Various kinds of cars now come with a cable and plug, from pure battery electric vehicles (BEVs) to extended-range electric cars (EREVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs). All use mains electricity to provide a certain amount of quiet, zero-emissions running, although only those with an engine on board can keep on going indefinitely. Most also currently qualify for the the government’s plug-in car grant, contributing up to £5,000 to the cost of the car.
Below we list a range of plug-in cars that we’ve put to the test. Prices were correct on 16 February 2013.
Renault ZoeReview verdict:5 out of 5 stars
Price: From £13,650 after grant plus at least £70 per month battery rental
Renault’s Zoe has a lot going for it – it’s good looking, quick, easy to drive and, most importantly of all, affordable. It’s not perfect, as owners will learn if they try to take corners too quickly, and it comes with the usual electric-car drawback of limited reserves between lengthy top-ups. But a real-world 90-mile range and versatile charging options make the Zoe a battery-powered car that demands relatively few compromises.
Nissan LeafReview verdict:5 out of 5 stars
Price: From £20,990 after grant, battery included; or from £15,990 plus at least £70 per month battery rental
Awkward to look at but beautifully engineered and carefully thought through, Nissan’s Leaf was conceived as an electric car from the outset and it shows. The Leaf offers great packaging, tangible quality, real comfort, and an engaging, involving drive – all of which helped it win recognition as the European Car of the Year for 2011. Improved all round for 2013, the latest British-built examples can now be bought outright, or with a lease agreement for the battery.
Renault TwizyReview verdict:5 out of 5 stars
Price: From £6,795 plus at least £45 per month battery rental – not eligible for grants
Unlike anything else on the road, with tandem seating for two and optional scissor doors, the Renault Twizy shows that the future of personal transport can be both responsible and huge fun at the same time. It’s not perfect for the UK, being permanently open to the elements, without no cabin heating, and with only the option of clip-on plastic side-screens to keep out the rain. It’s also not the fastest thing on the road, and doesn’t boast the longest range, but again those are part of the deal.
For those who don’t mind dressing to keep warm, the Twizy is a five-star barrel of laughs that deserves to be a huge success.
Chevrolet VoltReview verdict:5 out of 5 stars
Price: From £30,255 after grant
Like its Ampera sister-car (below) the Volt combines a 1.4-litre petrol engine with a powerful battery and motor, attempting to meld the advantages of electric cars and hybrids into a cohesive whole. It works up to a point, the main drawback being that fuel economy beyond the battery’s 50-mile range is not especially impressive, due largely to car’s hefty weight. But the Volt is virtually identical to the Ampera while offering noticeably better value for money in terms of standard kit, gaining it an extra star over the Vauxhall alternative.
Vauxhall AmperaReview verdict:4 out of 5 stars
Price: From £29,995 after grant
With a 1.4-litre petrol engine on standby to supplement its battery and motor, the Ampera is an extended-range electric car to its maker, but a glorified hybrid to others. Divisive labels aside, this is a well-sorted plug-in car that can drive up to 50 miles on battery alone, then as far as you like on petrol when the need arises – a breadth of capability that earned it the accolade of European Car of the Year 2012.
The drawbacks are that it’s heavy and not remotely cheap, although the base model “Earth” trim level does chuck out various bits and pieces of kit to squeak under £30,000.
Toyota Prius Plug-inReview verdict:4 out of 5 stars
Price: From £28,245 after grant
An additional £3,000 over the price of a top-of-the-range standard Toyota Prius adds a new lithium-ion battery pack boasting a bigger capacity, as well as a mains charging cable. Much of the rest of the Prius experience remains unchanged although the ability to travel up to 15.5 miles on batteries alone, at speeds of up to 51mph, means the Plug-in will be able to complete many short, urban journeys without ever firing up the engine. Also like the standard car, the Plug-in Prius offers an effortless, quiet and refined driving experience that may not appeal to keen drivers but is an attractive proposition for many nonetheless.
Volvo V60 PHEVReview verdict:4 out of 5 stars
Price: From £43,775 after grant
Charge up the Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle for up to 30 miles of silent electric motoring, or switch to hybrid mode and add in 200bhp of five-cylinder diesel. Volvo has aimed high with its modified medium-sized estate but appears to have succeeded in producing a fluid through-the-road hybrid, or range-extended electric car, depending on your label preferences. It promises to meet a very wide brief, including towing 1,800kg loads with its electric back axle supplementing the diesel front end for all-wheel-drive. But as with the Ampera the V60 PHEV is fearsomely heavy and far from cheap.
Renault Fluence ZEReview verdict:4 out of 5 stars
Price: £17,495 after grant, plus at least £76 per month battery rental
Renault’s big electric saloon sandwiches a bulky removable battery between an enlarged boot and the back seats. It offers good value compared to other EVs of similar quality and feels remarkably normal to drive, in a good way. You’d be hard-pressed to tell it’s electric were it not for the total absence of noise, vibration and gearshifts when you’re on the move. Instrumentation to keep the driver informed about the battery is a tad basic, but what this car really lacks is a little character and pizzazz.
Mitsubishi i-MievReview verdict:3 out of 5 stars
Price: £23,990 after grant
The first mass-produced electric car is cute to look at and lovely to drive. The i-Miev’s kei-car platform means it’s narrow by European standards, will seat only four and offers precious little boot space. But it’s a lively little thing that’s fun to drive, with its precise steering and rear-wheel drive.
Outclassed by subsequent electric cars, it needs to be cheaper to merit more than 3 out of 5. Versions of the same car from Citroen and Peugeot, the C-Zero and iOn respectively, cost less but are still too pricey at £21,216.
Smart ForTwo EDReview verdict:3 out of 5 stars
Price: From £15,395 after grants; or £12,275 plus £55 per month battery rental
Smart’s electric drive conversion is predictably well engineered, but it adds restricted range to all the other drawbacks of the ForTwo package – just the two seats, an uncomfortably short wheelbase, little luggage space and questionable styling. Better weight distribution courtesy of low-mounted batteries does mean improved handling, however.
Two pricing options – either outright purchase or separate leasing fee for the battery – bring some flexibility in purchasing, but the electric Smart still feels expensive compared to conventional alternatives.
Mia ElectricReview verdict:2 out of 5 stars
Price: £22,000 after grant
Mia’s loaf-shaped microbus has much to commend it – most notably some fresh thinking about the kind of cars that are suitable for urban settings. Its central driving position and diminutive dimensions make it easy to thread through traffic, while the twin sliding doors and plastic panels make the most of tight parking spots. But not everything about the Mia is quite so tasty. It feels crude and a little ramshackle, thumps and crashes over bumps, and is eye-wateringly expensive for what you get.
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