Range anxiety – 2 words which have put people off full electric vehicles (EVs) before now. It’s the belief that an EV’s given range is going to leave you short of your destination, stopping where it rests and unable to be coaxed back into life with a Jerry can of volts brought back on foot from the nearest charging station.
But, as we head deeper into the 2020s, the reality is the vast majority of EVs on sale today all have claimed maximum ranges in excess of 200 miles – and there’s now a growing fraternity with 300-miles-plus capability, and even a couple of cars claiming in excess of 400 miles to a charge.
Here, we run down the top 10 EVs at the time of writing by their claimed WLTP combined range, which might not be attainable in the colder months when the battery packs are feeling the temperature and you’re running a load of electrical drains in the cabin, but in the interests of fairness these WLTP range figures are the best comparable figure we can use.
So, let’s get into the top 10 (which is actually a top 11, as we’ve cheated by including 2 cars at 9th place… ahem) and also give honourable mentions to those who just fall outside the list – plus we also take a look at the cars with the shortest claimed range figures (which, admittedly, are mostly aimed at city users more than anything).
10. Kia EV6
Maximum Quoted Driving Range: 328 miles Which Version?: Rear-Wheel Drive Single Motor
We kick off our list with a car which is winning awards left, right and centre. It’s Kia’s swoopy EV6, which is similar to Hyundai’s retro-styled Ioniq 5 but which has a larger 77.4kWh battery pack, compared to the Ioniq’s 73kWh item. Anyway, to get the claimed 328-mile maximum, you need the 228hp Rear-Wheel Drive Single Motor model of the EV6; opt for the more powerful 325hp All-Wheel Drive Dual Motor and that range number slips to 314 miles max. Later in 2022, a high-performance EV6 GT with 585hp will land, but that’s only slated to do 252 miles to a charge as it potentially will use the same 77.4kWh battery pack as these 2 cars.
9. Skoda Enyaq/Tesla Model Y
Maximum Quoted Driving Range: 331 miles Which Version?: 80 single motor (Enyaq), Long Range AWD (Model Y)
Sharing 9th place (technically, this should be 8th place, but we wanted to include the Kia EV6 in 10th place so there we go) are Skoda’s excellent Enyaq and the smaller of Tesla’s 2 SUVs, the forthcoming Model Y – order books for which are already open. To get 331 miles out of the Enyaq, you’ll need a rear-wheel-drive 80 model (not the 80x AWD) with the 82kWh battery pack, while the Tesla would have to be the Long Range AWD version for the same figure. Skoda does a version of the Enyaq with a smaller 62kWh battery pack, called the 60, which will only go up to 256 miles on a charge, while if you fancy a Model Y Performance and its 3.5-second 0-62mph capability, then you’ll be looking at 319 miles maximum after a session plugged into the mains.
8. Polestar 2
Maximum Quoted Driving Range: 336 miles Which Version?: Long Range Single Motor
The brilliantly chunky Polestar 2, which also has a magnificent cabin, wowed us all when it arrived with its 78kWh battery pack and 408hp dual motors, which led to a 0-62mph time of 4.7 seconds. However, that version can only go up to 299 miles on a charge according to WLTP. So if you get rid of the rear motor but keep that 78kWh lithium-ion power cell, you end up with the Long Range Single Motor – which’ll go 336 miles between visits to the plug. It’s down on power to a peak of 231hp, so 0-62mph takes in the region of 7 seconds, but it’s still a truly brilliant family EV from a prestige maker. Watch out for the Standard Range Single Motor Polestar 2, which has a similar power figure (224hp) but a smaller 64kWh battery pack, resulting in a maximum 275-mile range.
7. Tesla Model X
Maximum Quoted Driving Range: 348 miles Which Version?: Regular model (non-Plaid)
Tesla is an EV specialist which has thoroughly shaken up the automotive market, so it’s no surprise to see all of its current available models on this list. Taking 7th place is the massive Model X 7-seat SUV, complete with its show-stopping Falcon Doors. With a 100kWh battery pack, the Model X will go up to 348 miles on a single charge – despite the fact it has a monstrously powerful 670hp set of motors. Admittedly, at the moment these range figures are estimates from Tesla, but if you fancy an even stupider amount of power at the cost of a bit of range, the tri-motor Model X Plaid has 1020hp motors and a 333-mile claimed range.
6. BMW i4
Maximum Quoted Driving Range: 366 miles Which Version?: eDrive40
If you can ignore its preposterous front kidney grilles, the BMW i4 might just be the best pound-for-pound EV on this list. There are 2 models available as we write this, both using an 83.9kWh gross battery pack. On the mighty dual-motor AWD M50 version, that means a maximum range of 319 miles… although also a 3.9-second 0-62mph time, thanks to a peak 544hp. However, range junkies will want the ‘lesser’ (NB: it’s not really lesser at all) eDrive40 version, which strips out the front motor to create a 326hp rear-wheel-drive electric BMW with a theoretical 366-mile 1-shot driving range. Brilliant stuff.
5. Tesla Model 3
Maximum Quoted Driving Range: 374 miles Which Version?: Long Range AWD
Here’s the big one: the top-selling EV of them all in the UK in 2021, with almost 35,000 units shifted. It’s the Tesla Model 3, the midsized saloon-that-looks-like-a-hatchback from the American upstart company run by Bond-villain-in-waiting Elon Musk. Anyway, neatly enough there are 3 versions of the Model 3 to go at and if you want 374-mile capability, you need the Long Range AWD version for that. The more popular Performance, which’ll run 0-62mph in a smidge more than 3 seconds (lots of 3s, here…), has to sacrifice some range (340 miles max WLTP combined) for its speed, while the single-motor Rear-Wheel Drive Model 3 goes ‘just’ 319 miles to a single charge.
