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Going the distance: Longest-range electric vehicles to launch in the UK in 2024

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October 21, 2024

 


For many, range is the most important criterion when buying an electric car . And for good reason: waiting at a motorway service station for your car to charge can be frustrating, especially if you have a long journey ahead of you. It's even worse if you're on a tight schedule.

As a result, automakers are working hard to give their electric vehicles (EVs) the ability to travel long distances as comfortably as internal combustion engine models. Progress is being made through efficiency improvements and battery sizes, but there is still a long way to go before charging infrastructure everywhere is comparable to that of a gas station.

However, there are now many electric cars available for sale in the UK that can do more than 350 miles on a single charge. On this page you will find the top 10 according to the official WLTP values .

The best electric cars with the longest range at a glance

If you 're thinking about buying an electric car but are put off by the range, read on to see our list of the best long-range electric cars money can buy. Note that actual range will vary widely depending on driving conditions and climate, but all of these cars should allow you to cover plenty of miles in elegant silence.

The Top 10 Electric Cars with the Longest Range

BMW iX xDrive50

Great to drive, but not necessarily visually




Pro: Technically brilliant, surprisingly good to drive, opulent interior
Cons: We just can't get the Swarovski hippo line out of our heads

Range: 382 miles

BMW's design language has always been somewhat controversial - and many would say that nowhere is this more evident than with the iX SUV. The combination of narrow headlights and bold grille makes it look half ninja, half beaver - and it's hard to imagine that the same company designed the i8 just a few years earlier. But we digress.

You'll need the iX xDrive50 model if you want the longest range in the range. It costs just over £100,000 but can do up to 382 miles on a single charge. It also has all-wheel drive, 516bhp, 0-62mph acceleration in 4.6 seconds and is made partly from carbon fibre . It's undoubtedly one of the best electric SUVs on the market.

To find out more, read our full review of the BMW iX

BMW i7 xDrive 60

Limousine-like luxury experience with additional handling capabilities


Pros : Impressive engineering, luxurious interior, nimble handling.
Cons: Making the iX look good was no easy task, but...

Range: 387 miles

luxury electric car , then BMW's i7 is a top choice. It may cost more than £110,000, but it offers a superb blend of driving dynamics, absolute comfort and enjoyable technology - including the fabled cinema screen option for the rear seats.

If you opt for the BMW i7 xDrive60, you can travel up to 620 kilometers on a single battery charge. And while that may not look impressive compared to some rivals, the big BMW can also accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds thanks to its two all-wheel-drive electric motors and a combined system output of 536 hp. Not to mention that it's surprisingly agile.

To learn more, read our full review of the BMW i7

Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV 450 4Matic

Best for those who want an EQS but want to sit higher



Pros: Luxury, performance and advanced technology in a spacious package
Cons : Ride quality less refined than the competition, tasteless

Range: 401 miles

Looking for a premium seven-seat electric SUV ? Here's another reason to put the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV on your list. It's practically a competitor to the Range Rover—yes, an all-electric Range Rover is on the way—but it also competes with vehicles like the Tesla Model X and Volvo EX90. It's not cheap, and it's not particularly pleasant to drive, but you get a lot of tech for your money.

If you opt for the EQS in 450 4Matic AMG Line Premium Plus trim, you get a 355-hp, all-wheel-drive SUV that can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in six seconds. More importantly, after the latest round of updates, it can travel up to 645 km on a single charge - in theory. You also get standard features like heated and cooled front seats, heated second- and third-row seats, a range of advanced driver assistance features, Mercedes MBUX interior assistant and a Burmester surround sound system.

To learn more, read our full review of the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV

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Polestar 2 Long Range Single Engine

Probably the best interior on this list



Pros: Cool and cool design, nice interior, rear-wheel drive
Cons: Not particularly exciting, bumpy ride

Range: 408 miles

Oh, look! That's the new Ford Capri ! No, wait, it's the other one... Yes, if you buy a Polestar 2 now, you'll probably be hearing a lot about it in the coming months. But proof that the towering coupe-like sedan isn't just about looks is the Scandinavian-Chinese brand's increasingly impressive ranges. The Long Range single-motor variant of the Polestar 2 is now claimed to do 408 miles per charge.

And let's not forget how good the interior design of these things is. OK, in terms of dynamics it will never give the BMW i4 any trouble , and the ride is a bit finicky, but if you want to arrive discreetly and not stop too often during the journey, this is worth a serious look.

To find out more, read our full Polestar 2 review

Porsche Taycan with Performance Battery Plus

Best combination of comfort and performance



Pro: Great driving experience, high quality interior, more than fast enough
Cons: Large battery costs extra, not the most reliable model from Porsche

Range: 422 miles

This might be for the equipment nerds. Porsche updated the Taycan in 2024 with new engines, batteries and charging technology, giving it a significant range increase across the entire lineup. Almost every model has all-wheel drive and the biggest battery as standard, but there's still a basic entry-level rear-wheel drive Taycan with a smaller battery, small wheels - and a big dream.

