5 Best Electric Cars to Buy Today UK – November 2021
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Looking for the best electric cars to buy now in the UK? We have five to choose from.
Switching to electric cars is one of the main ways consumers can reduce their carbon footprint as we each seek to do our bit to combat climate change.
With internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles being one of the major contributors to both emissions and urban pollution, switching to electric vehicles (EVs) is becoming an increasingly popular choice.
We pick 5 vehicles across the budget range, taking into features such as interior design, size and engine range as well as value for money.
Electric cars – what to consider before you buy
Electric car recommended retail prices are higher than internal combustion engine vehicles, but when buying a car you should also include things like government grants and overall running costs.
Electric vehicles have fewer moving parts than their carbon-fuelled equivalents, which means they are easier to maintain, with running costs as much as 60% less than for carbon-emitting cars.
In addition, after the UK fuel crisis scare in October, going electric has the advantage for consumers of not having to worry about where the next full tank of petrol is coming from during the next shortage.
Plug in Car Grant: what it’s worth and eligibility
Another important consideration is the Plug in Car Grant (PiCG) available from the government.
There were three categories that cars eligible for the grant fell into, but following changes made in 2018, category 2 and 3 vehicles are no longer eligible for PiCG.
All full-electric cars fall into category 1 and are eligible for the grant, but must be priced at less than £35,000.
Category 1 is defined as vehicles that have a 70-mile zero emission range and manufacturer-quoted CO2 emissions under 50g/km.
The grant is valued at 35% of the value of the car (excluding optional extras) up to a ceiling of £2,500.
On another note, it you are thinking about green investing and are considering buying shares in an electric vehicle company, then read our 5 best EV stock to invest in article.
1. Fiat 500 – from £11,104
The Fiat 500 has all the Italian design and style cues you would expect but is also highly affordable. Fiat excels at City cars and this is another ideal vehicle for navigating dense urban traffic.
Buyers can choose from two battery sizes – 42kWh (199 miles) or 24kWh (115 miles).
Finding a parking space is made much easier with this compact design, and if you are having difficulties, the standard model comes with sensors for parking which is a nice touch.
Connectivity covers all the bases, with Android and Apple ecosystems catered for and a welcome 7-inch touchscreen (10.25 for the higher spec models).
| Fiat 500 |
| Dimensions: 3,571-3,632 mm L x 1,627-1,683 mm W x 1,488-1,527 mm H |
| Fuel economy: 46-60 mpg combined (43-46 city, 61-72 highway) |
| Kerb weight: 900 to 1,330 kg |
| Transmission: 1 & 5-speed automatic, 5 & 6-speed manual |
| Engine: 0.90 L 2-cylinder, 1.0 L 3-cylinder, 1.2 L 4-cylinder |
| Body styles |
| Hatchback |
| From £11,104 |
| Convertible |
| From £14,714 |
2. Renault Zoe – from £28,795
Our second pick is another competitively priced city runaround.
Aside from the price, the big selling point of this EV is its generously sized battery at 52 kWh which can deliver a range of 245 miles.
We also like the fact that the battery can be recharged to 80% capacity in 1 hour and 10 minutes and sports rapid charge tech too.
The infotainment set-up is similar to the Clio supermini which makes the swap from carbon burner to electric a smooth one in terms of familiarity. Buyers can choose from three trim levels.
The interior shouts quality and there is a steady flow of updates for the cars systems and extras, which makes this a purchase that will not disappoint for consumers with medium-sized budgets.
| Renault Zoe |
| Dimensions: |
| Warranty: 5 |
| Battery char |
| Battery: 52 |
| Cargo volume |
| Configuration |
| i Play |
| £28,795.00 |
| i Iconic |
| From £30,295 |
| i GT Line |
| £32,295.00 |
3. Volkswagen ID.3 – from £32,300
Volkswagen’s family hatchback has the looks of a Tesla, without the price. The ID.3’s styling is and interiors nail sumptuous comfort.
Road noise is almost absent as many rave reviews have noted.
Also, the range of the mid-range model is 236 miles (58 kWh), maxing out at 336 miles with the larger 77 kWh battery.
The 10-inch touchscreen encompasses most of the car controls and that is indicative of the all-round leading-edge feel of this tech monster.
Volkswagen has focused on getting the tech right with this refined offering and that means that it stands out from the crowd for prospective buyers who want to get all the tech bangs for their bucks.
| Volkswagen ID.3 |
| Max speed: 99.42 mph |
| Dimensions: 4,261 mm L x 1,809 mm W x 1,568 mm H |
| Warranty: 3 yr/60,000 mi |
| Acceleration 0-62 mph: 7.3 to 7.9 seconds |
| Horsepower: 150 kW |
| Configurations |
| Life |
| £32,300 |
| Business |
| £36,030 |
| Style |
| £36,490 |
4. Hyundai Ioniq 5 – from £36,995
Tesla doesn’t have the premium end of the market all to itself any more, and this offering from Hyundai is proof of that.
The Ioniq 5 next-generation tech means it is a worthy competitor of the Tesla Model Y, no to mention the Audi Q4 e-tron and the Volkswagen ID.4.
Entry-level battery is 58 kWh for a range of 238 miles, while the 73 kWh battery will take you on a 280 mile ride before you need to recharge.
The 58 kWh battery gets you from 0-62mph in an impressive 8.5 seconds – and that’s with a single 168bhp motor driving the rear wheels.
| Hyundai Ioniq 5 |
| 0 to 62 mph in 5.2 seconds. |
| Ultra fast charging. 10% to 80% in 18 minutes. |
| 100 km range added in under 5 min. |
| 44″ Head-up display. With augmented reality technology. |
| Storage – Front and rear trunk. |
| 460. km. Driving range. |
| Wheelbase 3,000 |
| Length 4,635 mm |
| Width 1,890 mm |
| Height 1,605 mm |
5. Tesla Model 3 – from £42,500
Tesla sets the benchmark for the premium EV experience, although its famed interior design minimalism might underwhelm for those more used to the Mercedes-type experience.
Telsa performance is near-legendary, with the Model 3 getting drivers from 0 to 60 in 5.3 seconds and achieving a top speed of 140 mph.
In terms of luxury, the Model 3 may not feel like it is up there with the Mercedes C-Class, but it is in the technology department that it really leaves the opposition standing.
Its advanced driver assistance system – Autopilot – is the market leader in self-driving.
Add to that the Tesla Supercharger network and the entry level version’s 267-mile battery range, and for more deep-pocked prospective buyers, this EV is hard to beat.
And if you are able to spend a little more and go for one of the top range model, then you can get from 0 to 60 in 3.1 seconds and drive for 352 miles before needing to recharge.
| Tesla Model 3 |
| Warranty: 4 yr/unlimited mileage |
| Battery charge time: 31.75 to 43.5h at 220V, 0.6h at 440V |
| Cargo volume: 425 L |
| Dimensions: 4,694 mm L x 1,849 mm W x 1,443 mm H |
| Horsepower: 225 to 360 kW |
| Configurations |
| Base |
| From £42,500 |
| Performance |
| £55,500 |
