Last updated on June 2nd, 2023 at 11:24 am
Introduction
The relentless growth in the EV market has continued in 2022. In September 2021, battery EVs had a 15.2% share of the market. In September 2022, this had risen to 16.9%. The increase is even more pronounced when you look at the Year-to-Date, with a 9.5% share this time last year, and 14.5% up to September 2022. This 40.3% increase in EV share year-on-year is the only truly positive from an auto market that continues to be beset by supply chain issues.
This healthy growth has occurred despite the UK plug-in grant being cancelled entirely in June. Premium EVs had been ineligible for some time, without significant negative impact on sales. Underlining this has been the performance of the Tesla Model Y, which was the second best-selling car of all fuel types in September, and even managed to be the eighth best-selling for the year-to-date. It’s clear that the era of the BEV is fast arriving. So although we still haven’t reached the long-awaited price parity with petrol and diesel, demand is high.
To help you choose yours, we looked at the EVs released in the last 12 months that we think should dominate the coming year’s sales, to create our annual Awards listing. Read on to find the best EVs to buy in 2023.
Best Saloon EV
Best Saloon EV: BMW i4
BMW has always been legendary for its drivers’ cars, and that is continuing into the electric era. Even the venerable i3 remains an excellent-handling car, despite having been on the market for the best part of a decade. But with the i4, BMW has raised the bar on EV driving enjoyment. We would still give the Porsche Taycan the highest marks in this area, but the i4 runs it close, particularly in the “hot” M50 guise. This is an EV truly worthy of the famous BMW “M” badge. With 544hp and all-wheel drive, it can hit 62mph in just 3.9 seconds, running the Tesla Model 3 Performance close in a drag race.
The M50 also manages its 2,290kgs extremely well in corners, providing a dynamic ability that a car this heavy really shouldn’t. However, if your performance needs are more modest, the i4 eDrive40 still offers 340hp and still hits 62mph in just 5.7 seconds. Despite great performance, the i4 eDrive40 boasts 365 miles of WLTP range, giving the Tesla Model 3 Long Range a run for its money. The range reduces to 315 miles for the M50, which is still excellent.
The i4 is also surprisingly practical because it’s actually a hatchback, not the saloon it looks like. So there is easy access to the boot. This is capacious at 470 litres with the rear seats up, and 1,290 litres with them down. You can also tow up to 750kg unbraked, and 1,600kg braked. Of course, being a BMW, the i4 doesn’t come cheap, with starting prices well above £50,000 and well over £60,000 for the M50. But if you’d been wondering what BMW had been up to since the i3 was launched, the company is back with a bang with the i4.
Read our full review of the BMW i4.
Honourable Mention: Tesla Model 3
The Tesla Model 3 hasn’t had a major update in the last year, so it couldn’t compete for the main saloon award this time round. It’s still the EV saloon to beat, though. The base model did switch to using Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries since the facelift was launched at the end of 2020, increasing the WLTP range to 305 miles, albeit with a slower 0-60mph sprint of 5.8 seconds. The Model 3 has become a ubiquitous sight on UK roads, and with good reason. Tesla still leads the pack for technology, range, performance and charging infrastructure. If you’re considering an EV saloon, the Model 3 should really be on your shortlist.
Read our full review of the Tesla Model 3.
Best Value EV
Best Value EV: MG4 EV
MG has been driving down the price of EVs since it launched the original ZS EV, and continued with the MG5 EV , MG ZS EV Long Range and MG5 EV Long Range. But the MG4 takes electric value to yet another level. This is MG’s first competitor to the Volkswagen ID.3, and it’s very close to the magic £25,000 for a decent everyday EV, only exceeding this price by £995. Despite the keen price, the basic Standard range MG4 EV still boasts a WLTP range of 218 miles and the ability to hit 62mph in 7.7 seconds. It boasts 117kW charging, so can replenish to 80% in just 39 minutes, making longer journeys entirely viable.
Switch up to the more expensive Long Range and you get up to 281 miles of range, although the battery’s extra weight increases the 62mph sprint to 7.9 seconds. But maximum charging is 135kW, so it actually takes just 35 minutes to charge to 80%, so will be even more capable of longer journeys. Whichever version of the car you go for, the MG4 EV is rear-wheel-drive, and it’s surprisingly fun to drive. The dynamic is surprisingly like the Volkswagen ID.3, and MG has a dual-motor version planned, too, which should be an absolute hoot.
