Hatchback

A former motorsport team and independent tuning company, Abarth is now owned by Fiat and responsible for the firm’s sportiest cars.

In recent years, Fiat has even tried to establish Abarth as a standalone brand – in the same way that Citroën has split off its DS luxury division. However, the major difference is that DS cars look completely different from the Citroëns on which they’re based, whereas Abarths rely on bodykits and big wheels to mark them out.

The Abarth 595, for example, is a beefed-up Fiat 500 hatchback, while the Abarth 124 Spider is a hotter version of its Fiat namesake.

ABARTH

Say hello to the Abarth 500e&nbsp;– the most significant hot hatchback since the Simca 1100 TI&nbsp;kick-started the genre back in 1973.

A bold claim, perhaps. But the Abarth 500e is arguably the first hot hatch powered by electrons rather than petrol or diesel, and it's out to prove a point. Chiefly, that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric cars</a> can be just as fun as their petrol-powered counterparts.

To help with that, it's available in both hatchback and&nbsp;convertible&nbsp;forms, and benefits from a more powerful motor than the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/fiat/500/hatchback/review/n84">Electric Fiat 500</a>&nbsp;(which it's based on). That gets it from&nbsp;0-62mph more quickly&nbsp;than the petrol-powered <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/abarth/595/hatchback/review/n17259">Abarth 595</a>.

Straight-line pace is only one element, though – handling is of just as much importance. In that department, the 500e benefits from bespoke suspension, wider wheels and tyres, and specially developed rear brake discs.

Rivals? Well, the Abarth 500e and 500e Convertible don't&nbsp;have many, but you might also be considering the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/cupra/born/hatchback/review/n23703">Cupra Born</a>, the MG4 EV XPower or the Brabus version of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/smart/1/estate/review/n25016">Smart #1</a>. Read on to find out whether they're good enough to compete with the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/hot-hatches/n17005">best hot hatches</a>...

The Abarth 500e is entertaining, but can't match the sharpness of truly great hot hatches

Abarth 500e

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Sufficient range between charges to fit in with most people’s lifestyles – and in the real world, not on some far-fetched official test </li> <li>Quick charging times and compatibility with the most ubiquitous types of public charging points </li> <li>Priced to be within the grasp of more than just the privileged few </li> <li>As with any car, ride comfort, practicality and ownership costs can’t be ignored</li></ul>

We define an electric car as one that runs purely on battery power and has no tailpipe to puff out nasty chemicals.

The best of the breed offer sufficient range between charges to fit in with most people’s lifestyles – and in the real world, not on some far-fetched official test cycle.

Electric

What exactly is the Audi E-tron GT? If you’re thinking of Googling ‘E-tron’ to find out, we did that. Apparently it means “enjoyment while driving and unlimited suitability”.&nbsp;

Unlimited suitability? That implies that the E-tron GT can do anything, like the Messiah. We’ve driven it and, without giving the game away, it’s good. Very good. But Jesus? Nah, it’s not quite the second coming.

We can tell you it's an electric car, but then&nbsp;there’s a veritable onslaught of new <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-electric-cars-2022/n17000">electric cars</a>&nbsp;right now. They're being fired into the market faster than electrons out of a Tesla Supercharger.

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It’s harder than ever to keep up to speed, so if you’re feeling like a GCSE physics student who’s wandered haplessly into a lecture on Stephen Hawking’s space-time theory, you’ve come to the right place. We'll help&nbsp;you make sense of this brave new world.

The E-tron GT also qualifies as a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-performance-cars-2022/n23035">performance car</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/audi">Audi</a>&nbsp;builds two versions. The extremely fast one is called the E-tron GT, while the warp-speed version is called the RS e-tron GT.

Both are mean-looking and, more objectively, they’re low and wide, because they’ve been designed to handle brilliantly. They also have a boot (two boots, actually)&nbsp;and rear seats that are suitable for adults. In other words, they’re usable transport, not just toys.

Oh, and in case you need a bit more convincing that the Audi E-tron GT is a serious bit of kit, underneath it’s basically a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/taycan/saloon/review/n20184">Porsche Taycan</a>, which is our current favourite performance car&nbsp;and one of its chief rivals. The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-s/hatchback/review/n150">Tesla Model S</a> is&nbsp;another.

Read on through this review to find out how we rate the E-tron GT in terms of performance, interior quality, passenger space, running costs and more. We'll let you know how it compares with those rivals and others, and which version we reckon is the pick of the range.

We might even be able to save you a few thousands pounds&nbsp;next time you buy a&nbsp;new car of any make and model. Simply search our free <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">What Car? New Car Buying service</a> to find some of the best prices currently available. It's a great place to discover&nbsp;the most&nbsp;tempting <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/category/large-electric">new electric car deals</a>.

Saloon

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 have all won their classes at the What Car? Car of the Year Awards in recent years, while the TT coupé is the most decorated car in the history of the ceremony.

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

E-TRON GT

A fast,&nbsp;comfortable electric car with awesome handling and lots of luxury

Audi E-tron GT

Put simply, the Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron&nbsp;gives you less for more. Despite having a higher price than the regular Q4&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-suvs/n23038">electric SUV</a>&nbsp;its body is&nbsp;lower, and therefore not as spacious inside.

That might sound&nbsp;like a bum deal, but the sleeker roof means the Q4 Sportback uses less electricity to punch&nbsp;itself through the air, increasing the range by a not inconsiderable amount. In other words, this is one of&nbsp;the few coupé SUVs you can find a sensible – rather than simply aesthetic – reason to buy.

As with the standard&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q4/estate/review/n23194">Audi Q4 e-tron</a>&nbsp;you’ll find the same guts as a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/enyaq/estate/review/n22909">Skoda Enyaq</a>&nbsp;and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/id4/estate/review/n22789">VW ID 4</a> under the slinky skin. That means you get a choice of two battery packs, one with a range of around 200 miles, the other with around 300. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/audi">Audi</a>&nbsp;offers three power outputs to pick from, ranging from rather tame to hot hatch-baitingly rapid.

As we said, it's pricier than the&nbsp;Q4, but the Q4 Sportback still looks like good value compared with other premium-badged electric SUVs. They include the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/ix3/4x4/review/n22236">BMW iX3</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/eqa/hatchback/review/n22732">Mercedes EQA</a> and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volvo/c40/estate/review/n23649">Volvo C40 Recharge</a>. If you can do without a posh badge, we’d also consider the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/niro/estate/review/n24582">Kia Niro EV</a>, the Enyaq and the ID 4.

Over the next few pages, this review will tell you all about the Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron’s abilities in detail, including what the performance is like, how far it’ll go on a charge and how it stacks up for cornering and comfort.

Of course, we’ll also have a good poke around inside, telling you how luxurious it is and how much room there is. We’ll even tell you all about the costs, equipment and how it compares with those rivals.

If at the end you decide the Q4 Sportback&nbsp;or any other make and model of vehicle is right for you, make sure you check out our free&nbsp;What Car?&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">New Car Deals&nbsp;service</a>. It could save you thousands of pounds without the hassle of haggling and features lots of the best <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/category/electric-suv">new electric SUV deals</a>.

A great choice amongst electric SUVs, but a regular Q4 e-tron makes even more sense

Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron

Actor Rob Lowe once complained that his career had suffered due to “bias against good-looking people” – a claim that probably has you reaching for the world’s smallest violin.&nbsp;Still, he might have had a point, because it's easy to assume (wrongly) that style always comes at the expense of substance. With&nbsp;a car like the&nbsp;Audi Q8 Sportback e-tron, for example.

You see, this&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-suvs/n23038">electric SUV</a> is essentially a more style-orientated&nbsp;version of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q8/4x4/review/n18397">Audi Q8 e-tron</a>&nbsp;–&nbsp;swapping that model’s squared-off rear end for a coupé-like silhouette. But while that does have an impact on practicality, it also improves the aerodynamics, and with it the range between charges.

The other thing to note&nbsp;about the looks is that they might seem familiar. And, if so, there’s a good reason for that:&nbsp;the Q8 Sportback e-tron was previously sold simply as the E-tron Sportback. It’s been rebranded as part of a facelift that also saw the exterior detailing and suspension tweaked, the power increased and – most significantly of all – the batteries&nbsp;upgraded.

Three power outputs are available: the entry-level 50 quattro model produces 335bhp, the mid-range 55 quattro boosts that to 402bhp, and the flagship SQ8 packs 496bhp. What’s more, there are four trims on offer: Sport, S line, Black Edition and Vorsprung.

In this review, we’ll look at each of them. Plus, we’ll see how the Audi Q8 Sportback e-tron compares with the similarly slinky&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/jaguar/i-pace/estate/review/n122">Jaguar I-Pace</a>&nbsp;and boxier rivals such as the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/ix/4x4/review/n23569">BMW iX</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/eqc/4x4/review/n19377">Mercedes EQC</a>.

If&nbsp;at the end&nbsp;you decide any of these cars is right for you, don’t forget to check out the prices available through our free <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">New Car Deals service</a>. There's no haggling involved, and it can help you secure a great <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/category/electric-suv">new electric SUV discount</a>.

Offers an&nbsp;even longer range than the regular Q8 e-tron, plus it's one of the quietest and most comfortable electric cars you can buy, and is beautifully finished

Audi Q8 Sportback e-tron

The Audi Q8 e-tron has a new name, a punchier look and – most importantly for most buyers – a much longer electric range. There are also many more <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric car</a>&nbsp;models to consider than&nbsp;when it was launched as the Audi e-tron.

When the e-tron first went on sale, it was the only fully electric model&nbsp;in the Audi line-up, but over time the brand launched&nbsp;more <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-suvs/n23038">electric SUVs</a>&nbsp;and the potential for confusion increased. So&nbsp;the Q8 bit was added to show that it’s a bigger car than the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q4/estate/review/n23194">Audi Q4 e-tron</a>&nbsp;and comparable in size with the (non-electric)&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q8/4x4/review/n17559">Audi Q8</a>&nbsp;coupé SUV.

As part of the Q8 e-tron's facelift and rebranding,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/audi">Audi</a>&nbsp;has given the car more aggressive styling&nbsp;and&nbsp;more power. Other notable details include charging ports on both sides of the car so you never have to drag cables over it, and air suspension that automatically adjusts the ride height to help this big SUV&nbsp;slip through the air as efficiently as possible.

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Three power outputs are available: the entry-level 50 quattro model produces 335bhp, the mid-range 55 quattro increases that to 402bhp, and the flagship SQ8 e-tron has 496bhp. There are four trim levels: Sport, S line, Black Edition and Vorsprung.

In this review, we’ll look at what you get with each version. Plus, we’ll see how the Audi Q8 e-tron compares with key rivals in terms of performance, practicality and more. They include the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/ix/4x4/review/n23569">BMW iX</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/jaguar/i-pace/estate/review/n122">Jaguar I-Pace</a> and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/eqc/4x4/review/n19377">Mercedes EQC</a>.

There's also a&nbsp;sleeker, coupé-like version, which has been renamed and updated&nbsp;too – if you like the sound of that, have a look at our&nbsp;review of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q8/4x4/review/n21908">Audi Q8 Sportback e-tron</a>.

Finally, once you've decided which car&nbsp;is&nbsp;right for you, you can make sure you don’t pay more than you need to by checking out the best prices available through our free <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">New Car Deals service</a>. It lists lots of great <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/category/electric-suv">new electric SUV deals</a>.

