Electrifying.com Awards 2026
Car of the Year: BMW iX3 Neue Klasse
The BMW iX3 Neue Klasse is a step-change for the German brand, and sets new benchmarks for many of today's EVs.
Chief among the tech extravaganza that this car showcases are its batteries. New cylindrical lithium-ion NMC battery cells replace the mattress-style cells of previous BMWs, and they are not only cheaper, they’re also lighter and more efficient. Which is one of the main reasons that BMW has managed to deliver a WLTP range of 500 miles, despite prices that undercut many rivals with significantly poorer efficiency.
These new, sixth generation battery cells hold 20% more energy and charge 30% faster than the setup you got in the previous iX3 – so we're talking much better energy density, here – and they give the dual-motor iX3 xDrive50 a WLTP range of between 421 and 500 miles. That makes this the longest range electric car on sale in the UK. Then there's BMW's new 800-volt electrical system, which allows the iX3 to charge at up to 400kW. Which is properly fast, by the way. Faster than a Porsche Macan, even!
Is it lovely inside, and does it drive nicely? Yes to both of those, of course! We drove the new iX3 earlier in 2025, and it impressed us with its lovely, organic-feeling responses, impressive refinement and gorgeous, dare I say almost Scandinavian-like interior. That's the thing about the new iX3 – we're not just giving it our overall Car of the Year 2026 award because it's got such a long range, but also because it's a fantastic premium family SUV that showcases new levels of environmental awareness.
Not only are the batteries offering much better energy density, but the use of recycled and recyclable materials in the car itself also set a new benchmark. BMW has even rethought the way the car is manufactured as well, relying solely on renewable energy at the Hungarian facility.
From the wheels and the upholstery to the batteries and the production line itself, the iX3 Neue Klasse sets new standards for sustainability in mainstream EV production. All while being one of the best cars out there to drive and live with. That's why we love it, and that's why it's the very deserving Electrifying.com 2026 Car of the Year.
Ginny Buckley, editor-in-chief of Electrifying.com, said:
“The phrase ‘game-changer’ is overused in the car industry, but the BMW iX3 lives up to that claim. This is BMW starting again from the ground up – new battery tech, new software, the lot – with a claimed range of up to 500 miles. But the real standout is the bigger picture: BMW hasn’t just made a better EV, it’s worked out how to build one more sustainably too. The iX3 Neue Klasse is the point where BMW’s electric future properly clicks. It’s a brilliant, deserved winner."
EV Brand of the Year: Kia
The Electrifying.com EV Brand of the Year 2026 goes to Kia, which has had another huge year for its new electric cars. The new EV4 and EV5 have arrived to offer practical, good value, long range family cars in the hatchback and SUV classes, while the new PV5 Passenger brings an affordable, longer range option for drivers who want a five or seven seat EV. The PV5 has also shone a spotlight on wheelchair accessibility in electric cars, with the PV5 Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV). With a wide-opening side door, universal wheelchair attachment, ramp and space for manoeuvring as well as for passengers, it brings into sharp focus the sort of accessibility and space that wheelchair users need in an electric vehicle.
Not only that, but we drove the updated Kia EV6 GT this year, and also had a look round the new Kia EV2 concept – which shows that this Korean brand isn't slowing down for 2026, and will be bringing a smaller EV to its range within the next few months. From compact cars to supercar-fast executive EVs, family SUVs and passenger MPVs with disabled users in mind, Kia is covering every base with its all-round excellent electric vehicles. It's that variety of electric models on offer, the battery options that buyers can choose from, the equipment and pricing, and the seven-year warranty, which all combines to make Kia's EVs so compelling. This is a brand that never stands still, and we've been consistently impressed with all of the new cars that it's released in 2025 – and we can't wait to see what's coming next in 2026. And that's why Kia is our Electrifying.com EV Brand of the Year 2026.
