If you thought a big breakthrough in battery technology was needed before we start getting truly long-range electric cars, well, you’re partly right. The promise of solid state, lithium air and lithium sulphur chemistries could really change the game.
And yet there have been significant gains in battery and e-motor performance since the launch of the Nissan Leaf in 2010,with its advertised range of 109 miles from its 24kWh battery. Most modern packs contain at least twice the energy, and there have been significant advances in areas such as packaging and materials used. With simultaneous improvements in aerodynamics and tyres, many EVs have more than 300 miles of range, and this year we will see two cars on our roads that are claimed to break the 500-mile barrier.
As usual we expect those cars not to be able go as far in real world conditions. The WLTP (Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure) efficiency test, through which all new cars are measured, has some notable weaknesses, and in almost all cases the real-world range of EVs is less than the quoted figure.
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There are a number of reasons for this, including driving at high speeds on motorways and using energy for air conditioning, while the most significant factor is ambient temperature. Battery chemistry is negatively affected by cold weather.
Tests by the website and magazine WhatCar? found that in winter the shortfall between the official WLTP figure and the real-world range was between 21 per cent for a Mercedes EQE and 36 per cent for a Toyota RZ 450e. For an electric car with a 500-mile WLTP figure, that worst-case scenario would mean a real-world range of only 320 miles, and you would rightly be aggrieved as an owner. Most would expect to get more than 400 miles from their 500-mile EV.
The good news is that the steady improvements in efficiency mean the average range for an EV in 2025 was nearly 300 miles WLTP, up from 235 miles in 2024. The EV database says that the average real-world range is now 234 miles per charge.
When comparing the range of new electric cars, though, the WLTP figures are the best metric we have. So, using those as our guide, this is our list of the longest-range electric cars on sale in the UK in 2026. All of them manage more than 450 miles WLTP.
1. Volvo EX60
The new Volvo EX60 is the UK’s leader on EV range
VOLVO
• Range: up to 503 miles
• Price: £64,860
The new EV distance king in 2026 is expected to be the Volvo EX60 mid-sized SUV, which arrives from this summer with a choice of 80kWh and 91kWh (usable) batteries, equating to 385 miles and 410 miles per charge respectively, with prices starting at £56,860. But early in 2027 (slightly delayed) we should get the EX60 P12, packing a 112kWh battery that offers a WLTP range of 503 miles, and costs from £64,860.
The EX60 is the first Volvo to sit on all-new dedicated electric underpinnings, designed for strength and light weight. It uses Volvo’s latest electric motors and battery technology, and advanced computer processors that result in a leap in efficiency, safety and infotainment. It features Google Gemini AI built-in, for example, meaning you can have a more natural conversation with the car, even asking it if a piece of furniture you have just bought (presumably from Ikea) will fit in the boot.
• Volvo EX60 boasts 503-mile electric range
2. BMW iX3
The BMW iX3 kicks off a new generation of Neue Klasse models
BMW
• Range: up to 500 miles
• Price: from £58,755
BMW is tearing up its model strategy and starting again with the iX3. It has dusted off its Neue Klasse label (first used in the 1960s) for this new generation, featuring a fresh design direction outside and in. Its Panoramic iDrive dashboard layout features a full-width digital strip below the windscreen conceived to keep essential driving info easily in the driver’s eyeline.
The iX3 is a direct rival for the Volvo EX60, and can go almost as far according to the official figure; its 108kWh battery results in a claimed range of up to 500 miles between top-ups. It also features a Superbrain, capable of processing an extraordinary amount of information about the driving dynamics and safety systems, as well as running a high-tech infotainment system on which you can stream films, play games and map routes with charging stops according to dynamic prices and actual charging speeds, as opposed to advertised ones.
• BMW claims 500-mile range for its new iX3 electric car
3. Mercedes-Benz CLA Electric
The Mercedes-Benz CLA with EQ Technology was crowned European Car of the Year at the 2026 Brussels Motor Show
MERCEDES-BENZ AG
• Range: up to 484 miles
• Price: from £45,615
The efficiency of the new electric CLA 250+, which is the 2026 European Car of the Year, is aided by an unusual feature: a second gear that kicks in at higher speed to reduce energy consumption, enabling a WLTP range of 484 miles from a usable capacity of just 85 kWh. Add an 800v electrical system, which enables charging at up to 320kW, and you can add up to 200 miles of range in ten minutes.
It has remarkably comfortable yet responsive suspension, considering it doesn’t use air springs: they are steel coils and dampers. The CLA 250+ is also impressively quiet, luxurious and high-tech (it integrates AI, from both Microsoft and Google, for natural conversations) for a car that costs just over £45,000.