One of the quietest and most comfortable electric cars you can buy, plus it’s beautifully finished and more practical than a lot of rivals

Audi Q8 e-tron

If you're thinking about getting an <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric car</a> but don’t want to shout it from the rooftops, the&nbsp;BMW i4 could be the model&nbsp;for you – if you have fairly deep pockets, that is.

While BMW’s first modern electric car –&nbsp;the outlandish-looking&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/i3/hatchback/review/n14">BMW i3</a>&nbsp;–&nbsp;was designed from the ground up to run on electricity, the i4 looks like what it&nbsp;essentially is: an electric version of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/4-series/hatchback/review/n17260">BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé</a>.

As far as we’re concerned, that close relationship is&nbsp;a very good thing indeed. The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/4-series/coupe/review/n62">BMW 4 Series</a> and the car it's based on, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/3-series/saloon/review/n91">BMW 3 Series</a> saloon, sit at the top of their respective classes.

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We’ve even gone so far to call the 3 Series "one of the most desirable cars on sale today", so surely this more powerful, sleeker looking electric car version will have rivals such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/ioniq-6/saloon/review/n25431">Hyundai Ioniq 6</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/polestar/2/hatchback/review/n21641">Polestar 2</a> and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-3/saloon/review/n19010">Tesla Model 3</a> running for the proverbial hills.&nbsp;Well that’s the idea.

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/bmw">BMW</a>&nbsp;gives you a choice of two versions. The entry-level&nbsp;eDrive40 has rear-wheel drive and one electric motor, while the range-topping M50 has two motors and four-wheel drive.&nbsp;

Producing a whopping 536bhp, the M50 is squarely pitched against&nbsp;the Model 3 Performance and Polestar 2 Long Range Dual Motor. The cheaper&nbsp;eDrive40 competes with&nbsp;everything from small premium SUVs such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q4/estate/review/n23194">Audi Q4 e-tron</a> and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/eqa/hatchback/review/n22732">Mercedes EQA</a>&nbsp;through to the award-winning Tesla Model 3 Long Range.&nbsp;

Both BMW i4 models use a sizeable 83.9kWh lithium-ion battery pack that BMW has somehow managed to shoehorn under the floor. Not that you can tell it’s packing such impressive electric tech from the outside – aside from a solid plastic grille, aerodynamic alloy wheels and a smattering of blue highlights, there isn’t much to mark out the i4 as an EV.

The M50 version is distinguished by performance-inspired design cues similar to BMW’s ICE performance cars, including&nbsp;extra air intakes for the brakes, a subtle rear spoiler and what BMW calls ‘exhaust tailpipes’.&nbsp;

​​Stay with us over the next few pages of this review and we’ll delve even deeper into the details of the i4, helping you decide whether you should consider buying one.

We'll cover the BMW i4's&nbsp;performance, interior quality, electric range, runnings and more. We'll also let you know how it compares with its&nbsp;rival cars in the large electric category.

When you've decided which make and model of car you're going to buy, you could put one on your driveway for thousands of pounds less by checking the best prices on our&nbsp;free What Car? <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">New Car Deals pages</a>.&nbsp;They list lots of the best&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/category/electric">new electric car deals</a>.

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 i8 plug-in hybrid sports car, which costs more than £100,000.

BMW was also quick to capitalise on the rise of the SUV and now has six in its range: the X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 and X6.

All of this makes it one of the big three German prestige brands, along with Audi and Mercedes-Benz.

Covers ground at an impressive pace and has a supple ride, great practicality and high interior quality

BMW i4

While many people dream of being driven around in a luxury limo, few of us will ever be able to afford either the car or a chauffeur. The BMW i5&nbsp;might be the answer:&nbsp;it promises&nbsp;first-class comfort at a more attainable business-class price.

You see, the i5 is&nbsp;the all-electric version of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/5-series/saloon/review/n63">BMW 5 Series</a>&nbsp;executive saloon. Indeed, the two look almost identical – the i5 wears a few "i" badges and has blanked-off front vents that help boost aerodynamics, but that’s about it.

The line-up is simple, with a standard eDrive40 model and a sportier M60 xDrive to choose from. Whichever i5 you go for, you get&nbsp;an 81.2kWh (usable capacity) battery that should be good for around 250-300 miles in real-world driving.

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So, what else might you be considering if you want an electric luxury car? Well, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/eqe/saloon/review/n25101">Mercedes EQE</a>&nbsp;is the i5's main rival, but if you can&nbsp;spend a bit more, you could also look at the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/taycan/saloon/review/n20184">Porsche Taycan</a>&nbsp;–&nbsp;a sporty&nbsp;take on the electric saloon.

Read on to find out how the BMW i5 stacks up against the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">best electric cars</a>...

The i5 luxury electric car is great to drive with&nbsp;a class-leading infotainment system

BMW i5

The BMW i7 is an electric <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/luxury-cars/n17020">luxury car</a> designed to take people from one place to another in great comfort – but&nbsp;for anyone sitting in the back, it’s more like a mobile cinema.

We’re not just talking about a couple of small entertainment screens shoehorned into the backs of the front headrests. In the i7, rear passengers are treated to an enormous 31in 8K touchscreen – called the Theatre Screen – that lowers itself from the headlining at the touch of a button.

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/bmw">BMW</a> sells the Theatre Screen as an&nbsp;individual option, or as part of the Executive Pack, which also adds two supremely comfortable rear ‘lounge’ seats that can treat you to a massage. If you add the Technology Plus Pack, you get a 40-speaker Bowers &amp; Wilkins surround-sound system with shakers in the seatbacks for the full cinematic experience.

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If you’re wondering why we’re focusing on the environment for rear passengers, well it’s because the&nbsp;i7 is –&nbsp;like the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/7-series/saloon/review/n127">BMW 7 Series</a>&nbsp;–&nbsp;designed primarily as a chauffeur vehicle. That's not&nbsp;to say the driver is crammed in. They're&nbsp;treated to a brilliant driving position, stunning interior quality and some of the latest <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/whats-it-like-to-drive-an-autonomous-car/n20108">semi-autonomous driving</a> tech.

The trouble is, the BMW i7 competes against some deeply impressive luxury limos, with direct rivals including the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/eqs/saloon/review/n24120">Mercedes EQS</a> and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-s/hatchback/review/n150">Tesla Model S</a>. Or, if you go beyond <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric car</a> models,&nbsp;the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a8/saloon/review/n17302">Audi A8</a> and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/s-class/saloon/review/n17355">Mercedes S-Class</a>.

In this review&nbsp;we’ll tell you how we rate it, plus which trim level and options we recommend. Once you've decided which model is right for you, make sure you get it for the best&nbsp;price by using our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">New Car Buying service</a>.

Electric luxury car&nbsp;is packed with tech and a lovely thing to travel in, either as the driver or a passenger

BMW i7

The BMW iX&nbsp;is unquestionably the most radical and technologically advanced BMW <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric car</a> since the i3 was revealed 10 years ago.

The i3&nbsp;–&nbsp;with its lightweight carbon-fibre construction and fancy rear-hinged back doors – showed that electric cars were more than just white goods, they could be lusted after too. It was ahead of its time, but not the big sales hit many expected. In fact, it was possibly too far ahead of its time.

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/bmw">BMW</a>&nbsp;picked a better moment to launch the iX. It's now&nbsp;generally accepted that electric vehicles (EVs) are the future, and car buyers are generally becoming more and more accepting of them.

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The iX has been constructed using a&nbsp;generous dose of aluminium, high-strength steel and plastic&nbsp;reinforced with carbon-fibre (as was the smaller <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/i3/hatchback/used-review/n874">BMW i3</a>). Power comes from a 74kWh battery in the ‘entry-level’ iX xDrive 40 or a huge 108kWh one in the xDrive50 and range-topping M60. All versions have four-wheel drive, with an electric motor on each axle.

As well as using clever materials, BMW says the&nbsp;iX offers a new level of connectivity, which includes 5G and cloud technology. A future software update will allow the car to&nbsp;steer, accelerate and brake for itself in certain situations (you'll need to keep your hands on the wheel, though).&nbsp;

The BMW iX doesn't have the luxury <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-suvs/n23038">electric SUV</a> market all to itself, of course. Its main rivals are the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q8/4x4/review/n18397">Audi Q8 e-tron</a> and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/jaguar/i-pace/estate/review/n122">Jaguar I-Pace</a>&nbsp;but it will also appeal to buyers looking to move away from fossil-fuelled <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/luxury-suvs/n17036">luxury SUVs</a>&nbsp;such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q7/4x4/review/n87">Audi Q7</a>, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/g-class/4x4/review/n180">Mercedes G-Class</a> and the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/range-rover/4x4/review/n17353">Range Rover</a>.

We've driven all those models, and over the next few pages of this review, we’ll let you know how the iX compares with its rivals. We'll also rate it for performance and driving manners, interior quality, running costs and more.

When you've finished reading, remember&nbsp;that we could help you save thousands of pounds on your next new car if you use our free What Car?&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">New Car Buying pages</a>. They list&nbsp;lots of the best <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/category/electric">new electric car deals</a>.

This large and luxurious&nbsp;electric SUV combines breathtaking pace with super-hushed cruising manners

BMW iX

The BMW iX1 is a fully <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-suvs/n23038">electric SUV</a> that follows a pattern familiar from other models in the German car maker's range.

It’s based on the petrol-powered <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x1/estate/review/n25006">BMW X1</a>, uses the&nbsp;same underpinnings and has&nbsp;a very similar look. Indeed, the&nbsp;subtle electric makeover means that at first glance the only differences appear to be the iX1's closed-off grille and some blue trim highlights.

The relationship between the two models is like that of the electric <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/ix3/4x4/review/n22236">BMW iX3</a> and the fossil fuel powered <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x3/4x4/review/n42">BMW X3</a>,&nbsp;as well as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/i4/hatchback/review/n23575">BMW i4</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/4-series/hatchback/review/n17260">BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé</a>. And as you'll know from our reviews of those models,&nbsp;BMW’s latest electric offerings are often nothing short of brilliant. So, does the BMW iX1 continue that impressive&nbsp;run of five-star cars?

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Well, it's certainly powerful: two hefty electric motors work together to not only give it the traction benefits of four-wheel drive, but also produce a total of 309bhp –&nbsp;more than the pricier iX3. The iX1 can manage a reasonable distance&nbsp;between charges, too: the official&nbsp;range is up to 270&nbsp;miles thanks to a 64.7kWh (usable&nbsp;capacity) battery pack.

The iX1 is up against some strong competition, though,&nbsp;with rivals including the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q4/estate/review/n23194">Audi Q4 e-tron</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/genesis/gv60/estate/review/n24373">Genesis GV60</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/ev6/estate/review/n23462">Kia EV6</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-y/hatchback/review/n23624">Tesla Model Y</a> and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volvo/xc40/estate/review/n22063">Volvo XC40 Recharge</a>. Many of those rivals can go even further on a charge, and some of them can charge up faster&nbsp;too – so does the iX1 impress enough in other areas to make up for that?

That's what we'll tell you over the next few pages of this review, as we rate the BMW iX1 in all the areas likely to matter to electric SUV buyers.

And remember, whichever new car model you decide to buy next, make sure you pay a fair&nbsp;price for it by using our free What Car?&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">New Car Deals pages</a>. You'll find lots of great&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/category/electric-suv">new electric SUV deals</a>.

Estate

Electric SUV offers strong performance but ride comfort disappoints

BMW iX1

It's been suggested that the human attention span is in decline, and if that's true we reckon&nbsp;the BMW iX2 could be helpful in&nbsp;reversing&nbsp;the trend.

