Best electric cars 2022

Even five or ten years ago it was hard to imagine that electric cars would ever become the norm, but they're now more popular than ever. Electric cars have finally won the fight for respectability and there's never been a better time to consider making the switch, but where do you even start looking? If you're currently drowning in facts and features, our guide to the best electric cars 2022 may be what you're looking for.

New government guidelines and the looming threat of regulations regarding tailpipe emissions have led to a surge in electric car purchases in the last few years. This means that the price of used electric cars will continue to fall, making them the practical, affordable, and smart solution for the future.

Add to all this the genuine concerns that many of us have about pollution, and the generous incentives offered by the government in return for ditching the old combustion engine once and for all, and it's no wonder so many people are considering the switch.

Petrol prices are up, the running costs of electric cars are impressive, charging points are springing up like mushrooms, and new electric car models are making surprising inroads when it comes to speed, handling, driving range, and charging efficiency.

With offerings from BMW, Porsche, and other prestige brands now establishing themselves in the marketplace, the electric car has morphed from its image as a virtue-signaling hippy option (or the unrealistic product of a mad scientist bound for Mars), into a practical no-brainer for anyone who's worried about the future of our planet – and, of course, those rising petrol prices!

Electric vehicles are also exempt from the dreaded London congestion charge and owners of cars that run on electricity, charged by an external source (so, this is not one for the hybrid owners) do not have to pay a penny to tax their vehicles!

Government grants of up to £1,500 are currently subsidising the cost of new electric vehicles, reducing the price for drivers even more! However, seeing the advert or sign that says, Electric Cars for Sale is only the beginning. The strange and mysterious workings of regular cars and vehicles are already baffling enough, but where do you even start when it comes to looking for an electric car? What are you looking for exactly? It's mind-boggling knowing what to choose, why you should choose it, what the choices are, and who to ask for advice.

So, we decided to take a look at the top five best-sellers of 2021 as a starting point, plus a few other popular favourites. The aim here is to give you a no-nonsense, plain-speaking overview of what's currently popular, what's gaining in popularity, and some of the features to look for when deciding what to buy.

Let's start with the UK's five top-selling electric cars in 2021. According to the SMMT, (The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders) the top five most popular electric car purchases of 2021 were as follows: (Drumroll, please)!

1. Audi e-tron – 7,396 units sold
2. Nissan Leaf – 9,052 units sold
3. Volkswagen iD 3 - 11,032 units sold
4. Kia e-Niro – 12,271 - units sold
5. Tesla Model 3 – 34,783 - units sold

Other top sellers, found within the top ten most popular electric cars purchased in 2021 included the MG ZS, which sold a total of 5,380 units, Vauxhall Corsa 9, which sold 5,605 units, Renault Zoe – 5,778 units, Mini -6,615units, and the Hyundai Kona, which sold 7,199 units.

Apart from these high-flyers, there are other models that seem set for take-off in 2022.

The Hyundai Ioniq 5, for example, was voted Car of the Year for 2021, by Auto Express. Its particularly impressive features include a choice of two batteries – one for longer journeys and one for zipping around town – both of which can be charged with three power outputs. According to Hyundai, it also has the ability to cover 298 miles from a single charge, using its long-range battery, and has a very competitive charging speed.

The Kia EV6, which boasts a 328-mile driving range, as well as comfort and a reassuringly familiar family car appearance, comes with all-wheel drive and has a towing capacity of up to around 1,600 kg. A fairly sporty drive, all things considered, it also boasts a competitively fast charging ability.

The Fiat 500 electric model manages to maintain the compact style of the traditional combustion engine prototype. It is arguably slightly larger but it still holds on to its nifty, stylish-little-car-about-town image. It's still perfectly sized for easy parking and helpfully equipped with parking sensors. Those of us who hate parking will love this one even more in its environmentally friendly form. According to the Fiat website, its battery can be charged in 5 minutes for journeys of up to 30 miles.

Skoda Enyaq - Of course, Skoda – having taken a few generations to shake off its...well..its Skoda-ish image, is now also among the most talked about for its electric offering.

As you'd expect, the Skoda Enyaq is a comfy, practical, family electric car that does what it says on the tin. It gets you to your destination. You can also customise it with all sorts of whistles and bells but, essentially, it promises to be a contender among the best electric cars in 2022 because of its traditional, old-school appearance, practicality, and a reasonable charge range of 255 miles.

What is the cheapest electric car?

For many of us, practicality and cost are a major concern - we're not all boy-racers – and finding the cheapest electric car might be your biggest issue.

When it comes to the cheapest electric cars, The Smart EQ Fortwo is believed to be the cheapest available at this time, but who knows what the future will bring. You can currently pick one up (new) for around £19,200.

If you're looking for the best value electric SUV, The MG ZS EV is currently thought to be the UK's cheapest.

As always, the most important thing is to make sure you do all your research before deciding. There are so many new features, specs, and metrics to consider with electric cars. All kinds of facts and details that were never a factor with our old gas-guzzlers are suddenly appearing on pamphlets to terrify and confuse the faint-hearted. Knowing what's currently popular might give you a starting point for making a choice but be sure to stay ahead of the herd by looking into all the nooks and crannies, to scope out the details that matter most to you.

Happy driving folks. Stay safe and, as always, be sure to seek advice from a trusted source before making any decisions. Come to us with your questions. We'll help you out wherever we can.

You can check out our range of electric cars here...

... and if you're still having trouble deciding which electric car is best for you, try not to overthink it. It's not rocket science, as they say. Oh, wait a minute... or is it?!