I review EVs for a living these are the top 7 electric cars that blew me
away in 2025

Date:
Thu, 01 Jan 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Description:
Looking to add an EV to your life in 2026? These are the best electric cars that I have driven this year.

FULL STORY ======================================================================

It is easy to be led by the various damning headlines that suggest demand for electric vehicles is waning to the point that big automotive players are completely rethinking their strategies.

Granted, the likes of Porsche and Ford have back-tracked on plans,
shoehorning gasoline engines and hybrid set-ups into models that were
destined to be pure electric, but this isnt the case for everyone.

Kia, Hyundai, Renault, Peugeot and the Volkswagen Group continued to release new and exciting EVs throughout 2025, while Tesla updated its two
best-selling vehicles in the Model 3 and Model Y this year.

Whats more, the Chinese brands that once operated on the fringes are now becoming ever-more mainstream, with the likes of BYD, MG, LeapMotor and more all grabbing large slices of the market in the UK, Europe and beyond.

Its a slightly different story in the US, where a reversal on incentives and tax breaks has slowed EV progress, often forcing many of the aforementioned brands to rethink their electric strategy in North America to ensure they remain profitable.

Polestar, Volkswagen, Audi and Mercedes-Benz all paused or scrapped plans to launch models in the US, but that hasnt prevented homegrown talent from prevailing.

Tesla and Rivian continue to reach new buyers, Hyundai and Kia remain popular and Nissans recently release Leaf is making waves for its range and affordability.

Having driven a huge number of electric vehicles in 2025, this is my
selection of the best, hand-picked for their mix of practicality, affordability and technology. Because electric vehicles are still very much happening, despite what you read. 1. Tesla Model Y (Image credit: Tesla)

The updated Model Y is by far the best car Tesla has ever produced, blending excellent practicality, impressive range, reliably fast public charging and a quieter and more refined ride than previous generations.

Granted, the exterior styling remains divisive, but the recent refresh has certainly sharpened the approach, modernizing the lines and adding full-width light bars at the front and rear to ensure it attracts attention when out on the road.

Having driven both the Premium and Performance editions, its safe to say that unless you really like rollercoaster-like acceleration, the latter is the model to plump for particularly in Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive guise.

If you can get past the badge and all of its modern connotations, the latest Model Y is hands-down one of the most efficient and easiest to live with EVs on sale. Read more: Ive driven the new Tesla Model Y Performance and despite it being a great car, it isn't anywhere near as exciting as it once was 2. MG IM5 (Image credit: MG)

Tesla has a new rival pop up every few weeks these days and MGs latest
premium badge, dubbed Intelligent Mobility, makes no effort to disguise the fact that it has the Tesla Model 3 firmly in its sights.

Hailing from Chinas humungous SAIC automotive group, the vehicle rides on an all-electric platform thats shared with a number of premium saloons in its domestic market. Although in Europe, things have been tweaked and changed to appeal to fussier buyers.

Specs are impressive: up to 441 miles of range, 17 minutes for a 10-80%
charge and 3.2 seconds for the 0-62mph dash in the 751hp Performance model thats Porsche Taycan territory for a fraction of the price.

From most angles, its handsome car too, with little bits of Aston Martin at the rear and plenty of Taycan at the front. Imitation is the sincerest form
of flattery, right?

It also packs a plethora of advanced driver assistance and infotainment technology for not a great deal of money.

If you can look past the overly firm ride, the fact that everything is committed to a slightly annoying touchscreen and some terrible visibility out of the rear, it offers an impressive amount of performance, all-electric
range and technology for less money than the Polestar 2, Mercedes-Benz CLA and, of course, the Tesla Model 3 it is actively pursuing in Europe. 3. Kia EV4 (Image credit: Kia)

Kias line-up of pure electric vehicles is mightily impressive, spanning the upcoming (and tiny) EV2, through stylish saloons, crossovers and maxing out with the massive, seven-seat EV9 SUV at the very top of the range. There really is something for everyone.

The EV4 is one of its newest models and it is designed to tap into Europes love for a good old-fashioned hatchback, taking elements from its larger EV6 and smaller EV3, but packaging it up in something that isnt yet another SUV
or crossover.

Bold styling, a hugely comfortable ride and impressive range figures make for a tempting purchase, while Kias latest infotainment system is the sharpest
and most technologically-advanced it has produced, with ChatGPT integration for natural voice interactions.

