Top 10 Best electric sports cars 2022

Some of the fastest cars on the planet are now powered by electricity. These are the best ones right now, along with the most anticipated

You might wonder what, in this relatively new world of high-performance motoring, enthusiasts with bottomless pockets should set their sights on.

Wonder no more, because here are our 10 favourite ultra-EVs, ranging from historic conversions to cutting-edge hypercars to simply very well-sorted driver’s cars that don’t actually break the bank. There's even the odd off-roader in this list, too.

Of course, the scenery in this portion of the car world is constantly shifting. Some of these cars you can drive today, while others are only currently available to order. One or two might be even a little further away than that, but they’ve all got potential – realised or otherwise – and give us something to get excited about.  

*Top 10 Best Electric Sports cars*

-1. Porsche Taycan-

Porsche has hit the electric car market with exactly the sort of impact you’d hope that an industry powerhouse of its stature might make. 

The Taycan is a four-door fast grand tourer that’s slightly smaller than the company’s existing Panamera model but is certainly not the lesser car of the two. In fact, it’s no stretch to say that Porsche has infused its first electric car with all the hallmarks of its best mid-engined efforts, and the Taycan possesses fine body control, rare balance, superbly calibrated operating controls and palpable steering precision. That the car rides extremely well on its air suspension only adds to its appeal and was a key factor in our decision to award the Taycan the full five stars after an exhaustive road test.  

There are now several models in the range, although the best elements of the package are evident even in the 532bhp 4S, which despite its entry-level status is still supercar-grade accelerative. The top-ranking Turbo S musters 751bhp, costs almost £140,000 and is surely one of the quickest real-world cars on the planet, especially when you factor in its 2.6 second 0-60mph time. There are also Sport Turismo and Cross Turismo versions, which add estate and off-road flavours respectively to the Taycan recipe.

However, our money (quite a large chunk of it in fairness) would go on the 590bhp GTS, which combines more than enough poke with suspension settings designed to delight keen drivers.

*Save money with new Taycan deals from What Car?*

-2. Audi RS E-tron GT-

The first electric car to wear Audi’s RS initials is, deep down, the Porsche Taycan in a different suit. It uses the same powerful electric motors – one per axle – and the same three-chamber air suspension and, of course, the underlying architecture is shared. As such, the battery pack is also carried over, meaning a WLTP range of up to 285 miles with the potential for 350kW ultra-rapid charging. 

What this all means is that, firstly, the RS E-tron is enormously quick. In fact, the flagship version develops 612lb ft and 637bhp and will accelerate to 62mph in comfortably less than 3.5sec.  

Better still, the RS E-tron handles well, albeit not with quite the same level of panache and engagement as its Porsche cousin, particularly in terms of steering. Yet it’s not far off, and the trade-off is a more relaxed gait than the Taycan when you’re mooching, which considering the refinement benefits of an EV makes the Audi an equally appealing proposition.   

-3. Lotus Evija-

All the recent Lotus headlines have been about the Emira, the British brand's pretty much all-new Porsche Cayman-chasing sports car. Yet this machine is also being heralded as the firm's last to feature an internal combustion engine, with future models favouring ultra-rapid charging over unleaded. The first hint of what we can expect has already been given by the Evija, an all-electric hypercar that's been knocking around for a couple of years, but customers will have to wait until early 2023 before deliveries of the limited run of 130 cars begins.

The bald statistics are somewhat mind-numbing. Lotus itself was recently surprised to find that the car’s four motors together deliver 2011bhp, rather than the 1973bhp previously quoted. That will act against 1680kg, which is relatively light in EV terms, and so performance will feel like freefall, we imagine. Actual performance figures are thin on the ground, but Lotus expects a sub two seconds time for the 0-62mph sprint and a top speed the naughty side of 200mph. Oh, and there's also talk of an attempt on the Nurburgring EV lap record, which given the Evija's low(ish) weight and incredible power should be a foregone conclusion.

That said, Lotus is tuning the car for handling and dynamism more than raw statistics, and so the power delivery is said to crescendo, rather like any naturally aspirated engine would. Just how much the Evija bottles traditional Lotus traits remains to be seen, but if any of the upcoming electric hypercars can truly appeal as a driver’s car, Hethel’s effort is probably our best bet.    

