There are already plenty of superb zero-emission products on sale right now – which you can perhaps pick up in a good deal as part of the 262-registration period. Here’s a selection of our favourites.
Currently winning all the critical plaudits as the herald of a brave new EV era, the BMW iX3 is a premium SUV that drives with all the sharpness and engagement you would expect of this manufacturer, only it happens to be an electric model. But you don’t sacrifice range for performance, because the iX3’s massive battery can provide more than 800km of driving distance per charge.
Citroen e-C3 200km
The Citroen e-C3 already provided a likeable, affordable and highly comfortable urban-biased EV when it first arrived, but it has recently been joined by a new ‘200km’ derivative with a 33 per cent smaller battery. That means an official range of just 209km, theoretically, but if you’re going to be driving mostly in town anyway, why pay more money for battery capacity you simply don’t need? Better yet, this version is less than €23,000 new, it looks identical to the longer-range e-C3 inside and out, and it actually drives with a little more verve as it is lighter as a result of its smaller battery.
The Cupra Born is a notable example of one company embarrassing its parent owner. Based on the same underpinnings as the Volkswagen ID.3, the sharp-suited and sharp-steering Born is nevertheless the superior product, and it has just been given a striking facelift for 2026. It offers between 550- and 630km of range to a charge, or thereabouts, and it has a high-quality interior to top everything off.
This boxy little beauty is available with both a hybrid drivetrain or a fully electric set-up, and it’s the latter we’re focusing on in this list. Indeed, the Grande Panda Electric is related to the Citroen e-C3 mentioned elsewhere on our rundown. It has a modest 44kWh battery pack, up to 320km of range and a power output of just 113hp. Yet it looks sublime on the outside, a modern revisioning of the original Fiat Panda runaround of the 1980s. On the strength of that charm alone, the Grande Panda is well worth checking out.
Hyundai has blessed its distinctive electric ‘streamliner’, the Ioniq 6, with sleek new looks and longer range for the 2026 model year. A battery of up to 80kWh usable energy is said to take the Hyundai more than 600km to a charge, while it’s good to drive if an interesting road opens up before you. Perhaps the Ioniq 6’s biggest strength, though, is the passenger compartment, replete with high-quality materials and using sensible ergonomics for a truly relaxing, intuitive ownership experience.
If you need a full seven-seat SUV that’s powered by battery, there are plenty of newer options than the Kia EV9 – but few which are as multitalented as this thing. The driving range is always beyond the 500km marker, you’ll actually get seven people seated onboard in reasonable comfort if you need to, and the EV9 looks wonderfully futuristic and avantgarde on the outside. Indeed, its striking appearance has informed a whole load of Kia’s electric cars in the aftermath, such as the EV2, EV3, EV5 and PV5, all of which arguably could also have made this list.
Renault 4 and Renault 5 E-Tech
We can’t choose between these two fab French motors. Essentially the same EV underneath the skin, you have to choose whether you want a larger, more practical body with the 4 E-Tech SUV, or a gloriously chic supermini with the 5 E-Tech. Both of them riff heavily off the styling of the original Renault 4 and 5 models of antiquity, but it’s not just nostalgia which has made them a major sales success – it’s the fact that both are brilliant to drive, they have top-notch interiors and they don’t even break the bank to buy and own.
A touch of premium class is brought to the fore with Volvo’s high-riding fastback which thinks it’s a saloon. Its sumptuous, Swedish interior and circa-660km range are two of its strongest selling points, although the comfortable ride quality and supreme refinement also make it feel worth the outlay. From known quantity Volvo, the ES90 has the edge on the likes of the Audi A6 e-tron and Mercedes EQE, making it a tempting choice for those looking for a grander EV.