Longest range electric cars 2026: Top 10 EVs for long-distance driving
| Written by: Keith WR Jones and Matt Robinson | Last updated: 24th April 2026 |
It’s not that long ago that buying an EV in the UK meant taking ownership of the original Nissan Leaf with a driving range of scarcely over 100 miles. Fast forward to today and electric car evolution has seen range figures well over triple that become commonplace.
For an EV to be considered genuinely long-range, we believe it should be capable of at least 400 miles before being recharged.
Top picks at a glance
- Longest overall range: Mercedes EQS
- Best for family life: Peugeot E-3008
- Best for driving enjoyment: BMW iX3
- Best for value: MG IM5
- See the full top 10
In compiling our top 10 longest range electric cars for 2026, we’ve chosen the derivative with the highest WLTP Combined cycle driving range figure in its least expensive, brand-new form. Lower range derivatives within the same line-up are mentioned under the same entry, otherwise we would have three versions of the Mercedes EQS in the top five.
Reflecting the pace of change in EV technology, over the last six months three of the top 10 have been swapped out and four of the remaining seven have longer ranges than before. At the top of the ranking, the today’s rangiest choice can travel 58 miles further than the previous number one. You can also keep tabs on other long-range EVs which are going on sale in the near future.
For years Tesla was the trailblazer in the realm of long-range EVs, but other manufacturers have caught up and surpassed its efforts – its best performing Model 3 is in seventh place. That it has a Stellantis-made model – the DS No8 E-Tense – ahead of it would have felt like a flight of fancy even a couple of years ago.
While it’s notoriously tricky to replicate in the WLTP testing protocols, during warmer months all of the top 10 should manage over 400 miles in the real-world.
- Find out how we test electric cars at HonestJohn.co.uk
1. Mercedes EQS: up to 542 miles
Why buy one?
- Enormous driving range and lashings of on-board technology
Why avoid it?
- Falls short of truly being an electric S-Class
A second facelift in 2026 brough an assortment of enhancements for the jelly mould-aping Mercedes EQS, improving its already impressive driving range figures. Although the EQS450+ we’re focusing on here tops the pile at 542 miles, the priciest EQS580 4Matic achieves 526 miles, while the least-costly EQS400 yields 490 miles.
Key to the EQS450+’s enormous long-distance potential is its 122kWh battery, up from the pre-facelift version’s 107.8kWh. Despite that extra capacity, plug-in times are four minutes shorter thanks to an uprated DC on-board charger.
Our testers rate the wealth of on-board technology available for the Mercedes EQS, including its optional four-wheel steering system, commanded via a quick-reacting yoke instead of a conventional wheel. Although sumptuous inside, the EQS remains shy of Mercedes S-Class luxury standards, plus its glitzy, multiscreen dashboard lacks elegant restraint.
That a tailgate is used for boot access, making the EQS – whisper it – a hatchback, also dents its prestige car credentials. Nevertheless, we think that additional practicality will be appreciated as advantageous for the pragmatically minded, for it is they who will be wowed the most by its long-range potential.
Our pick: EQS450+ Premium
Price: £104,540
DC charging time: 10-80% @ 350kW in 27 minutes
Read our full Mercedes EQS review.
2. Volvo EX60: up to 503 miles
Why buy one?
- Classy, sophisticated and minimalist inside and out
Why avoid it?
- A lack of physical interior controls could mar the ownership experience
In the latest round of the ongoing long-range, upmarket electric family SUV championships, the Volvo EX60’s delivered a decisive blow. For now, anyway. How? Well, for cars of this type, the P12 AWD version’s 503-mile driving range means it pips BMW’s iX3 and trounces both the Audi Q6 e-tron and the Mercedes Electric GLC for long-range potential.
It also does so with restrained elegance inside and out. That does mean its exterior resembles a shrunken Volvo EX90, but the EX60’s cabin is far more radical and minimalist. Our testers think buyers be reluctant to warm to its buttonless dashboard approach, however slick its 15-inch central touchscreen proves to be.
In P12 guise the Volvo is pricey, but opting for the mid-ranking P10 AWD offers a £5k saving and still boasts a 410-mile range. If that’s still way more than needed, chip a further three grand off with the 385-mile P6 version, although it does without the others’ all-wheel drive set-up. We think few will miss its presence.