4. Ford Mustang Mach-E
Maximum Quoted Driving Range: 379 miles Which Version?: RWD Extended Range
Ford’s iconic-badge-leveraging Mustang Mach-E EV SUV is a pretty decent package all round and more so when you realise it’s one of the longest-range electrics you can currently buy. But you need to specify it carefully to get that 379-mile maximum hit. Ford does single-motor versions (called RWD, as they are rear-wheel drive) and then dual-motor versions (called AWD… you can work it out), and then 2 battery packs – a 75.7kWh unit (the Standard Range spec) and a larger 98.7kWh item (the Extended Range). The combination you need is the single-motor RWD with the larger ER battery, which has 294hp, a 7-second 0-62mph time and that 379-mile headline figure. If you need speed, both the AWD ER (351hp, 0-62mph in 5.8 seconds) and the range-topping GT (487hp, 0-62mph 3.7secs) will still go 335 and 310 miles (respectively) on a single charge, but the one you want to watch out for is the AWD SR – it can go just 248 miles on a single charge, it has the (joint-)least amount of power in the Mach-E range and it’s not the cheapest model either. Stick to the big-battery models (the ER cars and the GT), though, and you will be absolutely fine.
3. BMW iX
Maximum Quoted Driving Range: 380 miles Which Version?: xDrive50
Just pipping the Mustang Mach-E to 3rd place and podium spot is BMW’s brand-new iX luxury SUV. Again, like many modern BMWs, the styling is, er… oh, what shall we say? Umm… let’s go with ‘challenging’, but that’s about where our criticism of this thing starts and ends. Inside is a belting cabin, one of the best in the business, with loads of space, quality materials and cutting-edge infotainment tech, while the driving experience is genuinely excellent. There are 2 versions presently, with a 3rd imminent, so choose from the xDrive40 (326hp) or the rapid xDrive50 (523hp). And, oddly enough, it’s the latter which has the most range, because it has a goliath 111.5kWh battery pack, whereas the xDrive40 makes do with a 76.6kWh unit and associated 257-mile range. The incoming model is the deranged M60 high-performance derivative, with 619hp and an outrageous 1100Nm. This uses the 111.5kWh battery pack and will do up to 357 miles on a charge; so we still reckon the long-range xDrive50, with its 4.6-second 0-62mph time, will be a fast enough EV SUV for most.
2. Tesla Model S
Maximum Quoted Driving Range: 405 miles Which Version?: Regular model (non-Plaid)
Tesla dominated our fastest EVs countdown and it has done the same when it comes to driving range, taking 4 of the 10 top spots here. However, it hasn’t been outright victorious this time around, because even though this is the first car on our list to go beyond 400 miles for its official WLTP combined range, it’s not the winner of this mini-competition. Indeed, to get the 405-mile range, you need the 670hp dual-motor version that isn’t the bonkers Plaid (which has 1020hp and a range of 394 miles – still enough for 3rd place on this list – as well as a claimed top speed of 200mph and a sub-2-second 0-62mph time). Bear in mind that, like the Model X, these Model S figures are the current best estimates of the eventual WLTP figure from Tesla, so they might go up or down as homologation takes place.
1. Mercedes-Benz EQS
Maximum Quoted Driving Range: 453 miles Which Version?: EQS 450+
Wow. So here we are – the EV with the longest single-shot range is the Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+. It has a massive 108kWh battery pack and its slippery shape plus modest 333hp output means the colossal 453-mile range and victory in this top 10. Natch, you have to be careful about spec, because if you start adding big wheels and nice toys and so on, you can end up with a ‘mere’ 407 miles of range from your 450+… which would still be enough for 1st place here, but we digress. However, the recently announced high-performance version from Mercedes-AMG, the EQS 53, is a bit juicier on the old electric. It’ll go up 358 miles on a charge, due to having either 658- or 761hp, depending on which boxes you tick at ordering time. So, sheer speed versus maximum range – it’s a tough call…
Honourable Mentions
For the other 300-mile-plus EVs at the time of writing:
Volkswagen ID.4 = 320 miles (Pro Performance 77kWh)
Audi Q4 E-Tron = 316 miles (40 Sport)
Volkswagen ID.5 = 313 miles (Pro Performance 77kWh)
Porsche Taycan = 301 miles (Rear-Wheel Drive single-motor saloon with optional 93.4kWh Performance Battery Plus pack)
Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kona Electric = 300 miles (73kWh Rear-Wheel Drive for Ioniq 5, 64kWh 204hp for Kona Electric)
The Bottom 10
And here, in the interests of balance, are the bottom 10 EVs currently available and their maximum quoted driving range (for any model in the official line-up). We should point out that many of these cars have been deliberately aimed at urban users, so their low range figures are totally understandable:
Fiat 500 Electric = 199 miles
Lexus UX 300e = 196 miles
BMW i3 = 190 miles
Citroen E-Berlingo/Peugeot E-Rifter/Vauxhall Combo-E Life (all the same midsized MPV) = 174 miles
Volkswagen E-Up = 159 miles
MINI Electric = 145 miles
Citroen E-Spacetourer/Peugeot E-Traveller/Vauxhall Vivaro-E Life (all the same large MPV) = 143 miles
Honda E = 137 miles
Mazda MX-30 = 124 miles
Smart EQ Fortwo/Forfour = 83 miles (Fortwo), 81 miles (Forfour)
