LEASING is one of the easiest ways to get behind the wheel of a new electric car. With slightly higher prices compared to petrol or diesel models, electric cars can put people off from the start.
But when you break that cost down to monthly payments, and then add other running costs like fuel savings into the mix, the sums for EVs quickly make sense. For company car drivers, it’s important to remember that electric cars offer the lowest company car tax BIK rates around, just 2% for FY 2022/23.
We highlight 10 of the best electric cars available to lease now.
Tesla Model 3
There’s a reason the Tesla Model 3 is the best-selling car in the UK; and a fair part of that is how cheap it is to lease and run. The electric saloon has a range of up to 360 miles in Long Range configuration, with plenty of performance from the twin electric motors too.
Company car tax is less than £35 a month at a 40% rate, and the practical saloon has the same cleanly styled, high-tech interior that drivers have come to expect from Tesla. Remember the Tesla Supercharger network for conveniently located ultra-rapid charging on the go, and the Model 3 proves a highly capable package.
Hyundai Ioniq 5
The first of a new generation of electric vehicles from Hyundai is the Ioniq 5 – and it’s simply brilliant. Look at it for starters, it’s a concept car that made it into production.
Under the surface, things get even better, with a long driving range of around 280 miles on a charge, plus high power charging capability for quick top-ups. Company car tax is less than £28 per month for 40% tax payers, and Hyundai has added in a handy vehicle-to-load charging ability, meaning you can run your laptop/circular saw/coffee machine from Ioniq 5.
Fiat 500
The brilliantly stylish Fiat 500 is only available as an electric car, and it’s all the better for it. Nippy, agile, and fun to drive, the citycar is perfectly suited to being powered by an electric motor. There’s even a choice of short or long range models, depending on budget, with around 200 miles on a charge possible from the latter.
Company car tax is less than £19 per month at a 40% rate for the larger battery model, and with a decent range, it will deal with occasional long trips easily. For optimum Cinquecento style, there’s also a convertible version, to live out your Italian driving dreams.
MG ZS EV
The MG ZS EV is one of the best value cars on the road currently, with a long driving range and reasonable performance, all in a practical family-SUV body. And then there’s the price, which is equivalent to most cars in the class above.
A choice of Standard or Long Range models means just how much value for money can be picked between, but the Long Range model has a range of 270+ miles on a charge, yet still costs less than £20 per month in company car tax for 40% payers.
BMW i4
What many drivers want is an all-electric BMW 3 Series. Luckily, BMW’s i4 is basically just that. So drivers get the famed BMW driving experience, quality, and performance, just electrified.
It’s also a good example for those that claim EVs don’t have enough range, since BMW has packed in 365 miles to the i4’s battery. A company car tax bill the same as Tesla’s Model 3 at under £35 per month is available for drivers at 40%, and charging can be carried out more than 200 kW so drivers can add a hundred miles in a few minutes.
Kia EV6
Kia’s EV6 is very similar to the Hyundai Ioniq 5 – only it’s also quite different. Sticking with the similarities, the same battery and motor set-up is used, as is the same ultra-rapid charging ability.
What’s different is the styling, and the way the Kia drives, which is great news for customers as they can pick the same core but tailored to their requirements. Drivers can get a 328 mile EV, and the ability to recharge to 80% in less than 20 minutes, and all for less than £30 a month
Skoda Enyaq iV
Skoda’s traditional offer of quality at a good price continues with its first electric model – the Enyaq iV. The family-sized crossover is practical, and features plenty of Skoda’s neat little design touches throughout.
Available in a variety of battery and power options, the Enyaq iV has a range in excess of 330 miles on a charge in the right configuration. This version also sees a company car tax cost of less than £27 a month in company car tax, and there are cheaper versions available still with considerably more than 200 miles of range.
Volkswagen ID.3
Volkswagen’s Golf has long been a leasing staple, but the ID.3 is set to take its place. Think all-electric Golf, and you’re not far off. The ID.3 benefits from the design changes possible with electric vehicles however, and features a much more spacious cabin than the famous Volkswagen hatchback.
A variety of specifications are available, but even the longest range model – and one of the most expensive – will cost £28 per month for a 40% tax payer. That model will provide 336 miles between charges, and ultra-rapid recharging for true long-distance ability.
Porsche Taycan
Porsche’s Taycan range has really taken off, and is now available in saloon, crossover, and estate forms. All of them drive as you would demand from a Porsche – brilliantly. Instant response, taut handling, and agility that belies the performance saloon’s size are all at the driver’s fingertips.
Offered with a range of power and range options, the longest range model will cover more than 300 miles on a charge, but still only cost less than £50 a month in company car tax for a bona fide sports saloon that just happens to be electric.
Renault Zoe
Having been fettled and refined over a number of years, the Zoe remains one of the best electric cars on the market. Nothing in its class can match the Renault’s range of more than 230 miles on a charge, and this second-generation model now also gets a rapid charging option for the first time.
One of the most accessible ways into an electric car, the Renault Zoe is good to drive and has a lovely interior for a supermini, with a focus on sustainable materials. Even the more expensive versions will cost less than £22 a month in company car tax.
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