MG has improved the infotainment with the MG4 EV compared to previous models, and generally modernised the interior. The overall look is much more futuristic than the brand’s other cars. You also get a very usable 363 litres of boot space, or 1,177 litres with the rear seats down, and 500kg towing capacity. In other words, if you’re looking for a versatile family electric hatchback that doesn’t break the bank, the MG4 EV ticks all the right boxes. We expect it to sell like hot cakes.
Read our full review of the original MG4 EV.
Best Hatchback EV
Best Hatchback EV: Cupra Born
The Cupra Born may be a variant of the Volkswagen ID.3, but there is something about it that elevates this car above the VW. First, there’s the way it looks. Although the side profile is identical to the ID.3, the front is much more aggressive and assertive, while the rear provides a sportier feel. The interior has a greater sense of class, and the colour choices are bolder, particularly the signature metallic blue and copper.
On paper, the performance of the main model is no different to the ID.3, with a 0-62mph of 7.3 seconds. Cupra also offers an e-Boost version of the Born, which increases the power from 204PS to 231PS and drops the 62mph sprint to 6.6 seconds, although that still hadn’t reached the UK at the time of writing. However, even without this the Born is great fun to drive. Cupra has added some secret sauce to the suspension setup to make its handling tighter than the ID.3, for a sportier feel.
This is still a highly practical electric hatchback, nevertheless. The 58kWh battery provides 263 miles of range, and the 77kWh version – when it arrives – will increase this to a very healthy 340 miles. DC charging maxes out at 120kW for the smaller battery, and 135kW for the larger one, enabling an 80% charge in just 35 minutes. Boot space is a decent 385 litres with the rear seats up and 1,267 litres with them down, while rear passenger have plenty of room too. The Cupra Born can’t match the value of the MG4 EV, but it has bags of character that make it a joy to drive.
Read our full review of the Cupra Born.
Best Crossover EV
Best Crossover EV: Kia EV6
This was a tough category to judge, with so many EVs and cars in general launched into this space. There will be many more in the next 12 months too. But the one that edged past the others in our testing was the Kia EV6. We love the way it looks, and we love the way it drives. It’s also extremely well equipped, with great range and plenty of practicality.
Kia has somehow managed to make the EV6 not look like a crossover, although the relatively high stance and general layout fit the genre. It’s packed with technology, too, including side video views on the dashboard when you indicate, so you don’t miss a cyclist coming up close on the inside.
There are three motor powers available with the EV6 – RWD with 226bhp, AWD with 321bhp, and a bonkers GT all-wheel drive version with a whopping 577bhp. All are quite fast, with the RWD taking 7.3 seconds to hit 62mph, the AWD a sprightly 5.2 seconds, and the GT a staggering 3.5 seconds. Although this is a heavy car, like most EVs, it also handles in a very assured way. Range is very good, too, because Kia hasn’t bothered with the smaller battery option of E-GMP. All cars get 77.4kWh, so the RWD version has a range of 328 miles (WLTP), the AWD lasts 314 miles, and the GT 252 miles.
You get more boot space than a hatchback at 490 litres (520 litres without the boot floor), rising to 1,300 litres, although full SUV EVs will exceed this. Another niggle is that the downside of the jauntily angled roof is a bit less headroom for rear passengers than the Hyundai IONIQ 5, which is based on the same E-GMP platform. But the powerful driving, technology, and bold looks make the Kia EV6 a very desirable electric crossover.
Read our full review of the Kia EV6.
Honourable Mention: Hyundai IONIQ 5
Another serious contender in this class was also launched in the last year. The Hyundai IONIQ 5 is a brilliant car on the same platform as the Kia EV6. Its modern retro styling will either have you drooling or scratching your head. Like the Kia, the IONIQ 5 is much bigger than it looks from some perspectives. Also like the Kia EV6, it’s packed with technology and practicality. We particularly like the capacious boot space with flexible rear seat options, the huge glovebox, and the movable central console. This is also a great EV to drive, although we think the EV6 just edges it in this area. Either way, the IONIQ 5 is a superb EV and well worth considering.
Read our full review of the Hyundai IONIQ 5
Best Mainstream SUV EV
Best Mainstream SUV EV: Tesla Model Y
In the year that the Tesla Model Y arrived in the UK, it would be impossible to give the SUV award to any other car. The price of the Model Y may place it out of reach for some, but judging by the fact that Tesla appears to be able to sell as many as it can ship to the UK, there is huge demand for this SUV. It’s not hard to see why. So far, we have only seen the Long Range version in Britain, although there is a Performance version, and a Rear-Wheel-Drive version has recently joined the range. The Long Range, as with the Model 3, is the sweet spot. It delivers a tasty balance of performance, range, and practicality.
