The most efficient electric cars – and their real-world results
We crunch the numbers on the electric cars on sale today to which are the most efficient
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by Jack Warrick
6 mins read
3 April 2025
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For many electric car buyers, choosing which one to buy hinges on two key factors: how much range the car has, and how efficient it is.
While many electric cars have impressive claimed range figures, managing to achieve them is another story.
Electric car efficiency is measured by calculating its miles per kilowatt hour used, shortened to mpkWh. For example, a Volkswagen ID 3 with a 77kWh battery would require an efficiency of 4.5mpkWh to achieve its officially rated 347 miles of range.
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Efficiency is impacted by several variables, including battery size, driving style and outside temperature. Another important factor is weight.
The Audi Q8 E-tron, for example, is powered by a 106kWh battery, but weighs a staggering 2585kg, meaning it can deliver only around 2.9mpkWh.
Larger, SUV-style electric cars are also usually impacted more by drag, which reduces their range compared with sleeker, more aerodynamic sports cars and hatchbacks.
Then there’s the weather. Warmer temperatures mean a battery’s chemical reactions can occur faster and produce a higher range, whereas colder weather requires more energy, reducing range.
Other aspects dictated by the driver, such as how fast you drive and the use of climate control or air conditioning, also affect range. A car will often be able to travel further on a single charge in the city compared with on the motorway, as more power is required to sustain higher speeds and handle the increase in drag.
Now you know how an electric car’s efficiency is impacted – but just how efficient are electric cars in the real world, and which are the most efficient electric cars on sale today? Our list below details the best EVs to squeeze the most mileage out of your battery.
1. Vauxhall Corsa Electric
7
- Design8
- Interior6
- Performance7
- Ride & Handling7
- Costs8
Pros
Creditable real-world range
Well-rounded and refined
Updated front end adds premium style
Cons
Poor second-row passenger space
Imperfect driving position
Less fun to drive than some EVs
Claimed efficiency: 5.1mpkWh
Autocar’s test efficiency: 3.7mpkWh
That fresh face is probably the most dramatic – and welcome – change to come as part of the Corsa’s mid-life refresh.
The Vauxhall Corsa-e gained a larger 52kWh battery in 2024 with a boosted 251 miles of range. Vauxhall doesn’t explicitly quote its miles per kWh figures, but using that official 251 miles range figure and the size of the battery produces a figure of 5.1mpkWh.
Our test gave 3.7mpkWh, which calculates to around 185 miles of range. Similar to the electric Fiat 500, the Corsa-e weighs around 1455kg, which helps the hatchback achieve its impressive efficiency score.
Keep an eye out, though, as Vauxhall is set to launch a revised version of the Corsa-e with battery updates that boost its range to 246 miles. In theory, that takes the Corsa-e’s efficiency up to around 4.8mpkWh.
Read our Vauxhall Corsa Electric review
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2. Citroen e-C4
8
- Design8
- Interior7
- Performance6
- Ride & Handling7
- Costs9
Pros
Attractively priced
54kWh version has good efficiency
Fairly practical
Cons
Bigger battery is tied to top trim level
Digital cabin tech isn’t slick or intuitive enough
Unsatisfying driving experience
Claimed efficiency: 4.8mpkWh
Autocar test efficiency: 4.1mpkWh
The ë-C4 is quite a lot of electric car to be available from £27,360.
The Citroen e-C4 has been on sale for four years now, but 2025 heralded in a design overhaul in line with some of the brand’s newer models.
Two battery options are available, but the most efficient is the larger 54kWh unit. It produces 257 miles of range, which means it could potentially return around 4.8mpkWh.
There are two body styles available – the hatchbacked e-C4, and the saloon e-C4X. Both feature the same powertrain line-up, powered by a single front-mounted electric motor producing 154bhp.
We’ve yet to do a full in-depth economy run for the new e-C4, but our initial tests returned 4.1mpkWh – good, but still a way off that full advertised figure.
Read our Citroen e-C4 review
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3. Renault 5
9
- Design10
- Interior9
- Performance8
- Ride & Handling9
- Costs8
Pros
Excellent ride-handling balance
Excellent value for money
Fantastic interior design
Cons
Disappointing cruising efficiency and range
Claimed efficiency: 4.8mpkWh
Autocar test efficiency: 4.2mpkWh
It outclasses all of its rivals with the kind of ride and handling balance that’s rarely seen at this end of the market.
The Renault 5 is one of the best small electric cars to drive, and it’s also one of the most efficient, according to the French brand.
With a claimed economy figure of 4.8mpkWh, the Renault 5 should be capable of 252 miles on a single charge.
Our road test showed that the small French hatchback is certainly capable of that in the city, hitting 5.0mpkWh in suburban driving – equal to 260 miles of range with consistent driving.
Things weren’t as positive on faster roads, however, with efficiency dropping significantly in our 70mph touring test down to 3.1mpkWh.
Read our Renault 5 review
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4. Dacia Spring
8
- Design7
- Interior7
- Performance6
- Ride & Handling8
- Costs10
Pros
Very cheap
Lighter than most rivals
Reasonable boot space and rear legroom
Cons
Fair bit of wind noise
Lowish charge speed (though it’s a small battery)
Driving position and seat lack adjustability
Claimed efficiency: 4.7mpkWh
Autocar test efficiency: 4.7mpkWh
For many, it the Dacia Spring will be all the car they ever need, and it will raise a smile or two as well.
Smaller and lighter than all of the other models on this list, the Dacia Spring was always going to score highly for efficiency.
The entry-level Spring – comfortably the slowest car on sale today – comes with a puny 44bhp electric motor, but it’s the 64bhp variant that most buyers will be interested in.
All cars get the same 26.8kWh battery with an official range of 140 miles, so that’s a claimed efficiency of 4.7mpkWh – hitting a range of 125 miles.
Over mixed driving, we matched this exact figure, but city driving returned a very impressive 7.1mpkWh – equal to 190 miles.
