Best rear-wheel drive cars of 2026

Best for: an easy to live with EV

The Mercedes CLA Electric is a benchmark car, because it’s a small saloon with more range than almost any other electric car on sale - including far bigger, more expensive alternatives. We even crowned it our Outstanding EV winner in the 2026 Carwow Car of the Year Awards.

The Mercedes CLA Electric is a benchmark car, because it’s a small saloon with more range than almost any other electric car on sale - including far bigger, more expensive alternatives. We even crowned it our Outstanding EV winner in the 2026 Carwow Car of the Year Awards.

The Mercedes CLA Electric is a benchmark car, because it’s a small saloon with more range than almost any other electric car on sale - including far bigger, more expensive alternatives. We even crowned it our Outstanding EV winner in the 2026 Carwow Car of the Year Awards.

The cabin is a proper tech fest, with a door-to-door array of displays in front of you in high trim versions. There’s not even a traditional dashboard as such, just those displays, flanked by a pair of jet engine-esque air vents with a five-spoke steering wheel and funky centre console adding a dose of style to the interior. It takes some getting used to, but the crisp graphics and lightning-quick responsiveness of the infotainment make it a breeze to use - though the menus are a bit complicated.

AMG Line models have a pair of fixed-headrest sports seats up front which are supremely comfortable and highly adjustable, with a useful amount of storage space at your disposal in the doors and centre console. Headroom in the back isn’t an issue for most passengers, but there isn’t much under-thigh support. The 405-litre boot isn’t very impressive, though, coming in behind alternatives for luggage space.

The entry-level CLA 250+ Sport Edition offers the most range at 484 miles, dropping down to 464 miles in AMG Line Premium versions. All models have the same 85kWh battery mounted under the floor.

Range aside, the CLA Electric impresses most when you get it on the road. Around town the Mercedes glides along in electric silence, as it both accelerates and comes to a stop smoothly, with steering that’s light enough to be easy to twirl without feeling disconnected from the front wheels. It’s very refined on the motorway, while also being decent fun on a twisty road.

Best for: a sensible family SUV

The large Skoda Enyaq has been one of our favourite electric SUVs on sale for a little while now, but the smaller Elroq has come along to steal its thunder. It offers the same outstanding combination of comfort, space and practicality in a more compact package - and at a lower price.

No wonder it was highly commended in the Family Values segment of the 2026 Carwow Car of the Year Awards. It’s not just a stellar all-rounder, but it’s an attractive one, too. Sure, it won’t turn any heads on the school run, but the slender headlights and grille, sharp lines and pert rear end make the Skoda a better-looking car than you might expect from a sensible family car.

The interior is packed with clever features that appeal to families, with loads of storage spaces - including removable ones in the back should you need more legroom if you’re travelling five-up. The clever use of fabrics and upholstery elevates the cabin, because while you’ll notice a fair amount of cheap plastics on the doors and centre console, the swish dashboard design and neat controls make up for it.

There’s plenty of room inside, and you’ll easily fit four six-foot tall adults in the Elroq with no fuss. The boot, though shorter than in the Enyaq, features storage shelves at the sides, an under-parcel shelf net and even an in-built ice scraper for bad weather.

At low speeds the Elroq is a breeze to potter about in, soaking up rough roads and with effective regenerative braking taking most of the strain out of traffic. It does, however, tend to wallow about over big bumps and dips, so you’re best off at a gentle cruise.

It’s even more comfortable on the motorway, where the Elroq almost feels as though it’s floating above the surface rather than driving along it. Take it easy on a twisty road, though, because while there’s little body lean, that wallowy feeling around town is amplified around a bumpy bend and it never quite feels sporty.

Best for: family-friendly fun driving

The BMW 3 Series has been the best small saloon car on sale since its launch in 1975, and the current generation is the best example yet. It looks good, it's fun to drive while being comfortable, has a posh interior and it’ll turn your neighbours green with envy thanks to its posh badge.

Though the current model has grown in size, it doesn’t look overly big or bloated thanks to its aggressive headlights, sculpted flanks and the reasonably-sized grille at the front - unlike some of its BMW counterparts. It’s not a revolutionary-looking thing, but ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’ after all.

Step inside and the current model is a world apart from any 3 Series which has come before, with BMW’s enormous two-in-one widescreen display mounted on top of a plush dashboard which slopes down dramatically toward the front seats. The system looks great and it’s responsive to your inputs, but the menus can be annoying to navigate and the touchscreen climate controls are jarring to use on the move.

Material quality is high, and the driving position is excellent. There’s lots of storage space up front and the seats are comfortable all round, but you won’t easily fit three adults in the back on account of the bulky hump in the floor. The boot is a decent size in petrol-powered models, but the plug-in hybrid loses a huge amount of space in order to fit the batteries for the impressive 62-mile range.

You can choose from 2.0-litre or 3.0-litre petrol engines, though the bigger motor only comes in the four-wheel drive M340i. There’s also the plug-in hybrid 330e option.

