Electrifying.com New Car Awards 2024​

Volvo’s new ‘baby’ electric SUV is the best electric car on sale in the UK, according to the electric car experts at Electrifying.com. As well as receiving the overall Car of the Year award, the pocket-sized Volvo EX30 also collected the Small Family Electric Car honour. Praised for its affordability, sustainability, and practicality, the judges said it is also good to drive even at the cheaper end of the range.

Another small SUV took the Urban Electric Car of the Year prize, with the Jeep Avenger being a surprise choice as the brand is best known for bigger 4x4s. The expert judges praised the new Jeep’s compact dimensions, manoeuvrability, efficiency and chunky looks, with Electrifying.com’s Ginny Buckley saying: “We think the Avenger is a breath of fresh air - we love the way that Jeep has reinvented itself for the electric age.”

At the other end of the SUV scale, Kia’s new flagship, the EV9, was named the Large Electric Family Car of the Year. The seven seater has the quality and technology to really worry the prestige brands, say the judges.

The MG4 was awarded the Money Saving Electric Car award. It was lauded by the judging panel as a great family hatchback which is cheaper to buy and run than equivalent petrol rivals, with a great warranty and plenty of equipment too. 

A newcomer to the UK, BYD scooped an award for its innovative Blade Battery fitted to its Dolphin and Seal models. Its clever design promises to bring greater safety and durability than conventional electric car power packs, said the judges. For example, the strict tests conducted by the company include driving a huge nail through the middle of the battery’s cells to check they’ll remain stable in extreme situations.

The judging panel represents the most experienced and knowledgeable team of electric car reviewers in the business. Electrifying.com’s founder Ginny Buckley has been testing cars for nearly 30 years and is a juror for the World Car of the Year Awards, while the rest of the panel boasts an equally qualified cast of well-known experts including Nicki Shields, Nicola Hume, Tom Barnard and Mike Askew.

Ginny Buckley, founder of Electrifying.com, said: “We are the Electric Experts because every year we drive hundreds of electric cars over thousands of miles – including ones we’ve bought with our own money.

“Our winner this year caused a real stir when it was first revealed. Sure, it looked the part, had a great interior and all the figures were all stacked up, but the biggest shock to us all was the price, which made this good-looking mini SUV from a more premium brand go head to head with superminis from the mainstream marques. 

“Add in a good sustainability story, enough practicality for a small family and the fact that even the cheaper versions drive brilliantly, and it looks like an unbeatable package.”

New Car Awards 2024 winners

Urban Electric Car of the Year
Jeep Avenger​

Money Saving Electric Car of the Year
MG4 EV

Salary Sacrifice Car of the Year
MG4 EV

Small Family Electric Car of the Year
Volvo EX30

Large Electric Family Car of the Year
Kia EV9

Premium Electric Car of the Year
BMW i5

Electrifying Efficiency Award
Vauxhall Astra

Best Electric Van of the Year
Volkswagen ID.Buzz

Used Electric Car of the Year
Tesla Model 3

Electrifying Innovation of the Year
BYD Blade Battery

Car of the Year
Volvo EX30