2022 was a bumper year for new electric cars. With several big-name manufacturers entering the fray for the first time, and some old hands bringing groundbreaking new EVs to the market, there was a lot for electric car buyers to be excited about, with more choice and better product than ever before, even after a just-as-bumper 2021.
So, whether it’s a family-friendly electric SUV, a zero-emission executive saloon, a big-power sports car or even a diminutive urban runaround, such is the choice nowadays that there’s an electric vehicle here to suit your needs. So, if you're ready to ditch that combustion engine, it's time to look back at the best electric cars released in 2022.
Best new electric cars of 2022:
- Mercedes-Benz EQE
- Citroen Ami
- Volkswagen ID.Buzz
- Genesis GV60
- Porsche Taycan Sport Turismo
- Kia Niro EV
- Renault Megane E-Tech
- Toyota bZ4X
Mercedes-Benz EQE
Hot on the heels of Mercedes’s game-changing luxury EV, the EQS, came the smaller EQE. Granted, it might not match the whopping range of its bigger brother, but when it went on sale, it was still the second longest-range electric car on sale in the UK, and can travel up to 410 miles between charging points. That’s enough to do London to Edinburgh in one hit in theory, although in the real world, it’ll still probably need a very quick top-up on the way. All of which means that, for some buyers, it could well supplant the Tesla Model 3 as the best car for those wanting to buy an executive saloon with electric power, even if you won’t get access (for now) to Tesla’s excellent Supercharger public charger network.
Mercedes EQE Review
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Citroen Ami
From the sublime to the ridiculous? Well, you might say that, but frankly the Ami is anything but. This entry-level EV has been a huge hit in France already, and Citroen has now brought the Ami to the UK, too. With only a 46-mile range, two seats, a Spartan interior and around 8hp, you won’t be going on any long motorway trips in an Ami, but around town, its tiny profile, minuscule energy consumption and zippy low-speed acceleration make it an ideal city car geared toward a more sustainable future.
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Volkswagen ID.Buzz
It’s an understatement to say that the idea of a Volkswagen van that pays homage to the original Type 2 has been long-awaited. But it’s here at last in the form of the ID.Buzz, and with Volkswagen’s proven rear-wheel-drive electric powertrain, as seen in the ID.3 and ID.4. It’ll go up to 250 miles on a charge, seat five people with plenty of space and a huge boot and, most importantly, it looks the part, with unashamedly retro styling and a wonderfully bright colour palette, both inside and out. We’re not fans of the infotainment system, mind you, but the ID.Buzz’s immense sense of style and cheerfulness is enough for us to forgive its usability flaws.
Volkswagen ID.Buzz Review
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Genesis GV60
The GV60 is based on the same platform as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6, two electric cars that between them have won almost every major Car Of The Year award going. Genesis’s take on the idea is distinctively styled and feels even more upmarket, as befits its intent to take on cars like the Jaguar I-Pace, Ford Mustang Mach E, Tesla Model Y and Audi Q4 E-Tron. Beneath the skin, there’s the same 77kWh battery and electric motor setup as the EV6, permitting a range of around 280 miles, a choice of rear- or four-wheel drive, and extremely fast charging. Inside, you get the same sort of luxury trimmings we’ve seen in Genesis’ other cars, which means quilted leather and generous equipment lists.
Genesis GV60 Review
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Porsche Taycan Sport Turismo
In a way, we’d already seen the Taycan Sport Turismo before 2022 in the form of the Cross Turismo. Think of the latter as a jacked-up, off-road-leaning version of the former. So why is it on this list if it wassn’t really new for 2022? Well, quite simply, the Cross Turismo was already one of the best and most complete electric cars on the market, and the Sport Turismo offers an even more exciting driving experience. Expect up to 269 miles of range, a blistering 0-62mph time of 5.4 seconds, and some of the finest handling of any electric car.
Porsche Taycan Review
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Kia Niro EV
The old Kia E-Niro was still one of the best EVs on the market right up until the day it went off sale, thanks to a perfectly-pitched crossover body shape, plenty of space for five, and a genuinely usable 282-mile range. It even took second place overall in our massive ten-car Electric SUV Megatest in 2021, beating several much newer cars and only losing out to the amazing Skoda Kodiaq. It’s fair to say that its replacement doesn’t move the game on all that much: it’s based around the same mechanicals as the old car, and consequently, its range has increased by just three miles. But Kia reckons Niro owners are happy with that and, as the saying goes, if it ain’t broke, why fix it? Elsewhere, the latest electric Niro – now called Niro EV – gets fresh new styling and an updated interior that apes the pricier EV6, in an effort to keep it ahead of rivals like the Nissan Leaf. And it succeeds.
Kia Niro EV Review
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Renault Megane E-Tech
You’ll doubtless have heard of the Renault Megane, but this latest model is completely different to any that has worn the badge before. That’s because the Megane is now a crossover SUV, rather than a hatchback, and it’s also now strictly an EV, with no petrol or diesel alternatives on offer. It has a choice of two power outputs and two battery sizes, the larger of which offers an impressive 292-mile range from its 60kWh. Sharp styling and a smart interior complete the picture.
Renault Megane E-Tech Review
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Toyota bZ4X
Potential EV buyers that have been waiting for reassurance of their longevity need look no further. Toyota’s bZ4X enters the fray with a 10-year, 100,000-mile warranty (provided the car is serviced at a main dealer according to schedule), something coupe-like rivals such as the Polestar 2 and Audi Q4 E-Tron can’t hope to match. That suggests this is going to be a particularly reliable EV. Toyota’s keen to stress that the all-wheel-drive version will be a genuine off-roader, too, although there will be a two-wheel-drive version if you don’t need it. Practicality and space are strong points, with a lot of front- and rear legroom, and you get a very usable range of 280 miles.
Toyota bZ4X Review
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