We’re referring, of course, to the iX2's attention-grabbing&nbsp;styling. With its chunky SUV body, sleek coupé-like roof and a front grille&nbsp;that resembles big flared nostrils, it has looks that should make people stop&nbsp;to inspect the details.

Whether they’ll like it or not is another matter, but it’ll get owners&nbsp;noticed more than if they were in the closely related –&nbsp;but rather boxier –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/ix1/estate/review/n25005">BMW iX1</a>.&nbsp;

With only one battery size and trim level, the&nbsp;only thing you need to decide is how powerful you want your iX2 to be. (If&nbsp;you're not ready for an <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric car</a>&nbsp;yet, you'll want the petrol version – for that see our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x2/hatchback/review/n121">BMW X2 review</a>.)

Read on to find out how well the BMW iX2 stacks up against the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-suvs/n23038">best electric SUVs</a> with sleek&nbsp;styling,&nbsp;including&nbsp;the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q4/hatchback/review/n23205">Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron</a>, Skoda Enyaq Coupé and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volvo/c40/estate/review/n23649">Volvo C40</a>.

The iX2 electric SUV offers decent family practicality and strong performance

BMW iX2

The BMW iX3&nbsp;electric SUV marked a change of direction for the German brand – at least when it came&nbsp;to building cars that run on batteries.

What do we mean by that? Well, when the iX3 first showed up, BMW’s only previous EV (electric vehicle) was the much smaller i3 hatchback, which was built from the ground up to run on electricity.

The i3 had oddball looks, a lightweight carbon-fibre construction and fancy rear-hinged back doors. At the time it seemed like the future had come early – in fact, too early for most car buyers, as EVs didn’t catch on as quickly as many had anticipated.

Now, of course, it's looking pretty likely that electric motoring isn't just an appealing alternative to petrol and diesel cars, but is also likely to replace it altogether at some point (for most of us, anyway).

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What <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/bmw">BMW</a> also discovered from the i3 was that not all buyers&nbsp;want their EV to look different to a 'regular' car. So the iX3, as you might well have guessed already, is&nbsp;essentially an electric version of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x3/4x4/review/n42">BMW X3</a>.

It has no complex carbon-fibre construction or unconventional styling. In fact, the only things that mark it out visually from petrol and diesel versions are the&nbsp;solid plastic grille, aerodynamic alloy wheels and a smattering of blue highlights.

Perhaps more pertinently if you're thinking of buying one, the BMW iX3 has a long range, the ability to charge up quickly and, despite its premium credentials, a relatively tempting price tag.

How does the iX3 compare with some of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-electric-suvs-2022/n23038">best electric SUVs</a> available&nbsp;– notably&nbsp;the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/e-tron/estate/review/n18397">Audi E-tron</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/jaguar/i-pace/estate/review/n122">Jaguar I-Pace</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/eqc/4x4/review/n19377">Mercedes EQC</a>? And is it a better buy than lower-riding alternatives, such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-3/saloon/review/n19010">Tesla Model 3</a>? This review will tell you everything you need to know.

When you’ve decided which make and model you do want to buy, make sure you find the best price available by using our free <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">What Car? New Car Buying Service</a>. It could save you thousands of pounds, and features plenty of <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/category/electric">new electric car&nbsp;deals</a>.

The top-of-the-range M Sport Pro trim takes the long list of goodies from the entry-level trim and adds 20in alloy wheels, high-beam assist, adjustable lumbar support, a head-up display, an upgraded Harman Kardon surround-sound audio system and the Hans Zimmer designed IconicSounds acceleration effects. 

M Sport Pro

Practical, good to drive and has a longer range than its closest rivals

BMW iX3

The BYD Atto 3 is from a brand you might not be familiar with, but that worldwide sells more electric cars than anyone else.

In fact, last year BYD sold&nbsp;a colossal 1.57 million <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric cars</a> – more than Hyundai, Volkswagen and, at times, even Tesla. So,&nbsp;how come BYD isn't that well known yet?&nbsp;

Well, it is in its home market of China, and if you've ever been to London you might have&nbsp;unwittingly travelled in one because BYD builds the capital's&nbsp;fleet of electric&nbsp;buses. However, the Atto 3 was the first car BYD&nbsp;offered for sale in the UK, arriving before the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/byd/dolphin/hatchback/review/n25891">BYD Dolphin</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/byd/seal/saloon/review/n26074">BYD Seal</a>.

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The Atto 3 is&nbsp;an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-suvs/n23038">electric SUV</a> that's about the same size as a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/qashqai/hatchback/review/n7">Nissan Qashqai</a>. It's not as budget-focused as the slightly smaller <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/zs/hatchback/review/n20171">MG ZS EV</a>&nbsp;but costs about the same&nbsp;as some other electric alternatives, including the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/kona/hatchback/review/n18164">Hyundai Kona Electric</a>, Kia Niro EV, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/smart/hashtag-1/hatchback/review/n25016">Smart #1</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volvo/ex30/estate/review/n26262">Volvo EX30.</a>&nbsp;

So, how does the BYD Atto 3 stack up in all the important areas? Read on and we'll tell you all you need to know.

ATTO 3

The Atto 3 is BYD's smallest electric SUV, and is well priced and well equipped

BYD Atto 3

We'll say one thing about the BYD Dolphin – it'll give people playing I Spy a good way to baffle opponents. After all, who expects to spot a dolphin while they're passing the time on a long motorway journey?

As well as an I Spy masterstroke, the Dolphin is a small electric car that sits alongside the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/byd/atto-3/hatchback/review/n25563">BYD Atto 3</a> electric SUV and the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/byd/seal/saloon/review/n26074">BYD Seal</a>&nbsp;electric executive car in the Chinese car maker's line-up.

While its name is a little quirky, the Dolphin offers something the car industry is striving towards: an affordable way in to electrified motoring. Brands from China have pretty much nailed it, and we've seen the same ethos applied to the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/mg4/hatchback/review/n24916">MG4 EV</a> and the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/gwm-ora/ora-funky-cat/hatchback/review/n25190">GWM Ora 03 </a>(formerly the Funky Cat).

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BYD gives you a choice of three power outputs and two battery sizes, with the biggest battery and motor giving you enough range to rival the MG4 Long Range&nbsp;and a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/hot-hatches/n17005">hot hatch</a> rivalling 0-62mph sprint time.

It all sounds very promising, but the big question remains –&nbsp;is this a fitting addition to the electric car market, or will the name just be an anecdote to alleviate boredom on long trips? In other words, is the BYD Dolphin a good car? Read on to find out...

DOLPHIN

The BYD Dolphin electric car offers a comfortable ride&nbsp;and a&nbsp;competitive starting price

BYD Dolphin

The BYD Seal is the third model BYD has launched in the UK in quick succession, so the Chinese car maker clearly has big dreams of doing well here – which is rather appropriate, what with BYD standing for Build Your Dreams.

As a sleek-looking electric car with its sights set on toppling the impressive <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-3/saloon/review/n19010">Tesla Model 3</a>, the Seal sits at the top of the BYD range, above the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/byd/atto-3/hatchback/review/n25563">BYD Atto 3</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/byd/dolphin/hatchback/review/n25891">BYD Dolphin</a>.

It might sound like a tall order for any newcomer to take on the mighty Model 3 and win, but the BYD Seal has some impressive numbers to show it's not all smooth styling and no substance. For example, the entry-level car has an official range of more than&nbsp;350 miles while the range-topper can officially accelerate from 0-62mph in 3.8 seconds.

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And that's good – because the Model 3 isn't the only car it's up against. The BYD Seal is jumping headfirst into an arena that features the likes of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/i4/hatchback/review/n23575">BMW i4</a>, Hyundai Ioniq 6 and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/polestar/2/hatchback/review/n21641">Polestar 2</a>.

So, can the new flagship&nbsp;BYD model hold its own against the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">best electric cars</a>&nbsp;for performance, range, charging speed and more? Read on to find out...

SEAL

The Seal – an electric car from Chinese brand BYD – is a&nbsp;convincing Tesla Model 3 rival

BYD Seal

You've never seen anything quite like it, have you?&nbsp;What exactly is that car? Well, it’s the Citroën Ami&nbsp;– and technically it’s not a car, it's a large electric quadricycle.

Indeed, in&nbsp;some European countries the Ami can be driven by 14-year-olds without driving licences. Perhaps sensibly, UK regulations demand that you're at least 16&nbsp;and even then you need a special licence.

The Citroën Ami is wildly different, certainly, and undeniably a quirky take on getting around in towns and cities that are increasingly dominated by e-bikes and e-scooters. It also divides opinion. Based on our experience, its looks charm and appall in equal measure. There’s no denying its ingenuity, though. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/citroen">Citroën</a> has managed to squeeze in seating for two people plus some space for their luggage.

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For all its Dinky Toy appeal and clever design touches, at 2.4m long and 1.4m wide, the Ami&nbsp;isn't actually that much smaller than some other small <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric cars</a>. There's the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/smart/fortwo-coupe/city-car/review/n18076">Smart EQ Fortwo</a>&nbsp;for example, and the discontinued&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/twizy/city-car/used-review/n17986">Renault Twizy</a>&nbsp;is even tinier.

The Ami’s electric motor produces just 8bhp and its top speed is restricted to 28mph. The official range is only&nbsp;up to 46 miles between charges, although Citroën says its tiny battery can be charged to full in as little as three hours.&nbsp;

For all its quirkiness, though, just how good is the Citroën Ami? Join us over the next few pages of this review and we'll let you know how it stacks up for performance, comfort, value for money and other important factors.

City-Car

Citroën is probably most famous for its quirky design, and the latest cars from the brand live up to this tradition, featuring paintwork-protecting ‘Airbumps’ and eschewing the sporty looks favoured by most rivals.

Indeed, Citroën tends to keep away from sportiness altogether and instead tries to put comfort first.

Value (but not cheapness) is also key to the appeal of most Citroëns. And the company’s range includes everything from small hatchbacks (such as the C1 and C3) to big, family-friendly seven-seaters (the Spacetourer and Grand C4 Spacetourer).

The C3 Aircross SUV is another of its popular models, while a larger C5 Aircross is planned.

CITROEN

Quirky quadricycle that’s laser targeted at the city driver niche

Citroën Ami

The Citroën ë-C4 could be the electric car for you if you're struggling to decide whether to get a family car, an SUV or a coupé – it can justifiably claim to be all three.

You see, as you might have guessed from its name, the ë-C4 is the electrified version of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/citroen/c4/hatchback/review/n22373">Citroën C4</a> coupé SUV and shares all the same styling cues.

That means it seats you as high above the road as electric SUV rivals such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/niro/estate/review/n24582">Kia Niro EV</a> and has a similar amount of&nbsp;interior space to&nbsp;the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/id3/hatchback/review/n21832">VW ID 3</a>&nbsp;and other electric cars, but it tops those with a sleek coupé roofline for some added style.

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When we tested the ë-C4’s petrol and diesel-powered siblings, we gave them a four-star rating, and were impressed by its comfy ride and good pricing. But&nbsp;has Citroën&nbsp;managed to make the C4 work as an <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric car</a>?

That's what we'll be telling you in this review, as we pitch&nbsp;the Citroën ë-C4 against its main rivals –&nbsp;including the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/2008/estate/review/n20552">Peugeot e-2008</a>, Nissan Leaf and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/smart/hashtag-1/hatchback/review/n25016">Smart #1</a> – in terms of&nbsp;performance, range, practicality and running costs. Read on to see how we rate it...

