Opel Ampera-e

Opel Ampera-e stands out as a battery electric hatchback built for people who want a long-range EV without moving into a luxury badge. By our assessment, its strongest point is the practical shape of the thing: a compact car with serious electric range for everyday commuting, not a showpiece with complicated habits. The downside is that it is very much a first-generation-style EV in feel, with the usual compromises of electric cars from that period, including charging dependence and a cabin that is more functional than plush. In use it is quiet, simple in motion, and easier to live with than many early EVs because the basic job is straightforward. It sits between mainstream hatchbacks and pricier electric models, and the name is still remembered more for the idea of usable range than for glamour.