
Our test gave 3.7mpkWh, which calculates to around 185 miles of range. Similar to the electric Fiat 500, the Corsa-e weighs around 1455kg, which helps the hatchback achieve its impressive efficiency score.
Keep an eye out, though, as Vauxhall is set to launch a revised version of the Corsa-e with battery updates that boost its range to 246 miles. In theory, that takes the Corsa-e’s efficiency up to around 4.8mpkWh.
Read our Vauxhall Corsa Electric review
Save money on a new Vauxhall Corsa with What Car?
Finance this car with Drivenfi
Latest Reviews
Ferrari Purosangue
Ferrari Purosangue
Citroen ë-C4 and ë-C4 X review
Citroen ë-C4 and ë-C4 X review
Leapmotor C10 REEV
Leapmotor C10 REEV
Rivian R1T
Rivian R1T
MG 4 XPower
MG 4 XPower
Read our review
Car review
Vauxhall Corsa Electric
Britain’s market-leading small EV gets a mid-life refresh with a new face, upgraded kit and bigger battery option
Read our review
2. Citroen e-C4
Pros Attractively priced54kWh version has good efficiencyFairly practical Cons Bigger battery is tied to top trim levelDigital cabin tech isn’t slick or intuitive enoughUnsatisfying driving experience
Claimed efficiency: 4.8mpkWh
Autocar test efficiency: 4.1mpkWh
The ë-C4 is quite a lot of electric car to be available from £27,360.Illya Verpraet, Road Tester
The Citroen e-C4 has been on sale for four years now, but 2025 heralded in a design overhaul in line with some of the brand’s newer models.
Two battery options are available, but the most efficient is the larger 54kWh unit. It produces 257 miles of range, which means it could potentially return around 4.8mpkWh.
There are two body styles available – the hatchbacked e-C4, and the saloon e-C4X. Both feature the same powertrain line-up, powered by a single front-mounted electric motor producing 154bhp.
We’ve yet to do a full in-depth economy run for the new e-C4, but our initial tests returned 4.1mpkWh – good, but still a way off that full advertised figure.
Read our Citroen e-C4 review
Save money on a new Citroen e-C4 with What Car?
Finance this car with Drivenfi
3. Renault 5
Pros Excellent ride-handling balanceExcellent value for moneyFantastic interior design Cons Disappointing cruising efficiency and range
Claimed efficiency: 4.8mpkWh
Autocar test efficiency: 4.2mpkWh
It outclasses all of its rivals with the kind of ride and handling balance that’s rarely seen at this end of the market.Illya Verpraet, Road Tester
The Renault 5 is one of the best small electric cars to drive, and it’s also one of the most efficient, according to the French brand.
With a claimed economy figure of 4.8mpkWh, the Renault 5 should be capable of 252 miles on a single charge.
Our road test showed that the small French hatchback is certainly capable of that in the city, hitting 5.0mpkWh in suburban driving – equal to 260 miles of range with consistent driving.
Things weren’t as positive on faster roads, however, with efficiency dropping significantly in our 70mph touring test down to 3.1mpkWh.
Read our Renault 5 review
Save money on a new Renault 5 with What Car?
Finance this car with Drivenfi
4. Dacia Spring
Pros Very cheapLighter than most rivalsReasonable boot space and rear legroom Cons Fair bit of wind noiseLowish charge speed (though it’s a small battery)Driving position and seat lack adjustability
Claimed efficiency: 4.7mpkWh
Autocar test efficiency: 4.7mpkWh
For many, it the Dacia Spring will be all the car they ever need, and it will raise a smile or two as well.Jack Warrick, Staff Writer
Smaller and lighter than all of the other models on this list, the Dacia Spring was always going to score highly for efficiency.
The entry-level Spring – comfortably the slowest car on sale today – comes with a puny 44bhp electric motor, but it’s the 64bhp variant that most buyers will be interested in.
All cars get the same 26.8kWh battery with an official range of 140 miles, so that’s a claimed efficiency of 4.7mpkWh – hitting a range of 125 miles.
Over mixed driving, we matched this exact figure, but city driving returned a very impressive 7.1mpkWh – equal to 190 miles.
