New Skoda Octavia

Smart #3

Mini Countryman

New Aston Martin Vantage

Jaguar I-Pace

Hyundai Ioniq 5 N

Mini Cooper Electric

New Kia Sorento

2023-what-car-electric-car-awards

Now in their fourth year, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/awards/electric-car-awards">What Car? Electric Car Awards</a> were launched following a surge of interest in electric and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/hybrid-cars/n17013">hybrid</a> cars on the What Car? website, and are designed to help people who are keen to buy an electrified car choose the right model for their needs.

The Awards name the best electric and hybrid cars you can buy across 16&nbsp;categories, covering models of all shapes and sizes,&nbsp;as well as our favourite&nbsp;alternatives for those searching for their perfect&nbsp;used car. Here, then, is our definitive rundown of the best electrified cars you can buy.

Slideshow story: please click the right-hand arrow above to continue, or simply scroll down if you’re reading on your mobile

2023 What Car? Electric Car Awards

Hatchback

Modern Fiats fall into two categories: the retro models and those with more functional designs.

Cars in the first camp appeal to the heart and include the 124 Spider sports car and the 500 series: a hatchback, a convertible, an SUV and two MPVs.

By contrast, the remaining models rely on their practicality and attractive pricing, with the Panda city car, Tipo hatchback and Fullback pick-up truck all prime examples.

Fiat can trace its roots back to the 19th century but is now part of the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles group, along with Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Jeep and Maserati.

FIAT

When it comes to driving, the electric <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/fiat/500/hatchback/review/n84">Fiat 500</a> is frankly much more entertaining than the old petrol-engined car (which remains available for those who refuse to be convinced). Even the cheapest version, with its 95bhp motor and 24kWh battery, is a lot nippier, and our preferred 42kWh, 116bhp version feels even quicker than its 9.0sec 0-62mph time suggests. And crucially, it retains the original’s tight, city-friendly turning circle and nimble feel.

Its exterior design includes all the original ’s retro cues yet somehow seems utterly up to date, and the interior remains charming yet offers all the essential kit you need, such as <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-sat-nav-apps/n24915">sat-nav</a>, DAB radio and smartphone connectivity, all accessed via a 10.3in touchscreen.

Best electric small car: Fiat 500

MG has a long heritage in the UK, and while these days it is owned by Chinese firm SAIC, it is slowly but surely beefing up its model range.

Kicking things off is the MG 3, a rival for affordable hatchbacks such as the Dacia Sandero and Skoda Fabia. Then there’s the ZS small SUV, which faces off against the likes of the Renault Captur and Seat Arona. And at the top of the range is the GS, which goes up against Dacia’s Duster and the Ssangyong Tivoli.

While any future MG products are likely to be introduced in China before coming to the UK, design work is still undertaken in the UK. MG’s design studio is based at Longbridge, where the brand made its name with models such as the MGB GT.

MG MOTOR UK

When you compare the price tag of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/mg4/hatchback/review/n24916">MG4</a> with those of similar-sized rivals such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/cupra/born/hatchback/review/n23703">Cupra Born</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/megane-e-tech/hatchback/review/n24175">Renault Megane E-Tech</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/id3/hatchback/review/n21832">Volkswagen ID 3</a>, you might think there’s been some kind of mistake, because it undercuts each of them by around £10,000.

If you want a saving that big, you have to go for the entry-level SE, but that ’s our favourite version. Its 50.8kWh (usable) battery means an official range of 218 miles – enough for most buyers’ needs. This entry-level version has automatic LED headlights, adaptive cruise control, rear parking sensors and even vehicle-to-load charging (V2L). That means you can use the car’s battery to power most things that have a three-pin plug.

Best electric family car: MG4

Audi is a brand that sets the standard for interior quality, and this, combined with its vast and ever-growing model line-up, has helped it become one of the ‘big three’ German prestige car makers, along with BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

The A3 hatchback, A4 executive saloon and Q7 SUV are all common - yet upmarket - sights on UK roads.

