By Craig Hale
Last updated: 6 February 2025
To spend the least time (and money) at an electric vehicle (EV) charger, you’ll want to find the most efficient electric car that suits you for space, performance and features.
Apart from their promise to remove tailpipe emissions, electric cars are usually some of the cheapest on the roads to run. That’s not to say that they’re all as cheap as each other, though.
The efficiency of electric cars is most commonly measured in miles per kilowatt hour (mi/kWh) – and like miles per gallon (mpg), the higher the mi/kWh, the better.
Lots of things affect better mi/kWh (and EV efficiency), but it often comes down to size, weight and aerodynamics.
That’s why lots of the cars on our list are on the smaller end of the scale, but we have included some family-friendly crossovers and a saloon to cater to everyone’s tastes.
Keep reading to find your perfect efficient EV.
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What’s the most efficient EV?
Fiat 500e (4.8 mi/kWh)
Tesla Model 3 (4.7 mi/kWh)
Dacia Spring (4.7 mi/kWh)
MINI Cooper Electric (4.5 mi/kWh)
Vauxhall Corsa Electric (4.4 mi/kWh)
MINI Aceman (4.4 mi/kWh)
Renault 5 (4.3 mi/kWh)
Kia EV3 (4.2 mi/kWh)
The most efficient electric cars – miles per kWh
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Fiat 500e
Our pick: Fiat 500e Action
Efficiency: Up to 4.8 mi/kWh
The Fiat 500 is an iconic car known for being light and efficient. And the electric model adds a whole new meaning to efficiency without compromising on retro styling.
Its compact size makes it ideal for towns and cities, but you don’t miss out on features. All 500e trims get rear parking sensors, push-button start and a digital instrument cluster as standard.
It’s the light 23.8kWh battery with a 115-mile range that makes the Fiat 500e so efficient (4.8 mi/kWh), but if you need more range, the 42kWh model still achieves a very impressive 4.4 mi/kWh for up to 199 miles.
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Tesla Model 3
Our pick: Tesla Model 3 RWD
Efficiency: Up to 4.7 mi/kWh
Every version of the Tesla Model 3 impresses across the board, and its slippery styling helps it meet on-paper efficiency figures in the real world.
Find a facelifted model introduced in late 2023 (called ‘Highland’ by Tesla), and you could see up to 4.7 mi/kWh for 318 miles of range from the standard rear-wheel-drive variant. It drops to 4.4-4.6 mi/kWh for Long Range versions, which are a tad heavier but get an extra 118 miles of range (436 miles total).
All Model 3s come loaded to the roof with tech controlled by the famous 15.4-inch touchscreen display, from Tesla Autopilot to built-in games to play while at a Supercharger.
There’s only one ‘trim’ level of the Model 3, so they all get the same kick (barring some software upgrades). And if you go for the Highland, you’ll get heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats and a heated steering wheel.
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Dacia Spring
Our pick: Dacia Spring Extreme Electric 65
Efficiency: Up to 4.7 mi/kWh
Electric cars can seem flashy and expensive, and many drivers wish there were more budget-friendly options. Enter the Dacia Spring, which went on sale in late 2024 in the UK with a starting price of under £15,000.
You won’t feel short-changed because every model has a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system, cruise control, air-con and rear parking sensors.
The 26.8kWh battery is good for up to 142 miles of range – perfect for the city and hard to beat at that price. Take your pick between a 45hp motor and a 65hp motor.
We’d take the most powerful because it’s quicker and more efficient. A win-win.
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MINI Cooper Electric
Our pick: MINI Cooper E Sport
Efficiency: Up to 4.5 mi/kWh
Another classic design, the MINI Cooper Electric is a fun-to-drive supermini with go-kart-like handling and impressive performance. It’s especially in its electric form where the motor spins up quickly for instant throttle response.
The most affordable Cooper E is the most efficient – its 40.7kWh battery is good for a 185-mile range. It’s also only 0.6 seconds slower than the Cooper SE, which has a larger battery that makes the car slightly less efficient (4.4 mi/kWh and 247-mile range).
In our testing, we didn’t feel too much to separate their performance, so the Cooper E is a great pick.
As ever, there’s endless customisation, including Classic, Sport and Exclusive trim levels and Level 1, 2 and 3 packs to add more kit. We also still can’t get over how good that circular infotainment screen looks.
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Vauxhall Corsa Electric
Our pick: Vauxhall Corsa Electric 51kWh Ultimate
Efficiency: Up to 4.4 mi/kWh
It might’ve been around for a while now, but the Vauxhall Corsa is a family favourite, often appearing in the top 10 most popular cars – new and used.
While some EVs are designed to look different, there’s very little to visually separate the Corsa Electric (formerly Corsa-e) from the petrol-powered Corsa. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
As you’d expect from Vauxhall’s iconic little city car, it’s incredibly easy to drive, with light controls and compact dimensions.
