What’s on show at Nevo this year – a brand-by-brand guide

Cupra

Cupra was originally established as a brand that would be focused on electric cars, as well as being the sporty, Latin passion arm of the VW Group. We’ve already seen, and been impressed by, the likes of the Born and Tavascan EVs, which mix long ranges with engaging driving experiences.

That all gets kicked up a gear – but down a notch in price – with the arrival of the new Cupra Raval, which is the first of the VW Group’s new affordable front-wheel-drive electric models to hit the Irish market.

The Raval is, in and of itself, nothing too unusual – a compact crossover-style hatchback, with a range of up to 450km depending on the model.

What turns it into a potential game changer is its price – from €23,495, although the cheapest small-battery version doesn’t arrive in the first wave of models – and its sheer sense of fun. Cupra describes the Raval as its ideal of an urban electric car, but with the Raval’s sharp steering and impressive brakes, we’d rather take it on a favourite country road, thanks.

It’s not just about fun – the Raval’s boot and back seat are roomy and practical too – but so far, the smallest Cupra is also one of the most enjoyable electric cars we’ve yet driven.

Renault

Having been in the vanguard of the electric vehicle revolution with the original Zoe, Renault has had more practice in making EVs than most others, and it shows. The star of the line-up is, of course, the Renault 5 E-Tech, which with its retro-1980s looks and engaging handling is possibly the most adorable electric car out there, even if it’s a bit tight in the back, particularly in the rear footwell.

Well now it might be about to be usurped in the adorable stakes. The Twingo – specifically designed to both mimic its early 1990s progenitor and to be as cheap as possible to buy and run – arrives with a sub-€20,000 price tag and a range of up to 263km, which isn’t much, but it’s just about enough. What really sells the Twingo, though, is its styling, which isn’t so much cute as it is irresistible.

For an affordable car, there’s not too much sign of cost-cutting inside either, with handy sliding rear seats (as per the original Twingo) so you can trade off boot space against rear legroom, and a dashboard layout so cheerful that it might even brighten up an Irish winter.

Those two cars will be the headline act, but there’s a solid supporting cast of Renault EVs too. The Renault 4 E-Tech isn’t as cute as the 5, but it’s usefully larger in the boot (if only marginally larger in the back seat) and now comes with the ultimate accessory – a full-length “Plein Sud” canvas sunroof, just like a 1960s Renault 4 Plein Air. A shame that the good weather has abandoned this model, but there’s always next year.

Then there’s the electric Scenic, which eschews the MPV lines of its illustrious forebear in favour of an SUV shape, but which is exceptionally roomy, comfy, and long-ranged.

Peugeot

Peugeot now offers a fully electric version of every model in its passenger car range, making it one of the first brands to do so. The E-208 is its oldest electric model now, but while it will be replaced by an all-new car in 2027, the current car is going out with a bang, thanks to the arrival of an E-208 GTi, complete with a 280hp electric motor and much sportier suspension and steering.

The E-308 and E-408 have both been recently updated, and while the sharper styling is certainly no bad thing, the more important aspect for the E-308 is that it now has a little more range, with its slightly larger 55kWh battery giving it up to 452km of range on the official WLTP test. The E-408 is a larger car, but thanks to a low-slung and slippery body, it has a fractionally longer claimed range of 453km, using the same battery as the E-308.

The E-3008 is the star of Peugeot’s electric line-up, though, thanks not merely to its dramatic styling and high-tech interior (that floating screen that sweeps across the dashboard looks fantastic) but also to its truly usable real-world range. The standard model, with a 73kWh battery, can put a genuine 450km between charges, which is useful, but the bigger battery model, with 97kWh, is just starting to become available, and that stretches the official range to a whopping 700km.

The E-3008’s only real flaw is that it’s not the roomiest in the back, but you can fix that by going for the E-5008, a seven-seater which is like an E-3008 with a loft conversion. That’s a properly spacious car, and the extra length and height only exact a relatively small price when it comes to range on one charge.

Xpeng

So far, Xpeng has been a single-model brand in the Irish market. The G6 SUV – updated last year – is a very decent car if you’re just going to have the one, however. It uses ultra-fast-charging lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) batteries which can inhale, at maximum, 450kW of charging power, which is great and all, but it would be helpful if any chargers in Ireland could actually pump out that kind of energy. Right now, they can’t, but it’s always good to be future-proofed, right?

You can choose from standard or long-range G6 models, and there’s a very high-performance four-wheel-drive version with 668hp too.

What’s next from Xpeng? This is a brand with serious expansion on its mind, and Xpeng’s not for scrambling around in the affordable end of the EV market – it wants to take on BMW and Audi for premium buyers’ cash. Which means it’s slightly odd that its next car will be the big X9 seven-seat MPV – surely that’s not chiming with buyers’ SUV obsession? Maybe not, but perhaps the sheer luxury and space of the X9’s cabin will tempt them in.

Beyond that, the sleek L03 SUV-coupe should arrive shortly after, alongside the G9-L, a large, luxurious SUV with eyes on a Range Rover-shaped prize. After that, we’re holding out hope for the next-generation P7 electric saloon, a BMW 5 Series rival with stunning looks and up to 594hp.

Smart

Don’t worry – the return of the “real” Smart is imminent with a new two-seat, ultra-compact city car, called the #2 this time around, ready for release later this year. We don’t 100 per cent know that that’s coming to Ireland just yet, but keep your fingers crossed.

In the meantime, Smart has the well-priced #1 and #3 on sale, complete with their wild high-performance 422hp Brabus versions, and while they’re not the super-small Smarts of old, they do offer copious interior space in relatively compact shapes. On top of which, you’re getting an interesting combination of Mercedes design and engineering, and Chinese battery expertise and tech.

Up next from Smart is its biggest car yet, the #5 SUV, which also comes with a high-performance Brabus variant, this time with a whopping 646hp and four-wheel drive, as Smart wants to take on the likes of the Skoda Enyaq RS and the Tesla Model Y Performance.

Beyond that? While we’re waiting for the #2 to be confirmed for Ireland (please) there’s also another new Smart that we don’t get yet, but might – a handsome sports saloon called the #6 that comes with a plug-in hybrid engine. A perfect two-car garage alongside the #2? It just might be.

Fiat

When Italians do things, they almost always do them much more stylishly than we northern Europeans. Instead of mashed potato, you get pasta carbonara. Instead of jeans and a fleece, you get a Zegna suit. Instead of a dullard hatchback, you get a Fiat 500 or Grande Panda.

The electric version of the Grande Panda is a classic Fiat, and not just in its styling, which takes some very cool cues from the original Fiat Panda of the 1980s and updates them for the 2020s with pixel-brick lights that look like they were designed by Lego, and even a built-in charging cable that winds itself neatly back under the bonnet after you’ve used it.

What we mean by a “classic Fiat”, though, is that you’re getting more than you expect for your money. From just €22,995 you get 320km of range on one charge and plenty of space in the cabin and boot. What’s more, you get style. You get a car that looks and feels 10 times cooler than the cost suggests. This isn’t Lidl-style bargain-bucket motoring – it’s more like finding a 90 per cent off sale at Benetton.

Need more space, more range? Then upgrade to the cute Fiat 600e, which can manage 400km on one charge. Or for the ultimate in style, there’s the gorgeous Fiat 500e, which has the same range as the Grande Panda but which looks more like a Fendi handbag on wheels.

Jeep

Jeep’s electric Journey started out with the compact Avenger, which was good enough a car to scoop the European Car Of The Year trophy in 2023. You can get it with plain old petrol power or as a mild-hybrid or four-wheel-drive full hybrid, but the electric version is impressive, with 400km of claimed range and plenty of performance thanks to a 156hp electric motor. Recently updated with some interior improvements, the Avenger is nicely priced, with its entry-level electric, hybrid, and petrol models carrying the same €29,995 price tag.

Like the Avenger, the new, larger Jeep Compass also comes in hybrid forms, but you can also get it as a front-wheel drive fully electric version, with up to 500km of range. However, the star of the show is the just-introduced all-electric 4XE model, which will come to Ireland towards the end of this year. This is not just a second electric model; this is the flagship of the Compass line-up and it comes with 375hp thanks to two electric motors, four-wheel drive and the ability to tackle the kind of rough and tumble terrain synonymous with the Jeep name. Oh, and it has a range of 606km thanks to a bigger 97kWh battery too.

Alfa Romeo

Alfa Romeo is on the cusp of an electric revolution, with all-electric versions of the next-generation Giulia saloon and Stelvio SUV currently being worked on. Those cars should have been with us by now, but sadly Alfa bosses decided to hold back on the launch so that hybrid engine versions could be worked into the line-up too, rather than launching with the electric-only version. Pity. Word on the street is that these are spectacularly pretty cars (in the Alfa Romeo tradition) with long ranges thanks to the big-battery “STLA Large” platform, ultra-fast charging, and up to 1,000hp for the high-performance Quadrifoglio versions. Can’t wait for those, but they’ll not be here until 2028.

In the meantime, Alfa’s one and only electric model for now is the compact Junior, a crossover with sharper Italianate looks than most of its rivals, and the choice of 156hp in standard form, with up to 400km of range, or a shorter-range, but much sportier, Veloce version with 280hp and a sports-car-like chassis set-up. You can get the Junior as an “Ibrida” – hybrid – too, but the odd thing is that it’s the two electric versions that feel much more traditionally Alfa to drive – fast, fun, and engaging.

Honda

Honda currently doesn’t have an all-electric model in its Irish dealerships, but that’s not to say that batteries have been abandoned altogether. You can get the flagship CR-V SIUV as a plug-in hybrid with an electric range of up to 82km, and the rest of the Honda model line-up – CR-V, HR-V, Civic, and Jazz – are all equipped with super-frugal hybrid petrol engines.

Of these, the Civic, which was recently given a big reduction in price, is unquestionably the best of the bunch. It’s a quietly handsome car, hiding underneath which are a chassis and steering with a rare sense of precision and driver involvement, and a hybrid engine that easily allows you to crack the 4.7 litres per 100km barrier in terms of fuel economy.

Of course, Honda is working on a next generation of electric vehicles, and that’s being spearheaded by the gorgeous little Super-N hatchback. This teeny-tiny car is massive fun to drive, although a bit short on range, which is possibly why Honda hasn’t brought it, officially, to Ireland just yet. Maybe consider writing a letter to your Honda dealer on that score.

Leapmotor

Leapmotor is a Chinese car maker, but one with a strong European connection. Stellantis Group (which also owns the likes of Peugeot, Citroen, Fiat, Jeep, Opel etc etc) has taken a stake in Leapmotor and the Chinese company has taken a reciprocal stake in Stellantis.

Why is that important? Synergies. Leapmotor will now be sharing its electric and range-extender tech with other brands in the group, which should speed up development of new EV and PHEV models.

Which is good news – the current Leapmotor B10 SUV, for instance, is one of the most energy efficient electric crossovers we’ve driven, easily able to average 16kWh/100km even in motorway driving.

The arrival of the handsome new B05 hatchback also proves that Leapmotor isn’t just an SUV-focused company, and it’s sharply priced too, starting under €29,000 for a car with 400km of range (and you can stretch that to 482km if you’re prepared to spend a little more).

Nissan

Nissan pioneered the modern electric car with the original Leaf hatchback, which launched way back in 2010 and which quickly racked up 300,000 owners worldwide and took home a European Car Of The Year prize.

Now, in 2026, the Leaf has been completely reinvented, with a sleek SUV shape instead of a hatchback body, and a choice of two battery sizes, the larger of which can run for up to 622km on the WLTP test. Quite the advance from the original Leaf’s 160km (and that was on a good day).

Of course, Nissan hasn’t stopped making the sleek-looking Ariya electric SUV, but the latest addition to the brand’s electric ranks is the new all-electric Micra, which shares its mechanical and electric components with the Renault 5 (Nissan and Renault being long-time partners). The result is a car that looks like a modern-day update of a classic Micra (check out the cool circular LED headlight rings) but which drives with a sense of fun – and performance – that surely no previous Micra owner would have experienced. It’s well-priced too.

BYD

BYD has become the best-selling Chinese brand in Ireland, moving ahead of its biggest rival, MG, and it’s not too hard to see why. None of its cars could be counted as truly outstanding, but all of its cars are at least very good, and the fully electric models in particular benefit from BYD’s beginnings as a battery maker.

Which means that, almost uniquely, BYD designs and makes its own batteries, with no outside supplier necessary. This means it’s “Blade” batteries – which use the more robust lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) chemistry – can form the core of each car’s chassis, rather than being a plug-and-play component.

The downside is the LFP batteries aren’t quite so efficient, so BYD’s electric models generally don’t have the headline-grabbing official range figures of some rivals, but then they are also generally a bit better at being able to hit those claimed figures in real-life conditions, and LFP batteries can be more often charged to full without complaint.

The brand’s best cars in Ireland are its Seal models – the sleek Seal saloon and the almost-as-sleek Sealion 7 SUV – but we have a soft spot too for the upright Dolphin hatchback, which is a solid all-rounder.

And now comes the Dolphin G, making its Irish debut at the Nevo show and delivering the first family hatch plug-in hybrid on the market. Promising up to 105km of full electric driving before the 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine kicks in, it comes with either a 7.4kWh or 18.3kWh battery pack, the latter delivering that impressive range.

Mercedes

Mercedes is currently going through a big change with its electric models, as it moves from a stand-alone EQ-badged range to models such as the CLA, GLC, GLB, and new C-Class which are fully electric versions of more familiar names. Mind you, these aren’t existing models with batteries, but instead are designed around EV-specific platforms, which should future-proof Merc’s electric cars for some time.

The best of the bunch right now is the newly-arrived GLC which, of course, isn’t cheap but then it’s hard to think of a car this side of a Rolls-Royce Spectre that’s quite so quiet at a motorway cruise. The massive full-width “Hyperscreen” is also somewhat less of a distraction than you might fear, and both factors bode well for the incoming new electric C-Class. The sleek CLA four-door coupe (it’s a saloon, really) is rather more affordable, and really good to drive, but suffers a bit from a cheap-feeling cabin. The GLB suffers likewise (it’s based on the same platform as the CLA) but it’s roomy and family friendly, with seven seats on board (the rearmost ones being very much for kids only).

As with many car makers, Mercedes is keeping hybrid and even a few diesel-engined equivalents on sale – the existing GLC and C-Class will remain on sale for a bit yet – for those who are still battery-phobic.

Opel

As with its cousins at Peugeot, Opel can now offer a fully electric version of every car in its line-up. When it comes to the Frontera crossover, that’s both good and bad news. The Frontera is, in electric form, spectacularly affordable but it’s limited to a 300km range, and feels a bit to cheap inside for a car boasting German origins.

The updated Astra hatchback and estate are a better all-round bet, especially now that some of the cabin materials have had a quality boost, and the revised 55kWh battery of the latest version gives the Astra a much more useful 450km claimed range. It’s a super-refined car in electric form, too.

Want more fun than that? Opel is reintroducing its classic GSE badge for high-performance electric models, and the first of those, the Mokka GSE, has just arrived with 280hp and a rally-car-style front differential. It’s genuinely fun, but the range takes a hammering.

Ford

We’re awaiting the next-generation of Ford’s all-electric models, as the Blue Oval strikes deals with the likes of Renault (it will use the Renault 5’s chassis as the basis for a new electric Fiesta) and Chinese giant Geely (with which Ford is going to share a new vehicle platform and factory space in Spain).

In the meantime the best way to describe the current Ford EV line-up might be “underrated”. The small Puma Gen-E doesn’t have fantastic range, but it is fun to drive.

The Explorer might be VW-based (it’s the same underneath as an ID.4 thanks to a tech-sharing agreement) but it rides and steers like a proper Ford, and has exceptional real-world range performance. The Capri looks too bulky to wear the badge of Ford’s classic coupe, but it’s actually decent to drive and, like the Explorer, has excellent range.

Then there’s the Mustang Mach-E, which – yes – is expensive, and potentially sacrilegious for using the Mustang badge on an electric SUV, but it’s handsome, roomy and really good fun on a twisty road.

VW

Volkswagen is in the midst of evolving its current ID electric car line-up, while also on the cusp of introducing what might be its most important new model in a decade – the ID.Polo.

The ID.Polo is the start of VW bringing together its ID electric models and its more traditional badges, and not only will it be capable of a 450km range (in big-battery form), but the smaller-battery version will have a sub-€20,000 price tag. Oh, and VW is bringing back buttons for the dashboard too. Hurrah!

The ID.Buzz – all cool 1960s styling underpinned by batteries and modern tech – was updated last year, with a long-wheelbase seven-seater model and newer, bigger batteries, while this year it gained a four-wheel-drive GTX high performance version. You can, of course, also have the Buzz as a commercial electric van – the Buzz Cargo – and that is now backed up in the VW electric vans line-up by the recently introduced e-Transporter, which can carry just over one-tonne of payload, and which has a range of up to 320km.

MG

MG has been absolutely killing it in the electric cars world of late. Its all-battery journey might have started slow with the underwhelming original ZS EV, but now MG is making some of the best electric cars around.

That range starts with the small and affordable MG 4 Urban, which actually isn’t that small at all, and which has enough range to do longer runs when you need to. The big-selling MG 4 EV – separate to the Urban, in spite of the similar badge – has just had a big round of updates including a smarter interior, while the S5 EV and S6 EV SUVs prove that MG can do style and sophistication as well as affordable pricing.

Best of all, there’s the Cyberster, which might not be MG’s biggest electric seller, but its sleek shape, cool Lamborghini-style doors, and sense of driving fun prove that MG’s heart is very much in the right place. We can’t wait for the super-cool-looking coupe version of the Cyberster, due very soon.

Hyundai

Hyundai is one of the best-performing electric brands in Ireland, and once you’ve sampled one of its cars, it’s really not hard to see why. That starts with the small, affordable Inster, which has a wonderfully adaptable interior, is good fun to drive, and yet in bigger-battery form has enough juice to do long motorway runs without complaint.

Then there’s the ever-broadening Ioniq range. The Ioniq 6 saloon (just updated) is one of the best-performing EVs in real-world conditions that we’ve ever tried, while the more upright Ioniq 5 still looks great thanks to its slightly retro-70ss sharp-edged styling. The big Ioniq 9 is a luxurious seven-seat SUV, but the best Ioniq may well be yet to come, in the neat shape of the Ioniq 3 hatchback, which will combine affordable pricing with a roomy interior and a surprisingly big boot, not to mention being the first model to get Hyundai’s slick new Pleos digital infotainment system.

DS

DS currently has two fully electric models available, with a third on the way. The DS No.4 is a relatively compact crossover that’s almost a hatchback, and it competes with the likes of the Audi A3.

Arguably better is the DS No.8, which is a low-roofed four-door crossover, and which does a bit of Rolls-Royce impression from the outside. Well, if you squint a bit. It’s a touch Rolls-Royce-y inside too, with proper luxury on offer (somewhat spoiled by too many switches and buttons from lesser Peugeots and Citroens) and a steering wheel that looks like the propeller from a biplane. The No.8 is super-smooth and comfy, though, and with the big 97kWh battery, it has an exceptional 750km claimed range.