On one hand, the Model Y is built on the same platform as the Model 3, only a bit taller. The extra size means it’s not quite so quick as the latter, but with 384hp the Long Range can still hit 60mph in 4.8 seconds, and the Performance’s 456hp drops this to 3.5 seconds. Range is excellent, too, with the Long Range lasting for 331 miles (WLTP) and the Performance 319 miles. People who buy SUVs generally want lots of cargo space, and the Model Y is top of the class in this respect. The basic capacity is 854 litres with the rear seats up, and this extends to a huge 1,869 litres with them down. There’s a capacious 117-litre frunk on top of this, too.
And, of course, all this comes with Tesla’s technology platform, which is years ahead of any other automaker. This enables the most seamless over-the-air software updates, competent self-driving on highways, and in-car multimedia features including Spotify, Netflix, and Disney+ streaming. The killer feature is access to Tesla’s Supercharger network, one of the fastest and most reliable charging infrastructures around, with excellent coverage. While the Tesla Model Y isn’t cheap, it is a very complete and capable electric SUV.
Read our full review of the Tesla Model Y.
Honourable Mentions: MG ZS EV Long Range, Nissan Ariya
MG impresses us with the value of every car it releases, and before the MG4 EV, the MG ZS EV Long Range set yet another benchmark for EV range and features for the money. It’s still a very sensible choice. The MG ZS EV Long Range promises up to 273 miles of WLTP range on a single charge. The regular 470-litre boot space is decent, but this isn’t a large SUV, so the capacity only increases to 1,100 litres with the rear seats down. The best thing is the price. Starting at £28,495 for the entry-level SE version, this a very keenly costed EV.
Further up the price range is the Nissan Ariya. This SUV has brought one of the pioneering companies of electrification bang up to date. In terms of styling, it takes Nissan to a new level, with a futuristic exterior and streamlined interior. The Ariya is available with two battery sizes – 63kWh and 87kWh – and three motor powers, including 214hp and 238hp front-wheel drive, plus the 301hp all-wheel drive e-4ORCE, with the latter providing a brusque 5.7-second sprint to 62mph. The WLTP range is up to 329 miles, which is competitive. The Ariya is quite expensive, starting at just under £44,000 and over £52,000 for the e-4ORCE version. But it’s a quality electric SUV from a company with an illustrious history in the EV market.
Read our full review of the MG ZS EV Long Range and Nissan Ariya.
Best Premium SUV EV
Best Premium SUV EV: BMW iX
Alongside the excellent i4, BMW also launched its first all-electric SUV, the iX. The earlier iX3 was released on a platform shared with petrol and diesel, but the iX is EV only. This has enabled it to benefit from not needing to cater for internal combustion versions. The sizeable kidney grille may not be to everyone’s taste, but once you climb inside, the iX is unashamedly luxurious and comfortable. Rear passengers get their own air conditioning controls and two USB ports each on the back of the seat in front.
At launch, the iX came in xDrive40 and xDrive50 versions, although subsequently a “hot” M60 alternative has been added, costing £117,000. The latter can hit 62mph in 3.8 seconds, thanks to 619hp and 1,110hp. Not everyone will need this level of performance, though, and the other two models are saner choices. The xDrive40 offers 326hp and the ability to hit 62mph in 6.1 seconds. The range is a decent but not exceptional 257 miles (WLTP).
The xDrive50 is the more compelling package, despite its extra price. Its 523hp will push it to 62mph in 4.6 seconds, but the 111.5kWh gross (105.2kWh net) battery enables an extremely competitive 380 miles of WLTP range. This is a very competitive blend of performance and range for an SUV. Even Tesla’s Model X Dual Motor doesn’t offer so much range, and currently Tesla isn’t even stating a delivery window anyway. All versions of the iX are all-wheel drive.
The iX also has the option of a unique panoramic sunroof. Instead of having a physical blind, this has electrically controlled polarisation. You can switch the sunroof glass between opaque and clear, with almost immediate effect. It’s a very cool feature. Being a large SUV, the iX also offers plenty of rear cargo space, although surprisingly the smaller Tesla Model Y offers more.
But the BMW iX comes with the brand’s driving characteristics, including all-wheel steering in the xDrive50 and above. The downside of the iX is the price. Even the entry-level xDrive40 costs close to £70,000. The xDrive50 is the much better choice, despite costing £24,000 more. It’s fast, luxurious and has excellent range, even if you have to pay for it.
Read our full review of the BMW iX.
Best Luxury EV
Best Luxury EV: Genesis Electrified G80
Genesis is a new brand to the UK, having arrived in the summer of 2021, although it has been on sale in other markets such as the USA for longer. It’s also not a standalone, being the luxury wing of the Hyundai Motor Group. The Electrified G80 is a large saloon offering 323 miles of WLTP range from its 87.3kWh battery, and a 370PS all-wheel drive powertrain, enabling 0-62mph in 4.9 seconds and 139mph top speed.