This dream is meant to be your premium long-distance companion. You'll have to shell out nearly £5,000 more to really get the most out of it, though, as that's the price of upgrading to the larger Performance Battery Plus for this model. If you take the plunge, the official range rises from 367 miles to 422 miles, giving Porsche's leading electric vehicle a solid mid-place spot on this list. A supremely comfortable sports sedan that still offers 429bhp and 0-62mph acceleration in 4.8 seconds.

To find out more, read our full review of the Porsche Taycan

Mercedes-Benz EQE 350

Best for Mercedes fans who want a better-sorted car than the disappointing EQS



Pros: Mercedes' best electric sedan, high-tech feel, interesting interior
Cons: Strange moving brake pedal, BMW electric vehicles are better to drive

Range: 429 miles

Signs of how quickly the electric car market is evolving include: the EQE 350 managed to increase its official range by 82 kilometers, but still slips down the rankings of the top 10 electric cars with the longest range. However, if you don't need to cover the greatest possible distance, this is still the electric Mercedes we'd choose over all the others. It feels structurally stiffer, has a less overwhelming interior, and looks extraordinarily similar to the EQS on the road, too.

It's not the most exciting car to drive and the movable brake pedal is frankly confusing (it's designed to encourage you to just press one pedal instead). But it charges quickly and according to the latest official figures, the 288bhp EQE 350 can do up to 429 miles per charge. Mercedes also offers an AMG 53 4Matic+ model with a whopping 616bhp and 0-62mph acceleration in 3.5 seconds. But you're probably better off cruising along in one of those models.

To find out more, read our full review of the Mercedes-Benz EQE

Volkswagen ID.7 Pro S Match

Another reason to be impressed by VW's best electric car



Pros: Reasonably efficient, comfortable ride, spacious.
Cons: Old image problems, too quiet for its own good?

Range: 436 miles

ID.Buzz 's infamous software issues, 12V battery problems, overuse of touch sensitivity and disappointing lack of innovative functionality were all areas that the cynic and jaded might point to as failings. Yet the company has done everything it can to give in - and with the ID.7, it has finally delivered on all of its electric promises with a comfortable and dynamic electric sedan.

The ID.7's crowning glory is undoubtedly the impressive range Volkswagen has squeezed out of it. Granted, it's a hefty 91 kWh battery, but the Pro S variant in the attractive Match trim promises an incredible range of 436 miles per charge. And in a recent hypermiling publicity stunt, VW even exceeded that claim in real-world driving on public roads. An 80 percent charge in 26 minutes is also possible. And then there's the ID.7 Tourer estate, which is also worth considering. Mmm .

To find out more, read our full review of the VW ID.7

Tesla Model 3 with long range and rear-wheel drive

The best price-range ratio of any electric vehicle available in the UK


Pros: VERY efficient, spacious cabin, clever driver assistance technology
Cons: Concerns about build quality and customer service

Range: 436 miles

Tesla may have a somewhat dubious image these days—a combination of quality control issues, poor customer service, and a boss who thinks he's God's gift to Earth doesn't help—but it's very hard not to be impressed with what the company is accomplishing with its ever-improving Model 3. This is Tesla's smallest and cheapest model, but also clearly its best. It's already been updated for 2024, now there's an additional Model 3 Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive variant, and first deliveries are scheduled for November.

It doesn't take a genius to realise we haven't driven that version yet. But we will soon, and we've driven plenty of other Model 3s - including as part of a winter EV group test where the range's previous efficiency champion managed 4 miles per kilowatt hour in difficult conditions. An outstanding result. This new version, without the drag of an extra motor on the front axle, is said to manage 5 miles per kilowatt hour. At just £44,990 and a promised 436 miles per charge, that certainly puts Tesla's other claim that it has the best price-range ratio of any EV available in the UK into perspective.

To learn more, read our full Tesla Model 3 review

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Polestar 3 Long Range Single Engine

Best for those who want Volvo safety with more style and more performance



Pros: Impressive range, excellent performance and plenty of space
Cons: Small trunk, faster models are uncomfortable

Range: 438 miles

Polestar now offers the impressive 3 SUV in a single-motor configuration, resulting in a sensational increase in claimed range. Opt for this long-range variant and you'll be the proud owner of an electric vehicle with the second longest range of any vehicle available in the UK. But more than that, you'll get a great car that's not afraid to do things differently.

Avoid versions with the overly stiff Performance Pack and you can enjoy what we described as "unusually good" handling, along with the ability to deal with rough surfaces, all wrapped up in a stylish package with a truly superb interior. While 295bhp means it's quite a bit slower than other Polestar 3s - it takes 7.5 seconds to accelerate from 0-100km/h compared to just 4.5 seconds - it's also a fair bit cheaper. We say enjoy life at a more moderate pace and reap the range benefits here.

