The longest-range electric car on sale in the UK today can officially do 542 miles on a single charge. A decade ago, only one EV could clear 200. The question in 2026 is no longer whether an electric car can get you there, but which of the growing number that can is worth the money and whether that number holds up outside a laboratory. What Car? ranked the ten longest-range EVs currently in production, weighed their official figures against real-world evidence, and checked whether the cars are any good beyond the spec sheet. The list contains some surprises, and the most valuable car on it is not the one with the longest range.
The gap between the official WLTP figure and real-world range is the critical context for this list. WLTP testing runs on a rolling road under controlled temperature and speed conditions — useful for comparing models against each other, but not representative of motorway driving in January. The BMW iX3, ranked second at a 500-mile official figure, managed nearly 400 miles of real-world range in a recent 600-mile road trip comparison conducted at motorway speeds. That 80% retention rate is roughly what the better-performing cars on this list deliver in mixed conditions. Budget for closer to 65 to 70 percent if your driving is predominantly motorway. Three cars that fall just outside the top ten are worth noting: BMW's upcoming i3 saloon is quoted at 562 miles official, a new electric Mercedes C-Class targets up to 500 miles, and the Volvo EX60 P12 — due in production later in 2026 — will offer 503 miles from a 112 kWh usable battery. None are on sale yet.
The full countdown opens at tenth with the BMW iX at 426 official miles, though its £94,000-plus price and 195 kW peak charging are increasingly hard to justify in a more competitive segment. The Mercedes EQE 350+ (ninth, 428 miles, £75,000) and VW ID.7 (eighth, 433 miles, £55,000) follow. Peugeot's long-range family SUV (seventh, 434 miles, under £40,000) is the standout value at the back of the list — one of just two entries priced below £40,000. The DS 8 long-range (sixth, 446 miles, around £55,000) is criticized for its ride quality and four-star Euro NCAP safety rating, and is flagged as best avoided. From fifth place down, the numbers get genuinely impressive. The Tesla Model 3 long-range rear-wheel drive (fifth, 466 miles, under £45,000) carries unrestricted Supercharger access and strong standard equipment. The Audi A6 e-tron Sportback (fourth, 471 miles, near £70,000) leads the segment on aerodynamics and charging speed. The Mercedes CLA 250+ (third, 483 miles, just over £43,000) charges at up to 320 kW and costs less than the Tesla while offering more range. The BMW iX3 holds second at 500 miles with 400 kW charging and a 21-minute 10-to-80% top-up time. The Mercedes EQS 450+ takes first at 542 miles, with a coefficient of drag of 0.20 and a 122 kWh usable battery — but prices start at just under £92,000 and the longest-range version reaches £104,000.
Bottom line: Range anxiety as a reason not to buy an EV is essentially finished at the mid-market level. The most interesting car on this list is the Mercedes CLA at just over £43,000: 483 miles of official range, 320 kW charging, and a lower starting price than the Tesla Model 3 long-range it outpaces on both metrics. If you are shopping for a long-range EV without a brand allegiance, that gap is where the decision sits right now. The 542-mile EQS is a technical achievement. The CLA is the purchase.