Swap shop: these are the EVs you should replace your car with

If you are looking to replace your combustion-powered car with its electric equivalent, you are spoiled for choice in today's market.

The electric equivalent to the Volkswagen Golf, for example, is the Volkswagen ID 3, while Porsche Panamera owners can always swap to the all-electric Taycan. 

Some cars are even easier to distinguish, because they are sold under the same name. The Peugeot 208 and Vauxhall Corsa, for example, are sold with both combustion and electric power.

Now that there are plenty of electrified versions of well-known and popular cars filling the market, we share some of the best ones that will be a near match to the combustion-powered machines many people are so used to.

Volkswagen Golf - Volkswagen ID 3

If you want all the goodness of a Golf in an electric package then the ID 3 is the best option. In size, the ID 3 is 1cm shorter than the Golf, 2cm wider and 17cm taller — it also gets 10 litres of extra boot space at 385 litres. 

You’ll get a 201bhp electric motor and a choice between a 266-mile 58kWh battery and a 347-mile 77kWh battery. Prices start from £35,700. 

BMW X1 - BMW iX1

If you’re looking to upgrade your X1 to electric spec then the iX1 is a good choice, offering around 260 miles of range at a starting price of £46,205. Apart from the blue trim, the iX1 is very similar in its appearance to the standard X1. Due to its dual motor setup, you lose 50 litres of boot space, with an overall capacity of 490 litres.  

What's more, if you choose the fastest version, 308bhp is fed to all four wheels which means 0-62mph arrives in under six seconds, and it will accept up to 130kW on DC charging, allowing for a 10-80% in just 29min. 

Peugeot 208 – Peugeot e-208

The 208 has been around since 2012, launching in various trims and guises. It wasn’t until 2019 that Peugeot offered its supermini with an electric powertrain aimed at those commuting in towns and cities. There are two choices: a 225-mile 50kWh with 136bhp, and a 248-mile 51kWh with 156bhp. 

It will accept rapid charging up to 100kWh, which means topping it up from 10 to 80% will take just 30min. Dimensions of both the ICE and EV cars are the same and the boot size hasn’t changed at 311 litres.

Smart fortwo - Smart EQ fortwo

While it is no longer on sale, you can still pick up a nearly-new example of the Fortwo for around £15,000.

What's more, if you’re a fan of quirky motoring and can live with an 80-mile range, the EQ Fortwo may be of interest. Like the ICE model, it’s designed with town and city driving in mind, and shares the same dimensions.

Boot space is still 260 litres and power comes from an 82bhp electric motor. There are two trim levels on offer, namely Premium and Exclusive. These trims are based on purely exterior and interior aesthetic changes and make no difference to the mechanical gubbins. 

Audi Q8 – Audi Q8 e-tron

Buyers have a large engine choice when configuring a new Q8, but if you fancy the shift to electric, you’ll need to opt for the E-tron. They look similar, although the E-tron is slightly slimmer, and while the Q8 gives 605 litres of boot space, the e-tron isn’t far behind at 569 litres. Prices start from £68,685 and you can expect a range of around 190 miles in the base '50' guise. 

BMW 4 Series - BMW i4

It’s extraordinary to think that the sleek BMW 4 Series has now been on sale for almost 10 years, and if you’re electrifying your life, the 365-mile i4 may be the option. You get 338bhp fed to the rear wheels which means 0-62mph arrives in 3.8sec.

Find yourself a DC charger and it’ll charge from 10-80% in 32min, accepting up to 180kW. It boasts a 470-litre boot, which is only 10 litres less than the ICE 4 Series GranCoupe. Prices start from just over £50,000.

Mazda CX-30 - Mazda MX-30

The MX-30 shares most of its looks with the CX-30, although the face, rear and sides are slightly different. Whilst the dimensions are very similar, the MX-30 has a smaller boot than the CX-30, measuring 366 litres vs 430 litres. The standard electric MX-30 has a 145bhp motor and 17.8kWh battery, which offers a range of up to 124 miles.

You can get the plug-in hybrid, which is an EV of sorts. The MX-30 R-EV gets a front-mounted electric motor and a 830cc single-rotor petrol engine which keeps the energy topped up. Mazda says it can do 53-miles on electric power.

Peugeot 2008 - Peugeot e-2008

If extra space is a priority for you, and you don’t want to compromise, the e-2008 might be something to consider, as it offers the same dimensions as the 2008 and a cargo area of 434 litres. Prices kick off at around £36,000, a £12,000 difference over the ICE model, but for that you get a 54kWh battery, 156bhp and a reasonable electric range of around 201 miles. 

Mini Cooper S - Mini Electric

Despite the electric Mini having nearly the same power as a Cooper S – 181bhp – it’s 145kg heavier, but you still get a sub-7.0sec 0-62mph time.

