Top 10 longest range electric cars on sale 2024
Racking up the miles? These are the electric cars with the longest battery ranges that you can buy in the UK
Electric car batteries are bigger and better than ever, allowing the longest range electric cars to cover hundreds of miles with ease. If you’re planning to cover some serious distance in your new EV, we’re here to make your search easier with this list of the longest ranges offered by electric cars that you can buy in the UK.
The figures shown below are all derived from the official WLTP efficiency test, which is designed to be more representative of the range drivers will actually achieve in the real world than the old NEDC test. While the actual real word range of these EVs will depend on a variety of factors including driving style, road conditions and ambient temperature, the figures are a good guide to what you can expect.
The longest range electric cars on sale in the UK
- Mercedes EQS - 452 miles
- Volkswagen ID.7 - 437 miles
- Porsche Taycan - 421 miles
- Polestar 2 - 406 miles
- Porsche Macan Electric - 398 miles
- Audi Q6 e-tron - 396 miles
- Tesla Model S - 394 miles
- Tesla Model 3 - 390 miles
- Ford Capri - 390 miles
- BMW i7 - 387 miles
1. Mercedes EQS - 452 miles
- Prices from £100,000
The longest-range electric car currently on sale in the UK is the Mercedes EQS: the three-pointed star’s zero-emissions alternative to its own S-Class executive limousine. Its deeply impressive maximum range of 452 miles is offered by the entry-level EQS 450+ model.
This is thanks to a gigantic 107.8kWh battery pack and a very low coefficient of drag, so it’s slippery through the air and therefore efficient at speed. The high-performance Mercedes-AMG EQS 53 version trades range for speed – with a staggering amount of power on tap, 0-62mph takes less than four seconds, but range drops to 348 miles at best.
In our minds, however, the EQS should be all about luxury, and it feels as though Mercedes has held back in this area so it doesn’t step on the toes of the superb S-Class. The BMW i7 trumps the EQS when it comes to accommodation, tech and quality. The ‘Hyperscreen’ infotainment display that virtually covers the entire dashboard is admittedly quite impressive, and works fairly smoothly in practice, but you need to jack up the driver’s seat to an SUV-style height just to see over the high dashboard properly.
2. Volkswagen ID.7 - 437 miles
- Prices from £51,500
Volkswagen took a while to launch its entry in the competitive executive EV market, but the ID.7 sees off the likes of Polestar, BMW and even Tesla in the battery range stakes.
To get this official 437-mile range, you’ll need the ID.7 Pro S model with its 86kWh battery pack. Alternatively, the entry-level Pro still manages to claim an impressive 381 miles from its slightly smaller 77kWh unit.
The VW ID.7 is also one of the most practical cars in this sector thanks to its spacious cabin, 532-litre boot and useful touches such as a variable-height boot floor. If you need even more space but don’t fancy the idea of an SUV, there’s always the option of the ID.7 Tourer estate car.
3. Porsche Taycan - 421 miles
- Prices from £86,500
- Best driving experience
It isn’t cheap to buy, but the Porsche Taycan feels exactly like a Porsche should as soon as you take a seat behind the wheel, regardless of its fully-electric powertrain.
Not only is there a healthy dose of power available across the line-up, but the Taycan also does a very respectable job of keeping its two-tonne kerb weight well under control. Aim this EV towards a corner and it feels more than agile enough to be thrown around to your heart’s content. The steering and pedals deliver an enjoyable amount of feedback, too.
If you can avoid the temptation of driving everywhere with your right foot planted to the floor, Porsche’s 105kWh Performance Battery Plus allows the Taycan to return up to 421 miles on the WLTP combined cycle.
4. Polestar 2 - 406 miles
- Prices from £45,000
The Polestar 2 previously had a maximum range of 341 miles when it first arrived, but thanks to a midlife facelift and some significant updates under the skin, this executive EV can now cover 406 miles before it runs out of juice, according to its maker. That’s an impressive feat in its own right, and even more so when you learn the Long Range Single Motor version with this headline-grabbing range figure costs less than £50k.
There’s more to the updated Polestar 2 than its boosted range, though. It feels better built than the Tesla Model 3 and its Google-powered infotainment is top-notch. The hatchback tailgate is another plus point, as is the 41-litre ‘frunk’ under the bonnet, so there’s plenty of room for four people and all their gear.
Our biggest gripe, and what holds the Polestar 2 back from being one of the best electric cars on sale, is its incredibly firm ride. In fact, it actually makes the ride uncomfortable on rougher UK roads, and when going up against rivals from Tesla, Hyundai and BMW, that’s a real deathblow.
5. Porsche Macan Electric - 398 miles
- Prices from £62,500
Porsche’s top-selling SUV has now made the switch to electric power, and the brand intends to attract plenty more buyers with the Macan Electric’s 96kWh battery and its 398-mile headline range figure. There’s plenty of quality, performance and technology to accompany it, too.
Admittedly, the Macan Electric isn’t the most practical electric SUV on the market as rear passenger and boot space is limited, but it is easily one of the best to drive. There’s up to 630bhp on tap if you opt for the Turbo variant, but every version will launch from 0-62mph in under six seconds. Much like the Taycan, the Macan does an admirable job of keeping its notable weight under control in the corners, too.
6. Audi Q6 e-tron - 396 miles
- Prices from £64,500
- Best for practicality
The Audi Q6 e-tron is a mid-size SUV in the technical sense, but physically it’s a pretty huge car. While this bulky stature can make the Q6 e-tron a bit tricky to navigate around tighter backroads, it does mean there’s a huge amount of room inside for passengers and luggage alike. However, you’ll have to look elsewhere if you want a seven seater.