The ë-C4 is a comfortable and stylish electric coupé SUV&nbsp;but its range isn't great

Citroën ë-C4

Many car makers&nbsp;take a saloon&nbsp;or SUV&nbsp;then develop a sleeker coupé version for those seeking style over practicality, but with the Citroën ë-C4 X&nbsp;the opposite has occurred.&nbsp;

You see, the ë-C4 X <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric car</a>&nbsp;is a slightly stretched and potentially more spacious version of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/citroen/c4/hatchback/review/n22375">Citroën ë-C4</a>. Arguably, the new rear end looks even more stylish, but we’ll leave that judgement&nbsp;up to you.

So, how much more practical is it? Well, the ë-C4 X is&nbsp;240mm longer than the regular ë-C4, in theory giving you more rear leg room (a serious downside of the normal car) while also increasing boot space. In fact, the figures promise a boot that’s bigger than even the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/mg5/estate/review/n22011">MG5 EV</a> electric estate’s.

There's also a non-electric version – find out&nbsp;about that in our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/citroen/c4-x/saloon/review/n26686">Citroën C4 X review</a>.

Read on to find out how the Citroën ë-C4 X stacks up against other electric cars&nbsp;that might be on your shortlist. They include <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-suvs/n23038">electric SUVs</a> such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/niro/estate/review/n24582">Kia Niro EV</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/e-2008/estate/review/n20552">Peugeot e-2008</a>&nbsp;plus some of the similar-sized electric hatchbacks you can buy – think of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/mg4/hatchback/review/n24916">MG4 EV</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/leaf/hatchback/review/n17338">Nissan Leaf</a> and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/id3/hatchback/review/n21832">VW ID.3</a>.

C4 X

The ë-C4 X is a more practical version of the ë-C4, with an appealing interior and a comfy ride

Citroën ë-C4 X

The Cupra Born is an <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric car</a> that takes its name from a district of Barcelona, although it arguably has closer links&nbsp;to Wolfsburg.

That’s because under the metal, the Born is essentially a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/id3/hatchback/review/n21832">VW ID 3</a>. Like that car, this&nbsp;is a five-door electric hatchback that's about the same size as a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/focus/hatchback/review/n37">Ford Focus</a>. It's&nbsp;available with a choice of two batteries&nbsp;(the bigger 77kWh option has an official range of more than 340 miles) and there are three trim levels: V1, V2 and V3.

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/cupra">Cupra</a> has positioned the Born as a slightly sportier option than its Volkswagen cousin. This&nbsp;isn't only through more aggressive looks, it also filters through to what the Cupra Born is like to drive. The steering has been tuned differently and the ride height lowered – plus there's an e-Boost version that has a button you can press to enjoy faster acceleration for a few seconds.

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The Born is Cupra's first&nbsp;fully electric model, but there are plenty of alternatives available from other manufacturers. One of those is, of course, the ID 3, but there's also the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/megane-e-tech/hatchback/review/n24175">Renault Megane E-Tech</a>&nbsp;and the cheaper <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/mg4/hatchback/review/n24916">MG4</a>.

Or if you're looking at the bigger 77kWh battery version of the Cupra Born, don't ignore the only slightly pricier <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/ioniq-5/hatchback/review/n22944">Hyundai Ioniq 5</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/ev6/estate/review/n23462">Kia EV6</a>&nbsp;which offer a similar range between charges but much more room inside.

In this review, we'll tell you how the Cupra Born squares up against its key rivals in terms of performance, handling, interior quality and more, as well as running you through which versions make the most sense.

When you're ready to buy your next new car, don't forget&nbsp;to check out the&nbsp;latest discounts on our What Car? <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">New Car Deals&nbsp;pages</a>. You'll find lots of tempting&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/category/electric">new electric car deals</a>.

The sportiest Seats have long used the&nbsp;Cupra name, but it's now been turned into a standalone sub-brand, in much the same way as Fiat's sportiest models are badged as Abarths.

There's just one car in the line-up at the moment: the Cupra Ateca SUV. However, Cupra versions of the Ibiza and Leon hatchbacks are also planned, as is a bespoke model which –&nbsp;initially, at least –&nbsp;won't be offered in regular Seat from.

Don't think that the first Cupra is just an Ateca with a bit more power and a sporty bodykit, either. Its&nbsp;engine, gearbox and four-wheel drive system are actually very similar to what you'll find in Volkswagen's flagship Golf R hot hatch, and the car can hit 62mph in just 5.4sec.

CUPRA

BORN

Born borrows the good bits from the ID 3 and adds a more polished interior and sharper handling

Cupra Born

It's a sign of the times that the DS 3 E-Tense <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-suvs/n23038">electric SUV</a> gets its motor and battery pack from what was once described as&nbsp;the world's biggest diesel engine factory, in Trémery, France.

Ironically, however hard you look today, you won't find a new DS 3 with a diesel engine at all&nbsp;– just this electric E-Tense version and the petrol-powered <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ds/ds-3-crossback/hatchback/review/n19063">DS 3</a>&nbsp;small SUV, which we've reviewed separately.

There's only one motor and battery combination available for the DS 3 E-Tense, but, like the petrol model, it&nbsp;is available with a range of trim levels, so you can tailor the car to your budget and how much equipment you need (or desire). Only the really observant will notice that the E-Tense has a different&nbsp;badge on its&nbsp;bonnet to the non-electric DS 3,&nbsp;while the&nbsp;rest of the exterior is pretty much unchanged, aside from the absence of an exhaust pipe, of course.

As the French PSA group’s premium&nbsp;brand, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/ds">DS</a> gets first dibs on most new technology and benefits from the combined <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric car</a>&nbsp;knowhow of Citroën and Peugeot. That’s just as well, because the E-Tense finds itself up against some very capable rivals, and DS has big ambitions for its first all-electric model.

Other cars you might be considering include&nbsp;the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/kona/hatchback/review/n18164">Hyundai Kona Electric</a>,&nbsp;the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/niro/estate/review/n24582">Kia Niro EV</a>&nbsp;and the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/zs/hatchback/review/n20171">MG ZS EV</a>&nbsp;– so would we recommend the DS 3 E-Tense above those? Well, that's what we'll tell you over the next few pages of this review. We'll rate it for performance and handling, practicality, running costs and more.

We can also take the hassle out of finding your next set of wheels for the lowest price&nbsp;if you search our free What Car? <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">New Car Deals pages</a>. They're a good place to find the best&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/category/electric">new electric car deals</a>.

DS has only existed as a standalone manufacturer since 2015&nbsp;(prior to that the badge was used on upmarket&nbsp;Citroëns), but it is now the premium brand in the PSA Group, which also includes&nbsp;Citroën, Peugeot and Vauxhall.

In 2018, DS stated that it planned to launch a new model every year, with all of these influenced by the French fashion industry and&nbsp;designed&nbsp;to take on the ubiquitous offerings of Audi, BMW and Mercedes.

First to arrive (that same year) was the&nbsp;DS 7 Crossback – a large SUV that competes with the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLC. Then in 2019 this was followed by the smaller DS3 Crossback SUV, which is not only available&nbsp;with petrol and diesel engines, but also in fully electric E-Tense form.

More recently, DS&nbsp;unveiled its answer to the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series and Mercedes E-Class luxury saloons. And while this DS 9 won't now go on sale until 2021, when it does arrive it will be offered with a choice of petrol, hybrid and fully electric power.

DS 3

Electric small SUV is the best version of the DS 3 but there are stronger rival cars available

DS 3 E-Tense

The Fiat 500 Cabrio is a car with a long and storied history. Soft-top roof aside, it’s identical to its hatchback stablemate – a car that traces its lineage back to the late 1950s, but which was brought kicking and screaming into the present by switching to electric power. To achieve that, it was redesigned from the ground up, yet is still instantly recognisable as an evolution of the petrol-powered original.

So, despite the familiar looks, you’re looking at a cutting-edge electric 500 Cabrio that’ll be sold alongside the existing 500C. Unlike that car, which is offered only with petrol power, albeit with light hybrid assistance, the 500 Cabrio is all-electric.

Unlike the 500 hatchback the Cabrio offers only one battery option, but, as you’ll find out, that’s not really an issue. So, once you’ve picked your preferred trim level, the trickiest decision will be the colour. Are you bold enough to rock rose gold?

As an electric convertible, The 500 Cabrio’s most obvious rival is the two-seat <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/smart/fortwo-coupe/city-car/review/n18076">Smart EQ ForTwo Cabrio</a>, while the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/convertible/sports/review/n17156">Mini Convertible</a> leftfield <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/t-roc/sports/review/n21188">Volkswagen T-Roc Cabriolet</a> and, of course, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/fiat/500c/sports/review/n22462">Fiat 500C Hybrid</a> are natural alternatives if you don’t mind sticking with petrol power. Of course, if you want electric power but a soft top isn’t essential, other electric rivals include the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/honda-e/hatchback/review/n20882">Honda E</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/electric/hatchback/review/n20910">Mini Electric</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/e208/hatchback/review/n20228">Peugeot e-208</a>, as well as the regular Fiat 500.

To find out how the 500 Cabrio compares against this eclectic mix of rivals, click through to our comprehensive review. We’ll tell you what it’s like to drive, how plush the interior is and whether you’ll fit, and how much of a hole it’ll make in your finances. Should you decide to take the plunge and buy this or any other new car, our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/fiat/500/sports/deals?fuelType=electric">New Car Buying service </a>offers&nbsp;stress-free purchase at a great price.

Sports

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

A terrific drop-top that just happens to be electric.

Fiat 500 Cabrio

If it’s retro charm you’re after, not many new cars come close to the chic Fiat 500. With looks harking back to the Fifties&nbsp;classic of the same name, this reimagining of the 500 (Cinquecento in Italy) turns heads like few other cars in its price bracket.

Confusingly, there are two versions of the Fiat 500: this&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric car</a> version called&nbsp;the Fiat 500, and the previous-generation, petrol-powered model that’s been rebranded the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/fiat/500/hatchback/review/n22352">Fiat 500 Hybrid</a>.

The electric 500 is available with an official range of up to 199 miles.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/fiat">Fiat</a> also sells a more affordable version with a smaller battery, offering up to 118 miles of range for those who don’t plan to venture far from home in it. You can choose between the&nbsp;regular hardtop or the 500 Cabrio&nbsp;convertible, which has a retractable canvas roof.

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So, what are the&nbsp;Fiat 500’s key rivals? Well, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/smart/fortwo-coupe/city-car/review/n18076">Smart EQ Fortwo</a>&nbsp;is definitely one, but the baby Fiat also has to hold its own against pricier and larger alternatives including the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/honda-e/hatchback/review/n20882">Honda e</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/electric/hatchback/review/n20910">Mini Electric</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/e208/hatchback/review/n20228">Peugeot e-208</a> and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/zoe/hatchback/review/n152">Renault Zoe</a>.

This review will&nbsp;tell you everything you need to know before&nbsp;you decide whether it’s right for you.&nbsp;And once you've decided what to buy, you can find the best deals by using our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">New Car Buying pages</a>.

Electric car version of the iconic Fiat 500 looks great and works well as a city car

Fiat 500 Electric

Non-identical twins may not look the same, but they share a good portion of their genetic make-up. Similarly, while the new Fiat 600e has its own unique look, it’s actually twinned with several other electric SUVs under the skin.