We reckon concerns that the EX60 P12’s 112kWh battery will make public charging plug-ins a time sponge will evaporate as even quicker ultra-rapid stations are rolled-out – the cost of using them remains the bitter pill.
Our pick: EX60 Plus P12 AWD
Price: £64,860
DC charging time: 10-80% @ 370kW in 19 minutes
Read our full Volvo EX60 review.
3. BMW iX3: up to 500 miles
Why buy one?
- BMW’s most effective electric car to date
Why avoid it?
- The incoming i3 will likely steal its thunder
‘Subtlety’ is the watchword for the Neue Klasse wave sweeping through Bavaria – the BMW iX3 being the first to typify a less brash approach to the firm’s exterior and interior design. Compare it with the combustion-engined BMW X3 and you’ll immediately appreciate the changes – nuanced they ain’t.
Climb aboard the iX3 and its new-found minimalism is obvious. While we were impressed by how well-thought out the on-board technology was, its touchscreen-centric control system feels like a retrograde step compared with BMW’s intuitive, outgoing iDrive rotary dial.
Although the iX3’s headline grabbing 500-mile driving range potential was almost immediately trumped by the Volvo EX60, there’s plenty of time over the coming years for the longest-range SUV title to be batted back and forth – and doubtless also involving other players.
Only one drive system choice is so far available for the BMW – the dual-motor, all-wheel drive iX3 50 xDrive arrangement. Expect lower- and higher-powered alternatives in due course. Our testers were wowed by how the iX3 drives, an attraction which is key to the brand’s appeal.
Helping deliver the iX3’s long range is its 108.7kWh battery – good luck finding public chargers that can deliver electricity at the 400kW DC rate the BMW can handle.
Our pick: iX3 50 xDrive
Price: £58,755
DC charging time: 10-80% @ 400kW in 21 minutes
Read our full BMW iX3 review.
4. Mercedes Electric CLA: up to 483 miles
Why buy one?
- Excellent long-range ability at a relatively modest price
Why avoid it?
- Well-made but overly plasticky and screen-heavy dashboard
Common sense as prevailed for the Mercedes Electric CLA Saloon – its original, clunkier CLA with EQ Technology moniker disappeared before customer deliveries began. When they did, the CLA250+ Sport Edition’s 483-mile capability zapped it to the top of the long-range EVs ranking, but such is the development pace that it’s now fourth. Hardly disgraceful.
It’s been joined by a more commodious Electric CLA Shooting Brake estate, although its roomier, heftier body and less slippery shape reduce its range potential. 469 miles isn’t to be sniffed at.
It's a good job the Mercedes can go so far without stopping as public charging options for the earliest Electric CLAs sold here are limited due to its on-board DC charger only working with 800-volt stations. Our testers say that will be less problematic as more powerful public chargers are rolled-out, while newer CLAs are 400-volt compatible.
Despite the three-pointed star badging and the connotations of expensiveness that brings, the Electric CLA is one of the cheaper choices here, representing decent value considering its equipment levels. We’re not huge fans of its glossy, slab-like dashboard, so be sure you can live with it before signing on the dotted line.
Our pick: CLA250+ Sport Edition
Price: £45,615
DC charging time: 10-80% @ 320kW in 22 minutes
Read our full Mercedes Electric CLA review.
5. Audi A6 e-tron: up to 472 miles
Why buy one?
- A comfort-focused, long-distance cruiser
Why avoid it?
- Audi’s hallmark restraint is but a distant memory
There are many EV buyers to whom the Audi A6 Sportback e-tron’s five-door coupe silhouette and aggressive styling features will appeal, but for long-term appreciators of the brand, it may be a touch overwrought. Still, that tapered roofline enables the e-tron performance version to eke out a range of 472 miles from a single charge in Sport specification – it’s our testers’ pick of this Audi line-up.
By way of further extolling the aerodynamic advantages of the Sportback’s rakish shape, its more practical, estate bodied Audi A6 Avant e-tron sibling in an otherwise mechanically identical guise can only achieve 444 miles. That’s the same as the dual-motor-equipped e-tron quattro version of the A6 Sportback e-tron.