At least some of Audi's success over the past 30 years can be attributed to the growth in sales of vehicles with four-wheel drive; the company arguably led the way in bringing 4x4 technology into the mainstream, with its Quattro coupé in the early 1980s.

Today, most Audis are available with at least the option of four-wheel drive, while the list of SUVs from the brand includes the Q2, Q3, Q5 and Q7.

AUDI

If you want a premium product, you need to spend premium money, right? Well, not if the premium product you’re looking at is the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a3/hatchback/review/n77">Audi A3</a> 40 TFSIe, because it will actually cost you less to own than <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-plug-in-hybrid-cars/n22743">plug-in hybrid</a> (PHEV) rivals from <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/mercedes-benz">Mercedes</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/peugeot">Peugeot</a>.

the plug-in hybrid ’s 1.4-litre petrol engine and electric motor produce a punchy 201bhp when working together, and in all-electric mode there’s more than enough grunt to cope with urban traffic.

Of course, a family car has to be practical too, and the A3’s boot is just as useful as those of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/308/hatchback/review/n17380">Peugeot&nbsp;308</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf/hatchback/review/n17166">Volkswagen Golf GTE</a>; each can take five carry-on suitcases. A pair of six-footers will be perfectly fine in the A3’s rear seats, and although other rivals such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/focus/hatchback/review/n37">Ford Focus</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/octavia/hatchback/review/n39">Skoda Octavia</a> offer even more stretching-out space, neither of those cars is available in plug-in hybrid form.

Best hybrid family car: Audi A3 40 TFSIe

Estate

Owned by Mercedes-Benz and with a reputation for making small, clever cars, Smart offers a striking, upmarket alternative to more conventional rivals.

It currently has a two-car line-up, the smaller of the two being the distinctive Fortwo, which, as its name suggests, is an ultra-short two-seater that uses an unusual rear-engined configuration to deliver the sort of turning circle that even London taxis can only dream of. It's a doddle to park in small spaces, too.

Smart's 'family car' is the Forfour, which is little more than a stretched version of the Fortwo, with a second row of seats and a larger boot. It's more of a natural rival for cars like the Hyundai i10 or Kia Picanto.

On paper, both cars come at a considerable price premium when compared with rivals, something it says is justified by its badge appeal and the technology in the cars.&nbsp;However, sales have been slow and there are often keen Target Price deals to be found.

SMART

Not least among the #1’s virtues is its fantastic interior. It borrows heavily from the style books of Mercedes-Benz, one of Smart’s parent companies, with an elegantly sculpted and beautifully made dashboard that has a crisp 12.8in infotainment touchscreen as its centrepiece. It ’s spacious, too – more so than its compact length might lead you to believe. Two pairs of 6ft-tall occupants will be comfier in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/smart/hashtag-1/hatchback/review/n25016">Smart #1</a> than in either the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/byd/atto-3/hatchback/review/n25563">BYD Atto 3</a> or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/niro/estate/review/n24582">Kia Niro EV</a>.

Officially, the #1 can take you 273 miles on a full charge. The Niro EV can go slightly farther (280 miles), but it’ll take you much longer to recharge when you get there. The #1 can accept power at rates of up to 150kW (compared with the Niro EV ’s 80kW), so its 62.8kWh (usable) battery can be taken from 10-80% in just 27 minutes using a suitably powerful charger. The Niro EV, meanwhile, takes at least 41 minutes for a similar boost.

Best electric small SUV: Smart #1

Land Rover is synonymous with SUVs, and especially with the Defender – the rugged runabout that has seen service in war zones across the world, but also as part of the Queen’s personal garage.

If off-road prowess is one of Land Rover’s core values, though, the other is luxury. Indeed, the Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and Range Rover Velar are among the best luxury SUVs you can buy.

The Discovery, meanwhile, is a practical rival for the Audi Q7 and BMW X5, while the stylish Evoque (which is available as a three-door convertible as well as a traditional SUV) goes head to head with Audi’s Q3 and BMW’s X1.

In the coming years, we’ll see a new road-biased ‘Road Rover’ as well as an all-new Defender.