The 600e shares its underpinnings, 50.8kWh (usable capacity) battery pack and 154bhp electric motor with the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/jeep/avenger/hatchback/review/n25706">Jeep Avenger</a> and the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/2008/estate/review/n20552">Peugeot e-2008</a>.&nbsp;

Like those rivals, the 600e can travel up to 254 miles on the WLTP combined cycle and you can top up its battery from 10-80% in less than half an hour courtesy of a 100kW <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/fastest-charging-electric-cars/n26105">charging rate</a>. That’s pretty impressive by class standards, with only the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/smart/hashtag-1/hatchback/review/n25016">Smart #1</a> having an appreciably quicker charging rate of 150kW.&nbsp;

As the eventual successor to the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/fiat/500x/hatchback/review/n80">Fiat 500X</a>, the 600e retains some of the cutesy, retro-styled elements that have made the smaller <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/fiat/500/hatchback/review/n84">electric Fiat 500</a> such a big hit with buyers, but also gets chunky cladding around its lower edges to emphasise its rufty-tufty nature.&nbsp;

So, the Fiat 600e is&nbsp;sure to stand out against rival <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-suvs/n23038">electric SUVs</a>&nbsp;such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/byd/atto-3/hatchback/review/n25563">BYD Atto 3</a>, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/kona-electric/hatchback/review/n18164">Hyundai Kona Electric</a>, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/niro/estate/review/n24582">Kia Niro EV</a> and the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/zs/hatchback/review/n20171">MG ZS EV</a>&nbsp;but can it beat them on objective terms? Read on to find out...

The Fiat 600e is practical and competitively priced&nbsp;with a decent battery range

Fiat 600e

What did you think when you first heard of a new car called the Ford Mustang Mach-E? ‘Muscle car’ may have sprung to mind, but unless the ‘E’ was a giveaway, ‘electric car’ probably didn't.

Why would it? For more than half a century, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/mustang/coupe/review/n17149">Ford Mustang</a> formula has remained virtually unchanged:&nbsp;muscular styling, a big&nbsp;lumbering V8 engine and a simple&nbsp;rear-wheel-drive layout.&nbsp;The&nbsp;Mustang Mach-E you see here is a very different&nbsp;pony&nbsp;though. It represents the first real foray by Ford into the electric vehicle market and comes in the very on-trend&nbsp;shape of a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/large-suvs/n17006">large&nbsp;SUV</a>.

If you decide you want one, you can choose from two battery capacities (badged as Standard Range and Extended Range). As you'd expect, the amount of power depends on which version you go for, and the Extended Range has the option of rear-wheel drive (RWD versions) or all-wheel drive (AWD).

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At the top of the range, there's the performance-focused Mach-E GT. It gets the larger of the two batteries, four-wheel drive and a big increase in pace. That makes it a rival to faster non-electric SUVs, as well as quick electric SUVs including the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-y/hatchback/review/n23624">Tesla Model Y</a> Performance.

As well as the Model Y, the&nbsp;nearest price rivals include the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/ev6/estate/review/n23462">Kia EV6</a>&nbsp;plus&nbsp;plenty of <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric cars</a>&nbsp;wearing premium badges, including the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q4/estate/review/n23194">Audi Q4 e-tron</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/ix3/4x4/review/n22236">BMW iX3</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/genesis/gv60/estate/review/n24373">Genesis GV60</a> and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/jaguar/i-pace/estate/review/n122">Jaguar I-Pace</a>. For less money, you could get a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/niro/estate/review/n24582">Kia Niro EV</a>, a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/bz4x/hatchback/review/n24187">Toyota bZ4X</a> or a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/id4/estate/review/n22789">VW ID 4</a>.

In this review, we'll tell you everything you need to know about the Ford Mustang Mach-E, including how we rate its performance, interior quality, practicality and running costs compared with rival&nbsp;electric cars. We’ll also tell you which version we recommend. 

Once you've chosen the model that suits your needs, we can help you find it for the lowest price if&nbsp;you search our free <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">New Car Buying pages</a>. They feature lots of the best&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/category/electric">new electric car deals</a>.

Ford builds some of the most popular cars in the UK, including the Fiesta and Focus hatchbacks.

This success is partly down to longevity and the fact that there’s a Ford dealer around every corner. However, it’s also because Fords tend to offer good value and be among the best cars in their respective classes to drive.

The company’s huge range also helps; it offers everything from the small – but surprisingly practical – Ka+ to the large and lavishly equipped Edge SUV.

Meanwhile, other highlights of the range include the S-Max and Galaxy people carriers, the Mondeo executive car and the Ranger pick-up.

FORD

MUSTANG MACH-E

A&nbsp;quick electric SUV that's available with a brilliant range but has a disappointing&nbsp;ride and spiky handling

Ford Mustang Mach-E

The GWM Ora 03&nbsp;is a small electric car that was launched with a name comfortably more bizarre than any other – the Ora Funky Cat.

Let’s explain what it all means. Ora is a sub-brand of Chinese automotive giant Great Wall Motors (GWM), which specialises in electric vehicles (EVs).&nbsp;And the Funky Cat&nbsp;bit? Well, it’s based on a car sold in China as the Good Cat. The Funky&nbsp;moniker was selected for the version being sold in&nbsp;the UK.

The Chinese and European versions of the 03&nbsp;are said to be virtually identical, with only a few software changes between them.

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The line-up will grow in the future, but for now, there are two trims available and one power set-up – a 45.4kWh (usable capacity) battery, giving the Ora 03 an official range of 193 miles between charges.

It has one 170bhp electric motor driving the front wheels, and 0-62mph officially takes 8.3sec, which is not all that speedy for an <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric car</a>. Sportier trim levels with zippier performance and a bigger battery for a&nbsp;longer range&nbsp;will be available in future.

The GWM Ora 03 has lots of tech, a long warranty and very good crash-test results, but is all that enough to help it compete with its rivals – including the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/cupra/born/hatchback/review/n23703">Cupra Born</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/kona/hatchback/review/n18164">Hyundai Kona Electric</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/mg4/hatchback/review/n24916">MG4</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/zoe/hatchback/review/n152">Renault Zoe</a> and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/id3/hatchback/review/n21832">VW ID 3</a>? Read on to find out...

GWM ORA

The Ora 3 – formerly&nbsp;the Funky Cat – is bettered&nbsp;by most electric car rivals

GWM Ora 03 (Funky Cat)

Sometimes waiting so you don’t get caught up in the initial stampede is the best course of action. Take the Genesis Electrified GV70, which as you may have guessed from the name, is the electric version of the brand’s large SUV. By not being among the first flood of <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-electric-suvs-2022/n23038">electric SUVs</a>&nbsp;it could stand&nbsp;a better chance of being noticed.

But is it worth the wait? Well, the standard <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/genesis/gv70/estate/review/n23431">Genesis GV70</a> turned out to be a nicely specified, well-finished, and stylish vehicle that’s unfortunately marred by an uncouth range of diesel and petrol engines, and ditching these engines in favour of near-silent electric motors should cure this shortcoming at a stroke.

It should be a very quiet car, too. We found the standard GV70 was well insulated against wind and road noise. Plus, the Electrified GV70 gets the same active noise-cancelling tech as we’ve already experienced in the hugely impressive <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/genesis/gv60/estate/review/n24373">Genesis GV60</a>. It could even redefine SUV, substituting the ‘S’ that usually stands for ‘Sports’ in Sport Utility Vehicle for ‘Subdued’.

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That said, the Electrified GV70 isn’t short on speed. In fact, it has the performance stats to embarrass the likes of its <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/ix3/4x4/review/n22236">BMW iX3</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/jaguar/i-pace/estate/review/n122">Jaguar I-Pace</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-y/hatchback/review/n23624">Tesla Model Y</a> Long Range and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volvo/c40/estate/review/n23649">Volvo C40</a> rivals. It also comes exclusively with four-wheel drive (although a single-motor, rear-wheel-drive option hasn’t been ruled out from arriving later on) to better get all its power down on to the road.

We’ll let you know whether it does manage to do so in this review, along with how it stacks up with the aforementioned rivals in all sorts of other disciplines, such as how easy it is to see out of, how much stuff you can pack into it, and how it compares in terms of costs.&nbsp;

Once you're clued up on the Genesis Electrified GV70 and its rivals, and know which car best suits your needs, we can help you find the best deal quickly and simply. Just search our free What Car? <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">New Car Deals</a> pages for the make and model you want. It features lots of excellent <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/category/electric-suv">new electric SUV deals</a>.

GENESIS

Electrified GV70

Blisteringly quick, nice to drive and with an attractive interior, but could do with a cheaper entry-level version.

Genesis Electrified GV70

In music, your first single&nbsp;can propel you to fame or flop and end your career. Likewise, as Genesis (the car brand, not the band) launched&nbsp;the&nbsp;Genesis GV60 –&nbsp;its first dedicated&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric car</a>&nbsp;– it will have been hoping for&nbsp;a big hit.

Genesis&nbsp;couldn’t have picked a more competitive sector of the electric vehicle (EV) market to try to break into, though. Why? Well, the GV60’s size puts it up against some well-established <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-suvs/n23038">electric SUV</a> rivals.&nbsp;

Luckily, it didn't have to start from scratch. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/genesis">Genesis</a> is&nbsp;the luxury arm of the Hyundai Group, and&nbsp;the GV60 is&nbsp;closely related to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/ioniq-5/hatchback/review/n22944">Hyundai Ioniq 5</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/ev6/estate/review/n23462">Kia EV6</a>. That means it features&nbsp;proven technologies, including the&nbsp;same dedicated electric car platform as those cars, called E-GMP.

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All versions of the Genesis GV60 have&nbsp;the same 77.4kWh battery as you’ll find in the EV6. Its 239kW rapid charging capability allows it to go&nbsp;from 10-80% in as little as 18 mins (if you can find a fast enough&nbsp;charger).&nbsp;

The GV60 is more than just an Ioniq 5 or EV6 in&nbsp;different attire, though. Genesis has designed it to&nbsp;offer you a more luxurious experience, with an interior unlike almost anything else out there.

Sounds pretty good, doesn’t it?&nbsp;But is the Genesis GV60 good enough to beat its cheaper siblings?&nbsp;And what about other rivals, including the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/mustang-mach-e/estate/review/n22387">Ford Mustang Mach-E</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/ariya/hatchback/review/n24303">Nissan Ariya</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-y/hatchback/review/n23624">Tesla Model Y</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/id4/estate/review/n22789">VW ID 4</a>?

Over the next few pages of this&nbsp;review, we'll cover all the important stuff, including real-world range and running costs, and tell you which power output and trim level make&nbsp;the most sense.

When you’ve decided which make and model of car is right for you, make sure you find a great deal for it by searching our&nbsp;free What Car?&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">New Car Deals&nbsp;pages</a>. You'll find&nbsp;lots of attractive&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/category/electric-suv">new electric SUV deals</a>.

GV60

A brilliant electric car and the best effort yet from the fledgling Genesis brand.

Genesis GV60

It's rare that a tiny five-door hatchback generates massive excitement, but when pictures of the Honda E&nbsp;were first released, there was a fevered clamour for more details.

Its cutesy&nbsp;retro styling turned heads and dropped jaws at motor shows, with onlookers admiring its curvy shape, circular headlight design and gloss-black exterior cladding. In fact, there was&nbsp;a general&nbsp;impression that <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/honda">Honda</a>&nbsp;had taken design inspiration from a much-missed bygone era.