Imperiously well-built, the A6 e-tron’s interior has succumbed to the same multiscreen approach as many other brands, losing some of the classiness Audi was once famed for in the process. We would certainly welcome a greater number of physical dashboard controls.
More appreciated is the A6 e-tron’s long-distance range being matched by its supple comfort, providing you stick to smaller diameter wheel options. We suggest you do as as adaptive suspension is only a feature of the flagship S6 e-tron quattro. Incidentally, that’s also capable of 414 miles between charges in Sportback shape.
Our pick: A6 Sportback e-tron performance Sport
Price: £68,860
DC charging time: 10-80% @ 270kW in 21 minutes
Read our full Audi A6 e-tron review.
You may also like
- Will you be affected by 2028’s pay-per-mile EV tax? Our guide to eVED explains all
- Considering a Chinese electric car? Here are the best EVs built in China
- Not yet ready to go fully electric? Check out our 10 favourite plug-in hybrids
6. DS No8 E-Tense: up to 471 miles
Why buy one?
- A refreshingly different take on the upmarket car genre
Why avoid it?
- The best modern DS by far still lacks rivals’ all-round appeal
With the DS No8 E-Tense our testers believe car buyers will finally understand what the DS Automobiles brand is all about. It's DS’s most convincing model so far, over a decade on from its split from Citroen, with refreshingly different approaches to exterior and interior styling, plus the ability to go far without being plugged in.
Yes the No8’s dashboard features plenty of screenage, but it feels far less in-yer-face than alternatives from Audi and Mercedes. That said, DS is evidently competing with BMW's iX3 for the most obscure steering wheel design judging by the No8’s X-shaped spokes. Those are the kind of brands the DS is pitched against – while the No8 E-Tense is good, we don’t feel it’s as polished to the nth degree as those more established players.
For the greatest driving range potential, opt for the No8 E-Tense Long Range front-wheel drive with 245PS of urgency on tap. There’s a more powerful 350PS, all-wheel drive alternative, but it saps more power from the 97.2kWh battery pack, dropping the range by 40 miles down to 431.
Note also that the No8’s DC recharging rate lags behind most others in the top 10, capped at 160kW. Recharging times appear reasonably competitive because they’re quoted from 20-80% rather than the usual 10-80%.
Our pick: No8 E-Tense Pallas FWD Long Range 245HP
Price: £54,690
DC charging time: 20-80% @ 160kW in 27 minutes
Read our full DS No8 E-Tense review.
7. Tesla Model 3: 466 miles
Why buy one?
- Fine value for money and the impressive Supercharger network
Why avoid it?
- That inescapable association with Elon Musk
The popular Tesla Model 3 is the electric car that can do it all it seems – certainly you would assume so given how many are seen plying the UK’s highways and byways. Both the Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive and its All-Wheel Drive twin can best 400 miles on a single charge, but our testers think few will really benefit from the latter’s extra speed and traction. Save yourself £5k and enjoy a 56-mile range advantage by just having your back wheels propelled.
Its excellent range is achieved courtesy of a 78kWh battery, giving the Model 3 true country-crossing ability, aided and abetted by the vastness and ease-of-use afforded by Tesla’s own supercharger network, which wonderfully straightforward and superbly integrated within the car’s native navigation system.
Given the company boss’s wealth has largely been generated through a career in technology, that the Model 3 is bristling with kit is no surprise for those happy to buy into Musk’s world. Reliance on its central display won't be for everyone, but we recognise how effectively the smallest Tesla has been improved throughout its production run. As well-honed as it now is, it’s feeling its age against newer rivals.
Our pick: Model 3 Premium Long Range RWD
Price: £44,990
DC charging time: 10-80% @ 250kW in N/Q minutes
Read our full Tesla Model 3 review.
8. MG IM5: up to 441 miles
Why buy one?
- Enormous amount of kit and car for the money
Why avoid it?
- It appears to be more of a Tesla wannabe than an MG
There are good reasons why the MG IM5 appears to be heavily inspired by the Tesla Model 3 and not at all like other models you will see in MG showrooms – aside from its IM6 SUV sibling.