Mini claims that it will manage 145 miles on a single charge, and it even has a handy calculator on its website where you can input your commute mileage and it’ll tell you how often you need to charge and how much you’ll save.

Fiat 500 - Fiat 500e

Both the fossil fuel and the electric 500s share the same look, and with the EV you’ll get up to 203 miles if you buy the range-topping 118bhp version. Spend a little less and you can have the 118-mile 95bhp car.

Switching to the EV version will not result in a change of dimensions versus the standard 500, and that includes boot space, which comes in at 182 litres. 

BMW 5 Series - BMW i5

Continuing BMW’s electrified range, the i5 costs from £51,000 while the hot, 593bhp M60 model starts from £97,745. The entry-level version still gets 340bhp, however, and comes in rear-wheel drive layout with a claimed range of between 312 and 357 miles. Charging from 10-80% via a DC charger takes just 30min.

The ICE 5 Series cars get a 520-litre cargo area, whereas the i5 ones fall slightly short at 490 litres. 

Nissan Qashqai – Nissan Ariya

Nissan may be working on an electric Qashqai, but for now people can go for one with hybrid power or just get the sharply-styled Ariya. If you go for the two-wheel drive car, you’ll get 466 litres in the boot, whereas in the four-wheel drive that drops to 408 litres. The 63kWh is claimed to return 250 miles, but if you opt for the range-topping model with the larger 87kWh battery, range is increased to 329 miles.

BMW X3 - BMW iX3

It first arrived in 2020 alongside various other electrified BMWs and its shape remains the same as the original car with the addition of a blank grill and a few blue accents. It matches the power of the xDrive30d although it’s slightly slower from 0-62mph due to weight and it lacks four-wheel drive. 

Inside, things are quite similar, but the iX3 loses 40 litres versus the X3, taking it to 510 litres. The 80kWh battery is claimed to give 280 miles of range and it’ll charge from 10-80% from a fast charger in around 30 minutes. 

Volkswagen Tiguan - Volkswagen ID 4

Need something like a Tiguan but all-electric? Then the ID 4 may be a good choice with its similar dimensions and larger 543-litre boot. Prices start from £38,845, and for that you get a 52kWh battery which offers a range of 223 miles and a 146bhp electric motor.

If you need further range, you’ll need to spend an extra £5760 for the Life Edition which gives 172bhp and a 328-mile range. 

Volvo XC40 – Volvo XC40 Recharge

In standard form, the XC40 is a mild hybrid, while the all-electric Recharge offers a 295-mile range. Volvo hasn’t sacrificed much in terms of boot space, with the Recharge presenting 419 litres in comparison to the petrol car’s 452 litres. Buyers can choose from two options: a 238bhp rear-wheel drive single motor and a 408bhp all-wheel drive dual motor. Opt for the twin motor and your range also shoots up to 333 miles. 

Renault Megane - Renault Megane E-Tech

It may look longer in its proportions than the 2021 Megane, but the E-Tech is 164mm shorter, although it is wider by 180mm; boot space is also up from 308 litres to 440 litres. There are three models to choose from: the entry-level Equilibre, mid-rung Techno and the top-spec Iconic.

All three have the same 280-mile range and 220bhp electric motor. The price reflects how much extra tech and how many additional shiny bits are added. 

Jeep Renegade – Jeep Avenger

The Avenger sits just below the Renegade and is slightly smaller all round as a result, although it does have a larger 355-litre boot. The entry-level car starts from around £36,000 in Longitude trim, which offers 248 miles of range. Next is the £37,000 Altitude model which offers up to 244 miles of range. Topping the Avenger range is the Summit, which can travel up to 245 miles of range. All cars use a 156bhp motor. 

Smart forfour – Smart #1

While the #1 is considerably larger than a forfour, you still get the four-seater Smart experience and a bigger 273-litre boot. It will offer up to 273 miles on a single charge and accept a 150kW DC charger. There are three to choose from, all of which offer the same range and power but with additional tech: the entry-level Pro +, the mid-rung Premium and the range-topping Brabus. 

Citroën C4 – Citroën e-C4

Redesigned for its third generation, the C4 morphed into a coupe-like SUV and made its return with a 380-litre boot, the same capacity also found in the e-C4. 

Prices for the electrified variant start from £31,995, with the standard 50kWh model offering 134bhp and up to 219 miles of range. Since the car launched, Citroen has added a larger 54kWh battery model to its line-up, which offers up to 260 miles of range and 154bhp. 

Volkswagen Transporter – Volkswagen ID Buzz

If we’re honest, the Volkswagen ID Buzz could replace a number of other VW models, including both the Transporter and Touran MPV. The retro-inspired ID Buzz offers up to 1121 litres of boot space, which is 984 litres more than the VW Touran. There are two tech-level options to choose from: the £58,915 Life and the £63,715 Style — both offer a 294-mile range and 404lb ft.