Top 10 Longest Range Electric Cars in 2026 – How Far Can They REALLY Go?

What are the top 10 longest range electrical automobiles in 2026, and how far can they truly go? Variety stress and anxiety is formally a thing of the past! With battery tech improving quickly, some new EVs can now formally travel more than 500 miles on a single charge.

But with WLTP screening still favouring laboratory conditions over freezing winter motorways, just how much of that priced estimate range will you in fact see on the roadway?

Do not forget to subscribe!
If you enjoyed this countdown, hit sign up for maintain to date with our latest Top 10s, extensive reviews and real-world EV range tests: @whatcar

Trying to find a particular model?
Read our full thorough evaluations on every new vehicle here:

In this video, we count down the 10 electrical automobiles that can go the farthest in between charges. From ₤ 100,000+ luxury cruisers like the Mercedes EQS and our reigning Car of the Year, the BMW iX3, to excellent worth choices like the Tesla Model 3, Mercedes CLA Electric and Peugeot e-3008.

We also reveal the long-range EVs showing up soon– including the 562-mile BMW i3 and 503-mile Volvo EX60– and round up the outright finest spending plan EVs on the marketplace. Thanks to a ₤ 3750 federal government grant, discover why cars and trucks like the Nissan Leaf, Renault Scenic, and sub- ₤ 25k Kia EV2 may simply be the most intelligent buys of the year!

What Car? is the UK's greatest car-buying brand name and has actually been helping purchasers for more than 50 years. Our tests are commonly regarded as the most independent and in-depth.

Our YouTube channel brings you relied on reviews on all types of cars and truck, plus cars and truck news, reveals and includes.

In-depth written evaluations are readily available on our website whatcar.com, where you'll likewise find advice features and the latest new and secondhand automobile deals.

Follow What Cars and truck? here:
LIKE What Car? on Facebook:
FOLLOW What Cars and truck? on Twitter:

Have a look at our complete video brochure:

#ElectricCars #EVRange #Top 10EVs #TeslaModel 3 #BMWiX 3 #whatcar

Video chapters:
0:00 Introduction: WLTP vs real-world EV range
1:30 Coming soon: BMW i3, Mercedes C-Class & Volvo EX60
2:53– Top 10 longest variety EVs
10:07– Cost effective long-range electric cars and trucks

Comments

50 responses to “Top 10 Longest Range Electric Cars in 2026 – How Far Can They REALLY Go?”

  1. @MrStateofplay Avatar
    @MrStateofplay

    Great summary, thanks. What would you say the typical real world range is for modern EVs? 80% of the WLTP? One thing I noticed is the lack of Chinese makes in the list. Are they holding back on their long range models, and prioritising high spec at affordable prices rather than range, range, range?

    1. @whatcar Avatar
      @whatcar

      It varies hugely depending on the speed you’re doing and the outside temperature – but in a range test of 12 EVs we carried out in August, the average shortfall was 14.2%.

      As for Chinese EVs, many of the models sold in the UK are relatively affordable options – so they don’t tend to have massive batteries. This will doubtless change in the coming years though.

    2. @jonathantaylor1998 Avatar
      @jonathantaylor1998

      It’s not just EVs that rarely match WLTP.
      This very channel put 3 super-economical Petrol Hybrid city-cars on a real-world driving test and the model that got closest to its claimed mpg figure – the Toyota Aygo X Hybrid – still only achieved 79% of WLTP.

  2. @mikadavies660 Avatar
    @mikadavies660

    The great thing about, BMW, Mercedes & Audi is that at two or three years old they still do the same mileage but cost a great deal less. My own Mercedes EQC cost less than a Ford Puma and only £35/mth in electric whilst my wife averages 15,000 miles per year in it. Definitely Luxury on a tiny budget.

  3. @darrenbodfish4591 Avatar
    @darrenbodfish4591

    Best thing to do is to wait until these cars enter the second hand market.

    1. @shiakas Avatar
      @shiakas

      True for every halfway reliable car ever made

    2. @markgt894 Avatar
      @markgt894

      Yeah there’s a reason they depreciate so quickly

    3. @seezu84 Avatar
      @seezu84

      This is a basic rule for over decades mate

    4. @CHUNGHO3 Avatar
      @CHUNGHO3

      See you in 3 to 5 years.

    5. @darrenbodfish4591 Avatar
      @darrenbodfish4591

      ​@CHUNGHO32 yrs is enough my current agreement will end then, so that will work nicely 👌 😊

  4. @whatcar Avatar
    @whatcar

    How many miles would you want from an electric car?

    A) 200 miles is plenty (I only occasionally do long journeys!)
    B) 300 miles
    C) 400 miles
    D) 500 miles+ (I hate stop[ing to charge!)