As the Model 3 is the UK’s best-selling electric saloon, there’s more than a dose of imitation being the sincerest form of flattery going on here, but that aside, in its Chinese homeland, the IM5 isn’t sold as an MG. Instead, IM – short for Intelligence in Motion – is the brand, but using MG's initials here, if not the octagonal badging, gives this relative newcomer a helping hand gaining consumer acceptance.
Not that it needs much considering the generous equipment roster and plush interior space for the money, let alone the eye-catching driving range of this longest-distance model. Unlike the Tesla, we like how the IM5’s practicality is enhanced by virtue of its large tailgate to access the boot, rather like the A6 Sportback e-tron.
Particularly impressive for those occasions when DC charging at a public station is necessary, the IM5 100 Long Range’s 96.5kWh battery can be zapped at a rate of up to 396kW. If you find a suitably capable chargers that’s operating at full pelt, you’ll have to be quick about your comfort and coffee breaks.
Our pick: IM5 100 Long Range
Price: £44,995
DC charging time: 10-80% @ 396kW in 17 minutes
Read our full MG IM5 review.
9. Peugeot E-3008: up to 435 miles
Why buy one?
- Most mainstream family SUV of the longest-range EVs
Why avoid it?
- Forthcoming Citroen take on the same mechanicals will be cheaper
As is the case with a few of these long-range EVs, the Peugeot E-3008 can be specified with more than one electric drive system. While the less expensive 73kWh battery pack is capable of travelling up to 326 miles on a full charge, you need to opt for the Long Range 97kWh alternative to go beyond 400 miles. There’s a small performance uplift to bear in mind, but the price of the greater range is £2700.
Our testers note that as Peugeot is the most upmarket of the Stellantis mainstream brands, its interior feels appropriately classy, yet the E-3008’s platform and drive systems are common to the Citroen e-C5 Aircross, the Jeep Compass Full-Electric and the Vauxhall Grandland Electric. When the largest capacity battery finds its way under those in-house rivals, we expect them to offer a similar driving range for more affordable budgets.
Impressive battery statistics aside, the E-3008 is a rakishly styled five-seater family SUV, with a similarly dramatic interior. Spending a further £2500 will buys the seven-seater Peugeot E-5008 relation, although its more upright lines and greater heft trim 22 miles off its range potential, pegging it at a still-impressive 413 miles. Like the DS No8 E-Tense, the 160kW DC on-board charger is a limiting factor in this company.
Our pick: E-3008 Allure Long Range 97kWh 230
Price: £48,760
DC charging time: 20-80% @ 160kW in 27 minutes
Read our full Peugeot E-3008 review.
10. Volkswagen ID.7: up to 433 miles
Why buy one?
- Super-spacious, cheap-to-run large family hatchback
Why avoid it?
- Not especially VW-like to look at or sit inside
There's something quietly impressive about the Volkswagen ID.7 – it’s a capacious five-door hatchback occupying a similar position to the discontinued VW Arteon, albeit with electric-only power.
Our testers rate its ability to clock up big miles comfortably and if you need even more load capacity while doing so, check out the estate-bodied VW ID.7 Tourer. While you gain in boot space, you’ll lose in range, being 13 miles down on the hatchback version’s potential tally in like-for-like Pro S Match Plus form.
We recommend that as the version to go for. Not only is it the only specification in which the ID.7 beats our 400-mile range threshold, it’s a far more appealing all-rounder than the performance-themed GTX version, with little real-world loss in speed or agility.
It feels much more upmarket inside than smaller electric VWs such as the ID.3 and ID.4, yet it doesn’t seem to be as well-honed interior-wise as Volkswagens were once famed for. Fingers crossed that will be fixed by the time it’s due a mid-life facelift, although how much the ID.7’s somewhat ungainly exterior styling can be sorted remains to be seen.
Our pick: ID.7 Pro S Match Plus
Price: £54,930
DC charging time: 10-80% @ 199kW in 28 minutes
Read our full Volkswagen ID.7 review.
Long-range electric cars coming soon
Due to the pace of long-range electric car development, there's a steady stream of uprated and new models in the pipeline. All models listed below have provisional claimed driving ranges in excess of 400 miles and have been officially announced by their manufacturers but are not yet open for ordering – when they are on sale, several will assume places in the overall top 10.
