The most efficient electric cars revealed – the EVs which will keep you moving

The most efficient electric car on sale right now is the Dacia Spring – it can return incredible efficiency of just over 5.0 miles per kWh.

And it isn’t just the cheapest EV to run – at least where electricity costs are concerned – it’s also the cheapest to buy, starting at just £15,990.

There are some pretty big compromises to be made, though. The Spring is cramped inside, noisy and unsophisticated to drive and has a very disappointing one-star Euro NCAP safety rating – although there have been some fairly significant changes to the car since the crash test was carried out back in 2021.

The Spring can’t charge very quickly, either, accepting a peak rate of just 40kW – and the official range is just 139 miles. Still, if efficiency and cost are your top priorities, and you have another car for longer journeys, the Spring has undeniable appeal.

“I like the look of the Dacia Spring's stubby gear selector, but unless you move it really slowly, it doesn't register that you want to go forwards or backwards. That's annoying.” – Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor

Read our full Dacia Spring review

You’ll need to go for the 250+ version of the new Mercedes CLA and a cheap trim level to keep your energy usage to a minimum, but if you do this classy executive car can officially return 4.97 miles per kWh.

That’s fantastic efficiency by any standards, but particularly for a fairly big car with an official range of 483 miles – further than any other car in our top 10.

The CLA’s incredibly low energy consumption is partly thanks to its low and slippery shape – it has a coefficient of drag of just 0.21 – but also an unusual two-speed automatic gearbox, which means the electric motor doesn’t have to spin as fast when you’re cruising on the motorway.

The CLA is fairly well-priced, too – at least by Mercedes standards, with the 250+ Sport costing £43,250. And thanks to super-fast 800-volt charging, the CLA can go from 10-80% in just 22 mins.

“Having tried the CLA with both the standard-fit stereo and the upgraded Burmester, I can’t help but be impressed by the standard one. It has plenty of punch and will easily keep you alert on a long drive.” – John Howell, Deputy Reviews Editor

Read our full Mercedes CLA review

The Fiat 500e is the smallest car in our top 10 countdown, and the one with the worst range of just 118 miles.

Definitely don’t buy one of these if you need to make long journeys or carry lots of people or luggage, then. But if you just want a small and stylish EV to scoot around town in, this entry-level version of the 500e can be yours for £20,995.

We’ve given the 500e third spot here above the Tesla Model 3, with which it's tied for efficiency. That's because it wins the tiebreaker of being fractionally more efficient than the Model 3 on the road. The reason the Tesla matches it overall is because, in the official tests, it wasted marginally less energy during charging.

“As cool as it might be to have the late, great Giorgio Armani’s name attached to your Fiat 500e, objectively I find this range-topping version very hard to recommend.” – John Howell, Deputy Reviews Editor

Read our full Fiat 500e review

Like the Fiat above, the Tesla Model 3 returned an efficiency figure of 4.78 miles per kWh – but the two cars are very different.

To achieve that extremely low energy consumption in the Model 3, you’ll need to go for the entry-level Rear Wheel drive version, which has an official range of 332 miles.

As with the larger Model Y, we think most buyers are better off with the Premium Long Range Rear-wheel drive model, which comes with more luxury kit and can officially do up to 466 miles on a charge. But this slightly more efficient version is £7000 cheaper to buy, with a tempting price tag of £37,990.

There have been more efficient versions of the Model 3 in the past, but with the current software and battery configurations offered in the UK, 4.78 miles per kWh is as good as it gets.

“I'm impressed that in our real-world tests the Tesla Model 3 has consistently delivered better efficiency than any of its rivals.” – Will Nightingale, Reviews Editor

Read our full Tesla Model 3 review

The Ford Puma is the best selling car in the UK, but there's more to it than just popularity.

Its huge sales numbers are mostly attributed to the petrol versions, but there’s also a fully electric model called the Gen-E. It’s eligible for the full £3750 Government grant, which means prices start at £26,245. That’s a lot less than you’ll pay for any Kia EV3 or Peugeot e-2008.

And it’s a lot more efficient than those alternatives too, averaging 4.74 miles per kWh if you go for entry-level Select trim. 

The Puma Gen-E feels a bit cheap inside and ride comfort isn’t a strength. But it’s relatively fun to drive and offers an official range of 259 miles. What’s more, it has an enormous boot thanks in part to a Gigabox under the main boot floor, which is essentially a huge well with a removable plug at the bottom, meaning you can hose out any dirt left from muddy boots or pot plants.

