Best EVs for the British summer (when it arrives)

The British summertime. Three weeks of average weather followed almost inevitably by hosepipe bans and the arrival of advent calendars in the shops. And yet, for decades, the British have had a strange love affair with with the convertible car. 20 years ago, we were among the biggest buyers of soft-tops in Europe. Despite the UK being famed for its damp climate. 

Sadly for the sun-lovers among us, that trend has all-but disappeared with the switch to electric. Although sales of cabrios were on the slide before the electric revolution got into its stride, carmakers have almost totally ignored the market as they build their electric ranges. 

But is all that about to change? Nicola has just returned from driving the new Renault 4 Plein Sud and she’s buzzing like an old fridge at the prospect of some open-air motoring this summer. Okay, so it’s not a convertible in the strictest sense, but it’s a big step in the right direction. 

If you want to feel the wind in your hair this summer AND want to go electric, there are a number of options you can get right now. Just remember that sunscreen, okay? 

Renault 4 E‑Tech Plein Sud

Price: from £27,445 / Range 247 miles WLTP / 0-62 8.2 seconds

We’re big fans of the Renault 4 here at Electrifying.com, with some of the team preferring the chunky five-door to its smaller and more obviously retro Renault 5. One of the elements we loved most about the early concept images of the 4 was its roll-top roof canvas roof. Sadly, for early buyers, the opening roof wasn’t part of Renault’s launch plans,  and only now, a year after the 4 first arrived, has it made it into production. Better late than never, right? 

The Plein Sud (its name literally translates as “full South” or “directly south”) is effectively being introduced as a new trim level to the existing range, and comes with an electrically operated 80x92cm canvas roof opening. Which is WAY bigger than most traditional sunroofs. You can basically fit a full-size Nicola Hume through the opening, and probably something like a fridge if you so wish. 

Replacing steel for canvas will cost you exactly £1,500, but we reckon that it’s a price worth paying for a spot of open-air motoring this summer. The fit and finish look exemplary and there’s something rather decadent about the idea of wafting along in silence with just the sound the world going past around you. Good work, Renault. 

Best for

* Families
* Everyday use
* Buyers who want fresh air without sacrificing practicality

MG Cyberster

Price: from £54,995 / Range 316 miles WLTP / 0-62 3.2 seconds

MG enthusiasts - the ones who remember the ‘good old days’ of leaky roofs, sub-par build quality and questionable reliability have had a tough time of late. They have witnessed their beloved octagon badge grafted to the front of a new generation of electric hatchbacks, estates and SUVs which have done the very un-British thing of being popular and profitable for its maker. 

But all was not lost. In 2024, MG started deliveries of its Cyberster – an all-new, all-electric roadster. Despite its awful name (which sounds even more dated two years after launch), the Cyberster lived up to its promise of being a proper two-seater electric roadster. Developed in record time (Porsche is STILL working on its electric Boxster, years after it was first seen testing), the Cyberster has the performance (up to 503hp) and range (300 miles plus) to make it a compelling choice for drivers looking for a genuine electric soft-top. The scissor doors deliver a supercar wow factor while the level of kit make its sub-60k asking price even more remarkable. 

It’s not as polished as we’d like it to be – the driving position isn’t great for six-footers and the doors have a mind of their own at times – but for the cash it’s a fine effort. 

Best for

* Weekend drives
* Sports car enthusiasts
* Buyers wanting something unique

Maserati GranCabrio Folgore

Price: from £182,400 / Range 265 miles WLTP / 0-62 2.8 seconds

Money no object? Can we interest you in the UK’s most exclusive (expensive) four seater electric roadster. The GranCabrio Folgore (which means thunder in Italian) isn’t likely to trouble the SMMT’s best-sellers charts any time soon, but it certainly would be at the top of our wish list should those EuroMillions numbers come up.

The specs of the GranCabrio Folgore are certainly impressive. The dual motors serve up 761hp and distribute their thrust to all four wheels. 0-62mph can be reached in under three seconds, making it one of the fastest production EVs ever built. 