Its got a big, practical trunk and, thanks to this not riding as high as some of its SUV siblings, it handles pretty well. Dont expect Golf GTI levels of fun, but its an otherwise excellent all-rounder that's entertaining enough
for most. Read more: Ive driven the new electric Kia EV4 and it finally
makes hatchbacks exciting again for three key reasons 4. Citroen e-C5
Aircross (Image credit: Citroen)

Sometimes, the best cars are the ones that handle the basics well without any fuss or fanfare. Those cars that prioritize comfort and practicality over flashy design elements and face-melting performance.

Citroens latest e-C5 Aircross, which is its first model to ride on the STLA Medium platform from parent company Stellantis, is exactly one of these cars. It offers either 320 or 421 miles of range, depending on the battery specified, perfectly acceptable performance and one of the most comfortable rides around.

The suspension with Progressive Hydraulic Cushions makes it feel like it is floating on air, while the big five-seat SUV offers a huge amount of storage space and very comfortable quarters for anyone traveling onboard.

Inside, it adds a little French design know-how with some of the most comfortable front seats I have ever experienced. The infotainment technology isn't the greatest, but it all works and it's easy to use.

Prices start at 34,065 (around $45,400 / AU$68,600) for entry-level models, which is hugely competitive for an EV that's as practical and comfortable as this. 5. Renault 4 E-Tech (Image credit: Renault)

Despite driving this vehicle very early in 2025, it still remains one of the most memorable, thanks to its excellent mix of small car character, great handling dynamics and very tempting price tag.

Based on the equally excellent Renault 5 E-Tech, the R4 adds an extra dollop of practicality with slightly more room in the rear for passengers and more practical stowage space throughout. It still retains some of that R5 cheekiness in the way it drives and handles, though.

Above all else, its one of the best value EVs on sale in the UK and Europe, with prices starting at just 23,445 (around $31,250 / AU$47,200), yet it
still manages to deliver head-swiveling looks on the outside, a premium-feeling interior and the latest in-car technology including an Android Automotive-based infotainment system with Google Maps and other apps baked in. Read more: I've driven the retro-inspired Renault 4 E-Tech and it's just as fun as the R5... but with added practicality 6. Mercedes-Benz CLA (Image credit: Mercedes-Benz )

Mercedes sunk its engineering might into the latest CLA , not only imbuing it with a clever two-stage transmission (for efficiency, rather than performance), a low drag co-efficient and the latest 800V electrical architecture, but also debuting the marques cinema-quality Super Screen technology inside.

All of this results in a vehicle that can manage some 480 miles on a single charge, but can still dispatch the 0-62mph sprint in a respectable 4.9 seconds. Charging is lightning fast, too, while the interior boasts the sort of quality fit and finish you would expect from the German marque. The screen tech is on another level.

Base models start at 45,615 in the UK, which is around $61,000 / AU$94,000 roughly converted. This puts it in line with Tesla Model 3 and Model Y, yet
it will go further on a single charge and brim its batteries much faster. 7. Smart #5 (Image credit: Smart)

Smart no longer makes positively teeny city cars well, not until the Smart
#2 arrives instead plying its trade in a variety of SUVs that blend elements from Mercedes-Benz and Chinese Goliath Geely.

I was not particularly convinced by the #1, as the Brabus model felt way too fast for its own good, the brakes were poor and it looked, well, a bit weird. The Smart #5 is altogether better, looking a bit like a rounded-off Mercedes
G 580 and generally offering more space and practicality than its smaller sibling.

The interior technology is also a lot more impressive with a staggering 36 inches of screen real estate festooning the interior. Theres also a 25.6-inch augmented reality head-up display if you need more screen.

Its a lovely place to while away the miles, with some models able to cover
366 of them on a single charge. The 0-80% top up time is under 18 minutes, too.

Of course, I drove the Brabus edition, which develops a frankly stupid 637bhp from its twin-motor set-up. Thats far too much for a family-friendly SUV and Smart simply doesnt boast the performance engineering know-how to
successfully translate that power to the road.

Opt for Pro+ or Premium trims and you get the larger batteries, the fast-charging 800V architecture and all of that interior for much less money and fewer hairier moments on wet roads.

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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/vehicle-tech/hybrid-electric-vehicles/i-review-evs-f or-a-living-these-are-the-top-7-electric-cars-that-blew-me-away-in-2025


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