Thinking about buying an electric car costing more than £40,000? Then you had better move fast as delaying your purchase until April could cost you an additional £2,050.
That’s because from 1 April, new taxation rules will render electric cars liable for car tax. Until now, EVs have been taxed at a zero rate, effectively making vehicle excise duty (VED) non-existent for electric car owners.
The new rules mean EV owners will have to pay tax at the alternative fuel rate, currently £180 a year – and all new electric cars registered from 1 April onwards that cost £40,000 or more will incur the premium car surcharge, aka luxury tax. That will translate to an additional hit of £410 annually, from year two to year six, at today’s rates.
In an unusual move, that component of the revised VED rules is being applied retrospectively, so even electric cars that are already on UK roads will be hit, even if you buy before 1 April.
But the premium car surcharge will only apply to new vehicles. So if you buy and register a £40,000-plus EV before April, it won’t be liable – saving you £2,050 over the first six years of ownership.
It may also be worth more later on. Over the next few years, many second-hand buyers are likely to seek out nearly-new examples registered before the 1 April deadline, rather than have to stump up for the premium car surcharge – which may result in these pre-rule-change examples being worth slightly more, relatively speaking.
So if you’re toying with the idea of buying one of these models, it makes sense to do so sooner rather than later. Here are some of our favourites.
Hyundai Ioniq 5 Long Range
From £43,400
Hyundai’s sharp-edged Concept 45 design study of 2019 morphed, with surprisingly few changes, into this mid-sized family SUV, which combines super-fast charging with a light, airy and versatile interior along with a comfortable ride. It now has a rear screen wiper – which the first examples lacked – thus eliminating one of the few reasons not to buy one.
Read our full review here
Skoda Enyaq 85
From £44,300
The Czech firm’s take on the Volkswagen ID.4 undercuts its platform-mate, yet feels smarter inside. It suffers from the similarly underwhelming touchscreen software, but the Enyaq is quiet, comfortable and immensely spacious, making it an easy-going way of going electric.
Read our full review here
Polestar 2
From £44,950
Choose your 2 with care – top-spec models have too firm a ride, but stick to the single-motor versions and the ride is fine. What you get is one of the smartest interiors, as well as one of the slickest touchscreens, in any electric car, along with slick handling and beautifully weighted controls. It’s just a shame it isn’t a little more roomy.
Read our full review here
Tesla Model 3 Long Range
From £44,990
Model 3s are everywhere these days and with good reason; as a result of Tesla’s impressive charging infrastructure, few EVs make charging quite so easy or intuitive. The Model 3’s roomy, airy interior and immense performance only make it more appealing.
Read our full review here
Kia EV6
From £45,575
Freshly facelifted, the EV6 remains one of our favourite electric cars due to its blend of extrovert styling, handsome interior and vast passenger space. It also shares the same fast-charging architecture as the Hyundai Ioniq 5, meaning you won’t have to stop at public chargers for long.
Read our full review here
BYD Seal
From £45,695
Odd name, but if you’re after an electric saloon, the Seal is worth a look. Especially so if you’re put off EVs by the risk of a battery fire – the Seal’s LFP battery architecture is far less of a fire risk than other battery chemistries. But that isn’t the only reason to choose one; the interior is high quality, with plenty of space. And the Seal is good to drive, for the most part.
Read our full review here
BMW i4
From £51,270
The styling might be divisive, but look past that and the i4 is a thoroughly well sorted electric car. Its four-door coupe profile means it’s more svelte than many EVs, and while the i4 isn’t quite as agile as most BMWs, it’s still good to drive. The wide-opening boot lid makes it practical, too.
Read our full review here
Volkswagen ID.7
From £51,580
VW’s large hatchback is geared for comfort and it delivers in spades. Even on rutted roads, the soft suspension damps out most bumps, and there’s a huge amount of space inside. True, it could do with more physical buttons in place of all the touchpads, but on the whole the ID.7 is a class act.
Read our full review here
Genesis GV60
From £54,105
The GV60 is about to get a mid-life primp, so look for a deal on the last of these pre-facelift models. You’ll get a comfortable, beautifully finished and spacious electric SUV that’s a little different to the norm – and one that is backed with lots of ownership perks.
Read our full review here
MG Cyberster
From £54,995
Since the Tesla Roadster, nobody has tried to come up with a mainstream two-seat electric sports car, so kudos to MG for giving it a go. And while the Cyberster is flawed, it’s still good fun to drive; it’s pretty smart to look at, too, meaning it’ll turn plenty of heads.
Read our full review here
Volkswagen ID.Buzz
From £59,035
After decades of teasing us with concept cars, Volkswagen finally released a modern interpretation of its classic Type 2 bus with the ID.Buzz – and never has a people carrier been so cool. With a choice of five or seven seats, loads of space for family adventures and wonderfully flexible seating, it effortlessly defines the electric SUV as a multi-person vehicle.
Read our full review here
Kia EV9
From £65,025
The EV9 doesn’t quite offer the same versatility as the seven-seat ID.Buzz, but where it triumphs is in its smooth way of getting down the road. Even the most basic EV9s are pools of calm, with soft suspension and brilliant sound deadening. If you want a large EV that’ll send the family to sleep, this will do the job.
Read our full review here
Porsche Macan Electric
From £68,500
Like its stablemate the Taycan, the electric Macan sets new standards for driving enjoyment in an electric car. With deft steering, a beautifully balanced chassis and tonnes of grip, this is doubtless the electric SUV of choice for keen drivers. Just beware the options list, which is vast in both its scope and its potential for financial ruin.
Read our full review here