The best electric sports cars 2024
You needn’t pick a petrol car if you want maximum driver thrills; the market for electric sports cars is hotting up
For over 100 years, sports cars have inspired and excited many generations of petrolheads, and today the best electric sports cars continue that tradition. These are cars that focus on driver enjoyment, combining thrilling performance, cutting-edge technology, instant acceleration from their electric motors. Notably, electric sports cars also deliver environmental and running costs benefits compared to their petrol-powered cousins.
Traditionally we’ve thought of sports cars as coming in the familiar coupe, convertible or roadster bodystyles but these days more electric hot hatchbacks and fast four-doors are coming onto the market, offering exhilarating driving experiences and we’ve included some of them in our list below. So, don’t be deterred by the presence of five seats or a larger boot; our list highlights the very best electric sports cars available today and should contain something for everyone.
Best electric sports cars on sale now
Below you’ll find the best electric sports cars selected by our team of expert road testers. If you're looking for an EV for road trips but you are worried about the range, then take a look at our list of the top 10 longest range electric cars.
1. Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
- Prices from £65,000
- Maximum WLTP combined range: 278 miles
Many electric cars offer insane zero to sixty times and mega horsepower but few are as much fun round corners as the numbers suggest. While the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N has an impressive 3.4-second 0-62mph time, it really stands out on a twisty road as well.
Hyundai has applied a new electronic suspension setup and an electronic limited-slip differential to the Ioniq 5 N, as well as stiffening up the chassis in several places which allows the car to really attack bends.
The dual motor four-wheel drive setup combines 223bhp at the front and 378bhp at the rear to create a 601bhp rocket with 740Nm of torque that can carry you to a top speed of 161mph.
It’s not all about performance though, when you're done hammering the car down the back roads, the hot Ioniq 5 is practical too with 480-litres of boot space. The range is a competitive 278 miles if you drive sensibly and charging is easy too, on a rapid charge it should achieve a 0-80 per-cent charge in 18 minutes.
Read our full Hyundai Ioniq 5 N review to find out more.
2. Porsche Taycan
- Prices from £87,145
- Maximum WLTP combined range: 421 miles
It should come as little surprise that the Porsche Taycan sits high on our list of the best electric sports cars as the boffins at Stuttgart have managed to channel much of what makes the iconic 911 great into a more practical, zero emissions four-door coupe. With direct steering that’s brimming with feel, as well as tight body control and plenty of grip, you can use the Taycan to attack a twisty B-road just like any other Porsche sports car.
The Taycan lineup ranges from speedy to utterly supersonic, but we think the lighter rear-wheel-drive base model should offer sufficient driving thrills for most. If you’re looking to scorch a supercar at the lights, take a look at the Taycan Turbo GT with its immense 1,020bhp powertrain and 2.2-second 0-62mph time.
This may sound impressive, but partner this with a luxurious and tech-filled interior (you can get the Taycan with up to six individual screens) and the electric Porsche seems to have no compromises – other than its high price. Need space for the whole family? You can also get it with a raised ride height and a big estate boot, in Cross Turismo form.
Read our full Porsche Taycan review to find out more.
3. Tesla Model 3 Performance
- Prices from £59,990
- Maximum WLTP combined range: 328 miles
It might be stretching the definition of a sports car somewhat but the latest Tesla Model 3 Performance definitely earns its spot in this list. The latest iteration of the fast Model 3 has much improved dynamics over the previous model thanks to the updated aerodynamics and suspension, making it dynamically one of the most compelling Teslas yet.
It has a dual-motor powertrain that produces a combined 453bhp, a top speed of 163mph and flies from 0-60mph in 2.9 seconds. Using the Tesla daily is no hardship, the range is a competitive 328 miles and it has a huge 594-litres of boot space. Charging should be easier than most EVs given that Tesla operates one of the biggest charging networks in the UK, finding a charger should be a child's play, plus the Model 3 Performance should charge from 10-80 per cent in an estimated 30 minutes using a rapid charger.
Read our full Tesla Model 3 Performance review to find out more.
4. BMW i4
- Prices from £70,900
- Maximum WLTP combined range: 373 miles
If you’re sensing something of a trend for four-door rocket ships here, that’s no coincidence. Understandably, the market for fast family cars is more extensive than it is for sleek two-seaters, and manufacturers know that. As such, many are shovelling R&D funds into models that can double as practical hatchbacks; the coupe and convertible equivalents will come later down the line.
And yet, the latest BMW i4 feels every bit as entertaining as the petrol-powered 3 Series and 4 Series models. With 536bhp and 795Nm of torque, the M50 sprints from 0-62mph in 3.9 seconds, and thanks to its dual motors and typical BMW driving dynamics, more than justifies its M-car badging. It should be easy to live with, thanks to a big 470-litre boot and large 81kWh battery capable of – BMW says – up to 373 miles of range.
