Looking to switch to electric but don’t want to miss out on your car comforts?
These sleek autos boast some serious environmental credentials without scrimping on luxury.
With ultra-fast charge times, plenty of built-in gadgets and high-end touches, these are our picks of the best luxury electric cars.
BEST FOR USABILITY
Polestar 2
Prices from: £49,900
Max range: up to 335 miles WLTP
320mph fast charge speed
The Polestar 2 is beautifully striking with its unique and boxy shape, complete with slim profile headlights that have been born from its Volvo DNA.
But it is inside the car where things get interesting. If you’re used to asking Alexa to turn off your lights, or Google Assistant whether it’s going to rain again tomorrow, this will tickle your fancy.
The Polestar 2 features built-in Google services for its infotainment system, so you can download car-compatible apps, check your Google Calendar and even control things remotely, all with your voice.
It handles corners very well and feels well planted on the road surface, making you feel safe whether you’re cruising on the motorway, taking bends down country lanes or just driving in the city.
BEST FOR COMFORT
Audi Q4 e-Tron
Prices from: £40,750
Max range: up to 331 miles WLTP
Fast charge available
Audi’s electric Q4 e-Tron delivers the SUV experience in a more compact metal shell for those who need something slightly smaller.
Given its electric status, it has space inside for storing all your shopping or travel luggage, as well as plenty of legroom.
And expect nothing but luxury, from its leather seats and first-of-its-kind Sonos sound system to the HUD (head-up display) with integrated augmented reality to view crucial info directly in the driver’s line of sight.
It even comes with swipe gestures on its steering wheel. To top things off, it makes for one hell of a smooth ride.
BEST FOR LUXURY
Mercedes EQS
Prices from: Expected to start at £90,000 (released later this year)
Max range: Up to 478 miles WLTP
510mph rapid charge
Mercedes has a reputation for pure luxury and this all-electric high-end sedan doesn’t disappoint thanks to a wonderfully futuristic design.
The bonnet features small Mercedes star motifs that could be considered a little out-there by some but they’re complemented nicely with a two-tone paint job.
Hop inside and you’ll find a luxurious lounge-style interior and a huge curved 56in display that communicates with gesture control automatic doors that open as you walk up to it.
Naturally, it also uses artificial intelligence that intuitively learns the driver’s habits, such as prompting a call if it knows you regularly call someone on your way home from work.
Its lounge-style interior has all the comfort inside to make your journey as smooth, quiet and sci-fi as possible.
BEST FOR SMART FEATURES
Honda E
Prices from: £26,160 (including the £2,500 plug-in grant)
Max range: up to 140 miles WLTP
120mph rapid charge
From its spherical headlights to its side profile, the Honda E is an adorable little car. Get inside and its retro-modern stylings are hard to ignore.
All that’s missing is a cassette player. With five displays across the width of the cabin — two dedicated to its digital wing mirrors, the instrument cluster for your usual information, and two more for entertainment — you won’t be short of data.
There’s an HDMI port so you can connect a game console while you wait for your car to charge. Feeling like a go-kart on the road, it’s really fun to drive.
Throw in autopilot parking and the ability to escape tight spaces, and it’s perfect for getting around and grabbing attention while you do it.
In association with Cazoo.
Ask the Car Doctor
What is a mild hybrid?
Cazoo automotive editor Leo Wilkinson says:
There are various types of hybrid cars and, of them all, mild hybrids are the least electrified, hence the ‘mild’ part of the name.
Mild hybrid cars use a small electric motor that starts the car and stores energy when braking, which can help out the engine and electrical system on the move.
You can’t plug them in and the electric motor can’t power the car on its own.
On the move, they feel much the same as a conventional petrol or diesel car.
While they only give a small improvement in fuel economy and CO2 emissions, mild hybrids are another step towards making cars more environmentally friendly.
Most car brands are already adding this technology to their newest petrol and diesel engines to improve efficiency and it’s likely to become the norm in the next few years.
Got a question for our experts? Email us at cardoctor@metro.co.uk
This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on purchases made through one of these links but this never influences our experts’ opinions. Products are tested and reviewed independently of commercial initiatives.
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