Here you have our selection of electric vehicles that shine in the exercise of long trips. To be successful, you need to combine substantial autonomy, minimal consumption, and high-performance fast charging power.
TOP 3 of the best electric cars for long trips
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After examining many vehicles on our long benchmark runs, it’s time to take stock. Today we are going to highlight the best electric cars for long trips, focusing on two aspects: the duration of the trip and the costs associated with this trip.
Of course, a vehicle with a long range and a large battery means a vehicle with a high price tag, so we’ll also recommend a third option, the one that makes the most sense in terms of cost of purchase.
If you are looking for an electric vehicle, do not hesitate to consult our guide to the best electric cars for less than 30,000 euros, the best electric cars for less than 45,000 euros, or our guide to the best electric cars for less than 60,000 euros. Of course, our complete guide to electric cars is also available.
Our various electric car buying guides will help you find the one that interests you the most:
Summary tables of the best cars.
Below you will find the tables from our files where we simulate large reference trips by electric car, with a column indicating the number of kWh consumed. This is a bit the equivalent to the fuel consumption in liters of a thermal car. The lower this figure, the less electricity the car will consume and, therefore, the less expensive long trips will be.
| Vehicle | energy consumed | Winter trip charging time | Total travel time in winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla model S | 181 kWh | 33 minutes | 7:55 a.m. |
| Skoda Enyaq iV Coupe 60 | 193 kWh | 1 hour 46 minutes | 9:04 a.m. |
| Skoda Enyak iV 80 | 196 kWh | 1 hour 18 minutes | 8h33m |
| Tesla Model 3 Propulsion | 201 kWh | 1 hour 42 minutes | 9:16 a.m. |
| Tesla Model S Plaid | 204 kWh | 42 minutes | 8h5min |
| Tesla Model 3 Long Range | 208 kWh | 1 hour 02 minutes | 8h27 |
| Hyundai Kona 64 kWh | 209 kWh | 2h24min | 10:01 a.m. |
| Tesla Model Y Propulsion | 215 kWh | 1 hour 46 minutes | 9:42 a.m. |
| mercedes benz eqs | 216 kWh | 50 minutes | 8:03 a.m. |
| bmw i4 | 218 kWh | 1 hour 32 minutes | 9:08 a.m. |
| Renault Megane e-tech EV60 | 218 kWh | 2h12min | 9:49 a.m. |
| Peugeot e-208 | 224 kWh | 2h 49min | 10:59 a.m. |
| MG MG4 | 226 kWh | 2h23min | 10:02 a.m. |
| EV6 58 kWh | 228 kWh | 1hr 54min | 9:59 a.m. |
| EV6 77 kWh | 233 kWh | 1 hour 14 minutes | 8h 54min |
| hyundai ioniq 5 | 247 kWh | 1hr 29min | 9:14 a.m. |
| VW ID. Buzz | 284 kWh | 2h04min | 9:41 a.m. |
As you can see, on our winter reference route, the best electric cars consume around 200 kWh, when those that consume the most energy require 25% more. At an average rate of €0.70 per kWh, this amounts to €140 at best and €175 at worst.
| Vehicle | energy consumed | Summer trip loading time | Total summer travel time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla Model 3 Propulsion | 100 kWh | 31 minutes | 5h09m |
| Tesla model S | 101 kWh | 9 minutes | 4h 47min |
| bmw i4 | 103 kWh | 22 – 37 minutes | 5h11min |
| Tesla Model Y Propulsion | 103 kWh | 34 minutes | 5h30min |
| Tesla Model 3 Long Range | 104 kWh | 13 – 25 minutes | 4h 56min |
| Skoda Enyaq iV Coupe 60 | 110 kWh | 42 minutes | 5h19m |
| Hyundai Kona 64 kWh | 111 kWh | 58 minutes | 5h47min |
| Skoda Enyak iV 80 | 111 kWh | 27 minutes | 5h01min |
| Tesla Model S Plaid | 116 kWh | 14 minutes | 4h 52min |
| mercedes benz eqs | 117 kWh | 14 minutes | 4h 48min |
| Renault Megane e-tech EV60 | 117 kWh | 56 minutes | 5h 40min |
| EV6 58 kWh | 120 kWh | 38 – 43 minutes | 5h30min |
| MG MG4 64 kWh | 121 kWh | 49 minutes | 5h 39min |
| Peugeot e-208 | 121 kWh | 1 hour 13 minutes | 6h09m |
| EV6 77 kWh | 124 kWh | 26 minutes | 5h07min |
| hyundai ioniq 5 | 132 kWh | 36 minutes | 5h16min |
| VW ID. Buzz | 154 kWh | 48 minutes | 5h 37min |
On our summer reference route, it takes approximately 100 to 130 kWh to cover 530 kilometres. In terms of costs, with an average of 0.70 euros per kWh, this means a price of between 70 and 90 euros.
