The Best Luxury Electric Cars to Take You into the Future

Tesla have been at the forefront of the electric car market, producing luxury vehicles that already have all four tyres firmly planted in the future. The Model X is currently the flagship car. It’s an incredible SUV that outperforms fossil fuel rivals, with the top spec producing eye-watering acceleration of 0-60mph in just 2.9 seconds. As a Tesla, the Model X also comes packed with high-tech features, from 360-degree cameras, to an autopilot system that’s fully autonomous. Once such vehicles are allowed on the road, the update to use their full capabilities will be released. With its falcon wing rear doors, the car looks as though it’s straight from the future, too.

Competing with the Tesla Model X, the Jaguar i-Pace is another luxury SUV. Whilst it’s not as fast as Tesla’s standout star, it still achieves a noteworthy 0-60mph in just 4.5 seconds. It’s also a little bit cheaper, and almost matches the driving range of the Model X with 292 miles. However, the i-Pace comes into its own in terms of driveability. It really is one of the most enjoyable EVs to drive, with responsive handling and a punchy motor that work together to create a sports car feel. As a Jaguar, you also get the refined, elegant cabin you’d expect, along with the badge appeal.

Pipped to the post by the refinement of the Jaguar i-Pace, Tesla’s Model S is still every inch a luxury vehicle that can take you into 2020 and beyond. After all, the Model X is essentially a jacked-up version of this car. You get all the same excellent features, like the 360-degree cameras and autopilot system that’s ready and waiting for fully autonomous driving – plus, it performs just as well, if not better. Again, the range-topping model offers the breath-taking speed of 0-60mph in just 2.5 seconds. And, like the Model X, the car’s range is 300 plus miles and you get those handy Tesla quick charge stations throughout the country to boot.

The BMW i8 looks like it’s driven so fast it’s travelled back in time to meet us. This sleek, stylish plug-in hybrid features unique wing-doors, space-age looks and a performance of 0-60mph in 4.5 seconds. It’s fast and agile with responsive handling and quick steering. In other words, it’s great fun to drive. On battery power alone, it can travel up to 23 miles at speeds of 75mph. It’s a quiet and refined drive too. Better yet, there’s the upcoming Roadster model that’ll take you back into the future with it, or at the very least connect you closer to the tarmac and the world around it.

As a diesel-electric hybrid, the Audi Q7 e-tron is only available as a five-seater, unlike its seven-seat, fossil fuel counterpart. The reason is simple: to make room for the battery. With the added battery power, the Q7 offers great mileage. The e-tron offers 156.9mpg and low CO2 emissions at 48g/km. In addition, the car can drive 34 miles on electric power alone. As a luxury SUV, you also get everything you would expect from the Audi brand. The refined interior looks expensive and feels very comfortable and spacious to say the least.

With a plug-in hybrid powertrain, the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class promises to deliver around 86mpg and low C02 emissions of 78g/km. Using the power of electricity alone, the car can be driven for 18.5 miles too, and the battery has a quick 2-hour recharge time. Where the GLE-Class excels is in its levels of luxury. The cabin is spacious and comfortable, and the ride is relaxed – typical of a Mercedes. Surprisingly, this large SUV performs brilliantly off-road as well.

Another hybrid, the Audi A3 Sportback e-tron is a smaller car that’s big on refinement. Its inviting interior is comfortable and well-made, offering a smooth and pleasant drive. As a hybrid, you get some impressive figures for your money too. The acceleration is quick (going 0-62mph in 7.6 seconds), the C02 emissions are low at 37g/km, and the excellent fuel economy promises 166.2mpg. The e-tron does what a luxury EV should – it offers the refinement you’d want from a premium brand, whilst providing those low running costs that electric vehicles are famed for.

The Range Rover Sport PHEV is a plug-in hybrid of the standard model, if you can ever call anything made by Land Rover standard that is. It’s a fantastic car that blends all the right things together – just as a luxury vehicle should. Typical of the Range Rover series, the Sport PHEV is great both off-road and on the tarmac. There are few SUVs out there that can boast the same capabilities. Yet, you don’t buy a Range Rover just for its phenomenal off-road function. It’s also about the refined, elegant cabin – and the Sport PHEV doesn’t disappoint there either. Performance wise, the Sport’s 0-60mph in a mere 6.3 seconds is amazing for a luxury car of its size, as is the claimed fuel economy of 91.1mpg.

The Lexus NX is a petrol hybrid SUV that oozes personality with its striking looks and angular faceplate. This model certainly delivers what its badge promises. It’s spacious, comfortable, practical and refined, as well as being packed with features that make it stand out from the crowd. Even the entry-level model comes with dual-zone climate control, electrically heated, folding wing mirrors and a seven-inch media display with an eight-speaker sound system.

Whilst perhaps not everyone’s idea of a luxury car, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV performs well, providing an interior composed of soft, squishy plastics. It’s certainly not a challenger to the more lucrative brands on this list, but then it’s also a fraction of the price, proving that luxury can be for everyone. At its heart, it’s a petrol-electric hybrid with very low CO2 emissions and great fuel economy. Perhaps surprisingly for a 4×4 SUV, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV makes an excellent company car thanks to its very low company car tax bills. It’s also Britain’s best-selling plug-in hybrid, and comes stacked with standard equipment to bump up the levels of luxury.