Feature 11 min read
Top 22 electric cars coming in 2023
It’s that time again – another year down and we’re looking forward to the new EVs coming out in 2023. There’s a plethora of them, too, offering something for almost everyone including brand new cars and new versions of EVs already available.
We’re going to stick to new models or derivatives coming out in 2023, though many existing EVs are being upgraded for this model year, or due for a revamp as the year progresses.
Abarth 500e
Sporty Fiats from Abarth have been popular since the tuning house turned brand in its own right started playing with 500s again in 2008. Its first EV is more of the same – a faster, more dynamic and aggressive looking 500e. Due in the summer, it’ll come with 152bhp and 173lb-ft providing rapid on-the-move acceleration. Tightened up suspension and aggressive body styling add to the dynamism, whilst a 42kWh battery ensures the 500e isn’t too portly.
Aiways U5
Set to launch this year in the UK and more widely in Europe, the U5 is a mid-sized electric SUV from China and the brand’s first meaningful foray into a western market. At 4680mm long and 1800mm tall, with a 63kWh battery offering 250 miles of range, it’ll enter a crowded market. How it’ll distinguish itself remains to be seen, but a predicted asking price of £35k is a good start. It’s destined to reach here in late summer.
BMW i7
BMW’s next 7 Series will only be available with a plug here in the UK – both PHEV and EVs being the options available to us. There’s little reason to mourn; the PHEV still gets a turbocharged straight-six plus an electric motor for a total of between 490hp and 571hp depending on the version. Plus it’ll do 50 miles in EV mode. Plump for the EV and you’ll be getting a 544hp, dual motor powerhouse with a range of up to 388 miles thanks to a 101.7kWh battery.
BMW i5
Later in the year we are expecting BMW to launch the electric version of the 5 Series, set to go head-to-head with equivalent executive saloons from Mercedes. We don’t know much about it yet, but reports suggest that it will stay true to BMW’s pursuit of dynamic superiority thanks to a smaller battery, effectively trading range for better driving characteristics. Expect rear drive and all-wheel drive variants with the latter getting well north of 500bhp.
BYD Atto 3
Another mid-sized SUV from China, the BYD Attto was meant to hit these shores before the end of 2022, but it’s now due this year. It’ll be competition for the Aiways and more established MG ZS EV, offering 201bhp and 261 miles of range thanks to a 60.4kWh battery. Styling-wise, it isn’t going to set the world on fire, but once again, value is the name of the game with prices expected to start from around £32k.
Citroën ë-C4 X
A sort-of crossover version of the regular ë-C4, the X will be on sale in February. What it gains over the normal hatch is space, being 24cm longer and offering 198mm of leg room in the back and 100 more litres of boot space. Otherwise, the high levels of comfort and equipment are simply carried over from the hatch.
Fisker Ocean
Fisker’s first European EV will be – you guessed it – a mid-sized SUV. Called the Ocean and the brainchild of Henrik Fisker, it will span the gap between cars like the Hyundai Kona Electric, Kia Niro EV, BMW iX3 and Audi Q4 e-trons of this world. Made of sustainable materials with a circular economy in mind, as well as being well specified tech-wise, it’ll get 275bhp as standard with a range of up to 350 miles on big battery versions. Up to 540bhp could also be available with a dual motor variant. Due in autumn this year, prices are mooted to start at £35k.
Ford E-Tourneo Custom
The E-Tourneo Custom is Ford’s first proper electric MPV, offering plenty of practicality and space as well as a car-like driving experience. It’ll seat up to eight and will be available in standard or long wheelbase form. Moving it away from being a van with seats are some nice interior touches such as the B&O sound system and digital instrument cluster. Underneath, a 74kWh battery and 215bhp motor make it good for 230 miles, whilst 125kW charging means 80 per cent can be had in around 40 minutes. It’s due in autumn this year.
Hyundai IONQ 6
An exciting EV for those who want a saloon with one of the best electric platforms out there, the IONIQ 6 has cars like the Tesla Model 3 firmly in its sights. Up to 380 miles via a 77kWh battery and sleek aero combined with up to 320bhp and charging up to 350kW, the IONIQ 6 has it all. It also gets Hyundai’s high levels of standard kit, plus plenty of room within the ‘cocoon-inspired’ interior. It isn’t cheap, however, with prices starting at £46,745 for rear-drive cars.
Jeep Avenger
Jeep’s first EV will be called the Avenger and was launched at the tail end of last year. A small SUV, it is very similar powertrain-wise to Stellantis group stablemate, the Vauxhall Mokka-e. This means 156bhp and 54kWh, offering up around 240 miles of range on a good day. Despite being front-wheel drive only, Jeep has still tried to talk up the car’s off-road abilities and has optimistically given it mud and sand driving modes. Infotainment will be familiar to anyone who’s driven a Vauxhall recently, but it does come with plenty of kit, and deliveries will start in the summer.
Kia EV9
The Kia EV9 is set to be the brand’s flagship when it launches at the end of the year. It will bring bold new styling in a form not far off the size of a Range Rover, with a 3100mm wheelbase offering limousine-like space inside. It’ll be running an extended version of Hyundai/Kia’s E-GMP platform, though we’re yet to gain details of the power and battery size(s) on offer.
Lexus RZ 450e
Lexus’s second EV after the ux 300e is an all-round more accomplished affair – on paper at least – thanks to a larger battery of 71.4kWh and DIRECT 4 all-wheel drive with 308bhp. It shares much with the Toyota bZ4X, which isn’t a bad thing, and should manage 250 miles to a charge. They’ll be comfortable miles, too, thanks to Lexus’s traditional comfort and luxury, complemented by some nice tech such as drive-by-wire steering, a digital cockpit and 14 inch infotainment. Deliveries are due to begin early this year with prices starting at £66,500.