Read our full BMW i4 review to find out more.
5. Audi e-tron GT
- Prices from £87,415
- Maximum WLTP combined range: 368 miles
The Audi e-tron GT is the brand’s alternative to the Porsche Taycan – and it’s a close rival, since the two cars share a platform and plenty of parts. The only real reason it sits further down this list is down to choice: the Porsche offers multiple battery and motor options, plus three distinct body styles.
The Audi is only available as a four-door saloon, in e-tron GT and RS e-tron GT guises – with the latter boasting 845bhp and the ability to accelerate from 0-62mph in 2.8 seconds when launch control is activated. Technology such as four-wheel steering and adaptive suspension means it handles well, with very little body lean and loads of grip. Plus it’s comfortable over bumps even in the stiffer Dynamic driving mode. Plush and luxurious, but great to drive on a twisty road, the e-tron is an impressive all-rounder.
Read our full Audi e-tron GT review to find out more.
6. Maserati GranTurismo Folgore
- Prices from £178,330
- Maximum WLTP combined range: 279 miles
The only true two-door coupe on this list, the Maserati GranTurismo Folgore forgoes the old model’s sonorous V8 engine and replaces it with a comparatively sterile, but undeniably ballistic electric powertrain. With three motors working together, the electric GranTurismo produces 750bhp, enough to catapult it all the way to a top speed of 199mph. It’s not all about straightline performance, though; the GranTurismo Folgore hugs the curves like a true rear-drive sports car – despite being four-wheel-drive – and remains comfortable all the while.
On the inside, the GranTurismo is as beautifully-appointed as you’d expect from a Maserati, with sumptuous Italian leather and a snazzy digital clock on the dashboard – much like on the forthcoming Maserati Grecale Folgore. At a standstill, the electric Maserati features a digitised V8 rumble – on the outside as well as the inside – although this fades away as you start driving; we’ll let you decide whether this is a positive or a negative thing.
Read our sister publication's full review of the Maserati GranTurismo Folgore.
7. MG Cyberster
- Prices from £54,995
- Maximum WLTP combined range: 316 miles
The MG Cyberster is arguably the most traditional sports car on our list, the two-door roadster is sleek, aggressively styled and doesn’t lack in wow-factor with its scissor-doors. The great news is that the Cyberster is way more than just a pretty face. The top of the range Cyberster has a 0-62mph time of 3.2 seconds and 503bhp which places the MG as a direct rival to some high profile performance car models.
Taking the MG on road trips should be fairly simple, the most powerful model has a range of 276 miles and the entry-level model holds an increased range of 316 miles due to the less powerful motors. The Cyberster has been quoted as being capable of a 0-80 per-cent charge in as little as 38 minutes on a DC rapid charger. As the MG is a roadster, boot space is understandably limited to 249-litres, that should be enough for a couple of weekend bags but nothing significantly more than that.
Read our full MG Cyberster review to find out more.
8. Abarth 500e
- Prices from £34,195
- Maximum WLTP combined range: 163 miles
The Abarth 595 has long been a top choice for those looking for a fun pocket rocket, and the new Abarth 500e continues this trend into the electric age. Based on one of our favourite city EVs, the Fiat 500e, the Abarth gets a more powerful 152bhp motor to get it from 0-62mph in seven seconds – although it feels quite a bit faster at low speeds thanks to the instant torque. Quick and darty steering is another Abarth hallmark and this remains for the 500e; the suspension, while firm, makes the car feel composed at higher speeds, while there's plenty of response from the Abarth’s uprated brakes.
On the inside, the Abarth gets a grippier Alcantara steering wheel, as well as a pair of bucket seats. Perhaps the Abarth’s most unique – and controversial – feature is its sound generator, which plays a synthesised version of the old car’s Record Monza exhaust through the interior and exterior speakers. This may seem a bit garish for some, but we think it suits the 500e’s cheeky nature.
Read our full Abarth 500e review to find out more.
9. Cupra Born
- Prices from £35,495
- Maximum WLTP combined range: 335 miles
By far the most restrained model in this list, but no less fun to drive, the Cupra Born is a sportier alternative to the Volkswagen ID.3. Equipped with a racier bodykit and more rose gold accents than a branch of Pandora, the Cupra Born has a slightly stiffer suspension setup than the VW, lending itself to a sportier drive. Its steering is heavier, too, while the rear-wheel-drive layout makes the Cupra drive more like a sports car than a traditional, front-driven hot hatch.
There are several versions of the Cupra Born to choose from, but if you’re after entertainment, the 321bhp VZ e-Boost model will deliver the most thrills, getting you from 0-62mph in a nippy 5.6 seconds – or even less when specified alongside the smaller of the two available battery sizes. Cash-conscious buyers should also check out the entry-level V1 model as this is still pretty fun to drive and represents good value with its 339-mile range and generous kit list.
Read our full Cupra Born review to find out more.
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