Electric cars with longest range 2022
For many EV newcomers, finding the electric car with the longest range is the priority. ‘Range anxiety’ remains a real concern, and is most easily resolved by picking an EV that can cover hundreds of miles between charges.
In this regard, electric car makers are really stepping up to the mark. As our guide to electric cars with the longest range proves, the best EVs are now capable of matching petrol cars in terms of how far they can travel before ‘refuelling’.
This is usually achieved through fitting large batteries. Sensibly, most manufacturers have equipped their cars with rapid-charge technology, so topping up the batteries won’t take an eternity.
Oh, and while the leading electric vehicles with the longest ranges are expensive, moving down our list quickly uncovers more affordable cars with long-distance capability. A decent EV range is not the preserve of the wealthy.
Here are the 10 electric cars with the longest range right now.
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Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+: 453 miles
The Mercedes-Benz EQS is the current leader among electric cars with the longest range – and by some margin, too. It is capable of driving for 453 miles between charges, far ahead of the next-best Tesla Model S. It achieves this chiefly thanks to a mammoth 107.8kWh battery, and while charging it using a regular socket will take a long time, Mercedes has given the car rapid-charge functionally, too. Result? Charging from zero to 80 percent can take as little as 31 minutes. The all-electric alternative to the benchmark S-Class luxury saloon, the futuristic EQS oozes class, and shows just how car manufacturers are pushing the boundaries when it comes to EVs.
Tesla Model S: 405 miles
The Tesla Model S, in Dual Motor guise, is the only car apart from the Mercedes-Benz EQS to break through the 400-mile range barrier. It manages this with a 100kWh battery, which can be charged easily and quickly via the American firm’s brilliant Tesla Supercharger network. If you’re willing to trade a mere nine miles of range, you can also pick the alternative Model S Plaid – and enjoy a thrilling 200mph top speed, plus 0-60mph in a mere 1.99 seconds. However, its 396-mile range will remain theoretical, rather than a reality, should you do so…
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BMW iX xDrive 50: 380 miles
BMW’s large and very distinctive iX is a notable new entry into the electric SUV sector. Its styling, particularly its huge front grille, has proven to be a talking point, but some have overlooked its extraordinary electric driving range as a result. Thanks to a 111.5kWh battery, BMW claims a total of 380 miles between charges for the xDrive 50 model. For such a large and heavy SUV, this is a really impressive result. The fact it has more than 520hp channelled to all four wheels means it’s no slouch against the clock, either. But the big battery does not come cheap, with xDrive 50 prices starting from around £94,000.
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Ford Mustang Mach-e Extended Range: 379 miles
Ford offers two battery choices for the Mustang Mach-e. Even the regular 75kWh battery is bigger than many rival electric cars – but the Blue Oval goes one further with a larger 98kWh Extended Range option. Pair this with the more efficient rear-wheel-drive chassis (rather than the all-wheel-drive alternative), and you can travel for a full 379 miles between charges. Ford has also tested its batteries extensively in cold weather and promises the Mustang Mach-e will remain among the electric cars with the longest range, even in the depths of winter.
Read our full Ford Mustang Mach-e review
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Tesla Model 3 Long Range: 374 miles
The popular Tesla Model 3 is a car that can do it all. In basic guise, it’s relatively affordable for such a technology-packed premium car. In Performance spec, it sets new class benchmarks for acceleration and pulling power. However, it’s the Model 3 Long Range that is likely to appeal most to British EV buyers, thanks to a fantastic range of 374 miles. This is achieved with a 75kWh battery, which is surprisingly modest given the car’s country-crossing ability. Consider this a measure of the efficiency Tesla has engineered into its cars. As with the larger Model S, charging via a public Tesla Supercharger is wonderfully straightforward and quick.
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BMW i4 eDrive 40: 365 miles
The stylish BMW i4 is the sporty German brand’s answer to the Tesla Model 3. BMW can’t quite match the range of the Model 3 Long Range, but the eDrive 40 variant gets pretty close, with a total of 365 miles. It needs a larger battery to achieve this, though – just under 84kWh, which BMW says can be charged from 10 to 80 percent in around half an hour. The stylish i4 is a superb car to drive, with fantastic handling and a very well-engineered chassis, while its modern cabin has a sporty, driver-focused feel. You’ll want to stay behind the wheel for mile after mile, making its place among the electric cars with the longest range a real bonus.
Tesla Model X: 348 miles
The Tesla Model X is a large seven-seat SUV with bold styling and even bolder ‘falcon wing’ rear doors. It can be bought in Plaid guise, which means an output of more than 1,000hp… but it’s the regular version, with a 100kWh battery, that offers the best range. Tesla quotes 348 miles between charges, which isn’t bad for such a large machine – and although this isn’t the fastest Model X on sale, it’s still capable of 0-60mph in 3.8 seconds. As with other Teslas, the Model X is able to use the firm’s comprehensive Supercharger network.
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Volkswagen ID.3 Tour: 338 miles
Volkswagen hopes the ID.3 electric car will prove as much of a breakthrough as its original Golf hatchback. The line-up is certainly comprehensive, with a model for all price points. At the top of the range is the ID.3 Tour, with a healthy 77kWh battery capacity that offers the longest range of all. It’s capable of covering 340 miles between charges, thanks to excellent aerodynamics and a kerb weight that’s not too excessive. Using a 100kW DC charger, it can be replenished from five to 80 percent charge in just 30 minutes, too.
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Skoda Enyaq iV 80: 336 miles
The Skoda Enyaq iV is the SUV alternative to the Volkswagen ID.3. Derived from the larger VW ID.4, Skoda has focused on slippery aerodynamics and ultra-efficient running. The result is a highly impressive electric range of 336 miles from the highest-capacity Enyaq iV 80. This family-friendly model has the added appeal of being easy and refined to drive, well equipped and extremely roomy – both for passengers and luggage. Skoda has ticked all the boxes with its first production electric car and it deserves to sell well.
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Polestar 2 Long Range Single Motor: 335 miles
Polestar is the sporty start-up division of Volvo, and the 2 is both its first pure electric car and its most impressive vehicle to date. Styled as a crossover with sporty SUV cues, the handsome Polestar 2 features Google infotainment and plenty of eco-friendly recycled materials. It’s now available with a combination of a Long Range battery and single motor drivetrain, which is the most efficient configuration – proven by a highly impressive range of 335 miles. The 78kWh battery will recharge from 10 to 80 percent in 35 minutes via a public fast charger.
Do electric cars with the longest range take a long time to charge?
Physics dictates that the bigger the battery, the longer it takes to charge. If you’re plugging an electric car with a long range into a wall socket, it will take more than a day to charge. Luckily, manufacturers are equipping these vehicles with fast-charge capabilities, cutting the top-up time from hours to minutes.
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. Saloon cars are more efficient than SUVs, for example, while smaller cars are lighter than larger ones. The efficiency of drive systems between car makers varies, too – which is why our list of electric cars with the longest range is so varied.
What is the cheapest electric car with the longest range?
The electric car with the longest range costs a six-figure sum: the Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+ is a genuine limousine – and alternative to the flagship S-Class. If you make do with a 336-mile range instead of 453 miles, though, the Skoda Enyaq iV 80 is yours from a much more affordable £40,000.