To find out more, read our full Polestar 3 review

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Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+

The longest-range electric vehicle on the British market



Pros: Huge range, spacious cabin, every tech enthusiast's dream
Cons: Not quite the electric S-Class it's supposed to be

Range: 481 miles

The Mercedes-Benz EQS is the electric equivalent of the fabled S-Class, and its target audience would therefore be less than impressed if they had to wait half a day at a run-down rest stop for the battery to recharge. Thankfully, the EQS has a very long wheelbase, and Mercedes has filled that space with a massive 108.4kWh battery. This battery gives the EQS 450+ variant a range of up to 481 miles on the WLTP test cycle, making it the longest-range electric vehicle you can easily buy in the UK.

It's no slouch either, managing 0-100km/h in 6.2 seconds despite a kerb weight of 2480kg. The problem is that the creaky, over-tech-crammed interior doesn't quite create the cyberpunk saloon vibe Mercedes was presumably going for. It's fine if you really need to go as far as possible per charge, but it wouldn't be our first choice on this consistently impressive list of long-range electric cars.

To learn more, read our full review of the Mercedes-Benz EQS sedan

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Are there other long-range electric cars to consider?

A few, yes. If you have money to spend and really want to drive as far as possible, start by calling Lucid and asking if you can import a Lucid Air (pictured below). We've driven a few now and they've always impressed us. In fact, there are now versions that get close to 550 miles per charge (WLTP). My goodness.


Another 400-mile range car to consider is the Tesla Model S. It's no longer available in right-hand drive, but it might be worth looking into. At the other end of the scale is the Renault Scenic E-Tech, which is comparable in price and can do up to 379 miles per charge (WLTP). We'd also recommend the updated Audi e-Tron GT , which offers huge performance, great comfort and a claimed 378 miles for the S version - albeit at a pretty hefty price.



How can I maximize the range of my electric vehicle?

A study by Kia UK and Motiv8, an independent automotive training organisation, published results in December 2022 showing that the way you drive can significantly affect the range of your electric car, no matter what model you drive. So even if you don't have one of the longest-range electric cars shown here , you can still squeeze a little more range out of it.

David Taylor, Director at Motiv8 International, said: "The results speak for themselves. By changing simple inputs, drivers can easily optimise their vehicle's efficiency and drive further on a charge, saving on charging costs and reducing their energy consumption."

As the cost of charging in public places, especially at fast chargers, is becoming increasingly higher, such methods are certainly of interest to anyone who wants to reduce the operating costs of their electric car.

"With an average home charge of around 3p/kWh and a public fast charger at around 7p/kWh, it's easy to see where savings can be made," said Taylor. "If you take the average improvement in the Kia study and extrapolate that to the UK average of 9,435 electric miles per year, an electric vehicle driver could save between £220 and £500 per year."

The study proposes the following techniques to maximize the range and utility of an electric car :

Accelerate carefully: The high-torque response of an electric vehicle may put a smile on your face, but this comes at the expense of range.

Take the load off yourself: Unused roof boxes rob you of your range. Don't forget to sort out unnecessary ballast.

Keep the momentum going: Careful route planning to avoid traffic jams will prevent the stop-and-stop driving caused by traffic jams. Planning ahead for the road ahead will also allow for optimal braking energy recovery opportunities.

Slow down: Reducing speed from 60 mph to 50 mph can increase efficiency by up to 15%.

Do you need a long range?

Whether drivers need a car that can travel hundreds of miles on a full battery is another question entirely. Many owners only need small electric cars to drive around their hometown, so a short-range electric car that can be easily charged at home, like the Honda E, is enough for them.

Which electric car has the longest range?

Many electric cars today offer a range of more than 300 miles - we think that's plenty for the vast majority of drivers. Even on a long journey, that equates to at least six hours of continuous driving. At this point, we'd say an enforced charging stop isn't necessarily a bad thing.



The longest-range model sold in the UK is the Mercedes-Benz EQS sedan , which can travel up to 481 miles on a single charge. The Lucid Air is said to have a range of more than 500 miles, but is not officially sold here.

Do electric cars lose range over time?

Yes - but don't worry about it. When electric vehicles first became mainstream, naysayers claimed that they would be worthless in just a few years because the original batteries would no longer be able to hold any charge at all. That proved false, and even some of the earliest Nissan Leafs - which are more than a decade old - still have at least 80% of their original battery capacity.

Of course, even a small loss of range can be a problem in a car that can only do about 100 miles anyway, but it's less of an issue in later models with longer ranges. And thanks to better thermal management, electric car batteries should last longer than ever before.

Every manufacturer offers a warranty on their electric car batteries against excessive capacity loss. Typically the warranty is 80% of capacity for eight years or 100,000 miles, but some are much more generous.

Even if your electric vehicle is out of warranty, there are workshops that train young people in battery reconditioning. This involves replacing individual cells rather than a whole pack. This should make the repair costs for used electric vehicles much more reasonable.

Will electric cars ever routinely offer a 500-mile range?

Next-generation electric cars are expected to offer even greater ranges; Mercedes, for example, has already unveiled the Vision EQXX concept car , which drove more than 1,000 km (621 miles) on a single charge in April 2022. Admittedly, it's still a technical showcase vehicle and not a proper production car, but it shows that range anxiety with electric cars will soon be a thing of the past.

 

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