LAND ROVER

RANGE ROVER EVOQUE

For company car user-choosers, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/range-rover-evoque/4x4/review/n109">Range Rover&nbsp;Evoque</a> P300e is hard to beat when it comes to making you feel good without bleeding your wallet dry. As a small, upmarket SUV with lantern-jawed good looks, few cars are quite so fashionable. And with a benefit-in-kind rating of 12%, not many rivals are cheaper on company car tax.

In all other regards, the P300e is the same to travel in as any other Evoque. Wind and road noise rarely step out from the background to spoil your enjoyment of the smart, high-tech interior. And while the rival <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volvo/xc40/estate/review/n119">Volvo XC40</a> is a little smoother over potholes, the Evoque’s ride is better controlled, with less sway on uneven roads. The standard 18in wheels do a better job of absorbing minor ripples than the bigger optional wheels, though.

Best hybrid small SUV: Range Rover Evoque P300e

GENESIS

GV60

From the moment you get in, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/genesis/gv60/estate/review/n24373">Genesis GV60</a> dazzles you with materials and design features that make it feel more like a concept car than something you can actually buy. Most of the surfaces are covered with soft-touch materials, manmade leather and attractive metals, while optional quilted Nappa leather and two-tone colour schemes give the GV60 a Bentley-like ambience. It’s really rather special, to look at and to touch.

The fact that the GV60 shares its electric motor and 77.4kWh battery with the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/ioniq-5/hatchback/review/n22944">Hyundai&nbsp;Ioniq 5</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/ev6/estate/review/n23462">Kia EV6</a> is entirely a positive thing, because even in entry-level RWD Premium guise (with a single motor and rear-wheel drive), it delivers punchy, responsive performance and an official range of up to 321 miles. That’s not quite as far as the rival <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-y/hatchback/review/n23624">Tesla Model Y</a> Long Range can manage, but it’ll still be plenty for most buyers’ needs.

Best electric large SUV: Genesis GV60

Mercedes’ line-up is vast – ranging from the A-Class family hatchback through to staple saloons such as the C-Class and E-Class, and onwards towards multiple SUVs, luxury saloons and even sports cars. Coupés and convertibles are thrown into the mix as well.

As one of the ‘big three’ German brands, Mercedes most often finds itself competing with Audi and BMW but more recently has found itself fending off Jaguar and Volvo, too.

Mercedes models are known for comfort. One example of this is the E-Class, because while the Audi A6 has a plusher interior and the BMW 5 Series handles better, the E-Class is probably the most comfortable for a long motorway journey.

MERCEDES-BENZ

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/glc/4x4/review/n17345">Mercedes GLC</a> 300e is not only our favourite hybrid <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/large-suvs/n17006">large SUV</a> but also our top pick of plug-in hybrids in general. It ’s a strong option for private buyers and even more of a no-brainer for company car drivers.

The GLC’s real standout feature is its plug-in hybrid (PHEV) tech. This sees a 2.0-litre petrol engine combined with a pair of electric motors, powered by a sizeable, 31.2kWh battery. With an official electric range of 80 miles, the GLC 300e leaves other large PHEV SUVs, such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/lexus/nx/estate/review/n132">Lexus NX</a> 450h and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volvo/xc60/estate/review/n17339">Volvo XC60</a> Recharge T6, firing up their petrol engines far sooner. It also equates to an ultra-low company car tax rating of 5%, commanding a smaller monthly salary sacrifice than the 8% or 12% of its rivals.

Best hybrid large SUV: Mercedes GLC 300e

The VW Group famously spends more money on research and development than any rival – and as a result, perhaps it should be no surprise that our testers rate its cars so consistently highly.

The fact that many of those cars use the same underpinnings also helps, because it means that if they get it right once, they have the foundations to keep on getting it right.

However, the Volkswagen brand faces plenty of tough competition, often from within, because the rapidly rising Seat and Skoda brands that are also part of the group have access to the same technology.

VOLKSWAGEN

ID. BUZZ

We rate the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/idbuzz/mpv/review/n24946">Volkswagen ID Buzz</a> so highly that we named it our overall 2023 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/awards/new-car-awards">Car of the Year</a> back in January, reasoning that it had moved the game on more than any other model launched in the preceding 12 months.

