Tesla Model 3

The Tesla Model 3 is Tesla’s cheapest electric car and is the best-selling electric car in the world, with well over 500,000 units delivered. Its range, technology and charging infrastructure are difficult to beat, especially when you consider the affordable monthly payments with Fleet UK’s personal or business leasing plans, which is just as well as it’s not a cheap car to buy outright.

There are three versions of the Model 3 in the UK: the Standard Range Plus, the Long Range and the flagship Performance. The Standard Range Plus is WLTP-certified for 254 miles of the claimed range. The Long Range steps up the range to an impressive 348 miles. Although the Performance version has a range of 329 miles it will make you feel you’re in a supercar as it goes from standstill to 60mph in just 3.2 seconds.

Would leasing a Tesla Model 3 make sense for your next company car? Absolutely! The Tesla will profit from the Benefit-in-Kind company-car tax being just 1% in the 2021/22 tax year, rising to 2% in 2022/23.

Tesla offers a standard four-year/50,000-mile warranty that exceeds the warranties offered by its rivals Audi, BMW, Mercedes and Jaguar. Also, the car’s batteries receive an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty and will also be refurbished or replaced by Tesla if they fall below 70% of their as-new performance within that time. This is unlikely to happen though given Tesla’s fantastic reputation for battery longevity.

From a safety point of view, the Model 3 received Euro NCAP’s maximum five-star rating and Tesla leads the industry for semi-autonomous driving systems as well as scoring 94% in the Safety Assist category. Some of the safety features include lane keep assist, parking aids, traffic sign recognition and a full suite of airbags. For £5,800 you can have an option to see the car change lane for you and even leave a slip road off a motorway.

The Model 3 comes with a lot of the equipment you would want as standard, such as a keyless entry system that automatically recognises your phone as the key, as well as a tinted glass roof, heated front seats, a 15-inch touchscreen, four USB charging ports and docking for two smartphones.

While the vehicle doesn’t support Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, its single infotainment screen will offer all the functionality you need – including maps, navigation, phone connectivity and music streaming.

And if you’re feeling brave, you can even try out the karaoke feature.

Polestar 2

Polestar is an electric focussed brand that is an off-shoot from Swedish firm Volvo. The Polestar 2 is the fledgling company’s second car, and it stands a real chance of stardom and gives Tesla a real run for their money with the Model 3.

Based on the same underpinnings as the Volvo’s XC40 Recharge Pure Electric P8 (a brilliant family SUV, reviewed further down the list), the Polestar 2 is a five-door hatchback executive car that is capable of up to 292 miles on a full charge.

So what makes the Polestar 2 so special? For a start, its Scandinavian elegance is certainly evident on the outside, where the 2 has simple but bold lines, including its Thor-hammer LED daytime running lights at the front and rear light bar borrowed from the 80’s classic RoboCop. Thanks to a black strip that runs along its sills and over its wheel arches, it looks taller than a typical hatchback.

The interior also has its own unique feel, and the upmarket quality that most buyers expect from Volvo is certainly evident in the Polestar 2. The all singing and dancing part of the interior is the 11.0-inch iPad-like touchscreen infotainment system found on the centre of the dash – it’s easy to use, and it controls everything from the navigation to the stereo and the heating.

The infotainment system was developed with Android, and standard features include Google Maps and Google Assistant for natural speech voice control. You also have a separate 12.3-inch digital instrument display right in front of the driver. Apple’s CarPlay should be added soon as part of an over-the-air update.

There is only one trim, but its vast array of standard features includes: LED headlights, a 360-degree camera, adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, keyless entry, power-folding door mirrors, keyless entry, heated front and rear seats, a heated steering wheel, dual-zone climate control. A Harman Kardon stereo provides excellent audio.

The Polestar 2 isn’t short on safety features either. You get a Collision Mitigation system, which uses front and rear-facing radars to take 'preventative measures' when a crash is likely to occur; these include warning the driver by pulsing through the brake pedal or visual and audio cues, followed by an application of the brakes if required. The system also incorporates steering assistance, seatbelt pre-tensioners and automatic pre-braking.

Other standard safety systems include road-sign recognition, adaptive cruise control with stop-go functionality, 'Pilot Assist' lane-keeping assistance, cross-traffic alert, blind-spot monitoring, a 360-degree camera and all-round parking sensors. It's worth noting that many of these features, including adaptive cruise, are optional extras on the rival Jaguar I-Pace.

Although the Tesla Model 3 is a quicker electric car, the Polestar 2 still has performance figures to embarrass most sports cars. The 78kWh battery and two electric motors produce 402bhp and 487lb-ft of torque, enabling the Polestar 2 to sprint from 0 to 62mph in only 4.7 seconds. It will undoubtedly feel quick driving around town or the city.

It only takes as little as 40 minutes if you charge the 2 using a public 150kw charger. If you want to charge it using a home wallcharger it will take just over 8 hours, costing around £11 – which is still approximately £20 cheaper than fuelling the average petrol car over the same distance.

With the Polestar 2 being much cheaper than other electric cars with the same qualities as Audi’s E-tron and Jaguar’s I-Pace, you should give this car some serious consideration.

Volkswagen ID.3

Volkswagen’s ID.3 might sound like a product placement involving a Star Wars character, but it’s a significant car for the brand. The ID.3 is VW’s first electric car based on a bespoke electric car platform and has pretty much replaced the previous e-Golf as the family-sized choice for those with an environmentally-friendly conscience.

At present, the ID.3 only comes with the choice of two battery sizes:

· The medium 58kWh, which comes attached to a 201bhp motor and has an official WLTP range of up to 263 miles
· The larger 77kWh version powers the same 201bhp motor but can do up to 342 miles on a charge

2021 will see a smaller and cheaper 48kWh battery with a 148bhp motor introduced which will have a range of up to 205 miles.

In terms of performance, the 58kWh battery and 201bhp motor delivers an impressive 0-62mph in 7.3 seconds and will cost approximately £9.30 for a full charge.

While this is much slower than the likes of the Tesla Model 3, this five-door hatchback is still very speedy off the line, and there’s enough acceleration to overtake on the motorway.

The ID.3 features a futuristic-looking interior design, based heavily around its 10-inch touchscreen infotainment screen and touch-sensitive buttons. Standard equipment on every ID.3 includes LED headlights, all-around parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, sat-nav and keyless start. There’s also a digital dash (Knight Rider anyone?), lane keep assist and heated front seats. The infotainment system is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The Business model adds the Design Pack, which includes ambient lighting, LED rear lights, tinted windows and a light band between the headlights and the VW logo. Also, there’s the Assistance Pack, adding illuminated door handles, keyless entry and a rear-view camera for easy parking.

The Family model comes with all that and more, as it comes with the Comfort Pack Plus, which adds climate control, an auto-dimming main mirror and a variable boot floor.

The ID.3 is a showcase of VW's latest technology, extending to its safety kit. Features like autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection are fitted as standard. This earned the vehicle a maximum five-star score when Euro NCAP tested it in late 2020. Overall, it was awarded 87% and 89% for adult and child occupant protection, respectively.

Jaguar I-PACE

The I-Pace was Jaguar’s first attempt at an electric vehicle, and boy did this head-turning SUV nail the brief, having won more than 80 global awards after its launch in 2018.

The I-Pace received an update in 2020 to add some improved technology. This included the Pivi Pro, which replaced the Touch Pro Duo infotainment system within the same 10.25-inch touchscreen display. The Pivi Pro has transformed the interior experience. The screens are brighter, sharper and more logically laid out, with every command responded to with excellent speed. Additional features provided by the Pivi Pro includes a predicted range at the journey’s end and providing local charging costs.

Also new to the updated 2020 I-Pace model is the ClearSight rearview digital camera system which feeds a high-definition wide-angle view from a roof-mounted camera onto the rear-view mirror, providing the driver with an unobstructed view of the rear.

Jaguar’s also improved the charging capability of the I-Pace, integrating a new three-phase 11kW inbuilt charger, allowing for faster at-home charging than was previously capable. Due to the large battery pack, this now makes it possible to fully charge the I-Pace from near-empty at home overnight.

The updated I-Pace model still has a 90kWh battery pack and a 292-mile WLTP certified range. The two electric motors produce a combined 394bhp that will get the I-Pace from standstill to 62mph in 4.8 seconds and outrun most sports cars such as the Porsche Cayman.

As things stand with our charging infrastructure, spending 60 minutes using a public 50KW fast-charger is enough for a 168-mile range, while a full charge takes around 13 hours from a 7KW household wall charger and cost you roughly £13.

The I-Pace is available in three core trim levels, called S, SE and HSE. The entry-level S has 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, sports seats, a 10-inch touchscreen, sat-nav, DAB radio, cruise control and a rear camera.

The SE gets 20-inch alloy wheels and premium LED headlights with daytime running lights, a powered tailgate, auto-dimming power-folding wing mirrors and leather upholstery.

The top of the range HSE has an alternative 20-inch alloy wheel design, matrix LED headlights, gesture-controlled tailgate, Windsor leather upholstery and a surround-sound stereo.

The I-Pace comes fitted with bundles of safety kit such as an external sound system that emits an external acoustic signal at speeds under 12mph to help make pedestrians aware of the car’s presence.

Standard driver assistance features include: 3D surround camera, emergency braking, cruise control and speed limiter, traffic sign recognition, driver condition monitor, lane keep assist and front and rear parking aid. Optional packs are available to provide blind spot assist, rear traffic monitoring and clear exit monitor.

Company car drivers will also be drawn to the I-Pace by its 0% Benefit-in-Kind tax liability, which will significantly cut monthly bills.

Audi E-tron

This is Audi’s first-ever full-production electric car, which initially went on sale in 2019. The e-Tron is well-built, exudes Audi quality and is a highly desirable and practical Audi SUV providing serious competition to the Jaguar I-Pace or Mercedes EQC.

In terms of performance, the e-Tron certainly isn’t slow, and the entry-level 50 Quattro model has 309bhp, which can sprint from 0-60mph in 6.8 seconds. The E-tron can do approximately 198 miles on a full battery, although the 55 Quattro extends the range up to 254 miles. 150kW rapid charging stations allow the E-tron to be charged from flat up to 80% capacity in only 30 minutes and fully charge from flat in 50 minutes.

Topping up the E-tron’s battery from empty to full can take nine hours if using a dedicated wallbox at home and will cost you around £14 (depending on your electricity tariff), saving you £17 against driving a petrol vehicle the same distance.

The standard e-tron is available in six trim levels: Technik, Sport, S Line, Black Edition, Vorsprung and e-tron S.

The list of standard equipment for the entry-level Technik trim includes heated front seats, part-leather upholstery, two-zone climate control, power-folding door mirrors, cruise control, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror and an electric tailgate. Plus, there are charging points on both sides of the car, so you never have to drag cables over the top of it.

Like all of Audi’s larger new-generation models, the E-tron uses the latest MMI Navigation Plus with MMI Touch infotainment hardware. Fitted as standard, this set-up comprises a 10.1in primary screen, complemented by a smaller 8.6in display beneath. The graphical sophistication of both is highly impressive, and the software the system employs is easy enough to learn your way around.

All versions of the E-tron come with low-speed automatic emergency braking and lane-keeping assistance.

There are a ton more safety aids on the options list too. Euro NCAP awarded the E-tron with its maximum five-star rating, and they also confirmed the car to be one of the safest premium electric cars – it beat Jaguar’s I-Pace for child occupant protection.

Audi supplies a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty, while the battery is covered for eight years or 100,000 miles.

Peugeot e-208

For petrol, diesel or hybrid drivers looking to switch to a pure-electric car, the Peugeot e-208 is a great place to start. It looks fantastic, has a decent range and is a more practical day-to-day car than the Mini Electric. In fact, the e-208 won the “Best Small Electric Car” category in CarWow’s 2021 Car of the Year awards.

You can charge the e-208 in 7 hours overnight at home using a 7kW wall charger - and should only cost between £8 to £9 depending on your electricity tariff. It only takes 30 minutes to boost the e-208’s 50kwh battery from flat to 80% charge, as it can accept 100kW DC charging. A full battery can provide a range of up to 217 miles between charges.

Like most electric cars, the e-208 accelerates briskly with its 136bph electric motor in response to a press of the throttle. The e-208 can sprint from 0-62mph in 8.1 seconds – half a second quicker than the most powerful 130bhp petrol version - but it tops out at 93mph. The acceleration is pretty good on the motorway, so you shouldn’t have any problems getting up to 70mph to overtake.

A 7.0in capacitive touchscreen infotainment system is standard on most 208 models. The Premium (£650) upgrade swaps it for a 10.0in set-up that adds sat-nav (including a three-year subscription to TomTom Live) to the existing Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and DAB radio. It also links to your smartphone using Peugeot MyApp, which lets you remotely check the car’s range, schedule charging, and pre-programme the climate control.

There’s a host of standard driver aids on the e-208, including autonomous emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance and traffic-sign recognition that beams the applicable speed limit onto your dials.

However, you do have to go for GT Line or GT trims to get upgraded autonomous emergency braking that uses radar rather than a camera-based sensor and can respond to a cyclist or pedestrian and a vehicle. You also only get adaptive cruise control as standard on the GT trim – it’s optional on the GT Line.

Overall, the e-208 is a smart, grown-up package that’s fun to drive and has a useful range and rapid-charging capability.

Volvo XC40 Recharge Pure Electric P8

Volvo’s first fully pure-electric car provides fierce competition against the Jaguar I-Pace or the Audi E-tron by giving some serious kit for your money: two electric motors, one of the front axle and another on the rear provide 402bhp. The 660Nm of torque is even more than a Nissan GT-R, and it contributes to the P8 achieving 0-62mph in only 4.9 seconds.

The XC40 Recharge P8 charges pretty fast. Using 150kW rapid charging, you can fill from empty to 80% in just 40 minutes. You can get a full charge at home overnight to get the maximum 257-mile range every morning.

If you’re fed up with having a myriad of various driving modes found on most modern cars, you will appreciate that there are no such options to be found on the XC Recharge P8. There’s no comfort setting, sport mode, no ice or snow mode. Thanks to pressure sensors in the seat, there isn’t even a starter button as the vehicle will start when you sit down. You get in, push the gear into D and drive – just like a Tesla.

Standard equipment levels are high and include a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel with configurable EV-specific displays, panoramic sunroof, heated front power seats, and inductive charging for your smartphone.

The 9.0-inch infotainment system is powered by an Android operating system and has a raft of Google features, including mapping, audio, phone and the last-used app. You do have the ability to add other apps from the Google Play store. For example, you can install Spotify, Audible or a podcasting app. Don’t worry iPhone users; you can still connect via Bluetooth for calls or stream audio from the phone.

The mapping is provided by Google Maps, which better negotiates traffic than most other in-built sat navs. In addition, the mapping also integrates with the car’s onboard computer to tell you how much battery will be remaining when you reach your destination.

Volvo claims that the Pure Electric P8 is one of the safest cars on the road. The battery is contained in a bespoke safety cage. In addition, the vehicle is fitted with all-around “next-gen” radars, cameras and ultrasonic sensors that detect cyclists, pedestrians, large animals and other vehicles to help avoid collisions at any speed.

Additional standard safety features include lane keep assist, blind-spot and cross-traffic alert, and rear collision alert.

There is no doubt that the Volvo XC40 Pure Electric P8 is a fabulous SUV to drive. It’s great to look at, sit in and drive, and the comforts levels (even rear passengers get heated seats) and technology are first rate.

Kia e-Niro

The Kia e-Niro is a fantastic family electric that is better to drive than most petrol cars while also being cheaper to run. It’s considered one of the best electric cars on sale at present and won the 2019 Auto Express Driving Electric Car of the Year award.

It’s a more affordable all-electric SUV than the likes of the Audi e-Tron or Mercedes-Benz EQC, yet it offers more range with up to 282 miles from a single charge. With 50kW fast-charging capability, the e-Niro can be topped up to 80 percent in only 75 minutes.

The e-Niro is offered in three different trim levels: 2, 3 and 4+. All trims are provided with an impressive and generous range of features, including 17-inch wheels, roof rails, a rear spoiler, privacy glass and foglights, plus automatic wipers and headlights. Keyless entry and start are also standard, as are adaptive cruise control and a rear-view camera.

If you upgrade to the 3 trim, it adds leather upholstery, wireless phone charging, heated front seats and the larger 10.25-inch infotainment screen. There is also a heated steering wheel, eight-way power adjustment on the driver's seat and aluminium scuff plates.

The premium 4+ trim adds a sunroof, LED headlights, a JBL sound system, heated rear seats and ambient interior lighting.

The infotainment system includes European mapping, two USB inputs, DAB radio, wireless phone charging and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Another nifty feature is the remote connection to the vehicle via Kia’s UVO app, which allows you to monitor the charge state, lock or unlock the doors, and even send your destinations and planned trips to the sat-nav ahead of time.

It was no surprise that the e-Niro was awarded Euro NCAP’s total five-star safety rating. After all, it is fitted with seven airbags, including a driver’s knee airbag, two ISOFIX points and plenty of other active safety kit such as autonomous emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, adaptive cruise control (which maintains your distance from the car in front), forward collision avoidance, hill-start assistance and a system to warn if the car senses the driver is getting tired.

Honda e

The Honda e is the Japanese brand’s first electric car for Europe and will undoubtedly turn many heads with its retro styling. Many of the crowd’s jaws dropped when it was first revealed at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show.

This is a futuristic car with flush door handles and uses cameras instead of door mirrors.

