The 10 longest-range electric cars we’ve driven so far this year

Range anxiety with electric cars isn’t what it used to be – Volvo has even started referring to ‘range comfort’ instead – and today’s EVs can manage 300, 400 or even 500 miles between visits to the charge station.

Add in EV charging being quicker than ever, often adding hundreds of miles of range in just a few minutes at an ultra-rapid charger, and for many drivers the long-range driving abilities of EVs have reached, or even eclipsed, those of petrol and diesel equivalents.

We’ve driven some of the world’s longest-range EVs over the past few months, including the BMW iX3, Mercedes-Benz CLA, and the new Volvo EX60. Below, you’ll find Stuff’s top 10 long-range electric cars.

Volvo EX60

The EV with the longest range at the time of writing is also one of the newest. The EX60 is an all-new electric successor to the most successful Volvo of all time, the XC60. This is a mid-size family SUV with up to a claimed 503 miles of WLTP range, plus an 800-volt architecture with speedy 370 kW charging, integrated Dolby Atmos and Apple Music with Spatial Audio – plus, it packs Google Gemini, so you can finally have a proper, natural conversation with your car’s voice assistant.

We really enjoyed our time with the EX60, and despite the family-friendly design we found it surprisingly agile for its size, aided by an unusually small steering wheel for a car of this size.

Volvo’s continued reliance on a big central touchscreen for almost everything – cabin temperature included – won’t be to everyone’s taste, but the smarter intelligence from Gemini should help out here. Our pick of the bunch is the mid-range P10, which misses out on the 503-mile range (and enormous 680 horsepower) of the P12 flagship, but still has a WLTP range of 410 miles.

BMW iX3

The overused term “all-new” has never been more accurate than with the BMW iX3. The first of BMW’s ‘Neue Klasse’ vehicle family, the iX3 has a new design inside and out, a new electrical architecture, new motors, a new battery, a new operating system and an entirely new computer system called the Heart of Joy.

Skip past the branding, and the results are deeply impressive. This is a mid-size SUV with up to 500 miles of WLTP range, a charge rate of up to 400 kW that can add 200 miles in 10 minutes,, and the sort of driving dynamics that BMW is known for, with a pleasing lack of roll in the corners – especially impressive for a car that tips the scales at 2,300kg.

Another highlight is the new Panoramic iDrive display, which sits between the dashboard and windscreen, spans the entire width of the cabin, and gives eye-level access to vehicle data, navigation, media and more.

Mercedes-Benz CLA

The final podium position goes to Mercedes-Benz and the CLA, which packs a maximum WLTP range of 480 miles, or 465 miles in estate Shooting Brake form. An 800-volt architecture means it charges quickly, adding up to 200 miles of range in just 10 minutes at 320 kW.

We’re big fans of the MBUX infotainment system, despite the Hyperscreen’s preference for displays over more tactile switchgear, and how simple the CLA is to drive. Starting at around £45,000, the CLA feels like a lot of electric car for the money – and we think it’s even better in elongated Shooting Brake form.

DS No7

The DS No7 is a quirky but luxurious EV from Citroen spin-off DS Automobiles that’s probably flown below most people’s radars. It has a WLTP range of up to 460 miles in long-range guise, thanks to a large 97.2 kWh battery and a sensible avoidance of producing supercar levels of power. We found the electric version was far more refined than the hybrid, and liked the leather-clad interior, which we thought was quirky but sufficiently premium to justify the very un-Citroen price tag of over £60,000.

The maximum charge rate of 160 kW could be better, especially given how big the battery is, but if it’s distinctive design and range you’re after, the DS No7 has plenty to offer.

Peugeot E-3008 Long Range

While you can buy a version of the E-3008 with a 73 kWh battery and a perfectly respectable 326 miles of range, there’s an even better option – the 97 kWh model that’s good for an enormous 435 miles. It’s not quite as spacious as the larger E-5008, but this mid-size Peugeot gets a lot right, from that huge range to the roomy cabin, decent storage and that distinctive look the French brand has refined for a good few years now.

We were thoroughly impressed by the interior, which manages to look and feel premium despite sharing plenty with other vehicles from the Stellantis group. The seats are especially good, with generous comfort levels and plenty of leg room in the front and back. The sloping roofline robs some headroom compared to the boxier E-5008, but it’s still adequate and the 588-litre boot is impressive.

Citroen e-C5 Aircross

Long driving ranges are no longer limited to EVs from premium brands – as proved by this mid-size SUV from Citroen, which claims up to 421 miles from its largest battery option.

As with the DS above, we preferred the fully-electric C5 over the plug-in hybrid variant. The former feels more refined, further emphasising the comfort levels on offer, but naturally means this isn’t an EV to be driven in a sporty manner.

Far from the minor-league addition to what’s quickly become a massive stable of Stellantis SUVs, the e-C5 Aircross stood out to us thanks to its range, but also its distinctive styling and spacious, comfortable cabin.

Audi S6 Sportback e-tron

With over 540 horsepower, a 0-62 mph time of 3.9 seconds and a maximum claimed range of 411 miles, the Audi S6 Sportback e-tron is a mightily impressive EV. We also think it looks smart, with those slim headlights and distinctive grille, drives beautifully, and packs a hearty dose of Germanic solidity too.

An 800-volt architecture means fast charging – up to 270 kW if you plug into a powerful enough charger – while the dual-motor setup means Audi’s trademark quattro all-wheel-drive, and the stylish interior boasts a set of seats that are as supportive as they are comfortable.

Although lovely to hold, the steering wheel’s touch controls take some getting used to, and the triple-screen dashboard means there’s a lot of user interface to get your head (and fingertips) around.

Porsche Cayenne Turbo Electric

One of the quickest and most powerful cars we’ve ever driven, the Cayenne Turbo Electric is a thousand-horsepower SUV that can out-accelerate supercars and hypercars alike.

It packs a whopping 1,156 bhp (with Launch Control enabled) and rockets to 62 mph in just 2.5 seconds, while using Porsche’s Active Ride active suspension system to deliver uncanny stability through the corners. Chuck it at some corners, and this full-size SUV feels significantly smaller, such is the composure Porsche’s chassis engineers have given it.

And yet, despite all that power and performance, the WLTP range is 387 miles. Plus there’s ultra-rapid 400kW charging, so the hulking 113 kWh battery can be filled from 10 to 80 percent in just 16 minutes.

Nissan Leaf

The OG of affordable electric cars is now a bit of a range king too, as the latest generation of Nissan Leaf claims up to 386 miles from its largest 75 kWh battery option. Prices are modest – from £36,000 for that battery, or £33,000 for the lesser 52 kWh variant – but the latest Leaf impressed us with its sleek design and utilitarian but family-friendly interior.

We also liked the lack of road noise, and how well the Leaf handled town driving, while it has decent enough performance for cutting through traffic, and the one-pedal drive mode works well.

The maximum charging rate of 150 kW puts it a little behind some plusher rivals, but the limiting factor of a 400-volt system is still commonplace at this price point.

Hyundai Ioniq 9

A big SUV with stamina to match, the Hyundai Ioniq 9 has a massive 106 kWh battery pack and a range of up to 385 miles. Sharing its platform with the similarly impressive Kia EV9, the Hyundai is available with a single-motor or dual-motor, while the charge speed is decent if not market-leading at 250 kW.

Inside, there’s acres of space for all seven occupants across three rows, and the infotainment will be familiar to anyone who has driven a recent Kia, Genesis or Hyundai EV – plus there’s the option for seat-back screens for second-row passengers. From behind the wheel, the big Hyundai is more agile than we expected, with high levels of comfort throughout and an excellent interior to match.