    1. @Maltbrew Avatar
      @Maltbrew

      @whatcar
      What are the km options?

    2. @MrStateofplay Avatar
      @MrStateofplay

      I would like 400 miles real world range, would make life easier for a work journey once a month of 170 miles each way.

    3. @shieldaigbencher Avatar
      @shieldaigbencher

      A real 300 mile range is fine.

    4. @MatthewHumphrey001 Avatar
      @MatthewHumphrey001

      I get around 250 miles average and it is extremely rarely an issue. I don’t think I have used a public charger for at least 6 months

    5. @zwieseler Avatar
      @zwieseler

      I have 430 WLTP, never been a problem.

  5. @hugdeath929 Avatar
    @hugdeath929

    If the i3 is a rival to the Model 3 does that mean that BMW & Mercedes are no longer premium or luxury brands?
    The front hood and grill section of the Peugeot look quite a bit like the iX3.
    Did you say the Model 3 is the executive car of the year??? I need to watch more of your videos to see what qualifies vehicles to be an executive vehicle.
    Kudos to the Audi, MB & BMW for having adult DC charging speeds 👍
    Can’t wait til you guys can get your hands on lucid vehicles. Their range is even higher than some of these.

  6. @royed31 Avatar
    @royed31

    When was the last test on Range for ICE cars ?

    1. @struck2soon Avatar
      @struck2soon

      Probably when they were at the same stage of development as EVs are now, ie over a century ago. A better question would be “how much have ICE cars advanced over the past decade? (Answer: they haven’t.)

    2. @FirstLast-rh9jw Avatar
      @FirstLast-rh9jw

      ​@struck2soonspeed of refueling makes it pointless.

    3. @struck2soon Avatar
      @struck2soon

      @FirstLast-rh9jwReally? How long does it take you to have a piss and a coffee? (I think you will find it is about the same time as re-fuelling.)

  7. @Fastwunz Avatar
    @Fastwunz

    Waiting on the new 3 series electric touring

  8. @markh10001 Avatar
    @markh10001

    You included the Nissan leaf in this video, but it’s not available to purchase in the UK. Last i heard it might be available July/August but that’s not definite. The Americans are on their second version of the car, so i can only assume there’s a problem building it in Sunderland

    1. @whatcar Avatar
      @whatcar

      We agree. We regularly test the efficiency of electric cars and will do a top 10 rundown at some point in the future.

  9. @MartijnterHaar Avatar
    @MartijnterHaar

    I know it is not a realistic choice for 99.9% of people, but since this video is about official WLTP range: I always thought Lucids are the cars with the official longest ranges? The Lucid Air Touring has a WLTP range of 960km quoted on Lucid NLs website. But maybe they are not for sale in the UK because Lucid is too small to make right-hard drive versions?

    1. @whatcar Avatar
      @whatcar

      Unfortunately Lucid hasn’t launched in the UK yet – but it plans to soon!

  10. @ionutgeanta8741 Avatar
    @ionutgeanta8741

    wasn’t polestar 3 the champ regarding practical on the road range? even if it’s not anymore, should still be on this list as it beats a lot of them.

    1. @Bomberboybrad Avatar
      @Bomberboybrad

      Polestar 3 and 4 won 2 separate Carlow tests.

  11. @chapmandu2 Avatar
    @chapmandu2

    The problem with WLTP range is that it is mixed mode driving, what is more relevant from a range perspective is range at motorway speed. Really they need to publish both typical highway range to get a sense of road trip performance and typical mixed mode driving efficiency to get a sense of cost.

    1. @krzysztofgoczyk4717 Avatar
      @krzysztofgoczyk4717

      Just multiply the range numbers by 0.66 and you get the 80mph range or by 0.6 during winter.

    2. @Noeyedear90 Avatar
      @Noeyedear90

      @krzysztofgoczyk4717 problem is, even if you try to do 80, chances are average comes out at 60-65 on a long journey. The only thing you get by doing 80 is to catch the back of the queue up a little bit earlier. If it’s busy a constant 50 can be a struggle!