So this is a rapid vehicle with excellent range. But the interior luxury and technology are the most significant factors. The upholstery is plush and there is plenty of space for rear-seat passengers. With some trim levels, rear passengers get their own screens to enjoy media in transit. The boot space is limited at 354 litres, but that will still be enough for a couple of suitcases. Prices start at just under £66,000, which seems expensive, until you realise Genesis is a competitor to brands like Mercedes-Benz. In other words, it’s a luxury EV at an affordable price for its class.
Read our first look review of the Genesis Electrified G80.
Best Newcomer EV
Best Newcomer EV: Genesis GV60
Genesis may be a new brand for the UK, but its focus on luxury, electrification and technology means it has arrived with a bang. The GV60 is the company’s crossover SUV. It’s based on the same platform as the IONIQ 5 and Kia EV6 but takes the luxury and technology to another level.
The bit of technology that particularly stood out to the WhichEV jury was the GV60’s boost mode, available in the Sport Plus version. Hit this button and the safety belt tensions, securing you to the comfortable driver’s seat. This lets you know that there’s some temporary extra power available (about 10 seconds’ worth) that can enable you to hit 62mph in 4 seconds. If you really need to overtake something, Boost mode will enable the GV60 to take on most other cars on the road – and win.
Most of the rest of the time, this is an extremely well appointed “fast lounge”-like experience. In fact, the interior would make the average footballer’s wife happy. This is clearly a car from the Hyundai Group looking at some of the switchgear, but with a finish that takes the comfort and sense of occasion to another level. This is still a practical car, with 432 litres of rear luggage space and a healthy 1,550 litres with the rear seats down. It can tow up to 1,600kg braked, too.
You also get very respectable range, up to 321 miles, plus Hyundai’s support for 350kW charging, enabling a 10 to 80% charge in just 18 minutes with a powerful enough charger. Being a Genesis luxury vehicle, the GV60 isn’t cheap, starting at just over £47,000 and going over £65,000 for the Sport Plus. But when you look at what you get for similar money from Jaguar or Mercedes-Benz, it’s actually not bad value in its class. The GV60 is a fantastic newcomer on the EV market.
Read our full review of the Genesis GV60.
EV Innovation Award
EV Innovation Award: IONIQ 6
The IONIQ 6 hasn’t quite arrived yet, although Hyundai has revealed the price for the initial First Edition. This car truly shows that Hyundai has come of age as a designer leading the market rather than following. The IONIQ 6 isn’t quite the Prophecy Concept, but it takes many design cues from that vehicle, combining ideas from the Porsche 911 and Mercedes CLS. The IONIQ 6 still manages to be one of the most aerodynamic cars around, with a drag coefficient of just 0.21Cd.
This is another vehicle based on the Hyundai Group’s E-GMP platform, like the IONIQ 5 and Kia EV6. But the aerodynamics and design take it to the next level. The 77.4kWh battery enables a range of 320 miles, despite the all-wheel drive dual motor system providing 325PS of power and 605Nm of torque. Performance figures haven’t been announced yet, but this is likely to deliver a sub-5 seconds 0-62mph sprint speed. Hyundai’s E-GMP platform also has an 800V subsystem supporting 350kW DC charging, so replenishing the battery will be rapid.
The IONIQ 6 takes exterior design to a new level for Hyundai, and it does the same inside as well. The combination of luxury and technology of the interior provide a strong sense of the future, including features such as camera-based wing mirrors. This won’t be a cheap car – the First Edition will cost a fiver under £55,000. But this is a bold and striking electric saloon, and we can’t wait for it to arrive on the UK market.
Read our preview of the IONIQ 6.
Best Classic Car EV Conversion
Best Classic Car EV Conversion: AVA Croxford Defender
Classic car conversions are always controversial, but it’s hard to argue with the worth of the AVA Croxford Defender. This vehicle is based on a 2015 Land Rover Defender, but it’s much more than just electrification. The conversion is intended to tell the story of a British Army veteran injured in combat, Stuart Croxford. He lost part of his leg as a result of injuries sustained during service in Afghanistan.
The Croxford Defender is inspired by Croxford’s military background and motifs, including colours based on army Land Rovers and the livery from his regiment. It’s no ordinary conversion, either. It’s powered by a Tesla Large drive unit with 450hp and 450Nm of torque, powering all four wheels via the vehicle’s original all-wheel drive transmission. It can hit 60mph in about five seconds, which is bonkers for a huge boxy Land Rover. It also has 90kWh of batteries so can still manage around 200 miles of driving.