-4. Rimac C_Two-

You may not have heard of Rimac (equally, if not, how?), but if you want to understand the stature this young and innovative company has already gained in the automotive industry, consider the following: Porsche took a 10% stake in the Croatian business in 2018, then increased that to 16% in 2019, and then in 2021, Rimac acquired Bugatti, wish is one big fish to land.

The C_Two is the follow-up to the Concept One, which in 2017 was arguably the first machine to kick-start the electric hypercar trend, with its 1073bhp output and £670,000 asking price. Just 150 examples will be made – almost all of which are apparently spoken for. It's appeal has only been enhanced by many by its recent record-breaking EV top speed run, when it topped 256mph. 

The hardware is compelling, if somewhat eye-watering. The car is built around a composite tub, and there’s an electric motor for each wheel, with independent single-speed gearboxes at the front and two two-speed dual-clutch ’boxes for the back axle. The aim is to ensure the C_Two can make the most of its 1888bhp and, more important, its mountainous 1696lb ft. 

With double-wishbone suspension, torque vectoring, and the potential for level four autonomous driving, the car has the works. Just don’t expect it to be cheap.

-5. Pininfarina Battista-

Much like the relationship between the Porsche Taycan and the Audi RS E-tron GT, the Pininfarina Battista shares much hardware (and software) with the Rimac C_Two but will present as the more outwardly luxurious, more GT-oriented machine of the pair.

In the metal (and carbon fibre, obvs) the Battista is beautifully wrought, both inside and out, and largely Italianate, despite the fact that the company is now based in Munich and the parent company – Mahindra Group – is Indian. The engineers and trimmers themselves, however, include alumni from Pagani and the Mercedes-AMG Project One hypercar. 

On the move the car is sensational, as you’d expect with 1900bhp, 1696lb ft, 0-186mph in less than 12sec, 217mph all out and an asking price of around £2 million. Yet there’s more to it than the raw numbers, because the Pinninfarina handles with delicacy and poise too, feeling every bit as thrilling through the corners and it does down the straights. It even manage to squuze a smile from our normally inscrutable Editor at Large, Matt Prior, when he sampled it on track, which says a lot about the Battista's considerable abilities.

-6. BMW i4-

BMW is no stranger to electrified sports cars, its ill-fated i8 plug-in hybrid combining daring supercar looks with a powerful hi-tech powertrain and a genuinely entertaining driving experience. However, the i4 is the firm’s first stab and a proper high performance all-electric machine - and it’s not a bad effort.

Unlike the i3 and iX, the i4 isn’t built on a bespoke EV platform, but instead uses a version of the firm’s CLAR architecture (in essence, this is an electrified 4 Series). There’s an entry-level rear-drive eDrive40 model that’s brisk enough, but for true bar room bragging rights you need the M50, which features a twin-motor set-up that packs a hefty 536bhp punch for a M4-baiting 0-62mph time of 3.9 seconds.

Despite a kerbweight that’s 300kg the wrong side of two tonnes, the BMW handles with surprising agility and control, its powerful motors and clever software allowing some tail happy action if you’re in the mood. It’s not as fun as an M4 Competition, but it feels just as fast and what it lacks in outright poise and precision it gains in comfort and refinement. 

As a first attempt at a fully electric driver’s car, the M50 is pretty much on target, but bear in mind that the cheaper and slower (but lighter and with less adhesive tyres) eDrive40 actually has the sweeter and more approachable handling balance, plus it will go further on a charge at 367 miles .

-7. Kia EV6 GT-

You probably weren't expecting to find a Kia in this list, but the Korean firm has been on a mission to shift perceptions recently. It started a few years ago with the now defunct Stinger GT-S, an upmarket four-door coupe that packed a thumping V6 engine and expressive rear-wheel drive handling, but it’s the brand’s warm embrace of electrification that will allow it to really make its high performance mark.

