Best fast electric cars of 2023

Electric cars are much faster than petrol cars in a straight line. Petrol engines need to climb into their power bands (normally above 2,500rpm) before they produce their peak power and torque figures, while electric cars can generate all their performance from a standstill. That makes them blisteringly quick off the blocks.

Because electric technology is still quite new and exciting, manufacturers are locked in an arms race for EV speed dominance. Brands like BMW, Porsche, Kia and Mercedes are bickering over the crown in the upmarket family car segments, but the current speed king is the Tesla Model S Plaid. It can cover the 0–62mph sprint in around two seconds which, to put that into perspective, is about the same as a Formula One racer.

The performance gains aren’t restricted to expensive electric cars, either. Even an average electric car like the Kia Niro EV will outperform an equivalent petrol-powered vehicle. The Niro EV can sprint from 0–62mph in 7.8 seconds, while the petrol-powered Niro PHEV will dispatch the same sprint in 9.6 seconds, despite the fact it’s 140kg lighter and it produces an extra 10Nm of torque.

If you’re an eco-conscious speed freak, scroll down for our list of the fastest electric cars on sale in the UK right now. For the purposes of this list, we’ve ignored electric hypercars like the Aspark Owl and Lotus Evija – mostly because they’re far out of reach of the average driver. Instead, we’ve favoured electric family cars and electric SUVs.

The best fast electric cars of 2023

1

Ford Mustang Mach-E GT

Great family EV (with a slightly firm ride)

Ford was met with a lot of criticism when it fixed its iconic Mustang badge to the rear of a pure-electric SUV. The results were a lot better than the naysayers hoped for, though. The Mustang Mach-E GT is great fun to drive and, if you hammer your foot into the firewall, seriously quick. It also has four-wheel drive, so it can get all 487hp down to the tarmac in all conditions.

Read our full Ford Mustang Mach-E review

Pros & Cons Features

Pros

• Quick and fun to drive
• Long range

Cons

• Harsh low-speed ride
• Odd steering feel

• Power/torque: 487hp/860Nm
  0–62mph time: 4.4 seconds
  Top speed: 124mph

2

Polestar 2 Long Range Dual Motor Performance Pack

The best reason yet to not buy a Tesla Model 3

Polestar is still a fringe brand in the UK, but the 2 makes a compelling case for the firm’s movement into the mainstream. It’s a direct competitor for the Tesla Model 3 that serves up brisk performance and balanced handling. The Model 3 might have it licked on the drag strip, but the gap narrows on the road – and we reckon it’s worth sacrificing a few tenths in the 0–62mph sprint to bag the 2’s superior interior.

Read our full Polestar 2 review

Pros & Cons Features

Pros

• Standout looks
• Classy interior

Cons

• Limited head- and legroom
• Rather expensive

• Power/torque: 476hp/740Nm
  0–62mph time: 4.2 seconds
  Top speed: 127mph

3

BMW i4 M50

It’s almost as good as a traditional BMW M car

The standard i4 was already a very fast electric car, but that didn’t stop BMW from improving it. In M50 guise, it’s one of the fastest mainstream electric cars on the market in a straight line and its suspension has been designed well enough to allow it to retain that accolade in the bends. Perhaps more importantly, it’s engaging to drive ­– which is more than can be said for the Teslas.

Read our full BMW i4 review

Pros & Cons Features

Pros

• Long range
• Frightening acceleration

Cons

• Cramped rear seats
• Takes ages to charge at home

• Power/torque: 544hp/795Nm
  0–62mph time: 3.9 seconds
  Top speed: 139mph

4

BMW iX M60

Comical performance from BMW’s EV tour-de-force

BMW went all-out for the iX. It’s made from lightweight materials like carbon fibre and aluminium and, in M60 trim, it features a pair of colossal electric motors that churn out almost twice as much torque as a Ferrari 458’s 4.5-litre V8. That means it’s quick. Sickeningly quick, in fact. It accelerates so quickly that it made a couple of our road testers’ stomachs turn from a standing start.

Read our full BMW iX review

Pros & Cons Features

Pros

• Impressive to drive
• Enough power to shame sports cars

Cons

• Divisive styling
• Not as practical as some rivals

• Power/torque: 620hp/1015Nm
  0–62mph time: 3.8 seconds
  Top speed: 155mph

5

Kia EV6 GT

A fast and well-rounded family EV

The Kia EV6 is a great electric car – and it was only improved with extra power. In GT trim, it has supercar-baiting performance, but it’s a family SUV with a 480-litre boot and enough space inside for four adults. Despite the sporty makeover, it also remains a very comfortable place to be, with supportive seats and surprisingly supple suspension.

