Electric cars have evolved at an extraordinary pace over the past decade, and there's no better illustration of this progress than remembering that the original Nissan Leaf from 2011 could only cover 109 miles before running out of juice. That meant you couldn't drive it from London to Birmingham without desperately searching for a socket at least once. But nowadays, electric cars with the longest range can traverse entire countries and still have battery charge to spare.
Most people don't need a car with a 400 or even 300 mile range if they have a short commute or can charge at home whenever they need to, but there's no denying that range anxiety will be a factor for some potential EV buyers. Having a long range means drivers can make long trips without needing to stop, while for others it simply means they don't have to remember to charge their car as regularly.
A long range can also be a benefit of having one of the latest electric vehicles in the form of high specifications, with a large battery, but I would always advise buyers to carefully consider how much range they actually need rather than simply opting for as much as they can afford. In general, a large range means a large battery which increases the weight of the car and the price. If you can live quite comfortably with a cheaper electric car which has a lower range, you could save money and actually gain some efficiency due to the lower weight of a smaller electric car model.
To help you understand just how much range you can get in modern electric vehicles, I've compiled a list of the longest ranges offered by electric cars currently on sale in the UK. The figures presented below are all derived from the official WLTP efficiency test, which is designed to be more representative of the ranges drivers will achieve in the real world than the old NEDC test. Read on to find out more about the top 10 electric cars with the longest range.
Mercedes EQE
The smaller sibling of Mercedes' flagship EQS limousine, the EQE is an executive saloon that's essentially the fully electric equivalent of the brand's E-Class. It uses the same EVA2 platform as the larger EQS, and its looks are equally uninspiring, but the EQE is very aerodynamic and can house a large 90 kWh battery, enabling a range of 376 miles.
If there's one thing the EQE gets right, it's ride comfort no matter what speed you're doing, and refinement is also excellent. However, the EQE does tend to float on its suspension just a little more than seems natural at higher speeds, and its high driving position and 2.3-tonne kerb weight make it feel more like an SUV to drive.
Renault Scenic E-Tech
The Renault Scenic started life as a people carrier in the late '90s and '00s, but has recently been reborn as a fully electric SUV-cum-MPV to take on family-friendly performance electric vehicles such as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Tesla Model Y.
Every Renault Scenic E-Tech sold in the UK is powered by a fairly large 87 kWh battery, which enables an official range of up to 379 miles. For context, that's around 40 miles further than any variant of the Tesla Model Y can cover on a single charge and over 60 miles further than the longest range offered by the Hyundai Ioniq 5. The Scenic is also less expensive than its two chief rivals, starting from just under £41,000 compared to just under £43,500 for the most basic Ioniq 5 and nearly £45,000 for an entry-level Model Y.
And yet, no Scenic is lacking in kit, even the standard Techno trim models that have 19-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels, LED headlights and taillights, heated and cooled seats and steering wheel, ambient lighting, a 12.3-inch digital driver display, and a 12-inch central touchscreen. Apps like Google Maps are also built-in, along with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity for smartphones and numerous driver assistance and safety systems such as adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring.
Polestar 3
Polestar's first SUV is only its third model overall, but if the Polestar 2 is anything to go by, the 3 should be a concern for its more established rivals. The Polestar 3 aims for the premium end of the electric SUV market, with rivals such as the Audi Q8 e-tron and BMW iX in its sights. Sharing a platform with the seven-seat Volvo EX90, the model 3 is equipped with an especially large 107 kWh battery. Polestar claims this unit is good for a range of up to 379 miles, while the 250 kW rapid charging capability means a 10-80% charge time of just 30 minutes.
Inside, the Polestar 3 is equipped with a generous amount of luxury comfort. These include a panoramic glass roof, ambient lighting, a 360-degree parking camera, soft-close doors, cabin air filtering, heated rear seats, a Bowers & Wilkins 25-speaker stereo system, and the latest Android Automotive infotainment system. Prices currently start from less than £80,000, with the first examples expected to arrive by mid-2024.
BMW iX
The iX is BMW's flagship electric SUV and boasts a range of up to 382 miles. Of course, the iX's style is somewhat divisive, but there's no arguing when it comes to its pure capability. Every iX has a dual-motor setup for all-wheel drive, while the cabin interior is packed with touch materials, and a high level of quality is evident throughout.
Two curved 14.5-inch screens feature the latest iDrive system from BMW, which is one of the slickest infotainment systems on the market, and few rivals come close to the refinement level