• The best new cars at the 2026 Brussels Motor Show
4. Mercedes-Benz EQS Saloon
The Mercedes-Benz EQS is an electric S Class, meaning ultra luxury, high technology … and a price to match
GETTY IMAGES
• Range: 481 miles
• Price: £119,620
Essentially the electric alternative to the more conventional S-Class saloon, the EQS offers luxury, technology and heaps of range from its massive batteries. The entry-level EQS has a big powerpack under the floor, with an energy capacity of 96kWh, offering up to 409 miles on a single charge. The EQS 450+ model’s 118kWh battery pack is enormous, and enough to provide up to 481 miles, according to the WLTP.
While the aerodynamically optimised styling won’t be to everyone’s taste, the car is ultramodern and luxurious inside, the cabin is whisper-quiet, the ride is ultrasmooth and the technology is impressive, with a huge touchscreen that occupies almost all of the dashboard.
• The best new luxury electric cars
5. Audi A6 Sportback e-tron
The A6 e-tron comes in Avant (estate) or this Sportback saloon bodystyles
AUDI AG
• Range: 470 miles
• Price: from £63,305
The Audi A6 e-tron comes in both saloon (Sportback) and estate (Avant) guises. Both are extremely aerodynamically efficient, but it’s the Sportback Performance model, with its 100kWh (94.9kWh usable) battery, that offers the longest range. Figures vary but the official press info claims that up to 756km WLTP, or 470 miles, is possible.
It features a 375bhp electric motor driving the rear wheels, allowing rapid acceleration (when ultimate efficiency isn’t on the driver’s mind) from 0-62mph in 5.4sec. When you need to recharge, the 800v system can top up the battery from 10 per cent to 80 per cent in 21 minutes at a 270kW charging station.
And as you would expect, the A6 e-tron is a very comfortable and well-built luxury car, with plenty of technology included. A bit of advice for buyers, though: sacrifice a bit of aero efficiency in favour of side mirrors over the frustrating camera-based rear-view system.
• Audi A6 Avant e-tron review: Classy but flawed electric estate
6. DS No 8 Long Range
The DS No 8 name is a nod to the Chanel No 5 luxury brand
• Range: 466 miles
• Price: from £54,690
Citroën’s luxury spin-off DS Automobiles is struggling to get a foothold in the UK and the No 8 is part of a new push for attention. Its name is meant to evoke elite product brands such as Chanel No 5, and the plush interior features high-end materials like Nappa leather and Alcantara. DS is also trying to make a name for itself in terms of technology and ride comfort (something at which French luxury cars have always excelled), and the top-spec No 8s have road-scanning technology that sets up the active dampers to deal with bumps and dips.
The front-wheel drive No 8 Long Range has the longest official range of up to 466 miles WLTP (from a 97.2kWh battery) and comes in two trim levels: the Pallas version is priced from £54,690, while the Étoile trim commands a £4,600 premium due to upgrades including 360-degree cameras and that Active Scan Suspension tech.
7. Tesla Model 3 Long Range
The Tesla Model 3 is known for its efficiency, technology and extreme minimalist interior
TESLA
• Range: 466 miles
• Price: £44,990
Tesla was once the carmaker associated with electric cars, having changed the game significantly and kick-started the EV revolution. Although others have caught up in most regards, and its boss, Elon Musk, is a divisive character (to say the least), the American carmaker is still at the forefront in terms of efficiency and performance.
Tesla is also known for blank sheet thinking, particularly with regard to the cabin design, which led to more sophisticated connected technology and started a trend for extreme minimalism. Removing the indicator stalks, and putting the side mirror and seat controls in the touchscreen, may have taken things a little too far, though.
The Model 3 saloon is one of only two Teslas on sale in the UK, alongside the spun-off Model Y crossover, and comes in four versions including dual-motor four-wheel drive models. The rear-wheel drive Premium Long Range variant can go farthest between charges: up to 466 miles WLTP.
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Other electric cars with more than 400 miles of range:
• Peugeot e-5008: 414 miles
• Mercedes GLC: 443 miles
• MG IM5: 441 miles
• Polestar 3: 438 miles
• Volkswagen ID.7: 436 miles
• Peugeot e-3008: 435 miles
• Mercedes-Benz EQE: 429 miles
• Vauxhall Grandland Electric: 425 miles
• Porsche Taycan: 421 miles
How much electric car range do you need?
This will depend on the sort of driving you do. If you live in Wales, Scotland or Cornwall and regularly need to drive to London, say, then you’ll want an EV with the longest range possible, plus ultra-rapid charging capability.
According to a 2025 YouGov study, 41 per cent of drivers typically travel 10-20 miles per day, and 12 per cent drive more than 40 miles daily. That suggests that in most cases even the UK’s cheapest electric car, the Dacia Spring, with its WLTP range of 140 miles and a starting price of £15,990, would be more than enough.
Most drivers like to have the ability to go much farther afield if necessary — perhaps on a family holiday in the UK — and so the reassurance of a longer-range EV is often welcome. The problem is that larger batteries add cost (not to mention weight, which affects tyre wear), and so the trick is finding an electric car that suits your own needs and budget.