Inside you’ll find plenty of creature comforts to make those long, open-top summer drives more bearable, including heating and cooling elements in the front headrests and a Sonos Faber sound system in case the wind noise becomes a little too intrusive. 

The GranCabrio comes with a whopping 92.5 kWh battery pack and a pretty decent 265 mile WLTP range - perfect for a couple of laps of Lake Garda or a once and a half times around the M25 if you prefer your thrills closer to home. Yes, it costs more than £180,000, but let’s be honest, if you’re worried about the price, you’re not really in the market for a Maserati in the first place… 

Best for

* Long-distance luxury touring
* Four-seat usability
* Lottery winners

Citroen Ami Buggy

Price: from £10,495 / Range 46 miles WMTC / 0-62 never

Scraping the barrel? Us? How dare you. Okay, let’s get the obvious things out of the way first. Yes, it’s not a car (it’s classified as a quadricycle, so is technically a four-wheeled motorbike), and, yes it’s not a proper cabriolet. It’s also no longer available to buy new, but this list was too short without it which is why it’s here. 

There’s nothing quite like the Ami Buggy – Citroen’s bold attempt to prove that you don’t need a two tonne SUV for urban commuting. Based on the standard Ami, it adds a host of off-road styling elements and, of course, a manually retractable canvas roof. 

As a piece of design, it’s extremely clever. To reduce costs, the doors are the same moulding for both sides and to prevent you nodding off, Citroen has also chosen not to install an interior of any note. Only Ryanair seats come close to rivalling the Ami for long distance discomfort. 

To meet quadricycle regulations, the Ami is limited to a top speed of 28mph, which actually feels plenty fast enough given the spine-rearranging ride quality. It comes with a 5.4kWh battery, which delivers a range of 46.6 miles. Not that you’ll want to cover that sort of distance in one hit. Unless you’re insane. 

For all its flaws (of which there are too many to list here), the Ami Buggy is a deeply loveable thing that makes you smile every time you drive it.   

Best for

* People who don’t mind being pointed at
* Non-family types
* Drivers who aren’t in any kind of rush to get anywhere

Fiat 500e Cabrio

It may be getting on a bit now, but the Fiat 500e C is still a fabulous-looking machine that really deserves to sell in bigger numbers than it does. Cruelly hobbled by a hopelessly optimistic pricing structure (the basic version starts at £27,000), the 500e C is an exquisitely-crafted small cabrio that’s fun to drive and very easy to live with.

When it was launched in the UK five years ago, its 42kWh battery was considered a decent size, but more recent arrivals have made it and its sub 200 mile range look a little underwhelming. Performance is nothing special and 85kW rapid charging is nothing to write home about in 2026 - further weakening the case for the 500. 

Yet despite a spec sheet that genuinely feels five years out of date, the 500e C is a lovely package and probably perfectly suited to most British drivers - especially if you can plug in at home. Opt for a low mileage used example and the numbers start to make more sense. 

Best for

​* City driving
* Second-car duties
* Open-air motoring on a budget (if you’re buying used)

Abarth 500e Cabrio

Price: from £30,995 / Range 160 miles WLTP / 0-62 7.0 seconds

If the already-too-expensive Fiat 500e is just too cheap for you and you prefer the idea of a far less practical range then THIS is the car for you. The Abarth 500e C is one of those cars that you’re glad exists… but have no idea why. 

For the uninitiated, the Abarth 500C is essentially a Fiat 500C that’s been treated to a go (slightly) faster makeover by Fiat’s in-house performance department. The result is a car that looks feistier, goes faster and drains your bank account quicker. And yet, like the 500e C, it is an absolute hoot and would probably be on most of our wish lists. 

The electric folding canvas roof has a two-stage operation that’s immaculately engineered. Open the top bit if you just want a bit of wind in your hair. Drop the rear screen if you want a bit more turbulence. 

And if you really want to get noticed, the Abarth’s party trick is its artificial noise generator, which blasts an electric engine note that gets louder the faster you go. It sounds like a really bad idea, and it absolutely is. Thankfully, you can turn it off and travel in glorious silence. 

​Best for​

* Urban fun
* Drivers who want personality over outright range
* Fans of traditional Abarth hot hatches