Looking a little closer at the Honda e reveals that this is actually a fiercely futuristic car, with flush door handles, cameras instead of door mirrors and two enormous touchscreens on the inside. Most importantly of all, though, it's a fully <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-electric-cars-2022/n17000">electric car</a> – Honda's first, no less – and, despite its dinky dimensions, it can seat four.&nbsp;

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So, surely it's a style-conscious technophile’s dream set of wheels? Well, it’s not quite as simple as that. Electric cars need to do more than just look good. How many miles they can travel between charges and how much they cost are hugely important factors, and plenty of the rivals strike a commendable balance between the two.&nbsp;

For starters, you have the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/fiat/500/hatchback/review/n84">Fiat 500</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/electric/hatchback/review/n20910">Mini Electric</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/e208/hatchback/review/n20228">Peugeot e-208</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/zoe/hatchback/review/n152">Renault Zoe</a> – which all cost less but offer longer ranges. The Honda E's price tag also means it has to go toe to toe with some larger and even more daunting rivals, including the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/niro/estate/review/n24582">Kia Niro EV</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/id3/hatchback/review/n21832">VW ID.3</a>.

So, is the Honda E&nbsp;good enough to beat that impressive line-up? Well, we've driven it, and in this review we'll tell you how we rate it against rivals, as well as giving you the low-down on its performance and handling, interior quality, practicality, running and costs and more.

Once you've decided which model is right for you, we can help you find it for the lowest price if you search our free What Car? <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">New Car Buying</a>&nbsp;pages. They feature lots of the best new <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/category/electric">electric car deals</a>.

Honda e review

Honda is a company that doesn’t like to follow the crowd. So, while it competes in most of the traditional sectors of the car market, in each case it does something a little bit different.

The Jazz, for example, might look like just another rival to Britain’s best-selling car, the Ford Fiesta, but it’s actually much more practical than its rivals, with a flexible boot and Tardis-like interior.

The bigger Civic is also a practical choice, but it’s mainly distinguished by having eye-catching, love-it-or-hate-it styling, despite competing in a sector of the market that’s usually more conservative than a blue rosette.

And while it may not seem so radical now, Honda’s large SUV, the CR-V, was one of the first to forego any pretence of being an off-roader and instead focus on on-road driving dynamics.

HONDA

HONDA e

Great to look at and to drive, but a high price and meagre range hugely limit its appeal

Honda E

At first glance, you’d be forgiven for assuming that the Honda e:Ny1&nbsp;electric SUV is just an electrified version of the HR-V. Dig deeper, though, and you quickly find that’s not the case.

You see, the e:Ny1 is&nbsp;the first model to be built on a new platform called e:N, which has been designed specifically for <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric cars</a>. It will be the basis for several more cars and SUVs as Honda moves towards&nbsp;offering a range of electric vehicles.

On this occasion, it has been set up for a 150kW motor on the front axle plus&nbsp;a 61.9kWh battery (usable capacity). That gives&nbsp;the e:Ny1 enough power to rival the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/ioniq-5/hatchback/review/n22944">Hyundai Ioniq 5</a> while its official range of 250 miles rivals the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/niro/estate/review/n24582">Kia Niro EV</a> and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/ariya/hatchback/review/n24303">Nissan Ariya</a>.

So, does the Honda e:Ny1 have what it takes to beat the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-suvs/n23038">best electric SUVs</a>? Read on to find out how we rate it for&nbsp;performance,&nbsp;handling, practicality and more...

E NY1

Electric SUV is fairly practical, with a decent range and good performance

Honda e:Ny1

If you've only seen the&nbsp;Hyundai Ioniq 5&nbsp;in photographs, you might assume that it's a family hatchback, but that's where looks can be deceiving – it's actually a really big <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-electric-suvs-2022/n23038">electric SUV</a>.

Indeed, at 4.6 metres long and 1.6 metres tall, the Ioniq 5 is almost as big as an <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q5/4x4/review/n41">Audi Q5</a>.&nbsp;In fact, the three-metre&nbsp;distance between the front and rear axles is the same as you’ll find in the A8 limo, and gives passengers a remarkable amount of space.

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/hyundai">Hyundai</a> gives you lots of choice within the Ioniq 5 range, and you can pick between two battery sizes and rear or four-wheel drive. Likewise, there are three trim tiers, along with several optional extras designed to take the stresses out of electric car ownership (and life in general).

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It's not a budget option, but it does promise&nbsp;a respectable range between charges. It can charge up again really quickly, too.

Few would argue that the Hyundai Ioniq 5 doesn't look the part, but is it a good <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-electric-cars-2022/n17000">electric car</a> in more objective terms? What's it like to drive? Is is good value for money? Read on and we'll tell you everything you need to know.

We'll also rate it against the main rivals, which include the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/genesis/gv60/estate/review/n24373">Genesis GV60</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/ev6/estate/review/n23462">Kia EV6</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/enyaq/estate/review/n22909">Skoda Enyaq iV</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-y/hatchback/review/n23624">Tesla Model Y</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/id4/estate/review/n22789">VW ID.4</a>.

Whichever model of car you ultimately decide to buy, remember we can help you find it for the lowest price if&nbsp;you search our free What Car? <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">New Car Deals</a> pages. They have lots of the best <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/category/electric">new electric car deals</a>.

Hyundai has transformed itself from a maker of oddball hatchbacks that sold in small numbers in the UK, to a major rival to the likes of Ford, Vauxhall and Volkswagen.

The Korean firm’s Ioniq Hybrid is particularly impressive, having beaten the trend-setting Toyota Prius when we tested the cars back to back.

Meanwhile, at the extremes of the Hyundai range you find the tiny i10 city car – a four-time What Car? award winner – and the stylish yet family-friendly Santa Fe SUV.

As a bonus, all of these cars come with the reassurance of a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty, whereas most of Hyundai’s rivals offer only three years and 60,000 miles of cover.

HYUNDAI

IONIQ 5

Fast, good to drive and roomy – a&nbsp;thoroughly recommendable electric car

Hyundai Ioniq 5

The world has never been treated to a musical collaboration between rock legends AC/DC and K-Pop superstars BTS. Thankfully.&nbsp;But that oddball blend of the old with the new was exactly how Hyundai N boss, Albert Biermann, described the challenge of creating the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N.

The internal combustion engineering knowhow is AC/DC, and the nascent electric vehicle technology is BTS. The result? Rather than a musical crime, we have a 641bhp fully electric hyper-hatch with a “gearbox” and engine noise.

It is, of course, based on the regular – and excellent –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/ioniq-5/hatchback/review/n22944">Hyundai Ioniq 5</a> but comes with a number of performance upgrades. They include&nbsp;new suspension, reworked steering and a vast array of different drive modes designed to separate it from the closely-related <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/ev6/estate/review/n24838">Kia EV6 GT</a> and appeal to those after a legitimate EV track toy.

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Hyundai’s N division is like what M is to BMW, and AMG to Mercedes, and has been responsible for some great <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/hot-hatches/n17005">hot hatches</a> so far, including the i20 N and the i30 N.

But is the 2.2-tonne fully electric Hyundai Ioniq 5 N actually fun? Is it a good hot hatch? And how does it compare to the EV6 GT? Read on to find out...

IONIQ 5 N

Very fast version of the Ioniq 5 electric car is practical but expensive

Hyundai Ioniq 5 N

You’ve probably heard people say car design is dead, with more and more models looking tediously similar,&nbsp;but we’re not convinced that’s true. Take this&nbsp;Hyundai Ioniq 6, for example.

It's based on the same underpinnings as the taller&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/ioniq-5/hatchback/review/n22944">Hyundai Ioniq 5</a>&nbsp;and shares some of that model's styling cues, including the distinctive pixel-look lights. However, the Ioniq 6 is a four-door coupé with a much sleeker silhouette.

The slippery shape means&nbsp;that, while it's a big car (almost 4.9 metres long), the Ioniq 6 is&nbsp;more about looks and efficiency&nbsp;than practicality. In other words,&nbsp;it’s for those who don’t need to worry too much about&nbsp;carrying people and luggage.

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Its closest rival is the big-selling&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-3/saloon/review/n19010">Tesla Model 3</a>, but similar electric&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/executive-cars/n2004">executive car</a>&nbsp;alternatives include the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/i4/hatchback/review/n23575">BMW i4</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/byd/seal/saloon/review/n26074">BYD Seal</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/polestar/2/hatchback/review/n21641">Polestar 2</a>.

So, is the Hyundai Ioniq 6 as good as those rivals – or, indeed, an even better buy? Read on and we'll tell you all you need to know.

IONIQ 6

The Ioniq 6 is a solid, stylish choice with hushed road manners

Hyundai Ioniq 6

We’d love&nbsp;to have been flies on the wall in Hyundai’s design department when ideas for this new&nbsp;Hyundai Kona Electric&nbsp;SUV were being bandied around.&nbsp;

The conversation must have gone something a little like this: “Well, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/ioniq-5/hatchback/review/n22944">Hyundai Ioniq 5</a>&nbsp;– with its 8-bit videogame&nbsp;looks&nbsp;​​– is winning over premium buyers, and the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/ioniq-6/saloon/review/n25431">Hyundai Ioniq 6</a>&nbsp;–&nbsp;modelled on a 1950s streamliner – has won numerous design awards, so let's go all in and style the second-generation Kona Electric after RoboCop.”&nbsp;

It practically shouts, "Hey, I’m an <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric car</a>!"&nbsp;And that&nbsp;makes sense when you consider that this second-generation model has been developed as an electric vehicle (EV) first and a combustion car second. The more traditionally styled first-generation car was the other way around.

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On top of new styling and drivetrain options, the Kona Electric has an all-new interior, lots of new technology and equipment, and a simplified range of trim levels. Better still, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/hyundai">Hyundai</a> has made it bigger and increased interior space.

The Kona Electric remains one of the few sub-£40k EVs to offer an official range of more than 300 miles, but is that enough to beat its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-suvs/n23038">electric SUV</a> rivals? They include the Peugeot e-2008 and the Smart #1. If you can do without the increased ride height of an SUV, there are other models to put on your list, including the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/cupra/born/hatchback/review/n23703">Cupra Born</a> and the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/id3/hatchback/review/n21832">VW ID 3</a>.

In this review, we'll tell you how we rate the Hyundai Kona Electric and which version we recommend. If you're not looking to go electric just yet, have a look at our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/kona/hatchback/review/n17377">Hyundai Kona review</a>.

KONA

Entry-level Advance gives you way more equipment than you’d expect from a small SUV. It even includes highlights such as front and rear parking sensors, a rear-view camera, full LED headlights and adjustable lumbar support.

Advance

The Kona Electric is a&nbsp;very competent and practical&nbsp;electric SUV

Hyundai Kona Electric

Since the Apple iMac computer came along, the letter ‘I’ has been used to brand everything from newspapers to teddy bears in the hope of giving them a bit&nbsp;of Silicon Valley credibility. And to be fair, the Jaguar I-Pace&nbsp;we're reviewing here does actually feels like a product Apple might have created.

As an <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric car</a> and an SUV, it’s right on trend, competing in two sectors of the car market that are growing fast. But just as importantly, Jaguar didn’t play it safe and simply stuff lots of batteries into one of its conventionally powered SUVs (a tactic also used for the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/ix3/4x4/review/n22236">BMW iX3</a>).

Instead, it created a car that remains faithful to the dramatic I-Pace concept that was so enthusiastically received at motor shows. As a result, the production version of the I-Pace looks like it has driven straight off the set of a sci-fi movie, despite no longer being in the first flush of youth.

