​Best buy More than £35,000: Kia e-Niro 4​

Any car waiting to take on the Kia e-Niro faces a Herculean task, seeing as this family SUV took our coveted Car of the Year crown last year. In our Real Range test, it managed a seriously impressive 253 miles – the same as the larger, considerably pricier Jaguar I-Pace.

The e-Niro offers plenty of space for five people and their luggage, while its healthy haul of equipment takes on that of the supposedly more premium yet actually much less recommendable DS 3 Crossback E-Tense.

The e-Niro’s newborn sibling, the Kia Soul EV, is also worth thinking about at this price, but it doesn’t ride or handle quite as adroitly yet isn’t significantly cheaper. There’s also the closely related Hyundai Kona Electric to consider, but the e-Niro edges the win once again, by riding more comfortably, staying more composed through corners and being slightly more spacious.

Plus, its electric motor produces the same 201bhp, so acceleration off the line is serious and motorway journeys are made a breeze. So, despite the electric car class being closely contested and rapidly expanding, the e-Niro is easily maintaining its worth.