Read our Dacia Spring review
Save money on a new Dacia Spring with What Car?
Finance this car with Drivenfi
5. Peugeot e-308
Pros Compact size feeds into its handling appealLooks stylishRide and handles with plenty of dynamic polish Cons More expensive than key rivalsSecond-row space is under-par for the classDoesn’t have the range of some and manages only 100kW DC charging
Claimed efficiency: 4.7mpkWh
Autocar’s test efficiency: 4.1mpkWh
The e-308 SW ultimately offers a good deal more practicality for not a lot of extra cash, but once again, Tesla and MG have more pragmatic choices.Matt Saunders, Road test editor
The Peugeot e-308 is due in October 2023 and Peugeot has made some impressive claims about its potential range and efficiency figures, labelling it "a benchmark among 100% electric vehicles in the C-segment".
Peugeot says that with the e-308’s EV-specific redesign, low-friction tyres and aerodynamic wheel options applied, the new e-308 will be capable of producing 4.8mpkWh in hatchback guise.
Of course, real-world tests will prove whether it can achieve that ambitious figure, and if it can, it will be the most efficient electric car on sale.
The new e-308 is powered by a 51kWh (usable) battery with 252 miles of range. The French car maker has priced the hatch from £40,050 here in the UK, and the estate will follow later in 2023.
Read our Peugeot e-308 review
Save money on a new Peugeot e-308 with What Car?
Finance this car with Drivenfi
6. Citroen e-C3
Pros Comfortable rideImpressive valueGood equipment Cons Steering lacks feelRange won’t convince all to make the EV switch
Claimed efficiency: 4.5mpkWh
Autocar’s test efficiency: 3.6mpkWh
The ë-C3 is proudly built to a cost but still with the goal of not being compromised or feeling cheap.Mark Tisshaw, Editor
The Citroen e-C3 isn’t as small as the Dacia Spring, but it’s almost as efficient, if the French firm is to be believed. Citroen claims a figure of 4.5mpkWh in mixed use.
Power comes from a 44kWh battery with produces 203 miles of range, and it sends its energy to a front-mounted, 111bhp electric motor.
We’ll have in-depth economy results soon, but our initial drive of the e-C3 returned a reasonable 3.6mpkWh, which is down on the officially advertised figure.
Read our Citroen e-C3 review
Save money on a new Citroen e-C3 with What Car?
Finance this car with Drivenfi
7. Mini Cooper SE
Pros Boosted electric rangeSlightly roomier, higher-quality interiorStill good fun to drive Cons Styling and user interface are somewhat divisiveBigger drive batteries add weight, which makes itself felt
Claimed efficiency: 4.4mpkWh
Autocar’s test efficiency: 4.1mpkWh
This second-generation electric Mini is certainly a more grown-up electric car than the original.Illya Verpraet, Road Tester
Mini’s decision to give the electric Mini a much larger battery seems to have paid off, as the British hatchback now offers 247miles of range.
It’s the entry-level model which offers the best efficiency though, with an official rating of 4.4mpkWh from a 40.7kWh battery, which produces 187 miles of range.
Our tests, in wet and dry conditions, suggests you should get 4.1mpkWh out of the SE and 4.2mpkWh from the E in mixed-road, mixed-speed use. Not bad.
Read our Mini Cooper SE review
Save money on a new Mini with What Car?
Finance this car with Drivenfi
8. Volkswagen ID 3
Pros Strong combination of range and practicalityPerforms well at low speeds and retains plenty of motorway punchSubtle redesign makes for a more mature and sporty look Cons Looks more and more expensive with each passing dayInfotainment won’t be updated until next yearNotably plain, dry and featureless to drive, even by EV standards
Claimed efficiency: 4.6mpkWh
Autocar’s test efficiency: 3.8mpkWh
Despite the price, Volkswagen has done a really thorough, objectively commendable job on this its updated ID 3Jack Warrick, Staff Writer
Having entered its second generation in 2023, the Volkswagen ID 3 has proved itself to be one of the most efficient electric cars on sale.
Volkswagen’s first-ever bespoke electric hatchback, which launched back in 2019, is now available with both a 58kWh battery and a 77kWh unit. With that larger battery, Volkswagen says the ID 3 is able to travel 347 miles on a single charge.