In an era where cars often have big blindspots, the Buzz offers sensational all-round visibility – partly because of its huge windows and partly because you sit at the sort of height usually reserved for <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/range-rover/4x4/review/n17353">Range Rover</a> drivers. However, because the Buzz’s heavy battery is positioned beneath its floor, this tall vehicle feels far more stable than you might imagine. And your confidence behind the wheel is further enhanced by steering that’s both accurate and nicely weighted.

In addition, no van-based electric <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/mpvs-and-people-carriers/n17001">MPV</a> can match the Buzz ’s official range of up to 258 miles (251 miles in our preferred Style trim). And while some rivals are cheaper, they won’t hold their value anywhere near as well.

Best electric MPV: Volkswagen ID Buzz

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/mg5/estate/review/n22011">MG5</a> is an excellent halfway house between <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-suvs/n23038">electric SUVs</a> and small electric hatchbacks such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/leaf/hatchback/review/n17338">Nissan Leaf</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/zoe/hatchback/review/n152">Renault Zoe</a>. The best news is that, in our preferred entry-level SE form (there’s also a better-equipped Trophy version for around £2500 more), the MG5 is within a shout of the price of those smaller, less practical cars.

What’s more, it rides more smoothly than not only the Zoe and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/zs/hatchback/review/n20171">MG ZS EV</a>, but also most other comparable small EVs, including the much pricier Volkswagen ID 3. With a usable battery capacity of 57kWh, the MG5 scores fairly well when it comes to official range (250 miles) and maximum charging rate (87 kW); a 10-80% top-up can take as little as 35 minutes. Neither the Leaf nor Zoe can go as far, and each of them&nbsp;will take much longer to charge when their batteries are empty.

Best electric estate car: MG5

C CLASS

Using the same class-leading 25.4kWh battery as the Mercedes C300e saloon, the plug-in <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/c-class/estate/review/n17346">Mercedes C-Class Estate</a>&nbsp;can officially cover up to 69 miles on electricity alone – fractionally down on its sibling but almost double what the equivalent <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/3-series/estate/review/n108">BMW 3 Series Touring</a>&nbsp;(330e) can manage. Better still, leave the C300e in Hybrid mode and it’ll seamlessly use its electric power and 2.0-litre petrol engine to officially return up to 471mpg.

The C300e isn’t just about efficiency, though; a combined power output of 308bhp means it’s also a strong performer, covering 0-62mph in just 6.2sec. True, that isn’t quite as quick as its <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/bmw">BMW</a> rival, but it’s plenty punchy enough to make overtaking a doddle. What’s more, with standard air suspension at the rear end, the C300e has a more comfortable ride than the 330e Touring.

Best hybrid estate car: Mercedes C-Class Estate C300e

Saloon

Tesla is a US brand&nbsp;that revolutionised&nbsp;the car industry, putting <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-electric-cars-2022/n17000">electric cars</a> in the limelight&nbsp;for the first time – helped by the personality and profile of boss Elon Musk.

Today, Tesla has a broader&nbsp;line-up than ever, with the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-3/saloon/review/n19010">Tesla Model 3</a> saloon&nbsp;and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-y/hatchback/review/n23624">Tesla Model Y</a> SUV the company's cheapest models. For those with bigger budgets or a need for more space, there's the larger <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-s/hatchback/review/n150">Tesla Model S</a> saloon and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-x/hatchback/review/n161">Tesla&nbsp;Model X</a> SUV.&nbsp;A&nbsp;new Roadster, complete with supercar-beating acceleration, is also in the works.

&nbsp;

TESLA

MODEL 3

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-3/saloon/review/n19010">Tesla Model 3</a> arrived in the executive car class with not just a splash but a tsunami, and other manufacturers are still struggling to catch up. The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/i4/hatchback/review/n23575">BMW i4</a> is its closest rival and outshines it when it comes to interior quality and ride comfort, but the Model 3 either equals or betters that car in most other areas, not least practicality. That ’s because, while the i4 shares much of its structure with the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/4-series/hatchback/review/n17260">BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé</a>, the Model 3’s design isn’t compromised by having to suit combustion power.