BMW i3 Saloon: up to 562 miles
Set to jump to the top of the list when order books open later in 2026 is the BMW i3 Saloon. No longer a radical, city-focused hatchback, the new i3 is the electric version of the new-generation 3 Series and is an even more radical interpretation of the Neue Klasse theme than the BMW iX3.
Provisional figures suggest that the longest-range BMW i3 Saloon will be capable of 562 miles between plug-ins. Enticingly, it will be joined by a still-to-be-revealed BMW i3 Touring estate version, although we expect its maximum range to be nearer 545 miles.
BMW i7: up to 451 miles
Rather than an all-new generation of electric BMW i7 and its combustion-engined 7 Series counterpart, the existing range has been given a Neue Klasse makeover, which its manufacturer claims in the most extensive model update in its history.
Available to order from May 2026, two different electric drive systems will be available for the freshened-up model, with the 60 xDrive provisionally claiming up to 451 miles of range thanks in part to its 112.5kWh battery. For those craving even more performance who are willing to sacrifice some long-distance potential, the i7 M70 xDrive could be what you seek – how far it can travel on a full charge is yet to be confirmed.
Mercedes Electric C-Class Saloon: up to 473 miles
Directly competing with the i3 is the all-new Mercedes Electric C-Class Saloon. Unusually, it doesn't replace any existing Mercedes and will instead sell alongside the existing combustion-engined C-Class range, just as the Electric GLC coexists with the unrelated petrol and diesel GLC line-up.
Dominating the Electric C-Class’s styling is a fresh take on the GLC’s illuminated Iconic Grille signature – there’ll be no missing this Mercedes, day or night. First blood in this battle goes BMW’s way, though – Mercedes’ best claim for the Electric C-Class’s range is only 473 miles.
Although only confirmed as a four-door Saloon so far, we expect a Mercedes Electric C-Class Estate to not be too far behind, ready to go toe-to-toe with BMW's i3 Touring.
Mercedes VLE: at least 434 miles
That same glitzy prow which adorns the Electric C-Class will also feature on the Mercedes VLE Grand Limousine – that’s how the German luxury brand is choosing to refer to its replacement for the EQV MPV. It will seat up to eight adults in supreme comfort with masses of space by it being based on the platform of a forthcoming commercial vehicle.
Mercedes is yet to commit to an exact official driving range figure for the VLE, but indicates it will be over 700km – that’s more than 434 miles.
Expect the VLE to be joined by a longer, more luxurious version badged Mercedes VLS to follow in short order.
How we test cars: the electric car method
Analysing the nitty-gritty of cars is how we test them at Honest John. Our team's knowledge and expertise has been honed by getting to know cars of all types thoroughly. To determine our round-up of the 10 longest range electric cars for 2026, our editorial experts have:
-
Driven over 10,000 miles: Tiny urban streets, winding A- and B-road cross-country jaunts, motorways... You name it, we've driven long-range electric cars on everything that British roads can offer – good and bad.
-
Prodded and parked: For us to tell you how cars will fit into your lives, we see how well the do or don't fit into ours, so there's plenty of folding the back seats down, installing Isofix child seats, scooting up and down multi-storey car parks and anything else you can think of – including seeing how much rubbish we can fit inside for a tip run.
-
Real EV Range: In order to understand how far electric cars can be driven in realistic conditions, that's exactly what we do. Plus we test what they're like to charge, both at home using wallboxes and out and about connected to the latest, quickest ultra-rapid DC facilities.
-
Owner Feedback: Our readers share their experiences with us every year confirming the best and the worst cars when it comes to their personal reliability experiences with the Honest John Satisfaction Index. And when we know which are the star performers and which are best left alone, we make sure that you do, too.
Our reviews are 100% independent. We don't take money from car manufacturers to influence our rankings. Our only priority is helping you find the right car.
Frequently asked questions about the longest-range electric cars
Which other currently available electric cars have a driving range of over 400 miles?
Several other currently available electric cars have official driving ranges more than 400 miles, but weren’t high enough to enter this particular top 10.
Working down from 11th place, those models are the Mercedes EQE Saloon with up to 429 miles of range and the BMW iX SUV just behind at 426 miles.