Ginny Buckley, editor-in-chief of Electrifying.com, said:
“Kia’s EV line-up is impressive in its sheer breadth, from the seven seat EV9 to the forthcoming EV2, plus performance-focused GT models and everything in between. But what truly resonates with us is Kia’s leap into electric commercial vehicles with the PV5. It’s brilliantly executed, competitively priced, and crucially designed from the start to be wheelchair accessible. That kind of inclusive, real-world thinking shows Kia isn’t just building EVs – it’s making electric mobility available to an underserved car buyer. Kia has nailed the brief: an EV for everyone. A very deserving EV Brand of the Year."
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Best Value EV of the Year: Renault 4 E-Tech
The Renault 4 E-Tech is the tricky second album for Renault. It must follow on from the smash hit that has been the Renault 5 but – remarkably – the French brand has done it. The Renault 4 has got some gorgeous modern-retro details that hark back to the original Renault 4, yet this is also unmistakably a very modern family EV – complete with a useful WLTP range of 247 miles, space in the back for the kids and a big boot for all their gubbins. More than that the Renault 4 E-Tech is fun! Yes, we mean that – it's got a nimble, light-footed attitude that makes it easy to drive yet with an unmistakable peppiness that sets it apart from most of its rivals.
All of this is why the R4 won over the Ford Puma Gen-E and MGS5 EV when we pitted them against each other earlier in 2025, but since then the Renault has become even more appealing because it's now eligible for the full £3,750 UK electric car grant. You can find out all about the grant, and see our list of all the cars that are eligible right here, by the way. But the Renault earned this sizeable discount because its batteries are now being made in France. That means that this cute little family EV has just significantly reduced the environmental burden of its manufacture, and so has gained the full ECG grant – making it even more incredible value.
And, despite stiff competition in the affordable electric car classes this year, that is why the Renault 4 E-Tech is our Best Value EV of 2026. Because good value is rarely this adorable.
Vicky Parrott, editor of Electrifying.com, said:
“The Renault 4 is a rare thing: an affordable, practical family car that appeals to both the head and the heart. It’s packed with character, genuinely fun to drive, and properly useful day to day. Now the battery’s made in France, it qualifies for the full electric car grant – meaning it’s not just better value, but a more sustainable choice too. In a market where good-value EVs can sometimes still feel like a compromise, it doesn’t get much better than this."
Used EV of the Year: Polestar 2
The Polestar 2 has been around since 2020, and it's been a big seller since the moment it arrived. Oozing with Scandi-design, and complete with Google-integrated touchscreen interface and a practical hatchback boot, it blends executive design and desirability with brilliant user-friendliness and practicality. As a used car, the Polestar 2 is a fantastic all-rounder.
There are plenty out there on the used market to choose from, so it's not hard to find a good condition car in the spec that you want. And there's a spec for everyone. You want dual-motor, all-wheel drive with high performance? That's out there. You want efficiency and long range? No problem. In fact, our favourite used Polestar 2 is the post-facelift model that came out in 2023. The design didn't change much (why would you change something that works so well?) but underneath, the electric motor on the Polestar 2 Single Motor was moved from the front wheels to the back wheels, with lots of software and aerodynamic tweaks also adding up to a huge claimed WLTP range of some 350 to 400 miles depending on the spec of the car.
With prices now down to well under £20,000 for a Polestar 2 in great condition, it's not hard to see why this is one of the most popular used EVs in the UK, and why it's our very deserving Used EV of the Year 2026.
Vicky Parrott, editor of Electrifying.com, said:
“The Polestar 2 has long impressed the Electrifying.com team with its blend of style, practicality and genuinely usable tech. Better still, it’s now a superb used EV bargain, with strong real-world range for the money. Battery health has proven to be very resilient, over-the-air updates keep it feeling fresh, and Polestar’s pre-owned programme adds valuable peace of mind. It’s a standout used electric car - and a very deserving Used EV of the Year."
Best Charging Network 2026: Gridserve
The UK’s public charging network has been transformed over recent years and continues to expand at a remarkable rate. Charging locations have gone from being remote car parks with one or two units to futuristic hubs with vast numbers of reliable and easy-to-use chargers located next to shops, cafes and other facilities. In fact, by the end of 2025 there will be some 87,200 public EV charging points across the UK, including nearly 10,000 offering charging speeds of over 150kW. That's progress, eh?