It’s not quite as comfortable around town as a Mercedes C-Class, but the 3 Series still does a good job of absorbing bumps and blows around town. The brakes can be a little snatchy when coming to a stop, but the automatic gearbox is a delight.

It’s even more comfortable on the motorway where it settles into a quiet cruise, and the PHEV can even propel itself at speed on electric-only power. The 3 Series is at its best on a country lane, though, with precise steering and buckets of grip while being properly fun to drive.

Best for: huge interior space

Few cars of this size can match the Model Y for interior space and electric efficiency, and the Tesla was highly commended as an Outstanding EV in the 2026 Carwow Car of the Year awards. Whether in entry-level Standard or Premium guise the Model Y looks sleek - if generic - with an aerodynamic silhouette but nondescript lights at both ends.

The cabin is more interesting, but not because of its design, instead it’s the lack thereof which sets the Tesla apart from its alternatives. A single 15.4-inch touchscreen sits proud of the featureless, minimalist dashboard, acting as the infotainment, driver display and drive selector. It doesn’t take long to get used to, but the lack of physical buttons for almost any function is frustrating to use.

When it comes to practicality, however, the Model Y is far from irritating. You have acres of room to get comfortable, and though the front seats feel a bit too high, you won’t struggle to find an appropriate seating position. Three adults easily fit across the back seats, while the enormous 854-litre boot (if you load it up to the roof) will easily swallow up luggage.

The Model Y Standard offers 314 miles of range, while the more expensive Model Y Premium in rear-wheel drive guise can travel 387 miles without topping up.

It’s a little jiggly around town, but the slew of cameras and excellent forward and side visibility mean the Model Y is a breeze to manoeuvre and park, though it’s not as refined on the motorway as other SUVs. It’s capable on a twisty lane, but not a huge amount of fun.

Best for: a big, posh saloon car

Much like the smaller BMW 3 Series, the 5 Series has been right at the top of the posh mid-sized car rankings since its inception. Calling the enormous new model ‘medium-sized’ is a bit of a stretch, but even with its new heft it’s an excellent car to drive and features a premium interior.

It’s not quite as handsome as the 5 Series generations which came before, though. There’s a mess of awkward lines, oversized grilles and headlights that are both too aggressive and too small for the rest of the body.

The interior, however, is far more attractive and cohesively designed. BMW’s curved dual-screen setup rests on the dashboard for the infotainment and driver’s instruments, while the rest of the cabin has crisp details and loads of plush, soft-touch materials. The crystalline trim is a bit naff, when lit up in a bright colour, though.

You’ll find it easy to get comfortable in the driver’s seat, and back seat passengers also have plenty of room to settle into on a long drive. There isn’t much in the way of storage anywhere in the cabin, that being said, and the 520-litre boot is merely adequate for a car of this size.

Whether in petrol or plug-in hybrid guise, the 5 Series offers strong fuel economy while the PHEV has impressive electric-only range. There’s also the all-electric i5 to consider, though alternatives can go further on a charge.

All models are comfortable around town and quick enough for good progress, while absorbing rough motorway stretches with ease. It’s not that much fun on a country lane, though, which is a shame given its sporty reputation.

Best for: simple driving thrills

Ah the humble Mazda MX-5, the antidote to all of the enormous, high-powered super-sports cars on sale at the moment. It’s the perfect car for somebody who simply wants to enjoy driving as it’s great fun, cheap to run and (just about) practical enough to live with on a daily basis.

It hasn’t bucked all of today’s trends, because where previous generations were all soft curves and friendly headlights, the current model is more aggressively styled. It’s very handsome, without looking intimidating.

Mazda has also taken the MX-5 a bit upmarket inside, with a posher interior than we’ve come to expect from the little sports car. It’s far from opulent, but the soft-touch plastics, standard-fit infotainment system and comfortable seats add a hint of luxury to the no-frills sports car.

Don’t expect much in the way of storage space, though. There aren’t any door cubbies, and the 130-litre boot is just about big enough for a weekly shop, if you’re not a big eater.

Both petrol engines (you can choose from 1.5- or 2.0-litre units) are zippy and responsive, but the bigger motor is noticeably more powerful. No matter which you opt for, the MX-5 is a breeze to drive around town thanks to its small size and light controls.

It’s a bit noisy on the motorway thanks to the soft top roof, but as soon as you turn on to a country lane you’re in for a hoot, because the little Mazda does a phenomenal job of soaking up bumpy corners and keeping you hooked with its sweet gear changes and responsive steering.

Best for: electric cruising

The most traditional model in Volkswagen’s all-electric ID range, the ID7 Tourer takes the classic family estate car recipe and adds in a dose of high voltage battery power. It’s comfortable, spacious and handsome, but the infotainment system is annoying.

Unlike the lumpy, bumpy ID4 and ID5 SUVs, the ID7 Touring is sleek with crisp lines, defined surfaces and an elegant roofline stretching right to the back - especially in the two-tone paint finishes. The light-up badges are a bit garish, but they can be forgiven for the rest of the design.