A direct rival to the EQE is the new Volvo ES90 with a claimed 426 miles, placing it just ahead of its close cousin, the rakish Polestar 5 on 421 miles.
One of the earliest upmarket EVs was the Porsche Taycan, but you’ll need to go for the least-powerful entry-level version to benefit from its 421-mile potential. From the same stable, the Porsche Cayenne Coupe Electric isn’t far behind at 415 miles.
A shout-out to the Peugeot E-5008 at 413 miles for being the long-range electric seven-seater. Coming in just behind at 411 miles is the Audi Q6 Sportback e-tron, followed by the evergreen appeal of the Polestar 2 at 409 miles.
The final 400-miles-and-over EVs currently on sale are the Mercedes Electric GLC (406 miles) and the recently updated Polestar 3 (402 miles).
Why are there no Chinese EVs in the top 10 longest range electric cars?
There are! Don’t forget that MG, Polestar and Volvo are all owned by large Chinese manufacturers. But no, at present no Chinese-origin brands sell cars which are capable of covering at least 400 miles on a single charge.
Why? It’s largely down to the fact many of them are relatively new to European markets and its consumers in this continent driving demand for long-range EVs. In China, where uptake of electric vehicles is significantly higher, journeys are usually shorter and the charging infrastructure is so much better, car buyers feel less concerned about needing long-range models.
Which is the cheapest electric car with a driving range of over 500 miles?
To spend the least on an electric car with a driving range of 500 or more miles you need to get your hands on the entry-level BMW iX3 50 xDrive at £58,755. Due to the pace of change, we will be amazed if by the end of 2026 there isn’t a 500-miler available for under £50k.
Which is the cheapest electric car with a driving range of over 400 miles?
Today’s cheapest electric car with a driving range of 400 miles or more is the £44,990 Tesla Model 3 Premium Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive – you can forgive its name hardly tripping off the tongue at that price. Again, we expect before the end of 2026 there will be 400-mile capable EVs on sale priced in the mid-to-high £30,000s ballpark.
Do electric cars with the longest range take a long time to charge?
Physics dictate that the bigger the battery, the longer it takes to charge. Imagine turning your wash basin and bath taps on at the same rate of water flow – experience and logic mean we understand that the basin will fill far sooner due to having a smaller volume.
Although it's a similar with battery capacities, other factors also affect how quickly EVs charge, including ambient temperature, whether the battery is fitted with a conditioning system to heat or cool it in advance of charging closer to the optimum temperature window, how fast the on-board chargers operate, how powerful the public chargers are and how many other EVs are plugged in at the same location at the time.
Not only that, the battery’s software is programmed to preserve its health by reducing the flow rate for the first and last portion of the charge, which is why most quoted recharge times are given as 10-80% state of charge.
Ultra-rapid chargers delivering 150kW to 350kW are relatively commonplace in dedicated public stations, but with many long-range EVs now fitted with on-board chargers accepting energy flow at up to 400kW – and soon, higher than that – the infrastructure network will witness a series of upgrades in the years ahead to keep up.
If you’re plugging a long-range electric car into your domestic wallbox you are likely capped at an absolute maximum speed of 7.4kW. For an approximate recharging time, divide your long-range EV’s kWh battery capacity by 7.4, add another 10% for good measure and you’ve got a reasonably accurate guide as to how many hours a full top-up will take.
Do electric cars with the longest range have the biggest batteries?
It’s not a given that the electric car with the longest range will have the biggest battery. Electric SUVs are typically less efficient than alternative saloons, hatchbacks and estates, for example, while smaller cars are lighter than larger ones, so can potentially travel further with a smaller battery.
Potential range is also influenced by how powerful the car’s electric motors are, how many are fitted, how many sets of wheels deliver the power to the road and more recently, by how many gears are fitted. Ordinarily, EVs just have a single gear, but there’s a growing trend for two-speed automatic transmissions, with the second being used primarily for high-speed, more efficient cruising along motorways.
Do I need a long-range electric car?
No, you don’t. Think carefully before buying one whether you really need an EV with such impressive long-distance performance. Most of the top 10 options are priced at the more expensive end of the electric car market. If your typical daily mileage is more modest – as is the case for the vast majority of people – a cheaper, lower-range model could suit you far better.
