Range anxiety is a serious problem for people considering an electric car. The battery technology in mainstream EVs isn’t quite good enough to compete with the range and refuelling times of petrol or diesel-powered cars, but the longest range electric cars can now do more than 300 miles, and some can do more than 450 miles.
The cars on this list can easily do London to Newcastle in one hit, while a couple could theoretically cover London to Edinburgh. And don’t think they’re all slippery streamliners with no room for passengers, they’ll all fit four people with room to spare. Admittedly, if you want a seven-seat electric car, you’ll need to compromise on range because they’re bigger and heavier. And if you want a small electric car, range is also a trade-off because there’s physically less room to store batteries.
If you’re still on the fence about EV ownership, scroll down to check out our list of the best long range electric cars currently on the market. Wherever possible, the maximum range figure for each car is taken from its official WLTP test score.
Longest range electric cars 2024
It’s very comfortable, very spacious and fitted with more technology than you can shake a microchip at, including a clever cruise control system and an optional 1.5-metre-wide infotainment system. Now for the bad news. It’s eye-wateringly expensive. Prices start from more than £100,000, which puts it well out of reach for most buyers.
To find out more, read our full Mercedes EQS review
Pros
- Huge range
- Comfortable
Cons
- Interior not as nice as S-Class
- Eye-wateringly expensive
There is also a more powerful 1,020hp tri-motor variant called the Plaid, which Tesla says can cover up to 396 miles between charging stops. However, there is a caveat to both these cars. They’re left-hand drive only.
To find out more, read our full Tesla Model S review
Pros
- Rock solid range calculator
- Supercharger network
Cons
- Hard to find stock
- Not as well made as others on this list
It’s also very comfortable and has a very well-equipped cabin, complete with a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 12.8-inch infotainment system. It’s more affordable than the EQS, too, with prices starting from a shade over £70,000. The only downside is that it never feels particularly fast.
To find out more, read our full Mercedes EQE review
Pros
- Brilliant blend of economy and performance
- Quality interior
Cons
- More expensive than equivalent Tesla
- Not as fast as some of the cars on this list
The iX’s charging speeds make for equally impressive reading. The SUV is compatible with 195kW rapid chargers, meaning it can take on 93 miles of range in just 10 minutes. It’s also incredibly fast. The xDrive 50 variant has two electric motors with a combined output of 530hp, which BMW says is enough for a 0–62mph time of 4.6 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 124mph.
To find out more, read our full BMW iX review
Pros
- Fast
- Stunning interior
Cons
- Controversial styling
- Highly premium pricing
It’s fitted with a 91kWh battery pack and a single 294hp electric motor mounted on the rear axle. It’s no slouch either – even this ‘slow’ model can sprint from 0–62mph in seven seconds flat. If you're still after more performance, there's a GT model for an extra £20,000, which gets an extra motor up front to bump power up to 487hp and slash the 0–62mph dash down to 3.7 seconds.
To find out more, read our full Ford Mustang Mach-E review
Pros
- Good to drive
- Iconic name
Cons
- Not very comfortable
- Not a premium badge
Why battery range is so important
The UK’s piecemeal charging infrastructure doesn’t instil much confidence in electric vehicles, either. We have around 30,000 charging points in the UK – but they’re struggling to cope with the 750,000 EVs already on the road. And the issue is only going to worsen, as the SMMT estimates that we’ll have almost seven million zero-emission vehicles on our roads by 2030.
However, corporations are working on the public charging network and manufacturers are slowly figuring out how to get more miles from an EV. Now, the best electric cars can cover more than 400 miles on a charge, representing a huge leap forward in battery and motor technology. Sadly, these improvements are still limited to the upper echelons of the car market, leaving less affluent buyers to either settle for a reasonably priced lower-range electric car or stick with combustion power.
Some of the more affordable long-range electric cars include the Skoda Enyaq iV, Kia EV6 and Ford Mustang Mach-E. They’re all capable of covering more than 300 miles on a charge but, to get that impressive maximum range figure, you’ll have to spend around £50,000 on each of them. To get an extra 100 miles of range, you’ll need to double your budget for something like a Tesla Model S.
We appreciate that we haven’t made EV ownership sound particularly appealing, so it’s important to remember the upsides. Electric cars accelerate instantly, they have whisper-quiet cabins and they gain access to perks like complimentary road tax and free passage into low-emission zones. Also, because most of the cars in this list cost upwards of £50,000, they’re all sumptuously equipped with clever infotainment systems, fancy upholstery and lashings of driver assistance technology.
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