“The Puma Gen-E's driving position is mostly sound but I find it a bit odd having to deal with a slightly square steering wheel.” – Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor

Read our full Ford Puma Gen-E review

The Tesla Model Y is arguably the most family friendly car in this top 10, largely because this 4.8-metre long SUV is even available as a seven-seater.

Not if you want the most efficient version, though. That’s the entry-level Rear-wheel drive, but it still has loads of space for five people plus an enormous boot. In fact, we managed to fit nine carry-on suitcases under the parcel shelf with one more in the so-called ‘frunk’ under the bonnet.

The entry-level Rear-wheel drive is the shortest-range version of the Model Y, and we think most buyers are better off going for the Premium Long Range Rear wheel drive model, which can officially do up to 378 miles on a charge, is better to drive, has more standard equipment and only uses fractionally more energy.

Still, if efficiency is your number one priority then the regular Rear-wheel drive can officially manage 4.57 miles per kWh, and the range is still a respectable 314 miles. This is also the cheapest version of the Model Y with a price of £41,990.

"I listen to music a lot while driving so I found it really handy that the Model Y has built-in apps for Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music." – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

Read our full Tesla Model Y review

The Cooper E is the entry-level electric version of the latest Mini hatchback, and while the official range of 186 miles isn’t all that impressive, a return of up to 4.54 miles per kWh definitely is.

Just be aware that with no rear doors and a tiny boot, the Mini Cooper E makes even cars like the Nissan Micra and Peugeot e-208 seem like practical choices. And because it’s currently built in China, the Mini isn’t eligible for any financial assistance from the Government.

That means the starting price is £26,905, and you’ll probably want to add at least the £2000 Level 1 Pack. Otherwise you’ll have to make do without heated front seats, keyless entry or an auto-dimming rear-view mirror.

"Ride comfort has never been a Mini strength, and the electric Cooper SE is still far from a luxury limo, but at a steady 70mph I found it noticeably calmer and more agreeable than its petrol counterpart." — Stuart Milne, Digital Editor

Read our full Mini Cooper Electric review

The Volkswagen ID 7 proves you don’t need to put up with cramped rear leg room or a small boot to achieve excellent efficiency from an electric car. In fact, the it's even more practical than alternatives like the BYD Seal and Tesla Model 3. 

Go for the Pro S version in Match trim and the ID 7 can officially return 4.49 miles per kWh. And because it has a big battery with a usable capacity of 86kWh, on paper it can do up to 434 miles without stopping.

There are faster-charging electric cars out there but a wait time of 28 minutes to go from 10-80% isn’t bad. A bigger problem is the price of £55,000 – although if you’re a company car driver paying benefit in kind tax, that might not prove a dealbreaker.

“I like the VW ID 7's touchscreen until I have to delve into a sub-menu to move the air vents and end up leaving my fingerprints smeared all over it.” – Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor

Read our full Volkswagen ID 7 review

One of the most efficient small electric cars you'll find is the Peugeot e-208 – specifically the 156 version in Allure trim. This is a direct rival to the Nissan Micra and Renault 5, and although it isn’t as good as those newer cars in many areas, it is more efficient, managing 4.41 miles per kWh.

This version of the e-208 also has an official range of 268 miles, which is further than even the bigger battery versions of the Micra and Renault 5. Plus you can charge the battery from 10-80% in around 28 minutes – which is pretty good by small EV standards and makes this version of the e-208 a solid choice if you regularly need to make longer journeys.

Thanks to a recent price cut by Peugeot and a £1500 grant from the Government, the price of £23,795 isn’t too bad either.

"To me, the e-208 doesn’t feel much more expensive than a Renault 5, yet you look at the pricing and it is." — Mark Pearson, Used Cars Editor 

Read our full Peugeot e-208 review

If you go for the smaller-battery Standard Range version and stick with entry-level Engage trim, the Nissan Micra achieves impressive average efficiency of 4.38 miles per kWh – edging out the mechanically identical but boxier-shaped Renault 5.

The new Micra is pretty cramped in the back, but otherwise it’s tough to fault: it’s good to drive, has a great infotainment system and the official range of 196 miles is respectable for a small hatchback.

Better still, this is one of the cheapest options in our top 10 countdown – costing £21,495 after you’ve factored in a £1500 grant from the Government. 

“I like the way the Micra's ambient interior lights change colour when you swap between the four driving modes. Red is for Sport, which adds a fun feel to driving.” – Claire Evans, Consumer editor

Read our full Nissan Micra review

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