In this special end-of-year episode, Matt and George look back at whatโs been aย genuinely strong year for new electric cars, with more variety than ever โ fromย sub-ยฃ20k city carsย toย ยฃ200k grand tourers, plus a clear shift towardsย hot hatches, sensible family EVs, and more capable 4x4s.
They agree that 2025 marked a real turning point for the โaffordable EVโ story: the best new cars no longer feel cheap because theyโre compromised โ theyโre simply well engineered, well packaged, and increasinglyย easy to live with.
Mattโs overall EV of the year is theย Renault 5, praised as the complete package: stylish, practical enough, properly affordable, and crucially, a car that appeals both to nostalgic older buyers and younger drivers who just think it looks brilliant.
Georgeโs top pick is theย Skoda Elroq vRS, which he calls the perfect โgrown-up fast EVโ โ quick, comfortable, composed, and usable without feeling like a try-hard performance car. It nails that Skoda vRS sweet spot:ย spice without aggression.
Matt also admits theย updated Tesla Model Yย deserves its place on the list, describing it as Teslaโs most complete car yet โ better built, more refined, and finally feeling as solid as rivals. He still canโt stand the stripped-back interior, but says the drivetrain, charging ecosystem and real-world range are simply hard to argue with.
A big talking point is how much strong EV progress came from brands people donโt always associate with electric excellence. Theย Citroรซn รซ-C3ย gets major praise for beingย shockingly comfortable, simple to use, and outstanding value โ especially once the EV grant pushes it under ยฃ20k.
They also celebrate Nissanโs return to relevance with theย new Leaf, which blends usability and normality with much more modern range and efficiency โ helping bring Nissan โback into the EV gameโ. Theย Micraย also makes the cut, even if itโs โbasically a Renault 5โ underneath โ because borrowing from the best is no bad thing, and it gives Nissan loyalists a strong, familiar route into EVs.
On the performance side, George rates theย Alfa Romeo Junior Veloceย as one of the yearโs best drives โ flawed, not especially efficient, but properly engaging and proof that Stellantis can build genuinely fun EVs. Kiaโsย EV4ย also earns its place as the โelectric Golf-shapedโ car many buyers actually want: spacious, sensible, easy, and quietly brilliant.
And for something totally different, Matt highlights theย Munro M280, a niche but hugely impressive Scottish-built off-road EV designed to be a rugged work tool for forestry, utilities and remote industrial use โ a reminder that electrification isnโt just about family SUVs and hot hatches.
Across the list, the theme is clear:ย EVs are becoming easier, cheaper and more varied, without sacrificing range or quality. Whether you want something fun, sensible, luxurious or purely functional, 2025 proved the EV market is finally broad enough to feelโฆ normal.