  12. @PaulHoward-x6f Avatar
    @PaulHoward-x6f

    I have been running a RAV4 plug-in hybrid coming up to 3 years now and I’m looking to replace it with an electric car as the plug-in has been a great introduction to electric motoring. My biggest issue is about the range and the ease of charging for any vehicle which automatically draws you towards Tesla. I went to drive a model 3 this week and drove all four versions from the standard to the performance. I came away very underwhelmed. I found the visibility terrible through the back window and the tiny door mirrors. I found the steering overly sensitive and twitchy the single regeneration setting makes for jerky driving, I found the seats to be uncomfortable almost pivoting my back at shoulder blade level the only one that didn’t do this was the performance because it has different seats. But the biggest disappointment for me was they all felt like driving a washing machine. The only difference being the spin speed from the standard to the performance. They’re just so sterile. There’s no emotional attachment you can make to that car which is fine with when buying a dishwasher but I’m afraid I need my car to actually have some emotive value. The only one I felt even remotely content with was the performance but no way does it speak to you and say I’m a 60 K car just feels like the standard with slightly better seats and a higher spin speed which let’s be honest in this country is academic anyway the standard is plenty fast enough. The real acid test was getting back into my 2023 RAV4 and within 50 m of driving my overwhelming thought was I’d rather drive this any day than a Tesla.

    1. @gw4182 Avatar
      @gw4182

      Try a decent EV not a Tesla – they are horrible to drive and horrible inside

    2. @GDM22 Avatar
      @GDM22

      A RAV 4 driver calling another car sterile and boring; ouch. Sounds like you just wanted to make yourself feel better about your own car and why would you bother driving all 4 versions, bizarre, how much different did you think they were going to be. You liked the performance best, but all 4 versions would have way more performance than your car, so you clearly don’t prioritise it anyway. Finding the steering overly sensitive and not being able to manage the regen; sadly that is on you. Sometimes you read something and it just doesn’t ring true.

  13. @robsmith1a Avatar
    @robsmith1a

    I definitely need 1000 mikes without stopping or I’m not interested in an EV

    1. @KISS_paulstanley Avatar
      @KISS_paulstanley

      Pah, 1,000 miles is barely a scratch sir. 😂

    2. @robsmith1a Avatar
      @robsmith1a

      ​@KISS_paulstanleymaybe I should have said 2000

  14. @flemmingsorensen5470 Avatar
    @flemmingsorensen5470

    Did you forget the Volvo ES90…?

  15. @danielharr01 Avatar
    @danielharr01

    I can’t wait for small EVs to be able to do 400 miles+ on a single charge. All of these cars are huge.

    1. @pauljiltsov9950 Avatar
      @pauljiltsov9950

      I agree completely. the range in regular size cars (ev golf, kia ev3) is a joke.

    2.  Avatar
      Anonymous

      ID 3 Neo with the big battery has 390 miles range WLTP

    3. @pauljiltsov9950 Avatar
      @pauljiltsov9950

      I ll believe it once I will see one range test

    4.  Avatar
      Anonymous

      @pauljiltsov9950 do you understand WLTP?

    5. @pauljiltsov9950 Avatar
      @pauljiltsov9950

      ha, nice one 😅. do you understand real world range? I bet that in real world conditions id neo won’t get 300 miles. of course, we can’t check that because the car is not even out.

  16. @Frisian-eh2wm Avatar
    @Frisian-eh2wm

    Loving all the comments saying wait until you can buy them second hand… not long ago this used to be “don’t buy second hand you can’t trust the battery”

    1. @rusty911s2 Avatar
      @rusty911s2

      Yes, in general it’s the troll’s batteries that are running out.

      Really noticeable compared to comments of a year or more ago.

  17. @kurte632 Avatar
    @kurte632

    When yall droppin a range test vid.

  18. @dalegas76 Avatar
    @dalegas76

    When will come out a station wagon like Skoda Octavia EV on a range over 800km and normal price and not super expensive?

  19. @RossWexford Avatar
    @RossWexford

    The most important factor to consider when buying an EV is the type of battery installed. Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries can be charged to 100% every time. They offer a projected lifespan of over 6,000 cycles before degrading to 80% capacity, which equates to well over 1,000,000 km (600,000 miles).In contrast, the recommended daily charging limit for Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC) and Nickel Cobalt Aluminum (NCA) batteries is 80%. Their lifespan to 80% capacity is typically under 2,000 cycles. Charging NMC and NCA batteries to 100% is only recommended if the vehicle will be driven immediately afterward. Leaving them sitting at full charge accelerates degradation.Consequently, an EV equipped with an LFP battery offers a much easier ownership experience and will likely retain a higher resale value. Conversely, the advantages of NMC and NCA batteries include longer driving range, quicker acceleration, and faster charging speeds. Ultimately, battery chemistry is far more critical to your ownership experience than wheel size or the colour of the seats.

  20. @bshah4831 Avatar
    @bshah4831

    My Mercedes CLA in 16 degrees Centigrade on UK mixed motor A B roads can achive a range of about 430 miles, not too far from the WLTP. And on a few journeys I have achieved a consumption of 5.5 mikes per kwh.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *