Best Electric Cars in the UK (2026)
Ranked by MOT pass rate, using DVSA data for MOT tests carried out in 2024 (retests included). Reliability from real MOT results, not manufacturer claims, with estimated running costs.
Data: DVSA MOT tests carried out in 2024. 145 electric model years analysed.
90%
Avg EV pass rate
£1,058
Avg annual cost
£555
Est. home charging/yr
Electric cars have fewer moving parts than petrol or diesel vehicles, which helps keep MOT pass rates high and repair costs down. We estimate home charging at roughly £555 a year at average mileage, compared with over £1,000 in fuel for a petrol car.
The trade-offs are higher purchase prices and potentially higher insurance groups. Below are the top-performing electric cars on UK roads, ranked by their real-world MOT pass rate from DVSA data.
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Top 20 Best Electric Cars
Ranked by MOT pass rate, with estimated annual running costs
| # | Car | Pass Rate | Total/yr | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jaguar I-Pace(2020) | 96% | £1,010 | |
| 2 | Hyundai Ioniq 5 Premium EV(2021) | 96% | £1,010 | |
| 3 | Lexus UX 300E(2021) | 96% | £1,010 | |
| 4 | Hyundai Ioniq 5 Ultimate EV(2021) | 96% | £1,010 | |
| 5 | Jaguar I-Pace(2021) | 95% | £1,010 | |
| 6 | Porsche Taycan 4S 93KWH(2020) | 95% | £1,010 | |
| 7 | Ford Mustang Mach-E Ext Range Awd(2021) | 95% | £1,010 | |
| 8 | Jaguar I-Pace Hse(2021) | 95% | £1,010 | |
| 9 | Mazda MX-30 GT Sport Tech EV(2021) | 95% | £1,010 | |
| 10 | Jaguar I-Pace Black(2021) | 95% | £1,010 | |
| 11 | Nissan Leaf(2021) | 94% | £1,010 | |
| 12 | Jaguar I-Pace(2019) | 94% | £1,010 | |
| 13 | Audi E-Tron Technik 50 Quattro(2020) | 94% | £1,010 | |
| 14 | Audi E-Tron Technik 50 Quattro(2021) | 94% | £1,010 | |
| 15 | MINI Cooper S Electric Level 3(2020) | 94% | £1,010 | |
| 16 | Hyundai Kona Ultimate EV(2021) | 94% | £1,010 | |
| 17 | Porsche Taycan 4S 93KWH(2021) | 94% | £1,010 | |
| 18 | Porsche Taycan Turbo(2020) | 94% | £1,010 | |
| 19 | Volkswagen E-Up(2021) | 94% | £1,010 | |
| 20 | Porsche Taycan 4S 79KWH(2020) | 94% | £1,010 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most reliable electric car in the UK?
The Jaguar I-Pace (2020) tops our electric car rankings with a 96% MOT pass rate from 18,488 tests, level with 3 others (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). Most electric cars on this list were only three or four years old at their 2024 MOT, and newer cars tend to pass more often, so compare them with cars of a similar age.
How much does it cost to run an electric car per year?
The average electric car on this page costs an estimated £1,058 a year to run, including electricity (about £555 with home charging), road tax (£200 a year for cars registered from April 2017, £20 for older electric cars), MOT (about £55) and predicted repairs. Most of the saving against a petrol car comes from the lower fuel bill. Insurance is not included.
Do electric cars need an MOT?
Yes. Electric cars need an MOT once they are three years old, just like petrol and diesel vehicles. The test covers brakes, tyres, lights, suspension, and bodywork. There is no exhaust emissions test for EVs, which removes one common failure point.
Are electric cars expensive to insure?
Electric cars tend to be in higher insurance groups than equivalent petrol models because battery replacement and specialist repairs cost more. Insurance is not included in the running costs on this page, as it varies a lot from driver to driver.
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Best Petrol Cars
Top petrol cars ranked by reliability and running costs
Best Hybrid Cars
Hybrid models ranked by MOT pass rate
Cheapest to Run
All fuel types ranked by annual running cost
Methodology
Rankings are based on DVSA MOT test data for tests carried out in 2024, retests included. The pass rate is the share of tests that ended in a pass. Only electric cars with 1,000+ tests from 2021 or earlier (old enough for a routine MOT in 2024) are included. The data records one fuel type per model year, taken from its first test, so we leave out a year labelled electric when it has an engine size recorded or when the model's other years are mostly not electric; this keeps out petrol, diesel and hybrid models with a year wrongly labelled electric. Running costs use a home charging estimate of £555 a year at 7,400 miles (7.5p a mile: the Ofgem price cap rate of 26.32p per kWh for a car that does 3.5 miles per kWh, the efficiency the RAC assumes; a less efficient car or a dearer tariff costs more), the maximum MOT fee (£54.85, rounded to £55), road tax by year of first registration (£200 from April 2017, Band A £20 before) and predicted repairs derived from MOT pass rates. Cars registered from April 2017 pay the £200 standard rate, plus £440 a year for five years (from the second year) if they cost over £40,000 new (over £50,000 for electric cars). Insurance is excluded as it varies significantly by driver. Data sourced under the Open Government Licence v3.0.