The interior is sumptuously appointed, with Recaro seats and a luxurious finish all round. It’s a beautiful one-off, but one that also has an amazing story to tell about its inspiration. The AVA Croxford Defender is a past and future classic you could drive every day without damaging the environment.
Read our feature about AVA’s Croxford Defender.
Honourable Mentions: Everrati 911 (964) Gulf Signature Edition, Electrogenic Land Rover Electrification Kit
The 911 is an icon, and although Porsches have a well-deserved reputation for mechanical reliability, the most classic earlier versions aren’t necessarily vehicles you’d want to drive every day. Everrati wanted to give you the best of both worlds, so it has taken a late 1980s / early 1990s 964 911 and electrified it. Adding a motor up to 500bhp, the new version can sprint to 62mph in under 4 seconds but still has a useful range of 180 miles. The balance is improved over the original, including a Quaife ATB torque biasing differential and a net weight that is around 30kg lighter than the original. Power delivery is brutal, and there is even an exhaust pipe audio system to replace the boxer six soundtrack. The Everrati 911 (964) costs an absolute fortune at over £200,000, but in Gulf Edition livery it’s an occasion to drive every time you get inside. The performance is another step up from the original, yet it looks and even sounds on point for the period. It’s a classic 911 without the niggles.
For our other honourable mention, Electrogenic is one of the UK’s top electric classic car convertors, and in the last year the company has been working on a drop-in kit to electrify Land Rovers. It’s the diametric opposite of the AVA Croxford Defender, though, because it’s not about an exceptional one-off, but a kit that can take any working vehicle that has already had a life and electrify that in a cost-effective way to deliver cheaper, more environmentally positive running and many more years of service. Electrogenic’s Land Rover kit has been on test at Worthy Farm, home of the Glastonbury Festival. It is now rolling out commercially, enabling a £25,000 switch of a farm vehicle to electric. Compared to buying a new Land Rover, it’s very cost effective.
Read our review of the Everrati 911 (964) Gulf Signature Edition and our feature about Electrogenic.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Lifetime Achievement Award: Nissan Leaf
Few EVs have done as much to popularise electrification as the Nissan Leaf. Where the Tesla Model S made electric cars aspirational, the Leaf showed that they could be affordable and practical for everyday use. The Leaf turned 10 nearly two years ago, and the fact that it’s still on sale now shows how strong the initial design concept was.
However, the Leaf has improved over the years since it was launched. Initially, it came with a 24kWh battery and 107hp motor. Although the 0-60mph sprint of 9.9 seconds was hardly brusque, the low-end torque of an EV meant that the Leaf could pull away up to 30mph surprisingly quickly, making it an incredible city car. The original range of 73 miles (EPA) or 109 miles (NEDC) also made the original Leaf better suited to cities, although inclusion of CHAdeMO DC charging on some versions from the beginning made longer journeys possible – if you could find a charger back then.
The latest Leaf now offers battery sizes up to 62kWh with a range up to 239 miles (WLTP). It’s much faster, too, with the most powerful 215hp version able to hit 62mph in just 7.3 seconds. That’s approaching hot hatch performance. The design does show its age in some areas, such as the lumpy boot space with the rear seats down, the infotainment system, and the continued use of CHAdeMO, which is rapidly being outgunned by CCS charging connections. But the Nissan Leaf should be commended for all it has done for EVs over its 12 years (so far). It’s a true legend.
Read our full review of the Nissan Leaf.
WhichEV Car of the Year
WhichEV Car of the Year: MG4 EV
It was a tough call not giving our overall award for the year to the Tesla Model Y. After all, this is on track to be the bestselling EV of the year and the first to enter the top ten across all fuel types. But as great as the Model Y is, even the base rear-wheel-drive version costs nearly £52,000 and hasn’t reached the UK yet anyway. The only variant that has is the Long Range, and that’s a tenner under £58,000.
In contrast, the MG4 EV costs less than half as much, and as a result is the more significant new arrival in the last 12 months. It probably won’t sell as many units as the Model Y even after a full year on the market, but it draws a line in the sand about EV pricing. While the MG4 EV uses some cheap materials and still needs a little more work in its infotainment (albeit much better than before), in every area it’s more than just acceptable. In fact, it’s great to drive, immensely practical, and – most importantly – sets a new benchmark for EV value. If any car released in the last year sets the direction for electric cars, it’s the MG4 EV. This car comes close to making EVs better than ICE in every way – including sticker price.
Read our full review of the original MG4 EV.