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The Best-Selling Electric Cars of 2024 in the UK

We reflect on the electric vehicle (EV) market’s performance in the last year, looking at market statistics, the top-selling electric cars of 2024, and how many electric cars are in the UK currently.

best selling evs

*article updated Sept 24

The UK EV Market In 2024

Despite major supply issues and a cost of living crisis over the last few years, the UK’s EV market continued to grow in 2024.

  • As of August 2024, there are an estimated 1,200,000 fully electric cars in the UK, roughly 3.5% of the total. By comparison, there were 205,770 at the end of 2020.
  • From January to August 2024, there were 213,544 fully electric cars sold, 17.2% of all car sales for the period.
  • At the end of 2021, Zap-Map reported that only 396,497 battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and 348,352 plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) were registered in the UK.
    In 2023, this figure stood at 978,387 BEVs and 578,915 PHEVs, a total of 1,557,302. As of August 2024, a total of 1,904,400 are registered in the UK. 691,534 are PHEVs and 1,212,866 are BEVs.
  • As of August 2024, there are over 65,000 electric vans in the UK, roughly 1.4% of all Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs).

Best-Selling Electric Cars in the UK in 2024

According to SMMT’s vehicle registration data from January 2024, the Kia Sportage is the most popular EV in the UK in 2023 and 2024, followed by the Ford Puma and Nissan Qashqai. In 2022, the Tesla Model Y and Model 3 took first and second spot but now don’t feature in the Top 10, neither does the former fifth-place car, the Nissan Leaf.

You can the top 10 best selling EVs in the UK in 2024 below.

Top 10 Best-Selling EVs in January 2024:

  1. Kia Sportage – 4,239
  2. Ford Puma – 4,201
  3. Nissan Qashqai – 4,008
  4. MG HS – 3,413
  5. BMW 1 Series – 3,204
  6. MINI – 3,079
  7. Audi A3 – 2,648
  8. Volkswagen Golf – 2,456
  9. Nissan Juke – 2,421
  10. Hyundai Tucson – 2,373

Source: SMTT

 

Tesla Model Y

best selling electric car uk

Rated 4.5 on Auto Express, the Model Y is a family SUV that registered a huge 35,551 sales in the UK last year. There are three models available in the UK: the Model Y rear-wheel drive model is priced at around £52,000, the Long Range at £58,000, whilst the Performance model costs around £68,000. The latter has a range of 319 miles and can accelerate from 0-60mph in just 3.5 seconds.

This sleek car may have a minimalist interior, but design does not come before functionality. With a glass roof to provide extra headroom, a 15 inch touchscreen, UV protection, an immersive sound system, wireless smartphone charging and more, the Model Y offers kerb appeal without compromising on the user experience.

 

Tesla Model 3

most popular electric car uk

The Tesla Model 3, the car that topped the charts in 2021 with 25,171 sales, is still a fantastic choice for a family EV.

Auto Express states the car’s quality and practicality are comparable to the Model S. Also available in three models, It is alike the Model Y in terms of features, and though said to be ‘more affordable’ than Tesla’s Model S saloon and Model X SUV, prices range from £48,490 to £61,490.

Charging the Performance Model 3 from 10 to 80% on a 200kW rapid charger will take a mere 23 minutes.

 

Kia e-Niro

most popular electric cars uk

Falling out of the list and being replaced by the Kia Sportage at the top spot, the Kia e-Niro remains a comfortable family SUV. The 39kWh model has a range of 180 miles, whilst the 64kWh model manages 282 miles. The latter can charge from 10-80% in 44 minutes on a 77kW charger.

Features include adequate legroom and headroom, adaptive cruise control, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, and wireless phone charging. Also of note is the Energy Consumption page, which highlights how much energy has been used by driving, consumption by the lights and climate control.

 

Volkswagen ID.3

vw id.3

A different VW (the VW Golf) features in the top 10 best-selling EVs list in 2024, but the ID.3 still holds its own. Three battery sizes are available for the VW ID.3, which proved popular with buyers. The smallest battery is 45kWh, followed by the 58kWh with around 260 miles of range, and the 77kWh with a range of 338 miles.

Unlike other models, the ID.3 does not have a petrol or diesel equivalent. It is described as ‘reasonably priced, practical and good to drive’, with a neat interior given almost all controls including navigation, climate control, and audio are contained within the dashboard’s touchscreen display.

Charging on a 125kW charger, the ID.3 with the 77kWh battery can charge from 10-80% in a short 36 minutes.

 

Nissan Leaf

The Best-Selling Electric Cars of 2022 in the UK

Although no longer in the top 10 list, the Nissan Leaf is a fantastic EV for city drivers. Drivers have the choice between the 40kWh battery with a 168 mile range, or the 62kWh battery with a 239 mile range with the ‘e+’ model. The standard model has an acceleration of 0-62mph in 7.9 seconds.

The charging experience is also of a good level, with the e+ model managing 10-80% in 35 minutes on a 100kW charger.

Looking Ahead

 

The Electric Vehicle Market In 2025

The EV market looks set to keep growing in 2025. According to Transport & Environment, EVs are expected to reach up to 24% market share in the EU in 2024. This is largely driven by car manufacturers striving to meet their CO2 emissions targets.

However, Autovista Group expect things to slow down slightly, albeit still grow. 

“[The] global EV outlook for 2025 onwards is up to 100,000 units lower than previously predicted. The global EV share is forecast to reach 22.1% in 2025, then 44.9% in 2030, increasing to 69.7% in 2035. Global volumes are set to increase from 14.2 million in 2023 to 71.6 million units in 2035.

 

Supply, affordability, and charging

However, the issues drivers faced in previous years look set to continue. The SMMT noted that although supply chains have stabilised and the shortage of semiconductors should not be as much of a concern, ‘erratic supply will likely impact manufacturing’.

The models spotlighted above highlight the heights EV prices can reach. Auto Trader’s Erin Baker expressed scepticism towards a continued rise in EV sales due to the affordability of EVs, claiming “EVs need to be easier to afford, charge and buy to continue the positive sales trajectory and ultimately to meet the government’s target.” Affordability has become even more pressing in light of the removal of the vehicle excise duty exemption for electric car drivers from April 2025.

It is not only the price of EVs themselves that could discourage EV ownership – in January, the RAC highlighted the cost of rapid charging on the public network has increased by 50% across the last eight months. Last year, Karl Anders, Managing Director of Mer UK, signed a letter to the Chancellor and Transport Secretary regarding the need to cut VAT on public EV chargers from 20% to match the rate paid on domestic chargers.

To encourage mass uptake of EVs, it is no secret that the UK’s public charging network must continue to expand rapidly. Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, commented “for a nation aiming for electric mobility leadership, that must be matched with policies and investment that remove consumer uncertainty over switching, not least over where drivers can charge their vehicles.”

 

How can businesses and local authorities support the electric mobility transition?

From installing chargers at your workplace for employees to building a public charging network in your local borough for residents and visitors, commercial and public sector organisations play a crucial role in encouraging EV ownership.