Hyundai Ioniq - best tax-free cars

Our pick: 88kW Premium
CO2: 0g/km

List price: £30,795

The Ioniq is available as a Toyota Prius-rivalling hybrid, and also as a pure electric car to target the BMW i3, Kia Soul and Nissan Leaf. The electric motor and petrol engine aren’t as well combined in the Ioniq as they are in the Prius, but it does at least offer lots of practicality at an affordable price. Proving to be more than a match for any of the rivals named above, the Ioniq claims a 174-mile range and offers a useful 119bhp in Sport mode. The range figure is a difficult one to reach in the real world, but then that’s true of a lot of EVs and hybrids.

It looks more like a conventional petrol or diesel car than some EVs; the large grey plastic panel in place of the front grille is the only giveaway of the Hyundai’s eco underpinnings. The steering and ride are good while kit is impressive in Premium trim. If you go for the hybrid Ioniq, the new VED rates will see you pay £90 in the first 12 months, then £130 a year.

The UK's best tax-free cars

1. 1. BMW i3
2. 2. Nissan Leaf
3. 3. Renault ZOE
4. 4. Hyundai Ioniq
5. 5. Volkswagen e-Golf
6. 6. Volkswagen e-up!
7. 7. Smart ForTwo electric
8. 8. Mercedes B 250 e
9. 9. Kia Soul EV
10. 10. Nissan e-NV200