► The longest-range electric cars ranked
► Includes cars from Tesla, Mercedes and BMW
► All of these EVs can travel at least 350 miles
For many, range is the most important consideration when buying an EV – and, nowadays, many of the best electric cars sport a range north of 350 miles.
The ability to cover long distances without stopping to plug in is crucial to making EVs viable, especially when trying to pull people away from the convenience of combustion power and two-minute fuel stops. There’s still work to do, both in terms of charging infrastructure and EVs delivering their quoted ranges in the real world, but things are improving.
Whether or not drivers need a car that can travel hundreds of miles on a full battery is a different matter entirely. There are plenty of owners that only need small electric cars for pottering around their home town – so they can get away with a short-range EV that can be easily charged up at home, such as the Honda E.
But for those thinking about travelling great distances in comfort, conventional petrol or diesel alternatives are probably still at the top of their list. Times are changing, though, and 2035’s potential ban on new combustion-engined cars could leave new car buyers scrambling to identify and find long-range EVs that suit their motoring needs.
Fortunately, the longest-range electric cars available now should offer the capabilities required to sate the needs of long-distance drivers. Improvements in battery and motor technology, ever-increasing charging speeds, and reductions in energy consumption and losses elsewhere, are helping boost the range of electric cars tremendously – and many now offer north of a claimed 350 miles on a single charge.
Next-generation electric cars are set to offer even longer ranges; Mercedes, for example, has already revealed the Vision EQXX concept car which drove more than 1,000km (621 miles) on a single charge in April 2022. Granted, it’s still a technical showcase rather than a proper production car, but it demonstrates that electric car range anxiety will soon be a thing of the past.
So, thinking about buying an EV but need an electric car with the longest range possible? Then read on for our list of the best long-range electric cars on sale in the UK, based on their WLTP range figures – their real-world range will vary with driving conditions and climate – and get set to rack up some serious miles in silence.
The top ten electric cars with the longest range
10. BMW i4 eDrive40 Sport
Range: 365 miles
The BMW i4 is essentially an electric version of BMW’s 4 Series Gran Coupe and has a similar footprint to the 3 Series. Two versions were released when it was launched in the summer of 2021, the eDrive40 model and the performance-focused M50, which were later joined by an entry-level derivative called the eDrive35.
If you’re looking for maximum range, you’ll want the i4 eDrive40 Sport. Its battery pack can power the car for up to 365 miles, while its single electric motor mounted on the rear axle produces 335bhp. That’s enough for a 0–62mph time of 5.7 seconds and a top speed of 118mph.
Buyers wanting something hotter could instead opt for the i4 M50. It does cost more, and it can only cover 318 miles, but the addition of a second motor hikes its power to a mighty 537bhp. That extra muscle cuts its 0-62mph time down to a supercar-rivalling 3.9 seconds. It’s not as agile as the conventional M3 and M4, though, due to its hefty weight.
Read our full BMW i4 review
9. Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV 450 4Matic
Range: 366 miles
Looking for a premium SUV with seven seats? Here’s another to put on your list: the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV. It’s effectively a Range Rover competitor – yes, an all-electric Range Rover is on its way – but it also competes with the likes of the Tesla Model X and upcoming Volvo EX90. It’s not cheap, though, but you do get a lot of quality and tech for your money.
Go for the EQS in 450 4Matic AMG Line Premium Plus specification and you’ll get a 355bhp SUV, with all-wheel drive, that can accelerate from 0-62mph in six seconds flat. More significantly, it’ll also be capable, on paper, of travelling up to 366 miles on a single charge. You also get standard-fit features such as heated and cooled front seats, heated second- and third-row seats, an array of advanced driver assistance features, the Mercedes MBUX interior assistant, and a Burmester surround-sound system.
If you want something with a bit more muscle then you’re in luck, because there’s a more powerful version called the EQS 580, if you have the budget. It packs 536bhp and can accelerate from 0-62mph in 4.6 seconds, all while retaining a 365-mile range.
Read our full Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV review
8. Ford Mustang Mach-E Premium RWD
Range: 372 miles
Ignore the contentious badge. We know it’s not what most would consider a Mustang. Instead, just focus on Ford’s effort in the EV space – the company has managed to make an electric SUV that covers the same ground as some competitors that cost twice as much. Okay, it might fall behind in areas such as straight-line performance but, still, it’s an impressive accomplishment.