8 /10
- the fastest of all
- exceptional comfort
- very fast charging
Available in €135,850 in Mercedes
On long journeys, nothing gets you faster these days than the Mercedes EQS. Combine all the best to shine in this exercise: a great battery, controlled consumption and excellent fast charging power. In addition, it holds the first position of the moment in our main reference routes, both in summer and winter.
Of course, all of that sells, and the EQS is a vehicle to be reserved for the broader grants. The Mercedes catalog shows a starting price of around 125,000 euros, and it flies higher than expected depending on the options selected. However, using its 108 kWh battery, it has a WLTP range of up to 783 kilometers in its most efficient configuration.
Its air penetration coefficient is one of the lowest on the market, which ensures that it optimizes its consumption, even at high speed. Finally, with its 210 kW charging power, a 10 – 80% charge takes just 30 minutes, which is impressive considering the size of the battery. For those with no budget limit, it is clear that the Mercedes EQS is unbeatable.
- Dimensions (L x W x H) : 5216mm x 1926mm x 1512mm
- price : from 125,350 euros
- battery capacity : 108 kWh
- WLTP autonomy : 571 to 783 kilometers
Be warned though, we haven’t included another electric car made for long drives here: the Tesla Model S Plaid. This authentic “Supercar” that accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.1 seconds can compete with the Mercedes EQS for 1,000 kilometers, of course, but there is an even better vehicle in Tesla, which is currently not marketed in Europe. This is the Tesla Model S, in the basic versionand we’ll be sure to let you know when it arrives.
9 /10
- controlled consumption
- Excellent autonomy
- fast charge
Available in €52,990 in Tesla
Tesla’s strength lies in its ability to offer electric vehicles with impressive performance while maintaining honorable consumption. This is of course the case with the Tesla Model 3 Grande Autonomie, which shows excellent results in the exercise of long trips.
In fact, with a battery of almost 80 kWh, its WLTP autonomy reaches more than 600 kilometers, which allows it to cover long distances between two charges. In addition, fast charging at a maximum power of 250 kW ensures that you don’t have to charge for a long time before hitting the road again several hundred kilometers.
The Tesla Model 3 Long Range has been one of the most popular long-distance vehicles since its arrival in Europe at the beginning of 2019. The network of Tesla Superchargers is now well established, making it possible to cross France without any problems. Be careful though, Tesla’s pricing policy is such that the price of its vehicles can sometimes be less attractive than at other times.
- Dimensions (L x W x H) : 4694mm x 1849mm x 1443mm
- price : from 62,490 euros
- battery capacity : 78kWh
- WLTP autonomy : 602 to 626 kilometers
Let’s go EV6
The 800 volt battery to the rescue
8 /10
- Very very very fast charging
- An unusual design
- good habitability
Available in €47,990 at Kia
The Kia EV6 has been awarded several times throughout 2022, and for good reason: it is one of the champions of fast charging, thanks in particular to its 800-volt architecture. In fact, where most manufacturers use a battery with a voltage of 400 volts, the Korean manufacturer has chosen to innovate to allow much faster charging.
it’s just like that 18 minutes in optimal conditions it takes the Kia EV6 to go from 0 to 80% battery. This advantage in fast charging allows you to compensate for its negative point, which is its consumption. During long highway trips, this Kia EV6 is very hungry for electrons, which can sometimes cost more than expected.
However, with a starting price below 52,000 euros, the Kia EV6 and its 77 kWh battery ensure long journeys without the slightest difficulty. Range on the WLTP cycle peaks at 528 kilometers, which remains below some competitors. It still gets taken out of the game thanks to its hard to match charge power. As long as you connect to a compatible terminal, otherwise the charging speed will be a little slower.
- Dimensions (L x W x H) : 4,695mm x 1,890mm x 1,550mm
- price : from 51,990 euros
- battery capacity : 77 kWh
- WLTP autonomy : 504 to 528 kilometers
What are the important criteria for long trips?
During long trips, you have to take into account different criteria to make sure everything goes smoothly. Of course, the route planning it is a first step, to verify that the considered vehicle corresponds to your needs in terms of travel time and number of stops.
The consumption It is a parameter to be well integrated into the calculations, since two cars of a similar price in the end do not reach the same price when one of the two requires much more charge during the journey than the other.
The reload speed As for that, you also have to take this into account, in particular to check that the stops do not creep while they are connected. On this topic, we compared several vehicles with the same range in the WLTP cycle to highlight the importance of fast charging.
Lastly, note that the worst enemy of the autonomy of an electric car is still speed. Reducing cruising speed from 130 to 110 km/h can sometimes save the day, while also being more economical and environmentally friendly.
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