Gridserve stands out to us as a worthy winner of this year's award because it's made huge progress in improving the charging infrastructure in our motorway services. Not only has it delivered more than 200 charging locations in the last five years, covering some 85% of the motorway network, but this year it became the first charging provider to introduce 400kW charging stations in the UK. It's also leading the way with its new HGV charging hub, which will enable battery-powered heavy goods vehicles to charge more easily by designing charging hubs specifically for drive-through charging so that HGVs can drive in, charge, and drive out.
Finally, we loved Gridserve's push to highlight a need for better charging station signage. Having good signage to show where the EV chargers are, and ideally a live feed of what prices are, is a matter that's close to our hearts at Electrifying – and we're very aware that planning permission around services is often a key problem that stops providers from installing more signage. It's great that Gridserve is doing what it can to highlight this issue, while also rolling out cutting-edge charging hubs, improving charging points in existing motorway services – including introducing more disabled charging bays – and also addressing the charging infrastructure needed for HGVs.
We're looking forward to seeing how Gridserve can keep up the good work in the years to come, but in 2025 it's done great things and that's why Gridserve is our Best Charging Network of 2026.
Vicky Parrott, editor of Electrifying.com, said:
"The team at Electrifying.com frequently use the public charging network, and after hundreds of charges across the length and breadth of the UK in 2025, one brand stands out for availability, location, speed and reliability – Gridserve. Drivers expect EV charging to be quick, reliable and convenient, and Gridserve consistently delivers that experience at scale. Crucially, it’s also delivering on its commitments to improve the charging experience on the motorway network, which is key to giving drivers the confidence to go electric. All of that makes Gridserve a deserving winner of our Best Charging Network award."
Best electric van 2026: Kia PV5 Cargo
Did you know we have an Electrifying.com van channel? Of course you did. You're over there all the time, finding out which van will save your company tax and still take a euro pallet, aren't you?! Yeah, we know. Well, we love an electric van, too, and the good news is that electric commercial vehicles have seen a huge improvement over the last year or so, but none show that leap forward in efficiency can value more than this: the Kia PV5 Cargo. And yes, we know we've already given Kia an award – not least for its excellent PV5 Passenger and wheelchair-accessible (WAV) variants.
But the PV5 Cargo is just such a straight-up brilliant van. You can choose from two different batteries offering a WLTP range of up to 154 or 258 miles, you can get a two euro pallets in the cargo bay, and it looks... kind of cool? The Standard and Long Wheelbase versions also have a walk-through option, with a sinking passenger seat and a sliding door, which gives you easy access between the cabin and cargo area if you are doing deliveries. There's even an ‘AddGear’ modular system which is designed to let users customise and upgrade the PV5’s cabin after purchase. It has attachment points which can add extra cupholders, umbrella hooks, tool racks or storage bins wherever they are needed, which is all very clever – and will be really useful for a vehicle that's going to be a daily workhorse.
Added to all of this good, practical stuff, is the fact that the Kia PV5 Cargo massively undercuts rivals like the VW ID.Buzz Cargo and Ford e-Transit. By thousands! So it really is fantastic value, as well as just being a great, sensible and well-considered commercial vehicle. This may be Kia's first electric van, but it's already a winner! The winner of our Best electric van of 2026 award, no less.
Ginny Buckley, editor-in-chief of Electrifying.com, said:
“The Kia PV5 Cargo feels like a proper turning point for electric vans. The brand’s EV know-how from the car world has clearly carried over - this is a van that’s great to drive, smartly designed and built to a high standard. We especially love the modular platform and dedicated factory approach, which cuts out the waste and compromise that so often comes with traditional van conversions. Add in sharp looks and, crucially, an affordable price, and the PV5 Cargo makes electric van ownership feel genuinely attainable. A very deserving Van of the Year."