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Now, though, things are very different to when <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/jaguar">Jaguar</a> first launched the I-Pace. Back then, it had only the much more expensive <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-x/hatchback/used-review/n17877">Tesla Model X</a> as a direct electric SUV competitor.&nbsp;However, today the list of rivals includes the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q8/4x4/review/n18397">Audi Q8 e-tron</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/ix3/4x4/review/n22236">BMW iX3</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/genesis/gv60/estate/review/n24373">Genesis GV60</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/eqc/4x4/review/n19377">Mercedes EQC</a> and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volvo/xc40/estate/review/n22063">Volvo XC40 Recharge</a>&nbsp;(to name just a handful).

So, how does the Jaguar I-Pace stack up against the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-suvs/n23038">best electric SUVs</a>? To find out, read on, because in this review we’ll cover everything from what it’s like to drive and how practical it is to how much it will cost to buy and run.

And remember, whether the I-Pace takes your fancy or you decide to buy another model entirely, make sure you get it for a great price by searching the discounts on our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">New Car Buying service</a>.

Jaguars are consistently among the best-handling cars of their kind, with the firm’s model range encompassing the XE, XF and XJ saloons, the F-Type sports cars and multiple SUVs.

Jaguar was actually relatively late to launch its first SUV, the F-Pace, but it quickly followed it up with the smaller E-Pace and the all-electric I-Pace.

That SUV range will keep growing, too, with larger and more luxurious SUVs planned to take on the Porsche Cayenne and the Range Rover from sister brand Land Rover.

JAGUAR

I-PACE

The I-Pace remains a compelling choice, because it’s fun to drive, relaxing to travel in and smartly finished

Jaguar I-Pace

Jeep Avenger. Not exactly a friendly name, is it? Perhaps it's because this&nbsp;electric SUV&nbsp;has been sent to avenge the unfavourable star ratings we’ve given most of Jeep’s model line-up over the past few years.

But joking aside, the Avenger Electric is a very different proposition to what we're used to seeing from the famous US brand. For starters, it’s the first fully&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric car</a>&nbsp;in Jeep’s 80-odd year history. It’s also pretty small,&nbsp;and doesn’t even have four-wheel drive.

This is very much a road (rather than off-road) focused <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/small-suvs/n17050">small SUV</a> built to rival the likes of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/kona/hatchback/review/n18164">Hyundai Kona Electric</a>,&nbsp;Kia Niro EV,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/2008/estate/review/n20552">Peugeot e-2008</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/smart/hashtag-1/hatchback/review/n25016">Smart #1</a>. This electric version is being joined by a petrol version and a mild-hybrid called the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2024-jeep-avenger-e-hybrid-review/n26650">Jeep Avenger e-Hybrid</a>.

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In this review, we’ll be finding out whether this rip-up-the-rulebook approach from <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/jeep">Jeep</a> has produced a car with broader appeal (i.e. an <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-suvs/n23038">electric SUV</a> tailored for those who plan to drive on the road rather than tackling the Rubicon trail).

Read on to&nbsp;find out what the Jeep Avenger Electric is like to drive, how practical it is and how much it will cost you to buy and run.

Jeep only makes SUVs, but it has plenty of them for you to choose from. So, whether you want something rugged enough to ford streams and climb mountains, or a more luxurious and family-friendly car, it has something to suit you.

Despite its all-American image, Jeep is actually owned by Fiat, meaning Jeeps often share parts with cars from the Italian giant; the entry-level Renegade, for example, has plenty in common with Fiat’s 500X.

However, perhaps the most widely recognised Jeep is the Wrangler, a model that has a dedicated fan base and which closely resembles the original Jeep which saw service in World War 2.

The brand’s future plans include new small and large SUVs, plus the introduction of fully electric models.

JEEP

AVENGER

The Avenger Electric has a smart interior, sensible pricing and a decent battery range

Jeep Avenger Electric

With Harry and Meghan's&nbsp;rebranding as the Sussexes, and Beyoncé's repositioning as a&nbsp;country music star, 2024 is looking like the year of the rebrand, and now Ssangyong is joining in –&nbsp;with a new car and a&nbsp;new name. Say hello to the KGM Torres EVX.

Under fresh ownership from the South Korean KG Group, the Torres EVX electric SUV is the first model to reflect the brand’s new design philosophy: "Powered by Toughness”.&nbsp;It's being launched alongside a petrol <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kgm/torres/estate/review/n26615">KGM Torres</a> (which we're reviewing separately).

And the EVX certainly looks, well, rather striking. There are hints of Jeep Wagoneer in the front grille, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/kona/hatchback/review/n17377">Hyundai Kona</a> in the wheelarches, Ford Explorer in the rear lights and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/defender/4x4/review/n21198">Land Rover Defender</a> in the rear door. It’s a rolling mood board of contemporary SUV design – we’ll leave it to you to decide if it’s successful.

Named after the Torres del Paine National Park in Chile, the EVX is near the top of KGM’s line-up. At 4,700mm long, it’s an equivalent size to larger rivals such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/genesis/electrified-gv70/4x4/review/n25030">Genesis Electrified GV70</a>, Kia EV6, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/ariya/hatchback/review/n24303">Nissan Ariya</a>, Skoda Enyaq and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/id4/estate/review/n22789">VW ID 4</a>.&nbsp;

So, the KGM Torres EVX sounds intriguing, but can it match the blend of comfort, versatility and efficiency of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-suvs/n23038">best electric SUVs</a>? Read on to find out...

TORRES

The Torres EVX is spacious and well-equipped but similarly priced rival electric SUVs are better

KGM Torres EVX

The Kia EV6 is an electric car that its maker claims can charge faster than a Tesla, go further than a Hyundai Ioniq 5 and, if you choose the right version, even out-accelerate a Porsche Taycan 4S.

Those claims should be taken seriously because&nbsp;Kia isn’t new to the electrification game. In fact,&nbsp;the brand's first effort –&nbsp;the&nbsp;e-Niro&nbsp;–&nbsp;became the first electric car&nbsp;to win our overall&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/awards/new-car-awards">Car of the Year award</a>. Unlike that car, the EV6 was designed from the outset to be a pure&nbsp;electric car – and that should give it an advantage in several key areas.

The Kia EV6 is bigger than it looks in pictures, sitting somewhere between an SUV and a regular hatchback (it's slightly longer than a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/jaguar/i-pace/estate/review/n122">Jaguar I-Pace</a>). And although the EV6 has a lot in common with the Ioniq 5, it's not simply a reskinned version of its cousin.

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For example, Kia has tuned the EV6 with the aim of making it more fun to drive, and it has a larger battery to give most versions an official range of well over 300 miles. What’s more, thanks to super-fast charging, you can top up the battery (from 10-80%) in as little as 18 minutes at a fast enough charging station.

So, is the Kia EV6 one of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">best electric cars</a>&nbsp;out there or would you be better off with a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/ioniq-5/hatchback/review/n22944">Hyundai Ioniq 5</a>&nbsp;or perhaps even a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-y/hatchback/review/n23624">Tesla Model Y</a>? Read on to find out...

Buyers seeking value for money should have Kia towards the top of their shopping list.

Although once a niche brand in the UK, today Kia outsells many more established brands, helped by its market-leading seven-year warranty and a strong reputation for reliability; in fact, Kia regularly finishes towards the top of our reliability surveys.

There are plenty of models to choose from, too, ranging from the small Picanto city car to the Ceed family hatchback and the Sorento large SUV. The Picanto was the first Kia to win its class at the What Car? Car of the Year awards.

The EV6 electric SUV&nbsp;offers a long range, fast charging and good handling

Kia EV6

The stats for the Kia EV6 GT – 577bhp, 162mph, 0-62mph in 3.5 seconds – sound like the numbers for something properly exotic. Italian or German maybe, with a rowdy&nbsp;V8 under the bonnet.

This isn't a sports car review, though: the EV6 GT is the hottest version of our 2022 Car of the Year, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/ev6/estate/review/n23462">Kia EV6</a>. In other words, Kia has taken our favourite <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-electric-suvs-2022/n23038">electric SUV</a> and turned it into a performance car.

With near-silent electric running, it doesn’t shout about that&nbsp;performance with a rorty exhaust note, and as you can see from the photos, it&nbsp;doesn’t do so with the way it looks&nbsp;either. In fact, the visual changes compared with the regular EV6 amount to some larger (21in) alloy wheels and some neon yellow brake callipers. Even on the inside, the differences are fairly minimal.

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However,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/kia">Kia</a> has given the EV6 GT plenty of upgrades you can’t see, including more power (obviously), bespoke suspension and a clever electronic differential that can automatically shuffle power to the wheels with the most grip.

As you might expect, the GT costs a lot more to buy than other versions of the EV6, and because it’s heavier and has super-sticky tyres to grip the road better, it won’t get you as far on a charge. Fortunately, it doesn’t lose the super-fast charging ability of lesser versions.

What about rivals? Well, the&nbsp;'blink and you'll miss it' acceleration&nbsp;sets it against fast electric cars such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/taycan/saloon/review/n20184">Porsche Taycan</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/e-tron-gt/saloon/review/n22728">Audi e-tron GT</a> (which are closely related to each other and cost far more), plus Performance versions of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-3/saloon/review/n19010">Tesla Model 3</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-y/hatchback/review/n23624">Tesla Model Y</a>.

So, does the Kia EV6 GT beat&nbsp;its rivals as comprehensively as the regular version? We'll tell you everything you need to know over the next few pages of this review.

When you next buy a car of any make and model, remember we can help you find the lowest price if you search&nbsp;our free <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">What Car? New Car Deals</a> pages. They have lots of the cheapest new <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/category/electric-suv">electric SUV deals</a>.

You get plenty of equipment as standard, including climate control, adaptive cruise control and LED headlights. The 21in alloys are bespoke to the GT version, as are the front sports seats.

Rivals are more fun and this range-topping EV6 isn’t cheap

Kia EV6 GT

You could argue that the Kia EV9 is in a class of one, because it's unrivalled when it comes to practicality at this price in the electric SUV class. You see, if you want to go fully electric and need to carry around seven people in comfort, your options are decidedly limited.

Sure, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/eqb/estate/review/n24403">Mercedes EQB</a> has as many seats as the EV9, but adults really won’t fancy a trip in the third row. The much larger <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/eqs/estate/review/n25731">Mercedes EQS SUV</a> solves the issue of space and throws in a luxurious interior, but it’s seriously pricey. And while some electric van-based MPVs – such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/vivaro-life/mpv/review/n22307">Vauxhall Vivaro Life Electric</a>&nbsp;–&nbsp;can match the EV9 for space, they have a limited range between charges, a basic interior and rudimentary driving manners.

At just over five metres long, the EV9 is about the same size as an <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q7/4x4/review/n87">Audi Q7</a> and around 20cm longer and 8cm taller than Kia's excellent hybrid seven-seat SUV, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/sorento/4x4/review/n18">Kia Sorento</a>.

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The Kia EV9's "Robocop’s family transport"&nbsp;looks mean&nbsp;it stands out from conventional-looking SUVs, but is this behemoth&nbsp;good enough to rank among the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-suvs/n23038">best electric SUVs</a>?

In other words, can the EV9 match the other rivals we've mentioned, while being as plush inside as an <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q8/4x4/review/n18397">Audi Q8 e-tron</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;driving as well as a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/ix/4x4/review/n23569">BMW iX</a>? Oh, and how much does it cost to buy and run? Read on to find out...

As an electric seven-seat SUV, the EV9&nbsp;has fairly unique appeal – but it's expensive

Kia EV9

If you've ever felt pressure to live up to a high-achieving parent, you'll understand the situation the Kia Niro EV is in.&nbsp;You see, it's the&nbsp;direct replacement for the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/e-niro/estate/used-review/n22663/alternatives">Kia e-Niro</a>, which was the first <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric car</a> to win the overall <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/awards/new-car-awards">What Car? Car of the Year award</a>.

