Though the electric vehicle segment is often seen as one of the go-to areas when it comes to efficiency and eco-friendliness, you’d be surprised at how many EVs deliver in the area of performance, too.
With instant torque availability and the potential for some serious acceleration, there are a number of EVs on sale today that take the fight to combustion-engined performance cars. Let’s take a look at some of the best.
Porsche Taycan
You know that when Porsche turns its attention to a new type of car it doesn’t do things by halves. That’s definitely the case with the Taycan, which arrived as the firm’s first foray into performance electric cars.
Somehow Porsche has managed to infuse this new EV with the same excellent driving characteristics that you’d associate with its traditional sports cars but with that all-important electric powertrain. It’s brutally fast, too, regardless of which specification you go for.
Audi e-tron GT
Audi’s e-tron GT shares a platform with the Taycan, but it goes about things a little different. In tip-top RS specification it’s still hugely fast, but has been designed to be a little more comfortable and supple than the Porsche.
It does, however, look the part with a really futuristic design helping it to stand out from the crowd. Its innovative interior looks and feels great, too.
Volvo XC40 Recharge
You might not expect a high-riding SUV to feature on a list of performance cars, but that’s the case for Volvo’s XC40 Recharge. With its twin-motor setup kicking out 402bhp, this Volvo will go from 0-60mph in just 4.7 seconds.
But it’s also practical and features a spacious, well-made cabin, so it’s something of an all-rounder, too.
CUPRA Born
CUPRA’s first standalone electric car - the Born - might share a platform with the Volkswagen ID.3, but it is different from its electric cousin in a number of ways. Most prominently, it takes a more focused, driver-led approach, with sharp handling and really direct steering.
It feels very sporty to drive, too, while a 7.1-second 0-60mph time is very respectable.
Volkswagen ID.4 GTX
Volkswagen has introduced the GTX nameplate as a way of transferring some of the sporty intent from its GTI range of cars into its electric vehicles. The ID.4 is the first car to wear the new badging and features a range of tweaks over the standard version as a result.
With a dual-motor setup, its six-second 0-60mph time is close to the same as the Golf GTI’s, though with four-wheel-drive you could argue that the ID.4 is even more capable.
Jaguar I-Pace
Jaguar broke new ground with the I-Pace and was one of the first manufacturers to really tap into the flourishing EV market. Though it has been around for a little while now it’s no less impressive thanks to a futuristic interior and a quiet, refined driving experience.
Despite this comfort-led approach, it’ll still manage zero to 60mph in just 4.5 seconds, which is quick enough to scare a lot of petrol-powered cars away from the lights.