The interior is also nicer than the rest of the ID range, because the ID7 Tourer feels solidly built and well-styled, but it’s still annoying that all of the climate controls are buried in the infotainment screen, and material quality doesn’t feel as premium as in its German alternatives. You’d hope for fewer scratchy plastics at this price.

It’s hugely spacious, though, with loads of storage space and comfortable seats all round. Three abreast in the back is a bit of a squeeze, but fitting bulky child seats is easy and the 605-litre boot is well-shaped to take a lot of luggage.

Range varies from 358 miles to 422 miles depending on which trim level you go for. That is slightly less than in the ID7 liftback, but it’s the price you pay for a less slippery body shape.

You can feel the ID7’s enormous size around town, as it can be a bit tricky to pilot down tight streets and into small spaces, but it’s totally at home on the motorway; quiet and comfortable when cruising. Take it easy on a country lane, though, as the ID7 isn’t much fun.

Best for: a spacious saloon

As one of the most popular small saloon cars on sale, the Model 3 is a real thorn in the side of the petrol-powered establishment. It offers great electric range, a spacious interior and generous standard equipment.

It looks slick, too. The Model 3 is certainly more handsome than the larger Model Y SUV, with pointy headlights, C-shaped taillights and sporty, flared wheel arches. It’s still a bit generic when compared to alternatives, though.

As with all Tesla models, the simple dashboard is home to a 15.4-inch infotainment screen…and nothing else. Interior quality is high, if not quite as solid feeling as in German alternatives, but almost all of the surfaces are trimmed and pleasant to touch.

There’s more space inside than you’ll find in a BMW 3 Series or Mercedes CLA Electric, with comfortable front seats and lots of storage space - but not much underthigh support in the back. The 594-litre boot is far bigger than any car you’ll cross-shop it against, and there’s a handy front boot, too.

The rear-wheel drive Model 3 comes in 332-mile Standard form or the impressive 466-mile Long Range variant.

You get bounced around a bit on bumpy roads around town, but the Model 3 is easy to pootle about in thanks to its one-pedal driving mode, though all-round visibility could be better. It’s well insulated against wind and road noise on the motorway, and it feels composed on a twisty road.

Best for: a usable sports car

The Porsche 911 isn’t just any sports car, it’s the most iconic of the bunch. No other high performance option offers the same blend of practicality, comfort and fun-to-drive character. It may be expensive as you go up the model range, but the rear-wheel drive, entry-level model is arguably the sweetest to drive anyway.

There’s a clear visual link between every 911 variant, as well as every 911 ever produced. The iconic round headlights, horizontal taillights and classic sloping silhouette are present and correct on the latest model, but it’s altogether wider and more aggressive.

Drop down into the low driver’s seat and you’ll notice the traditional Porsche dials and twisty key have been replaced with a digital screen and push button, which is a shame, but the cabin is stylish and full of plush materials.

It’s fairly roomy up front, but lacking in storage and the rear seats are best for small children or used as additional luggage space. The 131-litre front boot is big enough for a small suitcase or small shop, so the back seat space often comes in handy.

No matter which model you choose, hardcore GT3 RS aside, the 911 is perfectly adept at daily commuting. It’s comfortable (for a sports car) and easy to manoeuvre, and it’s just as pleasant on the motorway. It’s at its best on a country lane, where its razor-sharp steering, pliant suspension and powerful acceleration make it a joy to carve through corners.

Best for: charming your neighbours

Forget a posh SUV, million-pound supercar or even a hot hatchback with an obnoxious exhaust note, nothing turns heads quite like a Volkswagen ID Buzz. It’s huge inside (and out), pleasant to drive and has a charm unlike any other car on sale.

And yes, we do mean car, because while the ID Buzz appears to be a van, it’s actually based on the same mechanical bits as the smaller ID7 and ID5. Nonetheless, you don’t need a magnifying glass to notice the resemblance with the old Volkswagen T2 of the 1960s. It looks fantastic, without trying to be too retro.

The interior doesn’t have any throwback features. The dashboard is neatly styled with a trim piece that loops around behind the enormous infotainment and tiny driver displays, but material quality is poor for such an expensive vehicle.

It’s absurdly spacious inside thanks to its boxy body shape, with more than enough space for five, six or seven adults to get comfortable. The long-wheelbase seven-seater has a smaller boot than the shorter model with all seven seats up, but with the rear pair stowed away the cargo space is capacious.

Range in rear-wheel drive versions of the ID Buzz varies from 282 to 293 miles, though you’ll struggle to reach that in the real world because it’s not very efficient. While its enormous size takes some getting used to, the sky-high seating position and 360-degree cameras take the strain out of town driving.

Wind and road noise are noticeable on the motorway, if not too intrusive, and it’s more composed on a country lane than you might expect - but you’ll still want to take it easy through fast bends.