Read our full Kia EV6 GT review

Pros & Cons Features

Pros

• Sharper than normal EV6
• Blistering charge times

Cons

• Range tumbles over standard car
• More tyre roar from larger wheels

• Power/torque: 585hp/740Nm
  0–62mph time: 3.5 seconds
  Top speed: 162mph

6

Mercedes-AMG EQE 53

A savagely fast and surprisingly nimble electric saloon

The AMG EQE is a tough sell for Mercedes. Buyers flocked to its traditional performance cars for their raucous engine notes and tyre slaying V8 engines. An AMG-badged car that wafts around in total silence seems a little off-brand but, somehow, Mercedes has made it work. The EQE 53 is eye-wideningly quick when you floor the throttle and, unlike some of AMG’s older petrol-powered animals, it doesn’t fall over in the corners thanks to four-wheel drive and four-wheel steering.

Read our full Mercedes-AMG EQE review

Pros & Cons Features

Pros

• Sledgehammer acceleration
• Great ride and handling

Cons

• Feels big on tight roads
• Expensive, even before options

• Power/torque: 635hp/950Nm
  0–62mph time: 3.5 seconds
  Top speed: 137mph

7

Tesla Model 3 Performance

Tesla’s supercar-baiting performance in a smaller package

Tesla has built its reputation on the supercar-baiting performance of its electric powertrains. Even the entry-level Model 3 is quick enough to worry hot hatchbacks – but the Performance variant is fast enough to bury them in a cloud of dust. It’s nimble in the corners, too, which is surprising when you learn that the top-spec big-battery variant weighs more than 1,800kg.

Read our full Tesla Model 3 review

Pros & Cons Features

Pros

• Long real-world electric range
• Good to drive

Cons

• Issues with build quality
• Touchscreen controls everything

• Power/torque: 450hp/639Nm
  0–60mph time: 3.1 seconds
  Top speed: 162mph

8

Audi RS E-Tron GT

A more comfortable alternative to the Porsche Taycan

The RS e-tron GT is mechanically related to the Porsche Taycan, but it has a completely different character. Audi has set it up to be more of a long-distance cruiser than a B-road barnstormer and, for the most part, the operation has been a success. Even the stiffest RS model is composed and stable on the motorway, but it still offers blistering ‘in-gear’ acceleration, strong enough to fold you into the seat upholstery.

Read our full Audi E-Tron GT review

Pros & Cons Features

Pros

• Packed with technology
• Comfortable on the motorway

Cons

• Battery range trails Tesla
• Rear headroom is neat

• Power/torque: 646hp/830Nm
  0–60mph time: 3.3 seconds
  Top speed: 155mph

9

Porsche Taycan Turbo S

The best-driving EV on sale today

Porsche took its sweet time launching its first electric car. The Taycan was unveiled seven years after the Tesla Model S and, when it hit the market, it gave Musk’s best effort a hiding. The Model S might be faster down the drag strip, but the Taycan will trounce the Tesla in the corners with its superior suspension and four-wheel drive system. And it’s hardly a slouch on the straights, either.

Read our full Porsche Taycan review

Pros & Cons Features

Pros

• Great in the corners
• Deceptively spacious

Cons

• Heavy – it weighs two tonnes
• Expensive to buy

• Power/torque: 761hp/1,050Nm
  0–62mph time: 2.8 seconds
  Top speed: 162mph

10

Tesla Model S Plaid

Speed, power and a range of more than 300 miles

The Model S Plaid is the current speed king of mainstream electric vehicles. It has the same amount of power as Bugatti Veyron and will get from 0–62mph faster than a Lamborghini Aventador. Sure, EVs like the Rimac Nevera and Lotus Evija are quicker – but they’re hopelessly impractical hypercars. You can take your entire family and all their luggage along for a ride in the Tesla.

Read our full Tesla Model S review

Pros & Cons Features

Pros

• It has 1,020hp!
• Mind-bending straight-line acceleration

Cons

• Ride and handling lack finesse
• Some build quality issues

• Power/torque: 1,020hp/1,420Nm
  0–62mph time: 2.1 seconds
  Top speed: 200mph

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