Prices for the Mustang Mach-E start from around £50,000 in the UK. For that, you get a battery with a 70kWh usable capacity, feeding a single electric motor, and a maximum range of 273 miles. Go for the Premium rear-wheel-drive model and that net capacity leaps to 91kWh, granting a superb claimed range of 372 miles.
An all-wheel-drive version is available, too, but its range is a lesser 341 miles. There’s also a flagship Mach-E GT, which has a range of 304 miles and can accelerate from 0-62mph in 3.7 seconds. It’ll set you back some £75,000, though, but that is less expensive than the likes of the BMW iX.
Read our full Ford Mustang Mach-E review
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7. Tesla Model 3 Long Range
Range: 374 miles
The Tesla Model 3 is somewhat of a sensation. It was the second best-selling car of 2021, lagging only behind the Vauxhall Corsa. Having sampled the whole range, we can agree with what everyone else is saying: it really is very good.
Even the entry-level single-motor version has a stout 305-mile range, as well as a similarly stout 0-60mph time of 5.8 seconds and a top speed of 140mph. At the time of publication, it’ll set you back £42,990 – but, given Tesla’s propensity for changing its prices, that’ll have probably changed by next week.
For the longest range, go for the dual-motor Long Range model, which costs just over £50,000. It has a claimed range of 374 miles and is also significantly swifter, dispatching the 0-60mph dash in 4.2 seconds. Want to accelerate quicker than a McLaren F1? You’ll need the flagship Model 3 Performance, which also has a still-impressive 340-mile range
Read our full Tesla Model 3 review
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6. Polestar 3 Long range Dual motor
Range: 379 miles
Polestar’s range is growing pretty swiftly and the Polestar 3, which made its debut in October 2022, is now on sale – and deliveries are earmarked to kick off towards the end of the year. And, given the quality of the Polestar 2, we’re expecting the Polestar 3 to be a compelling option for luxury SUV buyers.
Two models will be offered: the Long Range Dual motor, and the Long Range Dual motor with Performance pack. The standard model has a range of 379 miles and packs 483bhp, granting a 0-60mph time of 4.9 seconds. The Performance version has 510bhp, and gets to sixty in 4.6 seconds, but its range falls to a lesser 479 miles.
As you’d hope, given that the starting price is £79,900, you get a lot of equipment as standard for your money, too. Features include a 14.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system, triple-zone climate, Pilot Assist with adaptive cruise, heated wipers (yes), soft-close doors, a head-up display and a Bowers & Wilkins 25-speaker sound system.
Read our full Polestar 3 preview
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5. BMW iX xDrive50 M Sport
Range: 382 miles
BMW’s design language has been somewhat of a controversial topic of late – and nowhere is that more evident than on the iX SUV. The combination of slim headlights and stout grille makes it look part ninja, part beaver – and it’s hard to imagine that the same company conceived the i8 just a few years previously. But we digress.
You’ll need the iX xDrive50 M Sport model if you want the longest range possible in the line-up; it costs just a shade over £100,000 but can cover up to 382 miles on a single charge. It also has all-wheel drive, 516bhp, a 0-62mph time of 4.6 seconds, and bags of clever technology. When all’s said and done, it’s one of the best electric SUVs around.
And, when you need to stop, 195kW charging ability means you can add 93 miles of range in 10 minutes from a suitably powerful charger. That really is getting into splash ‘n’ dash territory.
Read our full BMW iX review
4. BMW i7 xDrive 60
Range: 387 miles
In the market for a high-end luxury electric saloon? BMW’s new i7 could be just what you’re looking for. Yes, it costs north of £110,000, but it offers a sublime mix of driving dynamics, outright comfort, gratifying technology and a long range.
Go for the BMW i7 xDrive60 and you’ll potentially be able to cover up to 387 miles on a single charge. The big BMW is also capable of 0-62mph in 4.7 seconds, thanks to its dual all-wheel-drive-enabling electric motors and combined system output of 536bhp.
Okay, the novelty of being able to ask the car to close your door for you might wear off pretty quickly. But, showstopping tech aside, the i7 has it where it counts when it comes to luxury saloons, in spades. Only the likes of Rolls-Royce can trump it.