Arriving soon is the DS No.7, which will attempt to package some of the distinctive styling and comfort of the No.8, but in a more conventional SUV shape.

Volvo

Volvos’s all-electric range has already impressed us. The big EX90 seven-seat SUV is a hugely refined BMW X5 rival with luxury to spare, but forgive us for preferring the lower, sleeker lines of the ES90 saloon, which has outrageous (almost stretch-limo) rear seat space, and huge comfort wherever you’re sitting.

The older EX40 and EC40 models are also still impressive, but we’re less enamoured of the compact EX30, which looks great, but which has had too many reliability issues with its software and batteries for comfort. Oh, and it’s WAY too reliant on its big touchscreen for all of the vehicle’s functions and instruments.

About to throw a huge Swedish cat among the premium EV pigeons, though, is the new EX60 electric SUV, which combines pleasantly understated looks on the outside with one of the best modern automotive cabins of all – unfussy layout, clear screens, comfort (but could use a few more buttons, of course).

If Volvo can keep the reliability gremlins away from the EX60, it could be a big hit, not least because the top-spec P12 version has a claimed range of 805km, which will temporarily (at least until BMW’s 900km i3 saloon arrives) make it the longest-range EV you can buy in Ireland.

Mazda

Mazda dipped a toe in the electric car waters with the original MX-30, the idea behind which was to have a smaller battery, so the car was lighter and more efficient, but you just had to top it up more often. Sadly, Mazda was ahead of the game there, and the charging network just wasn’t up to the job, so for its new line-up of electric models Mazda has turned to the EV experts at China’s Changan Motors.

Which means the sleek-looking new Mazda 6e saloon and CX-6e SUV are based heavily on Changan’s tech, which is good – sturdy LFP batteries and Chinese EV know-how underneath ultra-stylish Mazda bodies – and also not so good – the cabin is too reliant on the touchscreen, with not enough physical buttons.

Neither the 6e nor the CX-6e have class-leading range on one charge, but the 6e saloon is pleasant to drive, and has an exceptionally affordable starting price for a car that looks that good.

BMW

For all those who say that electric cars can’t be popular, take a look at the BMW iX3. Not only is it fully electric, it’s also hardly a bargain priced car, and yet BMW has sold more than 100,000 of them in less than a year, and had to put on an extra shift at the factory to meet demand. It’s not much of a surprise, given the iX3’s sharp handling, smart styling, and high-tech interior that includes the clever full-width display screen running across the base of the windscreen.

Better yet, all of that iX3 tech will shortly be available in the lower, sleeker, lighter i3 saloon, which is the all-electric 3 Series we’ve been waiting for, and which will have a potential range of up to 900km on one charge. What was that about diesel? If that’s not enough for you, there’s also an all-electric M3 version on the way, with four motors and upwards of 1,000hp.

Does that put the existing i3 and i5 into the shade a bit? Yes, possibly so and the i4 will be replaced next year by a new i3-based model, while the i5 will get a facelift and – hopefully – an upgrade to the i3’s more efficient batteries.

While we wait for those, BMW is launching the bigger new iX5, which looks like a chunkier iX3, has an 845km range, and if you don’t want electric you can buy a plug-in hybrid or even (not in Ireland, alas) a hydrogen-powered version. The heavily updated i7 is also just arriving in Ireland, with new, slightly softer, styling and more range on one charge.

Lexus

Lexus now has a two-car electric line-up, starting with the sleek-looking RZ SUV, which you can have either in long-range RZ350e form (with up to 558km of claimed range, and a realistic 470km on the road), or the high-performance two-motor RZ500e, which is not only quicker (4.6 seconds 0-100km/h) but which also comes with the “one motion” yoke-style controller instead of a conventional steering wheel.

In theory, you can fully turn an RZ500e without ever taking your hands off the “wheel”. Both models enjoy an exceptionally high-quality cabin.