What made the e-Niro so good? Well, along with its cousin – the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/kona-electric/hatchback/review/n18164">Hyundai Kona Electric</a> – it was the first electric car to democratise a 250+ mile range between charges. Yes, various Tesla models could go even further, but not by much – and the e-Niro cost a fraction of the money to buy.

That was a few years ago, though, and since then we’ve seen an explosion of respectably priced <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-suvs/n23038">electric SUVs</a> that offer an even longer range as well as faster charging. In short, the Kia Niro EV has a much tougher time impressing potential buyers than its predecessor.

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The Niro EV’s main rivals include the larger <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/enyaq/estate/review/n22909">Skoda Enyaq</a>, the slightly smaller <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/e-2008/estate/review/n20552">Peugeot e-2008</a> and the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/smart/hashtag-1/hatchback/review/n25016">Smart #1</a>. If you’re willing to sit a bit closer to the road, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/cupra/born/hatchback/review/n23703">Cupra Born</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/id3/hatchback/review/n21832">VW ID 3</a> might be on your shortlist, too.

Oh, and if you're not sure if you're ready to go fully electric, be sure to read about the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-hybrid-cars-2022/n17013">hybrid</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-plug-in-hybrid-cars-2022/n22743">plug-in hybrid</a> (PHEV) options in our full review of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/niro/estate/review/n17190">Kia Niro</a>.

Keep scrolling and we'll tell you how the Kia Niro EV squares up against the competition in all the important areas, including practicality, performance, range and&nbsp;charging.

NIRO

Electric SUV from Kia&nbsp;isn't as groundbreaking as its e-Niro predecessor, but it's still a fine all-rounder

Kia Niro EV

Think of "soul"&nbsp;and music probably springs to&nbsp;mind before the Kia Soul EV. However, this electric SUV&nbsp;deserves a bit of your attention too.

The reason the Soul doesn't get more limelight is probably because Kia also sells the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/niro/estate/review/n24582">Kia Niro EV</a>&nbsp;–&nbsp;another fully electric SUV but with more conventional looks and the ability to travel a few extra miles on a charge.

Until recently, the Soul's main selling point was that –&nbsp;unlike the Niro EV –&nbsp;you could have it with a choice of two different battery sizes. That's no longer the case though, because the smaller and cheaper 39kWh version has been discontinued, so what does the model have in its arsenal now?

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Well, every Kia Soul EV comes with a 64kWh battery and a 250+ mile range between charges, loads of standard equipment and lots of interior space.

Is that enough to help draw electric car buyers&nbsp;away from the well equipped <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/kona/hatchback/review/n18164">Hyundai Kona Electric</a>, the affordable <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/zs/hatchback/review/n20171">MG ZS EV</a> and the rather brilliant <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/smart/hashtag-1/hatchback/review/n25016">Smart #1</a>? Read on to find out...

SOUL

The Soul electric SUV is decent to drive and has an impressive range

Kia Soul EV

Lexus is always keen to point out that it was ahead of the game with electrification, and it's true that it&nbsp;was the first premium car maker&nbsp;to launch a hybrid model. However, the&nbsp;Lexus RZ&nbsp;we're reviewing here is actually the Japanese brand's first bespoke <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric car</a>.

We say&nbsp;‘bespoke’, because before the RZ, there was the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/lexus/ux/hatchback/review/n22099">Lexus UX 300e</a>. That&nbsp;was an <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-suvs/n23038">electric SUV</a> too, but was adapted from a hybrid model – and, to be frank, it wasn’t very good. It had a tiny boot and a high price, and even after some mid-life updates, took well over an hour to charge from&nbsp;10-80% at any <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/electric-car-charging-networks-rated/n23269">public charging point</a>.

Thankfully, that’s one of the areas where this new, larger Lexus RZ does much better. It has a CCS (rather than a CHAdeMO) charging port – the accepted European standard – and can pull up to 150kW from the grid. That means the same 10-80% charge can be covered off in half an hour, which is a&nbsp;big improvement.

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The Lexus RZ can’t just be a big step forward for <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/lexus">Lexus</a>&nbsp;though. If it’s going to be a success, it’ll need to tempt buyers away from the brilliant <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/ix3/4x4/review/n22236">BMW iX3</a> and the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/genesis/electrified-gv70/4x4/review/n25030">Genesis Electrified GV70</a> – as well as the slightly smaller <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-y/hatchback/review/n23624">Tesla Model Y</a>.

We've driven the RZ, and over the next few pages of this review, we’ll run you through the model’s strengths and weaknesses, tell you which version makes the most sense and explain what’s particularly clever about the interior heating system.

When you’ve decided which car you want to buy, find out how much you could save off the brochure price by visiting the What Car?&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/">New Car Deals pages</a>. You’ll find plenty of tempting <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/category/electric">new electric car deals</a>.

In the same way that Infiniti acts as Nissan’s premium arm, Lexus has a similar tie-in with Toyota. And since most of Toyota’s models are offered as hybrids, it’s no surprise to see the same from Lexus, although there are some traditional petrol engines, too.

The brand focuses heavily on SUVs – namely the NX and RX – but also has the CT hatchback, ES executive saloon and LS luxury car among its portfolio. More small and large SUVs are expected in the future.

Like Toyota, Lexus has built a very strong reputation for reliability and regularly finishes very close to the top of our annual Reliability Survey.

LEXUS

The first bespoke Lexus electric car is good to drive and practical, but key rivals have longer ranges

Lexus RZ

The Lexus UX 300e looks, on paper, like a car destined for success. After all, it’s a posh <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-suvs/n23038">electric SUV</a> crossover, and it doesn’t get more ‘in vogue’ than that.

Before we begin this review, though, we must point out that Lexus doesn’t see the UX 300e as a rival for other electric SUVs such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/kona-electric/hatchback/review/n18164">Hyundai Kona Electric</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/niro/estate/review/n24582">Kia Nir0 EV</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/e-2008/estate/review/n20552">Peugeot e-2008</a> or even the<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/id4/estate/review/n22789"> VW ID.4</a>. As the “only all-electric crossover SUV in the premium segment”, Lexus would prefer you to view the UX as a natural rival to the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-3/saloon/review/n19010">Tesla Model 3</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/polestar/2/hatchback/review/n21641">Polestar 2</a> and<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volvo/xc40/estate/review/n22063"> Volvo XC40 Recharge</a>.

That might seem a bit of a leap at first, but when you consider the entry level UX 300e costs more than a Model 3 Standard Range Plus (or more than a Long Range if you add the Premium Plus Pack), it only seems fair to compare the UX 300e to the other premium propositions.&nbsp;

However you look at it, though, it will have its work cut out. All of the rivals have a longer range than the UX 300e’s official 196 miles, and while a 0-62mph of 7.5 seconds and a top speed of 100mph are perfectly respectable figures, it won’t be grabbing any headlines.&nbsp;

In terms of styling, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/lexus">Lexus</a>, like Peugeot, believes that buyers of full-EV models want their cars to look as 'normal' as possible. Therefore, the design team for the UX 300e has had an easy job: the only visual changes to differentiate it from the regular petrol-electric hybrid&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/lexus/ux/hatchback/review/n17871">Lexus UX</a> are a more aerodynamic front grille, special 17-inch 'aero-ventilating' alloy wheels and different badges.&nbsp;

Over the next few pages of this Lexus UX300e review, we’ll be exploring more than just aesthetics. We’ll be investigating what it’s like to drive, how plush and spacious it is, plus how much it’ll cost you to buy and run. We'll also let you know whether it can compete with the best electric SUVs.

Don’t forget, whichever electric car you settle on, you could save a packet on the make and model you decide to buy using the free What Car?&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">New Car Deals&nbsp;service</a>, where you'll find lots of great <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/category/electric-suv">new electric SUV deals</a>.

Electric SUV&nbsp;is pleasant to drive, but short on range, space and a decent infotainment interface

Lexus UX 300e

Whether it’s Blockbuster, Blackberry or maybe a brand that doesn’t begin with a B that first springs to mind, we can all name companies that failed to move with the times, and went out of business as a result. The Lotus Eletre is intended to ensure that its maker doesn’t join that list.

By their very nature, SUVs are comparatively heavy vehicles, while <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-electric-suvs-2022/n23038">electric SUVs</a> like the Eletre are heavier still, making them a complete contrast to the lightweight <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-sports-cars-2022/n24412">sports cars</a> that <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/lotus">Lotus</a> has traditionally specialised in. And yet the simple fact is those sports cars sell in minuscule numbers.

It’s not hard, then, to see why Lotus is diversifying its line-up, with this made possible by the fact the brand is now owned by Chinese giant Geely (which also owns <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/make/volvo">Volvo</a>), so for the first time in years actually has money to spend. But is the Eletre any good?

Well, in this review we’ll be answering that question. Plus, we’ll look at how it compares with high performance electric rivals such as the Audi SQ8 e-tron and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/taycan/estate/review/n22960">Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo</a>, as well as petrol-engined alternatives, including the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/aston-martin/dbx/estate/review/n21787">Aston Martin DBX</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/cayenne/estate/review/n17375">Porsche Cayenne</a>.

Fancy something small, lightweight and fast? Then Lotus possibly has the right car for you. In fact ‘simplify then add lightness’ was the mantra of company founder Colin Chapman as far back as 1952.

These days, Lotus sells four models, with the core of the range being the Elise. Then there’s the more hardcore 3-Eleven, the sporty Exige and the Evora – which is pitched as a rival to the Porsche Cayman.

Big changes are afoot, though, because Lotus plans to build its own SUV in the near future, with the hope of broadening the brand’s appeal to families. The planned car will use Volvo underpinnings and will tackle rivals such as the Porsche Macan and Maserati Levante.

LOTUS

ELETRE

Grippy in corners and comfortable at speed, but there’s a lot of road noise and the ride is abrupt in town

Lotus Eletre

The problem with electric SUVs is that, while they're cheap to run, they can be rather expensive to buy in the first place. There is one notable exception, though – the MG ZS EV.

The ZS EV is effectively an <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric car</a> version of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/zs/hatchback/review/n17318">MG ZS</a>&nbsp;– and that small SUV is one of MG's&nbsp;most rounded models to date. While the EV isn’t quite the bargain the petrol-powered car is, the ethos of value for money remains.

That makes sense, because ever since MG was relaunched by a Chinese company, the once-famous British sports car brand has concentrated on building value-focused models, with steadily increasing success.

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You see, while the ZS EV costs lots less than direct rivals, it comes well equipped and impresses when it comes to range, with a&nbsp;Long Range version that can officially manage more than 270 miles.

But is the MG ZS EV really the bargain it first appears to be, or would you be better off paying a bit more for, say, a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/niro/estate/review/n24582">Kia Niro EV</a> or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/e-2008/estate/review/n20552">Peugeot e-2008</a>? Read on to find out...

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

Entry-level SE trim is our chosen version to go for. Why? Well, it keeps costs to a minimum but still comes with standard equipment that includes 17in alloy wheels, keyless entry, air-conditioning, adaptive cruise control, automatic LED headlights, a leather-trimmed steering wheel and a 10.1in touchscreen infotainment system with DAB radio, Bluetooth, built-in sat-nav and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone mirroring. 

SE EV

The MG ZS EV electric SUV offers a lot for the money, especially in Long Range form

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