Camilla Jessen
Owners rate best and worst electric cars.
A new survey has shed light on how electric cars are really performing once they hit the road.
British motoring magazine What Car? surveyed around 10,000 electric car owners to assess which models are the most and least reliable. The study focused on faults reported during ownership and how serious those problems proved to be.
According to the magazine, the results point to major differences in build quality and software stability across brands as electric cars become more widespread in early 2026.
Kia leads rankings
Topping the list of the most reliable electric cars is the new Kia EV3. Owners reported very few faults during the model’s first year on the road.
That performance stands out because new models often suffer from early technical issues. In this case, owners said they experienced almost no problems.
Tesla surprise
Tesla also performed better than many expected.
Both the Model Y and Model 3 ranked highly in the survey, despite the brand often facing criticism over build quality.
Owners said that when problems did arise, they were usually minor issues involving electronics or brakes rather than major mechanical failures.
Overall, respondents expressed satisfaction with Tesla’s reliability compared with several rivals.
Volkswagen disappoints
At the other end of the scale sits one of the most popular electric cars, the Volkswagen ID.4. The model was identified as among those with the highest number of reported faults.
Owners complained about a wide range of issues, from frozen door handles to more serious battery and motor failures.
Mixed brand results
The survey also revealed big differences within individual brands. At Hyundai, the sleek Ioniq 6 ranked near the top for reliability, while the larger Ioniq 5 performed poorly.
Many Ioniq 5 owners cited repeated problems with the small 12-volt battery, as well as software and electrical system faults.
Across brands, owners said frozen screens, charging failures and unexplained software errors were common. Several reported that over-the-air updates failed to resolve issues, forcing trips to authorised workshops.
Sources: What Car?, Daily Mail