Just arriving in Ireland is the lower and sleeker ES saloon, which you can still buy as a conventional hybrid, but which in ES350e electric form comes with an almost-600km electric range on one charge. Outside, the ES is definitely marking a new styling direction for Lexus, but inside it’s a little more traditional, which ultra-high quality levels and plenty of space.

Skoda

Skoda has become a big player in both the Irish and the wider European electric cars markets, and it’s done so with just two EV models – the Enyaq, and the Elroq. To be honest, it’s not hard to see why both cars have been a big success. Both are based on the same MEB electric car platform, and offer maximum ranges of up to almost 600km depending on the model, or you can sacrifice a bit of range for the style and performance of an RS version. Either way, you get great cabin quality and lots of boot space.

Those two electric Skodas are about to be joined by two more, at opposing ends of the price spectrum. The small Epiq (which shares its bits with the Cupra Raval and VW ID. Polo) is a compact crossover with chunky styling, a big boot, and a hint of the classic Yeti about it. It also costs less than €25,000 for a basic one. Much more expensive – but still cheaper than most of its competitors – is the new Peaq, which packs seven seats and a properly luxurious cabin into a sleek-looking large SUV body. Both of these are likely to be catnip for Irish EV buyers.

Audi

Audi doesn’t quite yet offer an electric equivalent of every model in its line-up, but it’s getting there. The impressive A6, for example, can be had as a conventional hybrid car, or as a long-range EV in the shape of the A6 e-Tron. Neither car is actually related, bar the badges, so the A6 e-Tron is actually entirely developed as an electric car, and it shows in a long range and engaging driving experience.

Likewise, the Q6 e-Tron offers an all-electric alternative to the combustion-engined Q5, and shortly we’ll have an all-new, all-electric A2 hatchback (based on the same EV package as the VW ID.3 Neo) which will not only be a battery alternative to the A3, but which is promising to match the efficiency of its 1990s predecessor by offering more range for a given battery capacity than most other electric products.

Beyond those, the e-Tron GT – an ultra-sleek four-door closely related to the Porsche Taycan – hasn’t been a big seller for Audi, but it’s utterly fantastic to drive, and recent revisions gave it more usable range, so buy one while you can. Looking ahead, Audi is pushing on with developing a production version of its gorgeous Concept C sports car, which will be one of the very few electric sports cars around when it arrives in 2028.

Polestar

Polestar is that rare beast – a genuine all-electric brand, with no hybrid nor petrol nor diesel options. In that sense, its only real rivals for now are Tesla, and the single-model Xpeng. It’s just as well then that Polestar’s electric cars are among the best in the business. Certainly the Polestar 2 saloon is. It might be based on decade-old Volvo mechanical bits, but it has an exceptionally long real-world range and is genuinely enjoyable to drive on a twisty road.

Also hugely enjoyable – but rather more expensive – is the Polestar 3 SUV, which is lower and sleeker than you might think, and which has rally-bred genes in its chassis and steering which make it as good to drive as any electric BMW, or even Porsche. In the middle is the Polestar 4, which threads a stylistic needle between SUV, sports saloon, and estate. No rear window? Yup, which is weird, but it’s sharp to drive and looks great.

Coming soon is a second model in the Polestar 4 range, which is a more conventional looking SUV, while about to launch any day now is the low, sleek, expensive, and bullet-fast Polestar 5, a high-performance sports saloon designed to show Mercedes-AMG the way home.

Toyota

Having had just the one electric model for a long time, Toyota is at last getting serious about EV motoring. That one model – originally called the bZ4X – has been updated and given the simpler bZ name, while at the same time getting a light design makeover and, much more importantly, a better battery, giving it a much more useful real-world range of around 480km.

That bZ has also now been joined by a bZ Touring, which is slightly longer and taller, and is almost an estate version of the standard bZ with a much bigger boot, and a fractionally longer range thanks to an equally fractionally larger battery.

Best of the Toyota electric bunch for now is the C-HR+, which shares (most) of its badge with the smaller hybrid crossover, but which is much roomier inside than that, and which has seriously impressive real-world range. It’s sweet to drive, too.

