The rise of the EV has performance car enthusiasts troubled, but should it? EVs have always been fast but as they evolve, we're seeing some manufacturers turn their engineering attention to refining them into actually being fun to drive. From the multi-million-pound Rimac Nevera, to the new Hyundai Ioniq 5N, these are the best performance EVs money can buy, with each obviously offerinf incredible speed but some, claiming to offer a bit more of an in-depth feel and driving experience.
Ten of the best performance EVs
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1. Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
Stunning straight-line performance has never been a problem for EVs, as a litany of Tesla vs. Lamborghini drag races videos on YouTube easily prove, but fun? That's not a word you'd immediately associate with a performance EV. That's where the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N comes in; it's a performance EV that is all about fun, even at the expense of outright performance.
As a result, its N e-Shift mode mimics the effect of an eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox (despite it having a single gear) because it's more engaging. More fun. And it's a similar story for the drivetrain. The all-wheel drive Hyundai could project all its power into the road without the merest hint of tyre slip, but what would be the fun in that? Instead, you get a N Drift mode that serves up powerslides on demand.
With 650PS (478kW), the Ioniq 5 N is still rapid – 0-62mph takes just 3.4 – but unlike in a Lamborghini, your family and their luggage can come too.
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2. Polestar 2 BST edition 230
The limited edition (just 25 coming to the UK) Polestar 2 BST edition 230 represents a merging of the electrical and mechanical worlds.
It’s a classic performance EV with massive instantaneous power – 469PS (350kW) courtesy of a motor on each axle – getting it from 0-62mph in 4.4 seconds and onto a 127mph top speed performance that translates into a 287-mile range from its 76kWh battery.
But while the range will turn off petrolheads, the Polestar’s running gear will not. Along with two-way adjustable Ohlins dampers, the Polestar has suspension that’s 15mm lower and 20 percent stiffer, a strut brace and 21-inch wheels wrapped in Pirelli P Zero rubber designed to extract the best from the Swede speed machine.
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3. Mini Electric
Accelerating from 0-62mph in a modest 7.2 seconds, on the way to an anaemic 93mph top speed, the 184PS (135kW) Mini Electric seems undeserving of a place on this list of the best performance EVs, but bear with us.
On sale in 2019, the Electric gave us our first idea of what an electric hot hatch could look like, and it wasn’t all bad. The Mini boasts off-the-line performance that makes its on-paper stats seem conservative, while its single gear and deft power modulation translates to perfect acceleration almost all of the time. Even the handling remains nimble, thanks to a relatively light battery sandwiched low down in the floor.
The Mini Electric was ahead of the EV hot hatch curve – as the Cupra Born, Abarth 500e and soon-to-be-revealed Alpine A290 ably prove – which makes the £15,000 you’ll need to get one secondhand seem like a snip. The question is – can you live with its tiny 145-mile range?
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4. Porsche Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo
The Porsche Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo is the Swiss Army knife of the performance EV world – it can play at being a luxury saloon, a practical estate and a high-performance sportscar. Yet it also has the raised suspension of a crossover and the kind of drift mode you’re more likely to find in a rally stage refugee.
However you categorise it, the top-of-the-range Taycan is incredibly fast. Its twin electric motors generate a mighty 726PS (534KW) meaning the Porsche can slap down 0-62mph in 2.8 seconds and maxes out at 162mph. On a technical road, huge anchors and expertly judged suspension make the Taycan surprisingly engaging for an EV.
Engaging enough to be a Porsche? That’s another matter entirely, but you won’t find a more multi-talented EV for the Cross Turismo’s £150,000 asking price.
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5. Rimac Nevera
Rimac has turned the car world on its head on multiple levels. While it is far from a household name, Rimac’s EV expertise has been called on by everyone from Aston Martin to Koenigsegg. It's business that means Rimac could afford to buy one of the most legendary names in motoring – Bugatti.
But if the business model impresses you, the car – the Nevera – will literally take your breath away. Its four electric motors produce 1,900PS (1397kW), enough to get the Czech machine from 0-62mph in less than two seconds and onto an effortless (and electronically limited) top speed of 219mph. Having a motor on each wheel, meanwhile, throws up a world of handling possibilities even Rimac has yet to fully capitalise on.
Unfortunately, the Rimac has an otherworldly price tag to match its performance – you’ll need £2million to get your hands on one, which is a lot even when you factor in its carbon-fibre chassis and bespoke interior.
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6. Tesla Model S Plaid
Love them or hate them, you couldn’t have a list of performance EVs and not include a Tesla – the original Tesla Roadster was based on a Lotus, after all.
But while the Roadster is a tempting inclusion, it's the Model S Plaid that best encapsulates what Tesla is all about – silent family EVs with the performance to humble the most raucous of hypercars. The Plaid takes that dial and turns it up to 11. With 1,020PS (760kW) it gets from 0-62mph in 2.07 seconds – faster than Bugatti Chiron – and keeps going to 200mph if you get the optional Track Package that includes (much needed) uprated brakes.
It’s not the last word in handling fitness but, as a comfortable saloon that can more or less drive itself, it’s pretty good. As is the nearly 400-mile range. If you can live with the fanboy image and odd yoke steering wheel, it could be £115,000 well spent.
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7. Kia EV6 GT
As we’ve already noted elsewhere, Kia has taken giant leaps and bounds since it landed on UK shores back in 1991 and no car’s a better advert for that than the EV6 GT. It’s the first Kia that deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as the likes of Mercedes and BMW, with a striking exterior and infotainment-laden interior that makes great use of the car’s neat EV packaging.
The GT model takes things a step further. Serving up an easy 580PS (427kW), it offers a supercar-slaying 3.4-second 0-62mph time and a top speed of 161mph. Sadly, its light controls aren’t overly engaging and you feel every one of its 2,200kg.
Mind you, with a decent 263-mile range, a seven-year warranty and a not-ludicrous £62,000 price, it is one of the most sensible ways to spend your money on this list.
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8. BMW i4 eDrive 40
The obvious BMW to include on this list of the best performance EVs would be the i4 M50 – it’s the company’s first M-badged EV and with 544PS (400kW) to call on, it’s as quick as an M4, getting from 0-62mph in just 3.9 seconds.
But for the ‘3D’ BMW experience, you’re better off with the basic eDrive 40. With 0-62mph taking just 5.7 seconds, it’s as quick as a Honda Civic Type R – which, believe us, is plenty quick. However, the rear-wheel setup of the i4 adds another layer of engagement, allowing it to rotate on its axis with some gentle encouragement from the throttle.
Factor in the longer range (it will travel up to 365 miles to the M50’s 316) and cheaper price, and it’s clear the eDrive 40 is the hidden gem in BMW’s electric line-up.
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9. Maserati Granturismo Folgore
Maserati took a traditional approach to building its electric sportscar. The Folgore (thunderbolt in English), looks like any other Granturismo (i.e. gorgeous) but under its familiar lines, you’ll find an EV heart, not a petrol one.
Or should we say three EV hearts? The Masterati’s tri-motor setup means each back wheel gets an individual motor, with one more to spin up the front tyres. The result? Power of 761PS (560kW), 0-62mph in just 2.7 seconds and a battery-flattening top speed of 199mph. But while electric power provides an anodyne driving experience in other performance EVs, Maserati makes use of the instant torque to turn the Folgore into a tail-happy delight.
Having said that, the absence of a decent soundtrack (usually a Maser guarantee) means the petrol Turismo will likely still be the enthusiast's choice but – as an advert for what can be done with an EV’s chassis – the Folgore earns a place on this list.
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10. Alpine A290
If the Mini Electric gave us our first taste of an EV hot hatch, the Alpine A290 shows us how the flavour has been refined since the Mini went on sale four years ago.
While Mini’s EV looked like any other three-door, the Alpine A290 wear’s its performance-EV heart on its sleeve. Its styling – as seen on the A290_β concept – honours the firm’s classic rally cars, while also nodding firmly towards the legendary Renault 5 Turbo.
Performance should be suitably impressive. With up to 272PS (200kW) on tap, what the firm calls a “city sportscar” should have an impressive shove off the line. Multi-link rear suspension, four-pot Brembo brakes and torque vectoring mean it ought to handle well, too. Unfortunately, while there’s plenty to get excited about in the A290, we won’t know exactly how good it is until we drive it.
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