Back when electric cars entered the mainstream car market, there were a few major talking points: their credentials as zero-emissions transport, their prices and, perhaps most importantly, their ranges.
EVs have come a long way in a short space of time. Thanks to a decade and a half of battery and motor development, some of the longest-range models can now match some petrol cars for how far they will go on a ‘tank’.
Cast your mind back to 2010: the Nissan Leaf, widely regarded as the world’s first mass-market EV, offered just 100 miles of range and took eight hours to charge from a home socket.
In 2025, even some of the cheapest electric cars currently on sale will easily deliver double the range of the original Leaf, and with much faster charging options to boot.
The figures we quote here are from the official WLTP testing routine. In real-world use, it’s unlikely that many of these EVs will hit these promised figures consistently – although you might get close if you’re feather-footed or a keen hypermiler.
The undisputed range champion - that’s the EV with the longest range available in the UK today - is the Mercedes-Benz EQS, which is capable of 481 miles. Which other models make the top 10? Read on to find out.
Range: 481 miles
The Mercedes EQS saloon boasts the highest range of any EV on sale in the UK today, with a claimed figure of 481 miles when equipped with its huge 118kWh battery.
It's helped significantly by its impressive drag coefficient of 0.20Cd, which makes it the slipperiest car currently in production.
Even if you do somehow manage to drain the battery in one go, you won’t have to wait long to fill it back up again: it can accept charging speeds of up to 200kW, so a 10-80% top-up will take just half an hour.
The only real downside is that it will set you back over £100,000 if you buy one new…
Read our Mercedes-Benz EQS review
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486 miles - Don't make me laugh...
My 19 year old Brabus mapped Mercedes Ben E320 Cdi, (all be it with the factory fitted long range tank), would easy do 1100+ on fast motorway work and only take 15 mins to fill up when empty.
When an electric car can match that, I may consider buying one?
No Tesla 3 long range with 390 miles range? Near-bankrupt Fisker at number 3...it's almost criminal you're recommending consumers should invest their money here right now. It's another embarrassing EV list. What's the agenda here, or is it just lazy journalism? Sorry to be harsh, but consumers come here for help and to be informed by the trusted professionals, instead they get served this tripe. Must try harder.
Certainly. A Passat. Cribbs to just South of Edinburgh and back to Cribbs. Little to no traffic. Happy to help.
Petrol or diesel?
And you went there and back without stopping, bit of a pointless journey.