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They are already being driven around Europe: top 10 best electric cars

They are already being driven around Europe: top 10 best electric cars

Among car enthusiasts, there is an opinion that electric cars are more a toy than a real vehicle for every day. This is mainly due to the myths about the insanely short range, lack of infrastructure and the high cost of the electric cars themselves, but in reality everything is completely different. For example, in Europe, electric cars have long ceased to be something amazing (according to the publication Avtonews of the Day, in 2021 the market share of electric vehicles in Europe was 35.2%) – there it is rather the norm and routine than vice versa, especially given the many bonuses (free parking, minimum taxes, access to green areas). I decided to study this market in order to tell in detail about the ten best electric cars in Europe, which are already actively driven and do not know the troubles of motorists from Germany, Great Britain, France and not only.

Important: When choosing the best electric cars, I paid attention to the ratio of price to range, as well as the main characteristics – I almost did not pay attention to design, since everyone has a different taste.

Hyundai KONA Electric

  • Cost: 3,034,000 rubles (£28,950).
  • Power reserve: 480 km.

Hyundai engineers, albeit not on the first try, managed to create one of the best electric cars in the world – KONA Electric boasts a relatively low cost, attractive and practical body design, a comfortable spacious interior, an impressive trunk size and, of course, a record mileage on a single charge . The power reserve of this crossover is up to 480 kilometers on a single charge – this is quite enough to drive not only around the city, but also outside it. Due to these advantages, the “SUV” on electricity has become one of the most popular electric cars in Europe – especially the model after restyling.

Skoda ENYAQ iV

  • Cost: 3,650,000 rubles (£34,859).
  • Power reserve: 355 km.

Skoda, immediately after the release of the compact city car, launched the full-size ENYAQ iV crossover on the market with a stylish radiator grille (of course, this is a snag), a large touch screen multimedia system, LED optics even in the base and everything you need for a comfortable city ride. For an additional fee, the owner can illuminate the front panel with an independent LED backlight (makes the car look like a BMW) or get faster charging, and the range on a single charge is 355 kilometers. A very comfortable solution for most driving scenarios.

Nissan Leaf

  • Cost: 2,830,000 rubles (£26,995).
  • Power reserve: 320 km.

This compact hatchback is incredibly popular around the world – largely due to the rather low cost, which allows you to touch the world of electric transport without having to look towards the expensive Volvo or BMW. And although earlier the first Nissan LEAF models disappointed with their range (the actual range on a single charge was about 120 kilometers), the company has finalized this direction – the current generation of the electric car provides a range of 320 kilometers. This is quite enough to go to work within the city or go on a short trip.

Kia e-Niro

  • Cost: 3,450,000 rubles (£32,895).
  • Power reserve: 485 km.

Many car enthusiasts believe that electric cars began to be in demand in the market only during the Tesla dominance, but in reality this is not entirely true – and the Kia e-Niro is a clear proof of this. The car has been on sale in Europe since 2018, and it is selling very well (in 2019, every 7 electric cars sold in Europe were Kia e-Niro), and the manufacturer provides an impressive range of trim levels for every taste and budget. Of course, the car loses to the flagship Kia EV6 in design and technical equipment, but, on the other hand, the city crossover is much cheaper than its brother in the brand, and at the same time it travels as much as 485 kilometers on one “refueling” of the battery.

(Opel) Vauxhall Corsa-e

  • Cost: 2,700,000 rubles (£25,805).
  • Power reserve: 330 km.

The five-door hatchback Vauxhall Corsa-e (in some countries it is sold under the Opel brand, but these are absolutely identical cars – the only difference is in the logo) is usually sent to the category of urban electric cars, but I strongly disagree with this – a power reserve of 330 kilometers is enough to in Europe, travel even between countries, not to mention cities. At the same time, the vehicle received a roomy trunk, an advanced multimedia system with a display mounted almost in the center console, as well as the brand’s signature steering wheel and bright body colors.

MG ZS EV

  • Cost: 2,890,000 rubles (£27,495).
  • Power reserve: 440 km.

It’s hard to call the British car brand MG incredibly popular outside of Europe, but this does not prevent the MG ZS EV electric car from being an excellent solution for the money. This is a very roomy crossover with a power reserve of 440 kilometers with a roomy interior and trunk – what else do most motorists need? Of course, it was also not without a large display of the multimedia system, as well as without support for fast charging. In top trim levels, you can also get a lot of driving assistants, but, to be honest, even in the basic configuration, the car works out its price by three hundred percent.

Volkswagen ID.3

  • Cost: 3,375,000 rubles (£32,200).
  • Power reserve: 420 km.

Volkswagen is a leading developer of electric cars in Europe, so the popularity of ID.3 is very easy to explain – a compact hatchback (easy to park – this is important for Europe) with an adequate cost provides the same level of comfort as large brothers, while the range on one charge reaches 420 kilometers. It is hard to imagine that such a compact car can really travel such an impressive distance without recharging, but it really is. For a city, a car is certainly ideal, but you can also travel between countries on it.

Peugeot e-208

  • Cost: 3,100,000 rubles (£29,760).
  • Power reserve: 340 km.

The Peugeot e-208 hatchback is in many ways similar to the previous car – it is a very compact electric car, inside of which there is enough space for the driver and three passengers to move around. Yes, the trunk is not as big as that of fellow crossovers, but it is still there, and there is also a stylish digital dashboard (however, this is not news), a nice interior made of leather and fabric, a very affordable price and 340 kilometers on a single charge . This is enough for both traveling within the city, and for longer trips between cities and even countries.

Renault Zoe

  • Cost: 2,890,000 rubles (£27,595).
  • Power reserve: 240 km.

And if we are talking about popular and compact vehicles on electric power plants, then it would be strange not to mention the Renault Zoe – this is the best-selling electric car in Europe in 2020. The car looks very small, but in fact the two-door superstar has two rows of seats for five people, a digital instrument panel, a huge touchscreen display and the ability to travel 240 kilometers on a single charge. Against the background of competitors, this seems insignificant, but in fact, for a resident of the metropolis and not only this is enough for a week of trips without having to get the charger out of the trunk.

Fiat 500e

  • Cost: 2,500,000 rubles (£23,835).
  • Power reserve: 320 km.

Like the Nissan LEAF, the Fiat 500e initially didn’t seem like the most practical solution due to its compact interior and short range, but the current generation of the city car provides 320 kilometers without needing to stop at a power outlet, and compact dimensions in Europe play into the hands of the driver rather than vice versa. What’s more, the interior of the latest 2021 version looks very stylish and expensive, although in fact it is the most affordable electric car from major manufacturers in Europe. True, there are also two doors in the base, but if you wish, you can take a longer version with four doors, if it is not very comfortable to constantly make your way to the back row.

Source: Trash Box