The rakish EV6 has already impressed in its cooking versions, with good looks, plenty of pace and  biddable handling making it a surprisingly satisfying steer. So expectations for the flagship GT model are understandably high - not surprising when you consider the specification. The raw stats show that it’s twin motor set-up (one at the front and another at the back for four-wheel drive) packs 577bhp and 546lb ft, which makes it good for a 0-62mph time of 3.5 seconds and a 161mph top speed. And thanks to its 77.4kWh battery, it can travel a claimed 263 miles on a charge, while 800 volt architecture means ultra rapid charging is on the menu.

There have also been chassis tweaks, with an enhanced GT mode delivering more focussed damper settings at the touch of a button, as well as the fulll 577bhp. Overall it feels surprisingly light on its feet, with quick steering strong grip and, of course, a devastating turn of speed, while the Drift Mode is hilarious - although the wild angles of dangle it induces means it's best not deployed on the road. Only when pushed to the limit does the Kia feel a little ragged as it struggles to contain its SUVish height and not inconsiderable mass.

However, where the Kia really scores is in its value for money. On paper its £62,645 asking price looks a little steep, but few cars come close to matching the quirky-looking Korean machine's performance per pound offering.

-8. Ford Mustang Mach-E GT-

There are many out there still reeling at Ford’s decision to smack the famous pony logo and Mustang badge on the rump of an all-electric SUV. Yet these are the times we’re living in and, like it or not, the resulting car is actually pretty good, pouring distinctive style, a strong range and decent practicality into a car that’s got just enough the Blue Oval’s trademark chassis magic to keep drivers interested.

Curiously, the flagship GT version probably isn’t the most satisfying of the lot to steer, but it is the quickest and, in some respects, most exciting. A twin motor set-up delivers a healthy 480bhp, which is very Mustang-like and helps it gallop from 0-62mph in drag-strip quick 4.4 seconds. Clever tuning of the electronics also means there’s some muscle car-style tail-happy action if you’re in the mood, it’s just a shame the rest of the time the car isn’t quite as fun-loving. 

There’s decent composure there, but the steering is inconsistent and the hefty kerbweight of more than two tonnes takes its toll when you’re looking for quick direction changes. Then the there’s the price, which at the best part of £70,000 is writing premium-sized cheques its well-equipped but rather cheaply finished cabin can’t cash, especially when cars such as the Kia EV6 offer even more for quite a bit less.

-9. Tesla Roadster-

Of course we couldn't have a list of electric cars without including Tesla. In fairness, in terms of performance most of its current line-up could secure a place in this rundown, but for sports car appeal the Roadster has to get the nod, even if it seems like the 2+2 drop top might never arrive. Already around four years behind schedule, bosses have recently confirmed that production will finally start in July 2023, although given we've been here a few times before it might be wise to take this claim with a pinch of salt.

Until then we've only got Tesla's claimed figures to go on and, on paper, the Roadster does look like it could be one of the most exciting EVs yet. Exact power figures aren't available, but the tri-motor set-up is similar to that used in the Model S Plaid, which delivers a heady 1006bhp - and given that the brand claims the Roadster will rocket from standstill to 60mph in 1.9 seconds and onto a top speed of 250mph, then this sort of muscle seems about right. Arguably even more impressive is the claimed range of 620 miles, which puts it ahead of cars such as the Mercedes EQS that packs a vast battery in excess of 100kWh.

Again, details on pricing are sketchy, but Tesla reckons the Roadster will cost around £189,000 when it goes on sale in the UK. That sounds a lot in isolation, but given it'll rival cars in this list that'll cost ten times as much, it could be considered a bargain. When we finally drive an example, expect it to rise closer to the top of this list.

-10. Aspark Owl-

You know the drill. The Aspark Owl costs £2.5 million, accelerates to 60mph in 1.7sec and generates just under 2000bhp from four electric motors. Assuming you don’t ask for that level of performance on the exit of every corner, range is also said to be around 280 miles. 

As for provenance, the slipper-esque Owl is Japanese in principle but is being built at Manifattura Automobili Torino in Turin. Italy. Deliveries of the 50 cars to me made were scheduled for early in 2021, but customers are still waiting in 2022. When the time does arrive, owners won’t merely have one of the fastest street-legal cars in the world in their possession but also one that will never have to pay multi-storey car park fees. From the tread blocks of its tyres to the top of its composite roof, the Owl is a barrier-limboing 99cm tall.