The Model 3 is roomier for passengers, too, particularly in the back; the curvature of its roof gives occupants more head room, and whoever sits in the middle seat has no floor hump to straddle, unlike in the i4. With light flooding in through the deeper windows and standard panoramic glass roof, the Model 3 also feels airier.

Best electric executive car: Tesla Model 3

Despite the rise to prominence of SUVs, traditional executive saloons such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a4/saloon/review/n105">Audi A4</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/3-series/saloon/review/n91">BMW 3 Series</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/c-class/saloon/review/n70">Mercedes-Benz C-Class</a> are still a common sight in company car parks and on motorways all over the UK. In many cases, they’re better to drive and swankier looking than their SUV equivalents, with the C-Class in particular being hard to tell apart from a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/s-class/saloon/review/n17355">Mercedes&nbsp;S-Class</a> limo at first glance. In tax-busting plug-in hybrid (PHEV) form, they can also be relatively inexpensive to run – especially when they have an unusually long&nbsp;electric range like the Mercedes C300e.

Because you can officially&nbsp;cover up to 71 miles with the 2.0-litre petrol engine turned off, official fuel economy is spectacular, averaging 565mpg. In real-world use, you won’t get anywhere near that unless you plug in regularly and do mostly short trips, but the C300e’s ability to stretch each tank of petrol such a long way promises to save you money there too.

Best hybrid executive car: Mercedes C-Class C300e

Munich-based BMW is most famous for its sports saloons, in particular the 3 Series and 5 Series. However, it actually builds almost every type of car imaginable: everything from two-seat convertibles to seven-seat MPVs.

The cheapest model in the BMW range is the 1 Series hatchback, which is a rival to the Audi A3, Mercedes-Benz A-Class and Volkswagen Golf. Meanwhile, at the other extreme is the M8&nbsp;grand tourer, which costs more than £120,000.

BMW was also quick to capitalise on the rise of the SUV and now has ten in its range: the X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, X6, X7 and XM, plus the electric iX3 and iX.

All of this makes it one of the big three German prestige brands, along with Audi and Mercedes-Benz.

Anyone who tells you electric cars are boring has clearly never travelled in a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/i7/saloon/review/n25141">BMW i7</a>. We say ‘travelled in’ rather than ‘driven’ because this 5.4-metre-long behemoth won’t exactly have you grinning from ear to ear if you’re sitting in the driver’s seat. It's jolly capable,&nbsp;but the i7 unashamedly prioritises people sitting in the back. Just as a luxury limousine should.

Ride comfort is superb at all speeds, and this enormous saloon is more agile through corners than it has any right to be. Factor in a long range between charges (at least 300 miles in real-world driving) and fast charging (up to 200kW) and BMW’s flagship is undoubtedly one of the most complete cars on sale today.

Best electric luxury car: BMW i7

Porsche is best known as the quintessential sports car maker, but its line-up is increasingly diverse, interesting and successful, from its SUV family to the Panamera hatchback and shooting brake and, in time, a planned family of electric vehicles.

Whatever your choice, What Car?’s testers rate the cars highly; Porsche has an unusually high percentage of five and four-star cars.

Without exception, its sports cars are class leaders or among the class leaders, standing out for combining driving thrills with surprising luxury and comfort. Likewise, its SUVs are among the sharpest handling, as well as offering high levels of practicality and quality. Meanwhile, the Panamera is a true rival to the very best large executive saloons.

Porsche also sees itself as an electric car pioneer and has already enjoyed sales success with its plug-in hybrid range. Its first all-electric sports car is imminent, signalling the firm’s intent to stay relevant for many years to come.

PORSCHE

TAYCAN

Training as a world-class sprinter is hard enough, but mastering the steeplechase adds a whole other dimension of difficulty. Rather than going hell for leather on a perfectly smooth track, the steeplechase runner ’s path is strewn with obstacles they have to leap over. Okay, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/taycan/estate/review/n22960">Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo</a> can’t actually jump, but having a 20mm taller ride height than other Taycans means it feels even more at home on the UK ’s lumpy, worn-out roads.

