What Car? names its best hybrid and electric cars of 2023

BMW, MG, Mercedes, Porsche and Volkswagen win three awards each, while Reader Award goes to Renault 5

What Car? has revealed the winners of its 2023 Electric Car Awards, which celebrate the UK's best new and used electric cars (EVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) for every budget. 

Now in their fourth year, the awards are designed to help people who are keen to buy an electrified car choose the right model for their needs.

The most successful brands in 2023 were BMW, MG, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and Volkswagen, who each won three What Car? Electric Car Awards across the new and used car categories.

Three cars were deemed the most successful models at this year’s awards: the MG 5 EV, Porsche Taycan and Tesla Model 3 each won two awards. 

The MG 5 was named best electric estate car as both a new and used car, while the Porsche Taycan won best new and used performance car. The Tesla Model 3 took the best new and used executive car awards.

Another notable winner was the Volkswagen ID Buzz, which followed up being named overall What Car? Car of the Year in January by winning best electric MPV. Volkswagen also won best used electric family car for the ID 3 and best used hybrid estate car for the Passat GTE.

The most affordable new electric or hybrid winner at the 2023 What Car? Electric Car Awards was the MG 4 EV SE, which can currently be bought for £26,397 through What Car?’s free online New Car Buying service.

The Renault 5 electric hatchback won the Reader Award, which was decided by a public vote on What Car?’s social media channels, with people asked to choose the upcoming electric model that they are most excited about from a 12-car shortlist.

The best cars overall from across 16 categories will be named at the 2024 What Car? Car of the Year Awards, which will be held at London’s Grosvenor House, Park Lane in January.

See the full list of winners below. 

*2023 What Car? Electric Car Awards winners*

-Electric car winners-

*Electric small car:* Fiat 500 42kWh

*Electric family car:* MG 4 SE

*Electric small SUV: *Smart #1 Premium

*Electric large SUV: *Genesis GV60 RWD Premium

*Electric executive car: *Tesla Model 3 RWD

*Electric estate car: *MG 5 EV SE Long Range

*Electric MPV:* Volkswagen ID Buzz SWB Style

*Electric luxury car: *BMW i7 xDrive60 Excellence Pro

*Electric performance car:* Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo 4S

-Plug-in hybrid winners-

*Hybrid family car: *Audi A3 Sportback 40 TFSIe Sport

*Hybrid small SUV: *Range Rover Evoque P300e S

*Hybrid large SUV:* Mercedes-Benz GLC 300e AMG Line Premium

*Hybrid executive car: *Mercedes-Benz C-Class C300e AMG Line Premium

*Hybrid estate car:* Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate C300e AMG Line Premium Plus

*Hybrid performance car: *Porsche Panamera 4 E-Hybrid

-Used electric and plug-in hybrid winners-

*Used electric small car:* Renault Zoe

*Used electric family car:* Volkswagen ID 3

*Used hybrid family car: *Seat Leon e-hybrid

*Used electric small SUV:* Hyundai Kona Electric

*Used hybrid small SUV: *Mini Countryman Cooper S E All4

*Used electric large SUV: *Skoda Enyaq

*Used hybrid large SUV:* Volvo XC60 T8

*Used electric estate car:* MG 5

*Used hybrid estate car:* Volkswagen Passat GTE Estate

*Used electric executive car: *Tesla Model 3

*Used hybrid executive car: *BMW 3 Series 330e

*Used electric luxury car: *Audi E-tron

*Used electric performance car:* Porsche Taycan 4S

*Used hybrid performance car: *BMW i8

-Special awards-

*Reader Award: *Renault 5