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Now’s the time to think electric for 2020. The time it takes to charge the battery is coming down, the range of an electric car is going up, more mass-market models are going electric and more public charging points are being built. Here are the best new electric cars on sale or ready to order today.
The 11 best electric cars to buy in 2020
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Volkswagen ID.3
Price: £29,000 (est.)
On sale: summer 2020
Range (approx.): 250 miles
How long to charge: Zero to 60 per cent in 30 minutes (fast charger)
The ID.3 goes on sale in the UK next year with the mid-size 58kWh battery; there will be a smaller 45kWh battery offering 205 miles and a larger 77kWh one offering 342 miles to follow. The significance of the ID.3 is that it has been built as an electric car from the start, meaning that the architecture has been designed to accommodate the powertrain while leaving space for passengers. We’re talking 310Nm of instant torque, which sounds good for an urban hatch. A high-output wallbox is available for customers with a choice of two power levels.
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Porsche Taycan
Price: From £115,858
On sale: January 2020
Range (approx.): 270 for the Turbo, 250 for Turbo S
How long to charge: 5-80 per cent in 23 minutes (fast charger)
The Taycan will be available in Turbo and Turbo S form from launch, with another variant to follow. On paper it competes with the Tesla Model S Performance but in the flesh they feel like two very different offerings, attracting different customers: the Model S’s space and body shape offers more practicality, and its technology still feels funky, whereas the Taycan offers lovers of luxury, high-performance German marques their first pure electric option in that field. Porsche says the Taycan will fully charge overnight in nine hours with a wallbox.
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Tesla Model 3
Price: from £38,900
On sale: Now
Range (approx.): 258 or 359 (Dual Motor)
How long to charge: 20-80 per cent in 20 minutes (rapid charger)
Very much still relevant for 2020, because most customers are still waiting for their right-hand-drive car to arrive. Patience is a virtue: this car is still worth the wait, despite all other brands starting to catch up. It just shows you how ahead of the curve Elon Musk was. The Model 3 still stands out for its futuristic interior, helpful satnav showing range left and viable charging points, software upgrades that turn the indicator sound into Father Christmas’s sleigh bells, and for Tesla’s superfast-charging public points which make other electric drivers envious. Keep the faith, people.
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Vauxhall e-Corsa
Price: £26,495
On sale: April 2020
Range (approx.): 205 miles
How long to charge: Zero to 80 per cent in 30mins (fast charger)
There’s a free wallbox on offer for the first 500 customers so get moving if you’re interested; order books are open now and Vauxhall expect 10 per cent of Corsa sales to be electric. The Corsa has appeared in the top 10 best-selling cars in the UK for years. Beaten to top spot by the Ford Fiesta, it is none the less worthy of consideration. If it looks expensive, that’s because it is: Vauxhall is shifting pricing upwards in line with new, upmarket brand positioning over the next two to three years.
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Mini Electric
Price: from £24,400
On sale: March 2020
Range (approx.): 145 miles
How long to charge: Zero to 80 per cent in 35 minutes (fast charger)
Other than Mini’s little bright yellow electric symbol in the grill, there’s not a lot to differentiate the electric version externally from the ICE variants, which is how Mini wants it – in a couple of years, this will simply be another powertrain variant, not some crazy new idea for early adopters. Even the charging socket is where the fuel cap would be.
And now, a few others to consider…
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Hyundai Kona EV
An electric SUV with a 279-mile range and a long waiting list. There’s a five-year unlimited-mileage warranty, smartphone connectivity and a touchscreen infotainment system.
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Audi e-tron
A very smart, large five-seat premium SUV with the latest infotainment system from Audi including information about how to preserve your range and what systems in the car are drawing the most energy at any time.
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BMW i3
A maximum range of 193 miles should be plenty for the short urban daily trips most owners of the i3 take. Still the best interior of all the small electric cars, combining sustainability and a premium feel.
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Nissan Leaf
One of the first to take the electric plunge, the Nissan Leaf now looks a lot better and goes a lot further: 168 miles between top ups. At one point, the old Leaf was selling more than the combined sales of all other electric vehicles.
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Mercedes EQC
This or a Jaguar I-Pace or Audi E-tron? The EQC remains unmistakably Mercedes-ish which means it’s a comfortable, luxury SUV offering silence and sustainability. Incredibly refined ride, for up to 259 miles.
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Honda e
The Honda e is Honda’s new all-electric hatchback, and it’ll hit UK shores in early 2020. First seen in the UK at the Festival of Speed presented by Mastercard and available to order now, to models are available, the Honda e with a 110kW electric motor and the Honda e Advance with a 113kW motor. Prices start at £26,160.
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