Up next? An all-electric Corolla, which we may get to see very soon, and which should really shake up the EV market. That and the all-electric version of the Hilux pickup.

Citroen

Citroen actually has the cheapest electric car currently on sale, although it does depend a bit on how precisely you define “car”. The Ami isn’t really a car, it’s a speed-limited (50km/h) 80km ranged two-seat urban transport solution. A cross between an e-bike and a tumble drier, but it’s adorably cute and fun.

A bit more serious – and still solid value – are the e-C3 and e-C3 Aircross, which have chunky styling and roomy cabins, but which feel disappointingly cheap inside, and you can’t have a seven-seat Aircross with all-battery power.

Rather underrated are the e-C4 and e-C4X which are stylish, roomy, nice to drive, and with decent real-world range. The e-Berlingo is a bit short on range, but has masses of space inside so it’s ideal urban family transport.

Rather more of an all-rounder is the handsome e-C5 Aircross, which is one of the better-looking SUVs around, has an incredibly comfortable cabin, very usable day-to-day range, and which just needs a little more space in the rear seats to be ideal.

KGM

If you’re wondering who or what KGM is, it might help to know that it used to be badged as Ssangyong, but was renamed when the company was bought out by the huge South Korean KG Group. It still follows the old Ssangyong template of rugged SUVs and pickups with relatively low prices, but in the electric era it can’t quite seem to offer the bargain prices it once did.

In electric terms, you can choose from the chunky-looking Torres SUV, which looks really handsome on the outside, and is very roomy inside. Batteries from BYD ensure reliability (always a Ssangyong strong point) even if the range isn’t spectacular.

Or you could go for the electric Musso EV pickup, which is still a bit of a rarity in the pickup world. It’s also a bit short on range, but for roughly the same money as the Torres, you get something rather more interesting to look at, even if you neighbours might think you’re moonlighting as a plumber.

Dacia

Dacia’s relationship to electric power has so far been a bit … mixed. The tiny Spring EV has been a huge seller for Dacia across Europe, and for a time it was Ireland’s most affordable EV (well, one that wasn’t a Citroen Ami) but buyers here didn’t bite, and so it has disappeared from Irish price lists. A shame – in spite of myriad flaws, it had charm.

There’s good news, though – a brand new all-electric Spring is imminent, which borrows the batteries and chassis from Renault’s brilliant new Twingo. That will mean a circa-250km range, but this time mixed with chunky Dacia styling and practicality, plus a price tag that ought to undercut the Renault, even if only by a little.

There’s more to come from Dacia in electric terms too, with an all-electric version of the next-generation Sandero hatchback due to be shown off next year.

Porsche

Porsche has vacillated a bit when it comes to electric cars. It was early out of the gate with the brilliant Taycan, which remains a high watermark of electric efficiency, performance and styling. We especially loved the estate-style Taycan Turismo, but sadly few others did and relatively poor sales of the Taycan is forcing Porsche into an electric rethink.

The all-electric Macan is also quite brilliant to drive, and pretty efficient too, which is why we can’t understand why buyers are largely staying away and waiting for Porsche to make a petrol-powered alternative. Will it be the same story with the electric versions of the new Boxster and Cayman sports cars? Those have been on-again and off-again in the new Porsche product plan more times than Ross and Rachel, but they do seem to finally be happening and should hit the road – alongside petrol-powered versions – next year.

Farizon

Farizon seems to be doing all the right things when it comes to making electric delivery vans. The Farizon SV has funkily cool styling (well, by van standards it does) and a cabin that majors on high-tech screens. It’s also notably long-ranged, with a WLTP range of 397km on one charge easily outstripping what the electric Ford Transit Custom or the Volkswagen e-Transporter can manage.

It can even carry up to 1,350kg of cargo, making it one of the most useful vans of all, whether we’re talking diesel or electric. All of that for a starting price of €44,000. Farizon could yet be a big story in the commercial vehicles world in years to come.