The inside of the Honda e is dominated by an infotainment system that spans the entire width of the dashboard and has more screens than a Curry’s showroom. There is an 8.0-inch screen that serves as an instrument cluster, and it displays information such as your speed and remaining range. This screen is joined to not one but two 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreens.

The dashboard is flanked on both sides by 6.0-inch screens displaying a live feed from the camera “door mirrors”. Oh, that isn't all of the screens, by the way! The Honda e Advance model’s rear-view mirror can also display a live camera feed directly behind the car.

Want to keep your family or yourself entertained while waiting for the battery to charge? No problem, you can turn the two touchscreens into one giant aquarium and watch virtual fish swimming around. Or kids can seek more advanced entertainment by plugging a video games console into an HDMI port. There are plenty of USB ports as well to help charge your tablets or smartphones.

There is an impressive array of standard safety features such as lead car departure notification system; lane keep assist, forward collision warning, traffic sign recognition and adaptive cruise control. Useful standard interior features include heated front seats, a leather steering wheel, climate control air-con.

Standard exterior features include automatic rain-sensing wipers, LED front fog lights, LED rear lights and an automatic coming/leaving home lighting function.

Honda says that owners can achieve 80% battery charge in 30 mins using a 100kW fast charger using a CCS2 plug, while home charging will take a little over four hours. The lithium-ion batteries are mounted as low as possible within the floorplan. Their capacity is rated at 35.5kWh, which is paired to a single electric motor available in two power outputs – 134 or 152bhp (both with 232lb-ft of torque). It is enough thrust to guarantee a 0-62mph dash in nine seconds for the less powerful E, and 8.0sec for the more powerful Honda E Advance.

On a single charge, Honda reckons you can achieve a range of 125 miles, which is 35 miles fewer than a BMW i3, but the Honda e was explicitly built for short trips around towns or cities. You can’t go wrong with this fun, comfortable, stylish and tech-laden electric car.

Hyundai Ioniq 5

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is an all-electric family hatchback that appeals to buyers inspired by stylish design, practical range and charging speeds, fantastic on-board technology to invest into the Korean brand.

With incredible looks and a sense of style that sets it apart from its rivals, Hyundai has added to the Ioniq 5’s strong appeal by providing a generous amount of standard kit and advanced active safety systems. Auto Express named the Ioniq 5 as their Car of the Year for 2021, so if you are thinking of leasing one of the best electric cars on the market, you should give serious consideration to the Hyundai Ioniq 5.

Hyundai's Ioniq 5 lineup starts with a 58kWh battery combined with a single 168bhp motor that gives you a range of up to 238 miles. If you require the maximum miles from a single charge, then the 214bhp version with the bigger 73kWh battery is the version to choose, as it can travel up to 280 miles before needing the batteries recharged. The topmost 301bhp version employs a dual-motor set-up, allowing for around 267 miles between charges.

Hyundai offers three trim levels for the Ioniq 5: the basic level SE Connect, the mid-level Premium, and the luxurious Ultimate.

The abundance of standard kit that is provided at entry-level includes LED headlights, 19-inch alloy wheels, rear parking sensors, smart cruise control and climate control. In addition, there is a wireless smartphone charging pad and two impressive 12.3-inch displays. One display is responsible for infotainment and sat-nav functions, while the other is a digital instrument cluster supplying vital information to the driver.

The mid-spec Premium trim includes luxuries such as upgraded upholstery, a heated steering wheel, plus heated front seats.

If you step up to the top-of-the-range Ultimate model, you gain 20-inch alloys, electrically adjustable front seats with a heating and ventilation function and heated rear seats. The driver benefits from a head-up display, and all of the passengers can listen to their music playlists through a class-leading seven-speaker Bose stereo system.

The Ioniq 5 has not yet been tested by the safety experts at Euro NCAP. Still, Hyundai will expect to receive the maximum five-star rating given the significant standard safety kit provided. When the Ioniq 5 was tested by the Korea New Car Assessment Program in South Korea, it received an excellent overall score of 92.1 points out of 100 possible.

The impressive list of entry-level safety kit includes a Forward Collision Avoidance Assist function, Highway Drive Assist and Intelligent Speed Limit Assist, and Lane Follow and Lane Keep Assist systems. Additional safety features include seven airbags and an ecall system that automatically contacts emergency services if an accident involves the vehicle.

By upgrading to the Premium or Ultimate trims, you will benefit from additional safety features, including Blind Spot Collision Avoidance Assist and Level 2 autonomous safety technology, which can control speed and distance while also assisting the driver when changing lanes.