Most Popular Electric Cars 2026

Considering buying an electric car, but not sure which one? It can help to understand which electric cars other British motorists are buying right now. To find out which EVs are most popular in the UK, we've dug into the latest registration figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) and the Department for Transport. Here's what we found.

Most Popular EVs in the UK

The Tesla Model Y remained the most popular electric vehicle in the UK throughout 2025, with 24,298 new Tesla Model Y cars registered for the first time over the course of the year.

The second most popular battery EV is the Tesla Model 3 (with 21,188 registrations), followed closely by the rapidly rising Audi Q4 e-tron (14,433 registrations).

While Tesla is still popular, its absolute market dominance is fading. Tesla's overall UK registrations actually fell by roughly 9.6% in 2025 compared to the previous year, dropping its total market share as new competition flooded the market. Fast-growing Chinese brands like BYD have seen massive triple-digit percentage growth, while legacy automakers are successfully launching highly competitive electric SUVs. We expect Tesla's grip on the market to continue to loosen as competition increases from a wide array of alternative battery-electric vehicles like the new Ford Explorer, Skoda Elroq, and Kia EV3.

Interestingly, the EV market has shifted heavily toward mid-sized and compact SUVs, with the BMW i4 and Tesla Model 3 being the only traditional saloons to make a major dent at the top of the charts.

To learn about the cost to insure these different vehicles, read our article on the Cost of Car Insurance for Electric Cars.

Most Popular Tesla Model Y

Which Tesla Model Y trims are most popular? The basic RWD trim (followed closely by the Long Range battery) continues to be the overwhelming favorite. Based on the proportional breakdowns of the 24,298 total units registered in 2025, here is how the trim preferences roughly stack up:

Most Popular Audi Q4 e-tron

Which all-electric Audi Q4 trims are most popular? There are many to choose from, but British buyers overwhelmingly lean towards the S Line and Sport trims. The Q4 E-TRON S LINE 45 and Q4 E-TRON SPORT 45 make up the vast majority of sales. Here are the top trim preferences making up the Q4's 14,433 registrations:

Most Popular Tesla Model 3

Following its recent "Highland" design refresh, which Tesla Model 3 trims are most popular? The basic Model 3 RWD, which is also the most affordable entry point into the brand, remains the most popular by a wide margin.

Most Popular BMW i4

The BMW i4 had a fantastic year, driving much of BMW's EV success in the UK with over 12,000 registrations. The M Sport trims are the undeniable favorites among British buyers. The eDrive35 M Sport (which features a slightly smaller 67kWh battery) and the eDrive40 M Sport (with the larger 80.7kWh battery) make up the lion's share of sales, while the high-performance M50 variant trails behind.