Our favourite 4S version is far from being the most powerful in the range, but with 483bhp on tap (rising to 563bhp for short periods), it still sprints from 0-62mph in a fleeting 4.1sec. More than that, its estate car shape makes it one of the most usable performance cars. Tall passengers will appreciate the extra rear head room over the regular <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/taycan/saloon/review/n20184">Porsche Taycan</a>, and the Cross Turismo ’s higher roofline and wider load aperture make it a more practical load lugger than its sibling when the rear seatbacks are folded down.

Best electric performance car: Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo

PANAMERA

A welcome side-effect of electrification (which massively reduces CO2 emissions) is that the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/panamera/hatchback/review/n17212">Porsche Panamera</a> 4 E-Hybrid steps on the toes of the much pricier (and thirstier) V8-powered GTS version when it comes to acceleration. Indeed, its 2.9-litre V6 and electric motor combine to produce a hefty 456bhp and a 0-62mph time of just 4.4sec – a mere 0.5sec behind the GTS.

And of course, being a PHEV, the E-Hybrid has the ability to run on electric power alone. Its 17.9kWh battery can officially take it 33 miles, which is farther than the 7.5 miles the rival <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/amg-gt/coupe/review/n17968">Mercedes-AMG GT 4-door</a> can manage. As a result, fuel consumption can be impressively low if you keep the battery topped up regularly.

Best hybrid performance car: Porsche Panamera 4 E-Hybrid

Hatchbacks, SUVs, hybrids, electric cars: Renault makes them all, in a variety of shapes and sizes, meaning&nbsp;it has a line-up designed to tempt pretty much everyone.

From the roadside, the standout feature of all its cars is design, with them instantly recognisable as members of the Renault family, without being so similar that they fall&nbsp;into the Russian doll trap. However, in terms of ability they're a mixed bag,&nbsp;ranging&nbsp;from very good to no better than average.

Models that fall into the former camp include the Clio small hatchback and Megane E-Tech electric car, while the smaller Zoe electric car is also impressive in most respects; it's just a pity Renault omits key safety kit.

On the other hand, the Captur, Arkana and Austral SUVs are all outclassed by several rivals.

Renault has some exciting new models planned, including a new Scenic (this time it will be an electric SUV instead of a conventionally powered MPV) and two cars that reimagine classic Renaults: the 4 and 5.

RENAULT

Amid a backdrop of rising costs and the planned 2030 ban on new petrol car sales, the reborn <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2023-renault-5-electric-car-what-we-know-so-far/n22546">Renault 5</a> could be the answer to many motorists’ prayers. It’s small and stylish, and when it goes on sale late next year, it’ll be one of the cheapest new electric vehicles (EVs) you can buy. It clearly resonates with What Car? readers, because in an online poll to find the upcoming EV they’re most excited about seeing in showrooms. It beat 11 other contenders , including the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2023-hyundai-ioniq-5-n-revealed/n25963">Hyundai Ioniq 5 N</a> performance car, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/mini-cooper/n23770">Mini Cooper</a> E hatchback and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2023-polestar-3-revealed/n25054">Polestar 3</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2024-volvo-ex30-revealed/n25837">Volvo EX30</a> SUVs.

The new 5 is powered by an electric motor producing 134bhp, paired with a 40kWh battery on entry-level cars and a 52kWh battery on pricier versions. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/renault">Renault</a> is targeting an official range of 249 miles with the larger battery, which compares favourably with what you get from other retro small EVs such as the Fiat 500 (199 miles) and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/honda-e/hatchback/review/n20882">Honda E</a> (137 miles). Even with its smaller battery, the 5 is expected to get close to 200 miles.

<hr />
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<h2><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/awards/electric-car-awards">Read more about the winning models, or&nbsp;see our used picks&nbsp;&gt;&gt;</a></h2>

Readers' Choice: Renault 5

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