Read our full BMW i7 review
3. Mercedes-Benz EQE 350
Range: 388 miles
The Mercedes-Benz EQE is a deeply impressive electric car. It has a comfortable interior, loads of technology, and the third-best maximum range of any new electric car you can buy in the UK today. In essence, it’s a pure-electric version of the traditional E-Class saloon – and a slightly shrunken version of the company’s flagship EQS saloon.
It isn’t the most exciting car in the world to drive – if you’re looking for something sporty, consider the BMW i4 instead. But it’s easy to cover miles in and, when you do need to stop, charge times are rapid. Mercedes says it’ll take on 155 miles of range in just 15 minutes when connected to a 170kW DC charger.
The standard EQE 300 only has 242bhp, which means it isn’t particularly fast, but the EQE 350 has 288bhp and can still cover 388 miles. However, Mercedes also offers an AMG 53 4Matic+ model with a whopping 616bhp and a 0–62mph time of 3.5 seconds. The downside? Prices for the quicker model start from £114,750. Ouch.
Read our full Mercedes-Benz EQE review
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2. Tesla Model S
Range: 405 miles
The Tesla Model S has long been the go-to choice for buyers wanting a long-range electric car. And, even though it’s been around since 2012, it’s still taking a place on the long-distance EV podium. There is a caveat though, as Tesla’s UK website still quotes US specs of an updated version of the EV that is still to be delivered. You can put down a small £100 deposit to secure one, though, and it is refundable.
The good news is that WLTP range estimates tend to be even longer than those produced by the stricter EPA test cycle, so that 405-mile figure could end up being higher once the revised Tesla Model S, in dual-motor all-wheel-drive specification, becomes available to UK buyers.
Tesla also offers the performance-focused Model S Plaid, which has an EPA range of 396 miles – but, again, that figure could change once it passes through WLTP homologation. We suspect the more interesting figures for potential Plaid buyers are the performance ones, though, namely a 0-60mph time of just 1.99 seconds and a top speed of 200mph.
Read our full Tesla Model S review
1. Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+
Range: 464 miles
The Mercedes-Benz EQS is the electric equivalent of the fabled S-Class and, as a luxury limousine, its target audience wouldn’t be best impressed if they had to spend half their day parked up at a seedy service station waiting for the battery to recharge. Luckily, the EQS has a very long wheelbase, and Mercedes has filled that space with a whopping 108.4kWh battery.
That battery grants the EQS a maximum range of up to 464 miles on the WLTP test cycle. It’s no slouch, either, dispatching the 0-62mph dash in 6.2 seconds despite a kerb weight of 2,480kg. The EQS is also very good to drive and its interior is exquisite, as you’d hope for a car costing just over £100,000.
Mercedes-Benz also offers a higher-performance version called the EQS 53 4Matic+, which has 649bhp and a range of up to 347 miles. Thanks to all that power and all-wheel drive, the big Mercedes can dash to 62mph in 3.8 seconds. At the time of publication, though, the list price was a jaw-dropping £161,860.
Read our full Mercedes-Benz EQS Saloon review
How can I maximise the driving range of my EV?
A study by Kia UK and Motiv8, an independent automotive training organisation, published results in December 2022 showing that, whatever model you drive, the way you drive can impact the range of your electric car significantly.
David Taylor, director at Motiv8 International said, ‘The results speak for themselves; by changing simple inputs, drivers can easily optimise their vehicle’s efficiency and go further on a charge, save on recharging costs and reducing their energy use.’
Since the cost of public charging, particularly when using rapid chargers, is also getting more expensive, such methods are bound to be of interest to anyone looking to reduce the running costs of their electric cars.
‘With the average home charge costing around 3p/kWh and public rapid charging at around 7p/kWh, it is easy to see where savings can be made,’ said Taylor. ‘If you take the average improvement in the Kia study and extrapolate that over the UK average of 9,435 electric miles a year, an EV driver could save between £220 and £500 per annum.’
The study suggested the following techniques to maximise the range and benefits of an electric car:
Go easy with the accelerator: The torquey response of an EV might put a smile on your face, but it comes at the price of range.
Lighten the load: Unused roof boxes steal range. Don’t forget to unload any unnecessary clutter.
Maintain momentum: Careful route planning to avoid jams will remove the start/stop nature of driving that congestion causes. Anticipating the road ahead also enables best regenerative braking opportunities.
Slow down: Cutting speed from 60 mph to 50 mph can improve efficiency by up to 15%.