In our tests, the ID 3 matched the Kia Niro EV, recording 3.8mpkWh. That calculates to 292 miles of range in the real world, which places the ID 3 near the top of the list of the most efficient electric cars on sale.
Read our Volkswagen ID 3 review
Save money on a new Volkswagen ID 3 with What Car?
Finance this car with Drivenfi
9. Kia EV3
Pros Large battery for the classExcellent infotainment and usabilitySpacious Cons Awful ADASBland to driveExpensive on PCP
Claimed efficiency: 4.5mpkWh
Autocar's test efficiency: 4.1mpkWh
At 81.4kWh, the big-battery version has more capacity than any rival with a similar level of practicality can offer for the same money.Illya Verpraet, Road Tester
The Kia EV3 is a superbly well-rounded electric car, with two battery options measuring 58.3kWh and 81.4kWh.
With the smaller battery, you can expect up to 270 miles of range, but the long-range car can go significantly further, at 375 miles.
Kia claims the big battery EV3 can achieve 4.5mpkWh, and our tests weren't far off. We achieved 4.1mpkWh on our test route.
Read our Kia EV3 review
Save money on a new Kia EV3 with What Car?
Finance this car with Drivenfi
10. Tesla Model 3
Pros Punchy performanceBetter interior qualityGreat range Cons Poor rideAutopilot functions aren’t quite there yetInterior is frustratingly minimalistic
Claimed efficiency: 4.4mpkWh
Autocar’s test efficiency: 4.0mpkWh
The Model 3 is one of the more compelling cars of its era, and on the basis of this test – and some undeniably attractive pricing – its broad appeal looks set to continue.Richard Lane, Deputy road test editor
The Tesla Model 3 is one of the electric car pioneers and the most recent version offers more range than ever.
The firm doesn’t publicly detail its battery sizes, but we know the Model 3 produces up to 436 miles of range in long-range guise.
Tesla officially quotes an efficiency figure of 4.4mpkWh for this large battery.
Our tests, conducted using the all-wheel drive long-range model with an advertised range of 390 miles returned 4.0mpkWh in motorway driving and 3.7mpkWh in mixed use. That’s equal to 300- and 277 miles respectively.
Read our Tesla Model 3 review
Save money on a new Tesla Model 3 with What Car?
Finance this car with Drivenfi
HOW TO CHOOSE AN EFFICIENT CAR
To choose the most efficient electric car, consider range per charge, battery efficiency (mpkWh), and charging speed.
Aerodynamics and weight impact efficiency, so sleek, lightweight models perform better.
Consider regenerative braking and heat pump systems for energy conservation.
HOW WE TESTED AND SELECTED
The cars in this list were selected and ordered using officially advertised efficiency figures, supplied by each car brand. We've compared these figures with our own economy scores, which were all achieved in the UK, although driving conditions will vary.
FAQs
What affects electric car efficiency?
Electric car efficiency is affected by several factors. Cars will perform more efficiently in warmer weather rather than in winter, and using key functions like the climate control can also heavily impact your driving range. Driving style is also important. Those who spend more time on the motorway will be using more power consistently, therefore efficiency will suffer. Other factors that impact EV efficiency include the weight of the car and its power output.
How is electric car efficiency measured?
Electric vehicle efficiency is measured in miles per kilowatt-hour (mpkWh). The higher the figure, the more efficient the car. Think of it as the equivalent of miles per gallon for petrol and diesel cars.
Does driving fast impact efficiency?
Yes, higher speeds increase air resistance, reducing efficiency. Driving at moderate speeds and using regenerative braking improves battery range, but the best results can be seen in town and city driving, where power usage is at its lowest.
Which car brands make efficient electric cars?
Several car brands make efficient electric cars with long driving ranges, including Tesla, Volkswagen, Kia, Peugeot, Dacia and Citroen.
Join our WhatsApp community and be the first to read about the latest news and reviews wowing the car world. Our community is the best, easiest and most direct place to tap into the minds of Autocar, and if you join you’ll also be treated to unique WhatsApp content. You can leave at any time after joining – check our full privacy policy here.