Along with a 526-litre boot at the back, the Q6 e-tron also comes with a frunk and plenty of underfloor storage, so you can carry a huge amount of luggage if you need to. Naturally, a car this big also needs a big battery, and Audi's 94.9kWh unit gets up to 396 miles of range.
7. Tesla Model S - 394 miles
- Prices from £94,000
- Best for performance
It took a while for the facelifted Tesla Model S to make it over here, but it finally hit UK roads in 2023 with a maximum range of 394 miles. Of course, the caveat is that the Model S is now available exclusively in left-hand drive form.
It’s easier than you might think to forget that though, once you consider the thoroughly impressive range and performance that it offers. The dual-motor Long Range Model S will sprint form 0-60mph in just 3.1 seconds, keeping it well in the sights of top supercars. If for whatever reason that isn’t fast enough for you, the Model S Plaid brings this time down to an astonishing 1.99 seconds with its three electric motors pumping out 1,006bhp and 1,420Nm of torque, all of which is available the instant you tap the accelerator.
Technology is as plentiful as ever and the Model S retains its somewhat minimalist interior styling, but the facelift brought with it a new 17-inch landscape touchscreen that’s as sharp and precise as an iPad or other tablet. Tesla’s Autopilot system and other kit helps take some of the stress out of long journeys, as does access to the Tesla Supercharger network if the battery starts to run low on charge.
8. Tesla Model 3 - 390 miles
- Prices from £40,000
- Best value for money
The Tesla Model 3 has been on sale in Britain since 2019, and although it finds itself with more rivals than ever, it’s pretty easy to figure out why so many EV advocates in the UK have bought or leased one. The Model 3 may be Tesla’s cheapest model, but there are no sacrifices in terms of range, as every version can cover over 300 miles on a single charge.
The facelifted Model 3 goes even further, too, with the Long Range model boasting an official range of 390 miles (up from 374 miles). The Model 3 has also proved itself to be extremely efficient during our own testing in the past. Access to all Tesla Superchargers is another perk of ownership, and will be particularly appealing for those who cover lots of motorway miles.
There’s plenty of the brand’s signature tech to be found on-board too, with the facelifted Model 3 set to feature a 15.4-inch touchscreen that’s the same size as before but now has more usable screen space. New acoustic glass, quieter tyres and sound-deadening materials should also help improve refinement, while performance is still mind-boggling.
9. Ford Capri - 390 miles
- Prices from £42,000
While its name has been the cause of some massive controversy, there’s less argument to be had about Ford’s choice of battery for its new Capri SUV. The unit in question is a 77kWh pack, and this can deliver up to 390 miles on the WLTP combined cycle if you opt for the rear-wheel drive Extended Range model.
This pack is actually shared with the closely-related Volkswagen ID.4, but the ID.4 only manages a top official figure of 349 miles. The Capri has a slight advantage when it comes to its starting price, too.
10. BMW i7 - 387 miles
- Prices from £102,000
For the first time, BMW’s flagship executive limousine is available with all-electric power. Unlike its biggest rivals, the Tesla Model S and Mercedes EQS, the BMW i7 shares its platform with a combustion-engined counterpart, the 7 Series. However, this doesn’t mean that any shortcuts have been taken with the i7’s powertrain.
The i7 features a huge 101.7kWh battery that BMW claims is good for up to 387 miles of range. BMW has been clever with the battery pack’s design, too. It’s super-thin in order to prevent intrusion into the cabin space – a vital element of any luxury car – while 195kW maximum charging speeds make a 10-80 per cent top-up achievable in as little as 34 minutes.
A near-silent driving experience, superb refinement and high-quality materials mean that comfort can be found in abundance. The i7 has acres of space and a real sense of occasion, which certainly helped it secure our Luxury Car of the Year award for both 2023 and 2024.
If you are fortunate enough to be regularly chauffeured in your i7, it’s definitely worth taking a look at the options list. The Rear Comfort Pack will allow you to electronically recline and adjust the heated and ventilated seats, while the 31-inch 8K folding Theatre Screen will keep you thoroughly entertained.
How much EV battery range do you actually need?
Electric cars have evolved at an extraordinary rate over the past decade or so, and there’s no better illustration of that progress than remembering the original Nissan Leaf from 2011 could cover just 109 miles before it ran out of juice. That meant you couldn’t drive it from London to Birmingham without desperately searching for a plug socket at least once. But these days the longest range electric cars can cross entire countries and still have battery charge to spare.
Most people don’t need a car with a 400 or even 300-mile range if they have a short commute or can charge up at home whenever they need to, but there’s no denying range anxiety will be a factor in some potential electric car buyers’ choice of EV. A long range means drivers can tackle long journeys without needing to stop, while for others it simply means they don’t have to remember to charge their car as regularly.
A long range can also just be a perk of having one of the very latest EVs in high-spec guise with a big battery, but we’d always advise buyers to think carefully about the amount of range they need rather than simply going for as much as they can afford. Generally speaking, big range means a big battery which bumps up the weight of the car and the price. If you can live quite comfortably with a cheaper electric car that has a shorter range, you can save cash and may actually gain some efficiency thanks to the lower weight of a small electric car model, such as the Dacia Spring.
Fancy a zero-emission bargain? These are the cheapest electric cars on sale...
