The best new EVs coming in 2026: Top 10 most anticipated electric cars

EV Powered’s pick of the most exciting new electric models coming in the next 12 months – from city cars to luxury saloons

2025 was a great year for EVs. Not only did we see dozens of great new cars coming to market but they brought fresh variety across a huge number of segments – from affordable superminis to astonishing supercars.

And the great news is that 2026 looks set to be just as good, if not even better. We’ve got the return of some famous names and the arrival of some exciting brand new ones too. There’s more than 70 new models slated to arrive in the next 12 months but here we’ve rounded up the 10 that the EV Powered team are most excited to see.

Renault Twingo

We’ve already had a sneak peek at the new Renault Twingo, which has just whetted our appetite for this revived city car. Set to arrive in late 2026, it is an all-new, all-electric reimagining of Renault’s innovation A-segment car. Its looks are a tribute to the cute frog-like original but, like the original, they’re balanced with clever design to maximise interior space and bring modern technology. A 27.5kWh battery should give 163 miles of range and an 82bhp motor feels well-suited for city use, while prices from around £17,000 mean the Twingo will help make EVs more accessible than ever before. Renault’s revival of other models such as the Renault 5 has been a huge success and we’re expecting similar things from the Twingo.

Subaru E-Outback

We’re making no apologies for looking forward to this car. Everyone likes Subaru but the brand hasn’t had the easiest start to its EV journey. The Solterra has struggled to find its feet for various reasons but the E-Outback might just fix that. Not only does it bring electrification to a familiar name but it also goes back to Subaru’s speciality – slightly rugged 4×4 estate cars. Based on the same platform as the Solterra and the Toyota bZ4X Tourer, the E-Outback promises a jacked-up ride height, all-wheel-drive from a 375bhp two-motor powertrain and a dedicated X-Mode for off-road duties. It will also do 0-62mph in 4.4 seconds and cover up to 279 miles on a charge of its 74.7kWh battery.

Cupra Raval

The Cupra Raval is another car EV Powered has had early access to and the initial signs are really promising. The Raval is the first in four B-segment cars from the VW Group and lays the groundwork for the VW ID.Polo hatchback as well as the VW ID.Cross and Skoda Epiq crossovers. It’s also the most exciting, bringing Cupra’s sporty flair to the small hatchback segment. With up to 223bhp and bespoke sports steering and suspension, the VZ Extreme promises true hot hatch engagement and drives brilliantly, while even lesser “Dynamic” models will pack 207bhp and up to 279 miles of range. And with pricing from £26,000, it could give the Renault 5 a run for its money.

Kia EV2

Kia continues to impress with its expanding electric line-up and we’re expecting that to continue into 2026 with the EV2. Predictably the smaller sibling to the EV3 SUV, this compact crossover is due to debut in January, bringing a new entry-point to Kia’s EV range and going head to head with the Renault 4. Concept images show a boxy design inspired by the much larger EV9 and we expect the final car to look very similar. Tech specs are under wraps. We know this smallest Kia EV is based on the same platform as the EV3 but we expect a less powerful motor and smaller battery that that car’s 201bhp/58kWh pairing. It will also be Kia’s most affordable EV yet, with prices expected to start at under £25,000.

Alpine A390

Alpine’s engineers have already proved that they know their onions with the A290 – a nicely spiced up version of the Renault 5. But for 2026 they’ve been given free rein with the A390, Alpine’s first bespoke EV. Positioned as a rival to the Porsche Macan, the A390 is Alpine’s biggest car – a five-seat coupe-SUV, but the French brand promises it will still deliver the deft, agile feel of cars like the A110. Equipped with a tri-motor arrangement, the A390 will produce up to 464bhp and sprint from 0-62mph in 3.9 seconds. It will also feature trick torque vectoring and carefully tuned suspension and steering for that traditionally Alpine driving experience.

BMW i3

The BMW i3 is perhaps the most significant car on this list. It is the first all-electric version of the firm’s iconic 3 Series and is, therefore, hugely important. It’s based on the all-new, EV-specific Neue Klasse architecture and promises to be smaller, more efficient and more high-tech than the existing i4 electric saloon. Like the new iX3, this four-door saloon is expected to offer up to 463bhp, all-wheel-drive and 500 miles of range from a massive 107kWh battery. It’ll also bring some of the fastest charging around, at 400kW. Cheaper single-motor variants could appear later on and we’re expected a full-bore electric M3 at some point to put cars like the BYD Seal 3.8 and Tesla Model 3 Performance firmly in their place.

Honda Super-N

Honda is another brand that’s struggled with its early EV attempts. The Honda e was innovative, stylish and cursed with a woeful range and ludicrous price, while the e:Ny1 is the definition of automotive mediocrity. But the Super-N promises something new. It’s based on the N-One e – a Japanese-market kei car. That means it’s a tiny 3.4m by 1.48m, ideal for the UK’s crowded cities and positioned to challenge the Renault Twingo. A 63bhp motor is enhanced with simulated gearshifts and a boost mode, while a 29.3kWh battery should give around 150 miles of range. A chunky bodykit gives it a youthful sporty look and if Honda can get the pricing right, the Super-N could bring a whole new audience to the brand.

Peugeot E-208 GTI

Peugeot has said that it is going to stay true to the GTI badge’s roots with its next generation of EVs. So, no GTI SUVs, instead the first car to wear the famous badge will be the compact e-208. Beneath the sharp design with its purposefully aggressive body kit and beefed up alloys, the E-208 GTI uses the same spicy running gear as the Abarth 600e and Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce. That means a 276bhp motor and a Torsen mechanical LSD. It also means bespoke sports suspension and steering calibration. We’ve been blown away by how good this setup is in taller SUVs, so we can’t wait to see what the lower, lighter hatchback can do with it.

Jaguar Type 00

Perhaps the most controversial EV revelation of recent years, the Jaguar Type 00 is the car designed to relaunch the British brand as an all-out luxury proposition. The Type 00’s staggering looks have divided opinions almost as much as the associated marketing campaign, but there’s no denying that it has got people talking about Jaguar again. The Type 00 is a concept and the as-yet-unnamed production version will tone things down but we can’t wait to see how the final four-seat grand tourer turns out. Jaguar is predicting close to 500 miles of range, and charging that will add 200 miles in 15 minutes. We’re also expecting more than 600bhp and a six-figure price tag.

Smart #2

The Smart #2 marks a return to familiar territory for Smart. Once famous for tiny city cars, its electric era has seen it focus on larger premium-tinged SUVs. But in 2026 it’s going back to its roots with another tiny city-focused EV. The #2 will be a simple two-seater urban runabout and early indications are its design will echo the famous Fortwo’s short boxy looks. Technical details are scarce, but Smart says the #2 will bring “cutting edge” technology never before seen in its segment. We’re expecting a significant improvement over the old ForTwo EQ’s 99-mile range and would expect the #2 to provide a slightly more upmarket alternative to affordable A-segment models like the Twingo and its inbound Nissan twin.