Best electric cars 2023 – The world is changing, and gradually petrol and diesel cars are being pushed out by electric vehicles. Sales of electric cars have now overtaken diesel cars and they now make up around one in seven new vehicles registered in Britain. That’s impressive growth.
Why are more people opting to plug in? Well, there are more EVs on the market in 2023 than ever before – every day seems to bring news of the latest fresh model launch. Their prices are gradually falling: some of the cheapest and best value electric cars represent the potential for serious cost savings. There are models of all shapes and sizes, from electric SUVs to sports cars and you can now get electric estates, too.
Motorists’ nervousness about making the switch is slowly receding, with the longest-range electric cars helping to eliminate range anxiety and question marks over battery lifespan or electric car charging times are slowly being resolved as the technology improves.
Read on for our guide to the best electric cars and EVs of 2023 to help people thinking of going electric. Not everyone will be ready to plug in, but CAR magazine’s journalists have tested every electrified car on sale today and have unbiased, helpful advice in this article to help you make a better decision.
Best electric cars 2023
Fiat 500 Electric
Don’t think that Fiat simply rammed a load of batteries up the backside of the ageing 500 – the latest 500 Electric is a brand new car from the ground up. It’s marginally larger than the combustion-engined 500 that still lumbers on in Hybrid guise 15 years after launch, although the rear seats are still cramped and the boot rather small. Still, that’s the price you pay for the compact dimensions. Two battery sizes are offered with 115 miles of WLTP range in the smaller-celled Action and 199 miles in the bigger-batteried version. Crucially, it’s far better to drive than the 500 Hybrid with decent handling and punchy performance. It also looks ace and has a reasonable price (for an EV). It’s also our sister site Parkers’ Best Small Electric Car for 2023.
BMW iX
Whatever you think of that large-nostrilled nose, or that rear overhang, you aren’t going to mistake the BMW iX for any other car. That’s good news for Munich, because BMW has put some serious engineering effort into its new electric SUV. It’s full of tech and performance, from the Integrated Brake system that manages slowing the car via the motors and/or friction – to the 0-62mph time of the XDrivce50 model and its tested 305-mile range. Above everything else, BMW’s new iX is incredibly intriguing. It’s such a dramatic step in its design inside and out for BMW (even by its own recent radical standards) and yet still has plenty of the brand’s DNA sewn into it. An expensive, but spacious https://daihatsujakbar.com/ and premium SUV.
Mercedes EQS
As you’d expect from the name, the Mercedes EQS is the electric equivalent of the S-Class. Unlike some EQ-badged cars (think EQA, EQB, EQC and EQV) that share a platform with their internal combustion equivalent, the EQS has a bespoke electric architecture to best package a giant battery for a near 500-mile range and to maximise interior space. Performance and range impress, as does the seriously comfortable ride. This giant hatchback has plenty of room for people and doubles up as a surprisingly effective load lugger, too. Just be careful of all the flashy trims, digital displays and supple leather that make this a seriously opulent tech-fest of an interior
Polestar 2
The Polestar 2 is a cracking addition to the shopping list for mid-sized EV buyers. Hailing from Sweden’s Volvo, Polestar is a relatively new start-up that carries across the Scandi chic design values and quality from its sister brand, but wrapped up in a more progressive, modern vibe. This car ushers in Google’s first Android OS so there are very few buttons (sound familiar, Tesla?) and everything is operated from a touchscreen or by the Hey Google voice assistant. Sensible front-wheel drive models get a choice of two battery sizes with the potent twin-motor coming with the higher-capacity pack only. It’s good to drive with the optional Performance pack, too, looks slick and is very well built. We’ve spent half a year in the Polestar 2 and found we could reliably get a 200-mile trip from the Long Range models without having to recharge.
