Veganism is on the rise. According to the one study from Finder, more than three million people in the UK would class themselves as vegans, with the trend being repeated worldwide, leading to growing interest in the best vegan-friendly cars.
If you’re a vegan, or vegan-curious, and in the market for a vegan-friendly car, the good news is that car manufacturers are savvy enough to try and take an ever-increasingly large slice of the pie. Brands such as Polestar, BMW, and Tesla have all made conscious efforts to try and make cruelty-free interiors.
Best vegan cars 2024
Compact MINI majors on eco-friendliness
The leather seats are actually made from a fully animal-free material with no sacrifice on quality. In fact, it feels every bit as good as the real thing. MINI has gone all in on sustainability too, not least with its knitted dashboard made from a range of recycled materials.
To find out more, read our full MINI Cooper Electric review
Pros
- Enjoyable to drive
- Wide array of options
- Stacks of charm
Cons
- Can get expensive
- Rear space isn't great
Premium hatch packs a striking interior
The big thing to look for in an A-Class is Mercedes’ Artico artificial leather. Dinamica, a type of man-made suede, is also available.
To find out more, read our full Mercedes-Benz A-Class review
Pros
- Economical engines
- Lots of tech options
- Eye-catching interior
Cons
- Quality isn't great in places
- No plug-in hybrid model
Tesla-rivalling Polestar is well worth considering
Carpets made from recycled fishing nets, flax-based composite in the dashboards and centre consoles, and cork-based vinyl are among the car’s eco-credentials.
To find out more, read our full Polestar 2 review
Pros
- Stylish, inside and out
- Slick infotainment system
- Good range
Cons
- Rough ride
- Limited rear room
An impressive and efficient electric car
Back on Earth, Tesla electric cars are famed for long ranges and quick acceleration. The Model 3 is the smallest car in the range; it boasts an official electric range of 360 miles and a starting price of £39,990. It’s available with no leather in it whatsoever. It's 100% leather-free, in other words.
To find out more, read our full Tesla Model 3 review
Pros
- Easy to live with
- Refined driving experience
- Impressive range
Cons
- Some quality and support concerns
- Minimalist interior has its foibles
Executive is BMW's first vegan car
As standard, this new saloon and Touring (estate) comes with a leather-free interior called Veganza, which replicates the look and feel of it but in a much more sustainable way. 'Real' leather is available as an option, so it's worth checking if on a used version that it doesn't have this included. The same animal-free interior is also available on the electric BMW i5.
To find out more, read our full BMW 5 Series review
Pros
- Great to drive
- Superb build quality
- Choice of petrol, hybrid and electric models
Cons
- Feels large to drive
- Gets expensive with optional extras
Frugal family hatchback offers great value for money
Finance deals on them aren’t outstanding, but if you’re buying in cash and want something simple and rugged to drive around in, a Sandero is a fine choice.
To find out more, read our full Dacia Sandero review
Pros
- Superb value
- Good interior space for its size
- Lots of neat features
Cons
- Low Euro NCAP safety rating
- Rivals are more refined
A sporty all-electric family SUV that packs a punch
It’s quick enough to warrant the name: the 0-62mph dash is completed in just over five seconds, plus it is available with rear- or all-wheel drive.
Vegan credentials come courtesy of Ford’s Sensico seat fabric. It’s a type of faux leather and is easily as comfortable as cow hide.
To find out more read our full Ford Mustang Mach-E review
Pros
- Head-turning looks
- Stout performance
- Long range
Cons
- Firm ride
- Not that fun to drive
Top-flight EV is a delight to drive
Non-leather options include Porsche’s man-made suede, Race-Tex. Suede has long been associated with sports cars because it’s more grippy than leather – which makes it easier to hang onto the steering wheel when tearing around a track or, more likely, performing a parallel park.
To find out more, read our full Porsche Taycan review
Pros
- Superb performance and handling
- Excellent interior
- Capable of impressive efficiency
Cons
- Boot isn't that big
- It's heavy
What is a vegan-friendly car?
One important distinction to make early on is that there are no completely vegan cars. Francine Jordan, spokesperson for the Vegan Society, said: ‘The rubber and plastic used for tires may be vulcanised and toughened using tallow (mutton fat) and even the steel used for the car’s frame may have been lubricated with animal fat.
‘Even steering wheels and gear knobs can be an issue as in recent years manufacturers have ditched plastic versions in favour of leather ones – even in the most basic models.’
How to choose a vegan-friendly car
Choosing a vegan-friendly car needn’t be hard work. The biggest thing to do is try and avoid leather and remember that it isn’t just found on seats – it’s often found on dashboards, as well as steering wheels and gear knobs.
Cheap and basic cars are usually the ones with no leather. The Vegan Society advises scouring brochures as they often state when something is leather.
Jordan adds: ‘The key with veganism is trying to do your best – it’s not possible to be 100% vegan in this imperfect world but we can avoid animal suffering as much as possible.
‘Avoiding leather is a practicable thing we can do when buying a car, while we can’t of course avoid tyres or steel. It would be very difficult if not impossible to track down whether animals were used in the production of those materials.’
The future of vegan cars
The Vegan Trademark is the international standard on veganism, managed by The Vegan Society. No cars currently have this seal of approval.
However, Ericka Durgahee, business development marketing manager for The Vegan Societ, said: ‘The team gladly welcomes any automotive manufacturer who wants to confidently back its vegan claims up, and most importantly, gain third-party insight into the vegan consumer to talk to us.’
