8 best EVs to lease in 2021

The last few years have truly seen the popularity of electric vehicles (EVs) surge in the UK. 

With more choice, better technology, less noise, faster acceleration and lower running costs, it’s no wonder the rEVolution is gaining momentum.

If you’re looking to make the jump to all-electric driving in 2021, here are our top picks for best EVs to lease to suit a variety of budgets.

Tesla Model 3

The Tesla Model 3 is the smallest EV in the Tesla family, but has become one of the most desirable since it’s launch. 

Part of the appeal comes from the name, but the subtly futuristic looks both inside and out capture the imagination. Its large front windscreen gives way to a tinted panoramic roof, all of which serves to make the cabin feel light, modern and airy. 

Inside it’s futuristic and minimalistic. Think vast, clean space with a dominating touchscreen through which almost everything in the car is controlled (and it even has arcade games to pass the time). 

It also boasts an impressive selection of safety features, from forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking to blind spot collision warning and red light recognition.

This standard model has a range of 254 miles, a top speed of 140mph and takes 5.3 seconds to reach 62mph. 

And as it’s a Tesla, it means you can use the company’s network of Superchargers allowing you to charge 80% of the battery in around 30 minutes. That alone makes it one of the best EVs to lease.

Hyundai Kona Electric

The all-electric version of Hyundai’s mid-size SUV; the Kona, is efficient, provides seamlessly smooth performance and is roomy enough for the whole family. 

It’s a great looking EV, even if it comes with slightly more unusual styling than its counterparts. 

Sporting a chunky off-road air, it manages to look sleek while athletic due to its slim lines and low mounted headlights. 

The Kona Electric is a genuinely nippy vehicle for its size, reaching 62mph in just seven seconds. 

You’ll also be able to a lot of ground without frequent charging too, thanks to a range of 260 miles. 

The SUV comes with plenty of kit as standard, including a large 10.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, smartphone mirroring, self-steering and adaptive cruise control. 

Volkswagen ID.3

The Volkswagen ID.3 was the company’s first real foray into the world of all-electric. It’’s called ‘3’ as the brand insinuates it’s the third chapter – behind the Beetle and Golf. 

But it’s not too far behind those two greats, and it continues their legacy of being simple, fun to drive with good styling.

As is expected from electric cars, the ID.3’s interior is minimal and clutter-free, with an emphasis on tech. However, in true Germanic style, it’s practical rather than for show. 

A digital pod lies directly behind the steering wheel showing you speed, range and sat-nav directions, while there’s a gear selector to the side.

Its rear-wheel-drive combined with Volkswagen’s typically accurate handling makes the ID.3 both agile and fun. 

It’s fast too, whisking you from 0-62mph in 7.3 seconds. And with an official range of up to 263, it’s also extremely practical to live with.

BMW i3

The i3 is BMW’s premium, all-electric small car. Rather than shoehorn electricity into an existing model, the brand has built it on a bespoke platform making it entirely functional, great to drive and, as you’d expect from BMW, highly efficient.

Design-wise, it has all the familiarity of a BMW, however, it looks more energetic and modern.

Looks aside, the i3 is a joy behind the wheel. with a top speed of 99mph, it can hit 62mph in 6.9 seconds. Not blistering but certainly no slouch in its class. 

As it’s constructed from carbon fibre and clad in plastic panels, it’s also incredibly light, making the steering nimble and direct to ensure you get as much from the range as possible.

For the most part, the i3 will be at home in the city. A small boot capacity and a range of up to 160 miles suggest it’s not one for those who spend their weekdays cruising the motorways.

But it’s truly cost-effective to run, fun to manoeuvre and, naturally, ideal for those looking for a more eco-friendly lifestyle. 

Audi e-tron

If you’re in the market for something comfortable and spacious that doesn’t lose on performance or looks, the Audi e-tron is well worth a punt.

It’s a superb luxury car, lavishly built inside and out. Audi’s renowned for the quality of its cars, and the e-tron is no exception. It’s a car to relax in – with electrically adjustable front seats, four-way lumbar support and a memory function on the driver’s side. 

There’s a dual touchscreen layout – the 12.3-inch virtual cockpit behind the steering wheel and a 10.1-inch infotainment screen – which is all surrounded by soft-touch plastics, glossy trims and leathers.

Usually, Audis are a refined drive. But add an electric powertrain, and it’s both sublimely quiet and quick, managing 0-60mph in just 6.8sec. 

With a range of 198 miles, it’s not the best in its class, but the e-tron more than makes up for it in other areas. 

Nissan Leaf

As one of the first electric cars to market, the Nissal Leaf is the crafty veteran of this list and a great all-rounder. 

It’s easy to drive, particularly around towns and cities, comfortable, and comes with a range that’s decent enough to appeal to many drivers. 

Its popularity hinges on the fact it’s a user-friendly vehicle, big enough to be suitable for families and comes with a good level of kit for the price. 

And considering it’s one of the more affordable cars in the EV world, it has a good amount of tech with a subtly futuristic interior featuring regenerative braking and forward collision warning.

This 62kWh battery model is pretty powerful – managing a 0-62mph time in 6.9 seconds and with an official range of 239 miles.

Porsche Taycan

At the very luxury end of the spectrum of best EVs to lease, the Porsche Taycan is not only an eye-catcher to drive, it’s unlike anything else.   

An EV designed to not compromise on Porsche’s iconic appearance, it offers unparalleled interior quality and stands apart from the others as a benchmark of what luxury EVs should be. 

As standard, there are 19-inch wheels and a heat pump that conditions the battery to ensure maximum range. 

Inside, as you’d expect, the quality is impeccable. With three sleek large touchscreens, you’re surrounded by everything you need at your fingertips; from your speed, navigation instructions and entertainment. 

Renault Zoe

The Renault Zoe is a smart, practical and cost-effective supermini that’s incredibly affordable with a decent range to boot. That’s why it’s one of the more sensible EVs to lease.

As you might expect from an all-electric vehicle, the Renault Zoe is smooth and quiet to drive. And drive you can, with the Zoe offering 245 miles in the 52kWh battery model. 

Naturally, the Zoe’s size makes it ideal for city driving, but it’s the range, refinement and comfort that makes it just as ideal for those longer journeys.

It’s surprisingly spacious too. The cabin is light and airy with clear touchscreen displays that are user-friendly and packed full of driver aids such as cruise control and slow speed pedestrian warning. 

The boot is impressively big for a supermini too, boasting a 338-litre capacity.