Lotus Eletre
If you’ve got £90k burning a hole in your pocket and want a Lotus which is neither small nor light, the Eletre ‘Hyper SUV’ is the car for you. You’ll get at least 603bhp, available in the base spec dual motor version, or 905bhp if you go for the full-fat Eletre R. Because who doesn’t need an SUV which can do 0-62mph in 2.95 seconds? A 112kWh battery offers up to 373 miles of range and there’s a huge array of tech powered by Unreal Engine – a super-powerful gaming engine. It’ll hit the roads in the summer.
Lucid Air
US start-up, Lucid, is gunning for the likes of Mercedes, Audi and even Porsche with its debut car – the Air. A luxurious four-door saloon, in Ultimate form it gets over 1000bhp, whilst the longest range version will do well over 500 miles on a charge thanks to an 113kWh battery. There’s loads of tech and some classy design features, too, with a 34 inch wraparound glass cockpit and Level 3 (hands off) autonomous driving available. Opt for twin rear seats and passengers can recline to 55 degrees. It’s due to arrive in late summer with prices TBC, but expected to start at around £70k.
Maserati GranTurismo Folgore
Maserati’s next-gen GranTurismo will be available as an EV thanks to the ‘Folgore’ (lightning) variant. Fortunately, it looks almost identical to the petrol powered versions, but underneath it has a tri-motor setup delivering 751bhp and knocking out 62mph in less than three seconds. A 92.5kWh adds mass to the equation, making the GT somewhat plumper than its ICE counterparts at 2260kg vs 1795kg, but Maserati has played with the suspension to help negate the added mass. We don’t know much about the tech it comes with just yet, but it’s due in the summer from around £200,000. A Grancabrio drop-top should join it later in the year.
Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV
Want an E Class but with less dynamic abilities? The SUV version might be the car for you. Economics and the popularity of SUVs compared to saloons have driven Merc in this direction, and for your £90+k you’ll be able to choose from a 350 version with 288bhp and depending on whether you go with two of all-wheel drive, 417lb-ft or 564lb-ft; a 500 version with 402bhp/633lb-ft; or an AMG version with 687bhp. The 90.6kWh battery offers as much as 366 miles on a charge, whilst Merc’s latest MBUX and hyperscreen dashboard take care of the interior interface. It’s due in early spring this year.
Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV
Like the EQE SUV but based on the larger EQS, this car offers much the same luxury but on a grander scale. You can even get it as a seven seater. A gargantuan 107.8kWh battery and power from 355bhp to 536bhp mean driving ranges of between 333 miles and 315 miles. Merc reckons you can squeeze over 400 miles from the lower powered versions, too. Exterior styling follows Merc’s EQ design language and once again, MBUX and hyperscreen tech is the dish of the day inside. Prices start at almost £130k and it arrives shortly after the EQE SUV this spring.
Polestar 3
Polestar’s first SUV, the 3 heralds a new era for the brand in terms of design and tech – moving it away from its Volvo roots, albeit still sharing tech and knowhow. Power comes from a dual motor setup and as standard, sits at 483bhp. In long range guise, a 111kWh battery enables almost 380 miles to a charge and can be juiced at 250kW. Slightly smaller than a Range Rover in size, the exterior design is all new, whilst there’s now a smorgasbord of tech helping with the driving and living experience. Prices start at £79,900 and deliveries are set for late this year.
Rolls Royce Spectre
Royce’s first EV, the Spectre is the beginning of a new era which will eventually see the brand offer only EVs by 2030. Externally, it’s classic Rolls Royce; massive, at 5453mm long and 2080mm wide, and with a huge 3210mm wheelbase, it’ll offer vast levels of luxury for the occupants. A ‘magic carpet’ ride concept and 700kg of sound-deadening battery will help. Power is up there, too, with 577bhp on offer, and whilst the battery size is unconfirmed, we calculated that to offer the 323 miles of range, it’ll have 111kWh. Prices start from £300k and deliveries begin in the autumn.
smart #1
Joining the mid-sized SUV battleground is previous purveyor of city cars, smart. Its first departure from shoebox sized cars is called the #1 and the divergence from its previous core business is being driven by its Chinese owners. A funky design, ‘halo’ roof and slippery 0.29 drag coefficient help it stand out, whilst the 268bhp motor and 270 mile range put it right in the mix with rivals. A more powerful Brabus model will also be made available, with 422bhp, when it goes on sale in the summer.
Vauxhall Astra Electric
Vauxhall’s ever-popular C-segment hatch is going EV, and more excitingly, so is the Sports Tourer estate version, offering more space than most SUVs but without adding height. There are no surprises in the powertrain department, getting Stellantis’s standard 153bhp/54kWh package for up to 258 miles on a charge. Similarly, the tech and design inside is straight off the shelf from the group, but that’s no bad thing these days. It’s due on the road late this year with prices still to be confirmed.
Volkswagen ID.7
Fresh from its debut at the CES show in Las Vegas, the VW ID.7 will add an electric saloon to VW’s range. Speaking of range, advanced aerodynamics and a powertrain of as-yet unknown power or battery size will offer up to 435 miles to a charge. We’re pretty certain that the common-or-garden versions will share much with the current MEB platform-based ID range, so think 77kWh battery and 201bp, It’s due out on the road later in the year.
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