I review EVs for a living – these are the top 7 electric cars that blew me away in 2025
It’s easy to be guided by the various damning headlines that suggest demand for electric vehicles is declining to the point that major auto players are completely rethinking their strategies.
Certainly, companies like Porsche and Ford to have has backtracked on its plans, turning gasoline engines and hybrid setups into models intended to be purely electric, but that’s not the case for everyone.
The situation is slightly different in the United States, where the reversal of incentives and tax breaks has slowed the progress of electric vehicles, often forcing many of the aforementioned brands to rethink their electric strategy in North America to ensure profitability.
Polestar, Volkswagen, Audi and Mercedes-Benz have all suspended or abandoned plans to launch models in the United States, but that hasn’t stopped local talent from making their mark.
Tesla and Rivian continue to reach new buyers, Hyundai and Kia remain popular, and Nissan’s recently launched Leaf is making waves for its range and affordability.
1. Tesla Model Y
The updated Model Y is easily the best car Tesla has ever produced, combining excellent functionality, impressive range, fast and reliable public charging, and a quieter, more refined ride than previous generations.
Granted, the exterior styling remains controversial, but the recent refresh has certainly refined the approach, modernizing the lines and adding full-width light bars front and rear to ensure it attracts attention on the road.
Having driven the Premium and Performance editions, it’s safe to say that unless you really like roller coaster-style acceleration, the latter is the model to go for – especially in long-range rear-wheel-drive form.
If you can get past the badge and all its modern connotations, the latest Model Y is hands down one of the most efficient and easy to live with EVs on sale.
2.MG IM5
Tesla has a new rival popping up every few weeks these days and MG’s latest premium badge, dubbed Intelligent Mobility, makes no effort to disguise the fact that it has the Tesla Model 3 firmly in its sights.
Coming from the mammoth Chinese automotive group SAIC, the vehicle rides on an all-electric platform shared with a number of premium sedans in its domestic market. Although in Europe, things have been tweaked and changed to attract the most discerning buyers.
The specs are impressive: up to 441 miles of range, 17 minutes for a 10-80% charge, and 3.2 seconds for 0-62 mph in the 751-hp Performance model…it’s Porsche Taycan territory for a fraction of the price.
From most angles it’s also a good-looking car, with little bits of Aston Martin in the back and lots of Taycan up front. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, isn’t it?
It also packs a plethora of advanced driver assistance and infotainment technologies for not a lot of money.
If you can overlook the overly firm ride, the fact that it’s all tied to a slightly annoying touchscreen and terrible visibility from the rear, it offers an impressive amount of performance, all-electric range and technology for less money than the Polestar 2, Mercedes-Benz CLA and, of course, the Tesla Model 3 it’s actively pursuing in Europe.
3. Kia EV4
Kia’s lineup of pure electric vehicles is extremely impressive, ranging from the upcoming (and tiny) EV2, to sleek sedans, crossovers and maxing out with the massive seven-seat EV9 SUV right at the top of the range. There really is something for everyone.
The EV4 is one of its newest models, and it’s designed to tap into Europe’s love of a good old-fashioned hatchback, taking elements from its larger EV6 and smaller EV3, but packaging them into something that isn’t yet another SUV or crossover.
Bold styling, a supremely comfortable ride and impressive range figures make it a tempting buy, while Kia’s latest infotainment system is the sharpest and most technologically advanced it has produced, with ChatGPT integration for natural voice interactions.
It has a large and practical trunk and, thanks to its lower height than some of its SUV siblings, it handles quite well. Don’t expect Golf GTI levels of fun, but it’s a great all-around car that’s entertaining enough for most.
4. Citroën e-C5 Aircross
Sometimes the best cars are the ones that handle the basics well, without fuss or fanfare. These cars that prioritize comfort and practicality over flashy design elements and breathtaking performance.
Citroën’s latest e-C5 Aircross, which is its first model to ride on parent company Stellantis’ STLA Medium platform, is exactly one of these cars. It offers a range of 320 or 421 miles, depending on the specified battery, perfectly acceptable performance, and one of the most comfortable rides on the market.
The suspension with “progressive hydraulic cushions” makes it feel like you’re floating in the air, while the large five-seater SUV offers enormous storage space and very comfortable accommodations for everyone traveling on board.
Inside, it adds some French design know-how with some of the most comfortable front seats I’ve ever experienced. The infotainment technology isn’t the best, but everything works and it’s easy to use.
Prices start at £34,065 (around $45,400 / AU$68,600) for entry-level models, which is extremely competitive for an electric vehicle as practical and comfortable as this.
5. Renault 4 E-Tech
Although he drove this vehicle very early in 2025, it remains one of the most memorable, thanks to its excellent blend of small car character, excellent driving dynamics and very attractive price.
Based on the equally excellent Renault 5 E-Tech, the R4 adds an extra touch of practicality with a little more space in the back for passengers and more practical storage space throughout. It does, however, retain some of the R5’s cheekiness in the way it drives and handles.
Above all, it’s one of the best value electric vehicles on sale in the UK and Europe, with prices starting at just £23,445 (around $31,250 / AU$47,200), but it still manages to offer head-turning looks on the outside, a premium interior and the latest in-car technology – including an Android Automotive-based infotainment system with Google Maps and others integrated applications.
6. Mercedes-Benz CLA
Mercedes has poured all its engineering might into the latest CLA, not only imbuing it with an intelligent two-stage transmission (for efficiency rather than performance), a low drag coefficient and the latest 800V electrical architecture, but also ushering in the brand’s cinema-quality Super Screen technology inside.
All of this adds up to a vehicle capable of going some 480 miles on a single charge, but can still dispatch the 0-62 mph sprint in a respectable 4.9 seconds. Charging is also lightning fast, while the interior offers the kind of quality fit and finish you’d expect from the German brand. Screen technology is on another level.
Base models start at £45,615 in the UK, or around $61,000 / AU$94,000 approx converted. This puts it in line with the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y, but it will go further on a single charge and fill its batteries much faster.
7. Smart #5
Smart no longer makes small city cars – well, not until Smart #2 arrives – but plies its trade in a variety of SUVs that mix elements of Mercedes-Benz and China’s Geely Goliath.
I wasn’t particularly convinced by number 1, as the Brabus model felt way too fast for its own good, the brakes were poor and it looked a bit odd. The Smart #5 is altogether better, looking a bit like a rounded Mercedes G 580 and generally offering more space and practicality than its little sibling.
The interior technology is also much more impressive with a staggering 36-inch screen decorating the interior. There’s also a 25.6-inch augmented reality head-up display if you need more screen space.
It’s a nice place to rack up the miles, with some models capable of doing 366 on a single charge. The 0-80% recharge time is also less than 18 minutes.
Of course, I drove the Brabus edition, which makes a frankly stupid 637 hp thanks to its twin-motor configuration. That’s way too much for a family SUV and Smart simply doesn’t have the performance engineering know-how to successfully translate that power to the road.
Opt for the Pro+ or Premium trims and you get bigger batteries, the fast-charging 800V architecture and all that interior for a lot less money and fewer hairier moments on wet roads.
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