Electric cars are becoming ever more popular. Indeed, the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) reveal they now account for 27.5 percent of all new car registrations in the UK.

Also, while we still treat EVs to some extent as a separate entity, with their own buying guide (yep, you’re reading it), after 2035 this may be the only type of car sold new in the UK. In other words, the best cars and the best electric cars will be one and the same.

We have rounded up the best electric cars on sale in 2026, from the proletarian Kia EV3 to the plutocratic Rolls-Royce Spectre. Each one is not only a great EV, but an excellent car in its own right. Our choices are presented in alphabetical order.

First launched in 2020, the svelte Audi E-Tron GT received a midlife makeover in 2023, mirroring updates to the closely related Porsche Taycan. Highlights included a bigger 105kWh battery, faster charging (up to 320kW) and new two-chamber air suspension.

The three-tier range comprises the 680hp S E-Tron GT, 856hp RS and 925hp RS Performance.The RS Performance we tested is the quickest and most powerful production car Audi has ever built, with the ability to hit 62mph in 2.5 seconds using launch control, along with a WLTP range of 364 miles.We said: ‘It has more power than you really need, but the RS E-Tron GT Performance combines long-distance range and comfort with

handling poise and nuanced feedback – plus a generous helping of futuristic style.

If EVs leave you cold, driving this one might change your mind.’Read our Audi RS E-Tron GT Performance review

BMW’s electric flagship is a luxury saloon to rival the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and EQS. A huge 101.7kWh battery offers up to 372 miles of range in the XDrive 60 model we tested. The i7’s styling will will divide opinion, to put it politely, but the big BMW is wonderfully refined, comfortable and relaxing to drive.

It’s even better in the back seats, where passengers can recline and enjoy a widescreen cinema experience.

Even the entry-level i7 exceeds £100,000 and the range-topping M70 xDrive pictured above will set you back £165,000. However, consider that much of its technology is shared with the Rolls-Royce Spectre, which is also on our ‘best electric cars’ list, and suddenly the BMW doesn’t look so expensive after all.

We said: ‘Your field of vision is filled by a 31.3-inch 8K ‘Theatre Screen’ that folds down from the roof. Bolstered by 36 speakers and 1,965 watts of Bowers & Wilkins surround-sound, it’s hands-down the best in-car entertainment system on the market.’

It’s hard to overstate the importance of the iX3 to BMW. As the first vehicle in the German company’s ‘Neue Klasse’ range of electric cars, it needs to be a standard-setter and a sales success. Thankfully, early indications suggest it will be both.

For starters, the iX3 has one of the longest ranges of any EV currently on sale – at up to 500 miles in the official WLTP test. It’s also comfortable, spacious and packed with technology, including a new Panoramic iDrive display that helps you keep your eyes on the road. Best of all, despite being a 2,360kg family SUV, the iX3 still drives with the finesse and feedback of a ‘proper’ BMW.

We said: ‘I wasn’t alone in thinking BMW had lost its way in recent years, straying too far from the values of the original Neue Klasse – particularly in terms of design and technical complexity. The brilliant iX3 is a hard reset, and one that bodes well for the future. It’s a car that goes straight to the top of a very crowded class.’

The Ford Puma Gen-E is a significant EV for British car buyers. The regular Ford Puma has been the UK’s best-seller for several years now, so the much-anticipated electric Gen-E will introduce thousands to owning their first electric car.

Keen prices are an immediate advantage, starting from a little over £26,000 after the UK Government’s full £3,750 Electric Car Grant is deducted. The Gen-E has all the regular Puma’s head-turning style and its recently-refreshed interior. Also, instead of the usual ‘MegaBox’ boot, the Puma Gen-E has an even bigger ‘GigaBox’ beneath its boot floor. You’ll be amazed at how much space is in there.

Ford has worked hard to retain the dynamics of the existing Puma, making this a neat and nimble drive. And while a 43kWh battery sounds a bit on the small side, it offers a range of over 230 miles in the official WLTP test. There’s growing evidence that the Ford Puma Gen-E’s real-world battery efficiency is noteworthy too, delivering more miles per kWh than many of its direct rivals.

Read about the launch of the Ford Puma Gen-E

The former World Car of the Year looks like nothing else on the road – and its lounge-like interior is pretty radical, too. Choose the reclining ‘relaxation’ seat and it’s a restful spot to have a nap while you charge. There’s also no shortage of space; the Ioniq 5 might resemble a hatchback, but its proportions are more like an SUV.

Buyers can choose between a 63kWh battery with a 238-mile range, or an 84kWh model that will manage up to 354 miles. Just don’t expect a sporty driving experience – unless you choose the riotously entertaining Ioniq 5 N, that is. The hot Hyundai (pictured above), with its simulated manual gearbox, is one of the most surprising cars we’ve driven this decade.

We said: ‘A killer feature in the Ioniq 5’s armoury is the ability to charge at 800 volts. It’s the way forward, until now only possible on high-end electric…