The best electric cars of 2023

2024 is set to be a fine year for the electric car landscape, with a number of significant new models entering the fray.

Notable mentions go to the highly anticipated Renault 5 hatchback, the new Mini Cooper Electric and the bold Porsche Macan EV. 

But before we bring in the New Year, we thought we’d take a look back at the best electric cars unveiled in 2023, and shine a light on the models which are set to leave a lasting mark on the automotive industry. 

Abarth 500e

With its lairy exterior paint scheme and scorpion badging, the Abarth 500e immediately turned heads when it arrived earlier this year as an electric hot hatch. We say hot, but warm would be a better word to describe the Abarth as it only develops 150bhp. 

But in many ways this has played into Abarth’s favour, because instead of adding lots of power, they set about tweaking the steering and chassis to make it more engaging to drive.  

It’s not a cheap machine though: the 500e starts from £32,195 and rises to £37,195 for the convertible version. And while its artificial exhaust note which is played through the speakers is fun, it's annoying that you can’t turn it off on the move. 

Still, as a first attempt at an electric hot hatch, Abarth should be commended for their efforts.  

BMW i7

Not only did the i7 meet its brief as a luxury car, it also excelled thanks to its breadth of technology, range and excellent ride quality. 

Sure, being able to travel 387 miles on a charge is admirable for a car that weighs 2640kg, but it’s the comfortable ride and smooth electric motor which really sets the i7 apart from its competitors. 

Inside, the i7’s cabin is both luxurious and technologically advanced. The standout feature is the huge 31in cinema screen in the back of the i7 which allows passengers to play games and stream movies. The materials used throughout are a cut above, enhancing the premium feel of the i7 further. 

Dacia Spring

Why does the Spring deserve a place in our list? Because when the facelifted version hits the showrooms next year it will be the cheapest electric car on sale in the UK. It has already made its mark in Europe, too, with more than 120,000 Spring’s being sold since the car was first launched in 2021. 

Set to be priced from £18,000, the ever-so-cute Spring will arrive in the UK with a 64bhp electric motor and a modest range of 143 miles. 

The facelifted version will also get an upgraded user interface with functions like Apple Carplay and Android Auto. Sure, being a cheap EV it's not totally without flaws. The cabin is a bit small and the choice of materials conservative. 

But it gets a 300-litre boot and should offer a real-world range of 100-120 miles. 

Fisker Ocean

The electric SUV hit the ground running when it launched earlier this year thanks to its attractive design, sustainable use of materials and value positioning. Fisker has intelligently positioned the car away from the key players, instead targeting customers' own personal values. 

So why is the Ocean on our list? Because it’s a stylish, practical, affordable and efficient electric car. Sure, the ownership experience in the UK is a little unknown but if range and looks are anything to go by, the Ocean is covered. 

Prices for the entry-level Sport model start at £36,900, and offer a range of up to 288 miles. The range-topping Extreme model, meanwhile, gets a large 106 kWh battery and can travel up to 440 miles on a charge. 

The Ocean uses a lot of sustainable materials which don’t lessen the SUV’s refinement or interior quality. Fisker has implemented a ‘California mode’ which opens the sunroof and lowers seven of the eight windows (apart from the front windscreen) for an open-air driving experience. 

Hyundai Ioniq 5 N

Arriving as the first electric Hyundai to wear the coveted N badge, the Ioniq 5 N had a lot riding on its shoulders when it was unveiled earlier this year. 

Pleasingly, the four-wheel-drive, 600bhp electric hot hatch delivered thanks to a number of driving modes and innovations, with the most notable being a fake gearbox and exhaust note. 

The fake 8-speed ‘box and sporty exhaust note - which is fed through the speakers - was added to create more interaction between the car and driver. 

Factor in the Ioniq 5 N’s strengthened body, upgraded axles, faster rack and numerous driving modes and you’re left with an all-electric driver’s car that is fun and capable. 

Kia EV9 

The Korean brand’s latest EV arrived in the summer as an outlandish electric SUV primed to follow the European success of the Kia EV6 SUV. Kia’s second bespoke electric car sits on Hyundai Motor Group’s and features a huge 99.8kWh battery which helps it along to an admirable 349 miles in rear-wheel-drive guise. 

Where the £64,995 EV9 shines is in its technology and interior. It's pretty hard to fault an interior when its rear space is so versatile and good enough for tall adults. The EV9 comes as standard with seven-seats, but you can opt for a six-seat, 2-2-2 configuration. 

There is plenty of room for adults in the third row, and for extra practicality, the second-row seats swivel 180 degrees for a lounge-like feel. 

Nio ET5 

We won’t see a Nio ET5 on UK roads until 2025, but this Chinese EV is one to be taken seriously – and you can have one in either saloon or estate body styles. There’s flexibility in the battery too: you can either have a 75kWh or 100kW unit. 

Opt for the larger pack and the official range is up to 348 miles, which is good but still some way off Tesla, BMW and Polestar. But then the Nio does give you the choice of an estate which gives you greater practicality – and it looks good too. 

Rolls Royce Spectre

The storied British brand unveiled the Spectre as its first electric model in 2022, with the stunning coupe arriving a year later with a £330,000 price tag and a 577bhp powertrain. 

It's certainly a looker, with its smooth and sleek silhouette, enhanced by its two-tone colour scheme. Despite its 2890kg kerb weight, the Spectre rides excellently, with a supple and comfortable feel at high speeds. 

The electric coupe has a range of up to 329 miles and can be charged at up to 150kW. Customisation both inside and out is said to be endless, with the price set to come in at around £400,000 once all options have been added. 

Tesla Model 3 

While the Tesla Model 3’s updates might look superficial, the brilliant electric saloon has actually received a host of changes to its interior and powertrain. Now offered in Rear-Wheel Drive or Dual Motor All-Wheel Drive, the Model 3 can travel up to 318 and 390 miles, respectively. 

Opt for the 18in wheels on the Dual Motor and the Tesla can do a seriously impressive, 421 miles on a charge. 

The Model 3 has retained its minimalist interior layout, with the large central screen housing all the car’s functions. The most controversial change is Tesla’s decision to remove the stalks from behind the wheel, which means the indicators are now buttons on the wheel and the gears are selected using a slider on the touchscreen.

Despite some less appealing tweaks, the Tesla Model 3 still leads the way compared to rivals – and thanks to changes to the suspension and handling it now steers and rides better too. 

Tesla Cybertruck

Bold, striking, bizarre; we’re not sure how to describe Tesla’s radical new Cybertruck, but it certainly turned heads when it launched towards the end of the year.

Weighing more than three tonnes and developing up to 845bhp, the Cybertruck features prismatic body panels making it completely bulletproof. While its looks are divisive, the new Tesla is a highly capable and practical machine, with a 1897-litre loading bed – and there’s a frunk offering additional storage capacity. 

Tesla Cybertruck

With such power available, the Cybertruck can sprint from 0-60mph in just 2.6sec and can travel up to 340 miles on a single charge. Inside, the Cybertruck maintain’s Tesla’s minimalist approach, with a central screen in the dashboard.

Anything else that makes the Cybertruck standout? It's definitely been designed as a work horse as it can tow up to 5 tonnes and carry a maximum payload of 2500kg.