The newer 51kWh battery (251-mile range) is the most efficient, rated at 4.4 mi/kWh, which is 0.4 mi/kWh better than the 50kWh version (221-mile range).
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MINI Aceman
Our pick: MINI Aceman SE Sport
Efficiency: Up to 4.4 mi/kWh
The Aceman is a brand-new model for MINI, designed to fit in between the Cooper supermini and the Countryman crossover. It’s a compact crossover somewhere between a supermini and a hatchback, complete with funky plastic cladding and great for families outgrowing a smaller car.
It handles just as well as the Cooper, and while it may not be quite as fast, it’s still no slouch. Especially if you go for the 258hp John Cooper Works model. Even that one is rated to do 4.3 mi/kWh (if you drive it carefully).
It’s your choice whether you go for the 42.5kWh battery or the bigger 54.2kWh unit, with ranges of 192 and 251 miles, respectively. Both will get 4.4 mi/kWh.
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Renault 5
Our pick: Renault 5 techno 150hp
Efficiency: Up to 4.3 mi/kWh
Who doesn’t love the trend of car brands bringing back (or keeping alive) retro classics? Well, here’s another one for you. Taking inspiration from the original Renault 5 Turbo, there isn't much else that looks as unique as the Renault 5.
This cracking little car is also part of the reason Renault was our brand of the year in 2024.
With a bargain price of under £23,000 (when it launched in December 2024) and the equally impressive running costs of an efficient EV, our favourite feature has to be the optional baguette holder simply because no other car has one.
For us, it has to be the 150hp 52kWh model because it has the best blend of performance and range. It’ll do 4.1 mi/kWh for 253 miles to the slower model’s 4.3 mi/kWh with a 193-mile range.
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Kia EV3
Our pick: Kia EV3 GT-Line
Efficiency: Up to 4.2 mi/kWh
Building on the success of the brilliant EV6 crossover and just-as-good EV9 seven-seat SUV, Kia brings us the EV3. Value, a long list of standard kit and a super-efficient design, all in a nice and compact form.
It also has one of the longest ranges of any small EV, giving larger and much pricier models a run for their money with up to 375 miles from the 81.4kWh battery version.
Whether you pick the bigger battery or the cheaper 58.3kWh unit (capable of up to 270 miles), the EV3 is rated at 4.2 mi/kWh.
What’s miles per kWh?
Miles per kWh (sometimes written mi/kWh or mpkWh) measures how many miles a car will travel for each kilowatt (kWh) of electricity.
Chances are you’re already familiar with miles per gallon (mpg), and this is basically just the electric version.
In short, the higher the number, the better. A car that will do more than 4.0 mi/kWh is generally considered to be efficient, with many pushing 5.0 mi/kWh.
By contrast, large SUVs and luxury models might be closer to 2.0 mi/kWh.
How is 'miles per kWh' calculated?
The efficiency of any car, electric or not, will be tested under the WLTP (Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicles Test Procedure, for long) procedure, which includes a relatively short drive measured across a range of speeds. It’s around 14.5 miles over 30 minutes.
WLTP replaced NEDC (New European Driving Cycle) testing in 2019 and is considerably more life-like. In our experience with many of these EVs, we were able to come close to, meet or even exceed official figures.
What affects electric driving efficiency?
The same factors that affect efficiency in petrol and diesel cars also affect electric cars – the biggest is how you drive, which means acceleration and speed. Pulling off more gently and reducing your speed is typically greener.
However, EVs are also affected by cold weather. Cooler temperatures make the systems work harder because the battery becomes less efficient.
Heating the cabin consumes a lot of energy, so maintaining a toasty temperature in the winter will come at the cost of efficiency.
This is why many modern EVs have heated seats and even heated steering wheels – heating a small surface is more efficient than warming up the air.
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How can I get the best out of my EV?
To maximise your EV’s efficiency, consider accelerating less harshly. You can use ‘eco’ drive modes to tame the throttle response and regenerative braking to get some of the energy back when you slow down.
To stop the cabin heater from having to use too much of the battery, try reducing the temperature slightly and prioritising heated seats over heated air.
Most EVs can also be controlled via an app, so warm the car up while it’s on charge before you depart to maintain more charge.
Discover used electric cars for sale
Choosing the right EV means balancing your budget, range requirements and preferences for style or size, and focusing on efficiency will get you the most value for money. After all, a car is usually our second biggest purchase after a house.
Whether you’re drawn to the retro charm of the Fiat 500e or the tech-packed Tesla Model 3, there’s an efficient EV to suit every driver’s needs.
By understanding miles per kWh and adopting eco-conscious driving habits, you can maximise your car’s potential.
However efficient you need your EV to be, we have a wide selection of top-class used electric cars available to browse.
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