Best Vegan-Friendly Cars

Volvo’s C40 Recharge has just hit the road, arriving as the firm’s second fully-electric model after the XC40 Recharge. It has, however, become the Swedish firm’s first car to use a cabin without any leather whatsoever. 

This is something that’ll be incorporated into all of the brand’s future EVs, too, so it’s not just a one-model affair.

It’ll probably come as little surprise that Polestar – a direct relation to Volvo – has also created cars with a vegan-friendly approach. Its 2 saloon, which is fully electric and packed with the latest technology, has all manner of vegan components. 

The seat covers are vegan, as is the steering wheel and gear shifter. Polestar has also championed the use of recycled materials, too.

You can probably see a theme developing here – electric cars are often the ones with the most eco-friendly options available. The i3 is no different, with vegan-friendly cloth seats used alongside recycled and wood finishers. 

Plus, what leather is used in the interior is artificial – furthering the i3’s vegan-friendly status.

Tesla’s range of cars can’t actually be specified with a leather interior, with an artificial alternative used instead. Couple this with the Model S’ eco-friendly electric powertrain and it’s one of the best vegan-friendly options around.

Though it comes with a leather steering wheel as standard, this can be swapped out for an artificial leather version if required.

Porsche’s impressively powerful Taycan has been engineered with impressive precision, ensuring that its electric powertrain is just as punchy as it is efficient. 

It’s available with a variety of leather-free interior options too, while its floor coverings are made from recycled fishing nets.

Yet another electric car, the Mustang Mach-e is Ford’s latest EV and has been designed to capture some of the excitement people associate with that famous name but in a battery-powered vehicle. 

Much like others on this list, the Mustang Mach-e uses an interior trimmed in faux leather, helping to boost its eco-friendly credentials.

The little 500 has become a common sight on the UK’s roads, with its retro-inspired looks finding favour with all manner of buyers up and down the country. But more recently, the 500 has taken an even more eco-friendly approach to motoring. 

In fact, more recent hybrid-powered 500 models now come kitted out in upholstery made from Seaqual Yarn – new material made from recycled plastic. Some 10 per cent of this plastic comes from the sea, while the remainder is collected from the land, combining to make a very eco-conscious material.

The GLB is one of the latest SUVs to join the Mercedes range, bringing an impressive amount of practicality in what is quite a compact bodystyle. There’s also space for seven people, furthering the GLB’s family appeal, while an ultra-wide interior display helps to give the GLB’s interior a particularly futuristic feel. 

Plus, you can kit the GLB’s interior out in the firm’s Artico artificial leather, which helps to improve its eco-credentials that little bit more.

The Velar occupies a middle spot in Range Rover’s line-up, sitting between the larger Range Rover and the Range Rover Sport. Needless to say, it combines the luxury of the former and the dynamism of the latter, finished off with a healthy dose of style and Jaguar Land Rover’s acclaimed off-road technology. 

But most importantly for this list, the Velar can be kitted out with all manner of non-leather materials. There’s a man-made suede, as well as a new type of upholstery created from recycled eucalyptus.

Nissan’s Leaf has always had an eco-conscious approach to things. After all, it has progressed over the years to become one of the most popular electric cars on sale and, because it has been for a little while, is a real hit on the used market too. 

Plus, its interior is finished in cloth upholstery, so it does away with the leather finish used on many of the Leaf’s rivals.