EVs offer many benefits. The best electric cars are quieter than petrol and diesel equivalents, they’re quicker off the mark and produce zero tailpipe emissions, so they’re kinder to the lungs of passing pedestrians. However, most EVs still can’t go as far combustion engine cars before they need recharging. But that doesn’t mean EVs aren’t efficient.
Efficiency is all about making the most of what you’ve got. We all understand that the efficiency of a combustion engine car is measured in miles-per-gallon (mpg); the equivalent for an EV is miles-per-kilowatt-hour (mpkWh). The capacity of an EV’s battery is measured in kilowatt hours; the higher the mpkWh a car achieves, the further it can go on its battery capacity.
Here, we’re going to look at the most efficient EVs currently on the market, i.e. the cars that achieve the highest mpkWh. To clarify, these aren’t the EVs with the longest range, but the ones that extract the most range from the battery capacity they have. In most cases, we’re highlighting a specific model in a car’s range – other models are less efficient.
We’re using best-case figures supplied by Parkers’ data partner CAP. As with mpg, the figures you achieve in real-world driving will probably be lower. In our experience, getting around 4.0mpkWh from any EV is very good going. You can read more about how we test cars at Parkers.
<strong>Ford’s most convincing EV yet</strong>
The Explorer is based on the same underpinnings as the Volkswagen ID.4 and Skoda Enyaq, but Ford has produced a car that looks and feels very different to its VW Group cousins. It has a bit less boot capacity but is just as spacious for passengers, the infotainment system is easier to use and it offers a much more engaging driving experience.
Read our full Ford Explorer review
Pros
- Feels really good to drive
- Lots of interior space
- Long range for a mid-size SUV
Cons
- Modestly sized boot
- Near premium pricing
<strong>Tech-forward EV offers great comfort and stunning speed</strong>
The Model 3 received a long-overdue facelift in 2024 that most obviously included new front-end styling for better aerodynamics. There’s also a bigger battery, better noise insulation, plusher interior finishes and an even more stripped back dashboard. It faces a lot of very convincing opposition in the mid-size EV saloon class (BMW i4, Hyundai Ioniq 6) but it’s still a very strong option. If you can get past the shenanigans of Tesla’s CEO.
Read our full Tesla Model 3 review
Pros
- Very long range
- Clever infotainment system
- Fantastic charging infrastructure
Cons
- Somewhat disconnected driving experience
- Should really have a hatchback
<strong>Ultra-stylish city car does a lot with a little</strong>
It's a very likeable car, the 500e. It looks adorable inside and out, the interior feels quite plush, and it’s a hoot and a half to drive. It’s not the most practical of small hatchbacks, but it’ll just about accommodate four adults and a week’s shopping.
Read our full Fiat 500 Electric review
Pros
- Eager electric motor
- Engaging driving experience
- Stylish interior
Cons
- Not particularly practical
- Rather expensive for its size
<strong>The cheapest electric car in the UK</strong>
Many car reviewers have been bowled over by the Spring but, at Parkers, we’re far from convinced. It has some merits. There’s adequate space for four adults, a big boot for a car this size, it's quite well equipped and has a jolly vibe. But you can feel the low price in the interior quality and well below-par driving experience. And a one-star Euro NCAP safety rating is totally unacceptable, these days.
Read our full Dacia Spring review
Pros
- Only quadricycle EVs are cheaper
- Seven-year warranty if serviced by Dacia
- Usefully practical
Cons
- Very poor safety rating
- Borderline unpleasant to drive
<strong>The world’s best-selling EV</strong>
A long-awaited facelift was applied to the Model Y in early 2025. In common with the latest Model 3, new front-end styling features a distinctive full-width light bar that improves aerodynamics and assorted detail changes enhance refinement. The car feels decidedly numb to drive but it is enormously practical.
Read our full Tesla Model Y review
Pros
- Huge passenger space
- Vast boot capacity
- User-friendly infotainment system
Cons
- Still looks gawky after facelift
- Ride can be uncomfortable
<strong>Large premium hatchback offers strong range</strong>
We haven’t spent much time with the A6 e-tron yet, but it made a pretty strong first impression. The interior is a bit of a tech-overload with too many touchpad controls for out liking, and some of the plastics are too cheap for this type of car. But there’s plenty of space, a vast boot and it’s pleasant to drive. In Tenerife. We’ll find out what it’s like in the UK in due course.
Read our full Audi A6 e-tron review
Pros
- Long driving range possible
- Lovely to drive
- Hatchback boosts practicality
Cons
- Lots of touchpad ‘buttons’
- Sleek roofline eats into rear headroom
<strong>Not a sports car but a competent mid-size SUV</strong>
Oddly, the Capri is more practical than the Explorer; its longer rear overhang creates a bigger boot. The sloping roofline hasn’t affected rear seat headroom and there’s adult-friendly legroom. Some clever interior storage, too. It feels good to drive but isn’t quite as refined as rival EVs and the price is high for a Ford.
Read our full Ford Capri review
Pros
- Surprisingly spacious and practical
- Engaging to drive
- Looks better in the metal than pictures
Cons
- Quite pricey by Ford standards
- Are you bothered by the name?
<strong>Parkers’ best large family car for 2025</strong>
Why did Parkers name the ID.7 the best large family car for 2025? Because it’s massively spacious – particularly in the back – and has a vast boot. It’s also extremely comfortable and entirely undemanding to drive – it’s one of the best long-distance cruisers there is, EV or not. You just need to be sure you can get on with the touchpad ‘buttons’.
Read our full Volkswagen ID.7 review
Pros
- Huge potential range
- Huge passenger space
- Huge boot capacity
Cons
- You can feel its weight in corners
- VW does insist on touchpads
<strong>MINIness translates well to an EV</strong>
In may look exactly like the petrol MINI, but the electric version is completely different under the skin. Back seat and boot space is as cramped as ever, and interior quality has taken a downturn. But the electric MINI is as effervescent to drive as the petrol version and comes very well-equipped.
Read our full MINI Cooper E review
Pros
- Feels like a MINI should to drive
- Brilliant infotainment system
- Range now takes it beyond town
Cons
- Compromised practicality
- Some cheap interior plastics
<strong>Plush supermini that can go usefully far</strong>
Post-facelift, the e-208 remains one of the more stylish small cars both inside and out, though not everyone gets on with the split-level dashboard. It’s quite a pricey proposition, too. But it’s pretty practical for its size, loaded with tech and a doddle to drive.
Read our full Peugeot e-208 review
Pros
- Long range for a small EV
- Feels really good to drive
- Looks great inside and out
Cons
- Divisive driving position
- Costs more than many rivals
Aside from miles-per-kilowatt-hour you can also work out much an electric car is likely to cost to drive from Parkers’ exclusive miles-per-pound (MPP) figures, which you can learn more about here. We present MPP figures for a given car’s model range in the Ownership Costs section of the Parkers review; you can find the figures for a specific model by clicking on the Specs tab and searching for that model.
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