The Story
There's a huge variety of electric cars on sale in 2026, and we've picked the best of the breed for those looking for performance.
Many drivers have already made the switch to electric thanks to the performance benefits, refinement and on-paper green credentials, with ever-tightening emissions regulations and government ICE bans making them more widespread in the new car market each year. For many driving enthusiasts, however, the electric car has long been seen as a threat, losing character and gaining weight over combustion counterparts.
Regardless, there is a wave of new performance-oriented EVs on the way. The incoming Peugeot e-208 GTI is soon set to gnash at the heels of the Alpine A290, while an electric variant of the next BMW M3 is nearing production readiness. When it arrives, it’ll have the new Hyundai Ioniq 6 N to contend with, and Polestar's already launched its alternative to the popular Porsche Taycan with the 5. Even Ferrari has joined the electric party (perhaps a little late) with the Luce.
So, which are evo’s current favourite EVs?. From sports saloons to crossovers and hypercars, we’ve listed the best models on sale in 2026 below. We all know power isn't everything, but that's often the sole metric by which performance EVs excel over their combustion-powered counterparts. You'd be forgiven for thinking the 1200bhp Lucid Air Sapphire was more of the same story, but thankfully, there's much more depth to its offering.
Having used models such as the excellent BMW M5 CS as a benchmark during development, the range-topping Lucid saloon doesn't only have hypercar power, but excellent dynamics too. Jethro Bovingdon said: '…a focus on a fluid, easy-going balance with an unfashionable amount of pitch, roll and dive goes some way towards recreating an enthusiast’s imagined past.'.
Given the extreme adjustability a triple-motor setup allows for, it has full torque vectoring capabilities which shrink its vast dimensions around you. Bovingdon added: 'In slower turns it quickly chases understeer away with aggressive over-speeding of the rear axle; through quick turns you can feel it tweaking and cajoling the balance and holding the car in the perfect yaw angle.' It's one of the best quick saloons on the market as a result, if you can get your hands on one in the UK, that is.
The Japanese Kei car has always been a fascination of those from the west, with ultra-compact dimensions, subsequent low kerb weight and charming styling all part of the package. The Kei-derived Suzuki Jimny was sold out for almost the entirety of its time on sale in the UK, and while we haven't seen another model like it since, the new Honda Super N brings some of the magic back.
Power stands at a very modest 94bhp for an even more modest 10sec 0-62mph time, but the use of virtual gears and a piped-in combustion engine sounds makes it feel much less dull than it sounds. It handles well too, with a firm but well-rounded ride and responsive steering making it just as chuckable as its looks would suggest. Better still, it's available from just £18,995 in the UK to make it one of the most accessible driver's cars on sale today, EV or not.
Polestar 5 is finally here, going on sale a full six years on from the debut of the Precept concept that previewed it. Happily, its crisp Scandinavian design hasn’t aged a day. What has is the market the 5 now joins, with premium electric cars not proving to be the sales successes many expected when its chief rival, the Porsche Taycan, went on sale.
Polestar persisted undeterred with the 5, with the focus on creating a worthy halo model; a flagbearer for the brand and a flex of its engineering muscles. To that end, it uses a bespoke bonded aluminium platform, electric motors, steering and damping systems – MagnerRide on the flagship and passive on the Dual Motor.
The result is a genuinely entertaining performance car, with good feel to its steering and fidelity in its damping. It wears the endless hours spent on its development on its sleeve. Conversely, it’s also more practical than the Taycan, less frenetic at a cruise and priced incredibly competitively. Though fewer are now cross-shopping this segment than perhaps Polestar would like, the 5 is nonetheless a genuine competitor worthy of consideration.
Porsche Taycan has had a while to mature into the marketplace since it launched in 2019, and in the process it's become one of the very best electric cars on sale. Having received comprehensive updates to its powertrain, battery tech and chassis in 2024, the Taycan is now almost without weakness (ignoring question marks over residual values, that is…).
Why It Matters
The Kei-derived Suzuki Jimny was sold out for almost the entirety of its time on sale in the UK, and while we haven't seen another model like it since, the new Honda Super N brings some of the magic back.
CarMotion Daily’s Take
What has is the market the 5 now joins, with premium electric cars not proving to be the sales successes many expected when its chief rival, the Porsche Taycan, went on sale. Watch this space over the coming weeks. Electric momentum is uneven across the industry, and moves like this reshape how buyers compare EV lineups. Range, charging speed, and price still dominate EV shopping — every new entry forces competitors to either match or reposition. Watch for EPA range certifications and DC fast-charge benchmarks once independent tests land. Pricing tiers, software updates, and any regional trim adjustments will tell us how serious the launch intent is.
📝 Source & Copyright Notice
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