BMW UK has collected five accolades at the 2026 What Car? Electric Car Awards, with honours spanning its latest electric technology as well as some of the brand’s strongest performers on the used EV and plug-in hybrid market.
Leading BMW’s success is the forthcoming BMW i3 Saloon, which has been voted the 2026 What Car? Readers’ Choice Award winner after readers selected it as the new model they are most looking forward to.
The annual What Car? Electric Car Awards recognise leading electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles across a range of categories, taking into account areas including range, technology, practicality and sustainability.
BMW i3 wins Readers’ Choice Award
The new BMW i3 Saloon emerged victorious from what What Car? described as one of its closest Readers’ Choice votes in recent years.
Steve Huntingford, Editor of What Car?, said: “Before every What Car? Electric Car Awards, we ask our readers to name the upcoming model that they’re most excited about.
“The 2026 vote was the closest for years, highlighting the strength of the competition. However, ultimately it was the BMW i3 that pulled ahead, and it’s easy to see why when you look at its style and technical specs.”
Due to launch in the UK on 30 October, the new i3 Saloon will bring BMW’s Neue Klasse technology into the heart of its model range.
The electric saloon offers a claimed range of up to 563 miles WLTP, alongside BMW’s latest operating system and Panoramic Vision display technology as standard. Advanced driver assistance systems and a strong emphasis on driving dynamics will also form part of the package.
BMW X5 xDrive45e named best used premium hybrid SUV
BMW also enjoyed considerable success among the used categories, with the BMW X5 xDrive45e taking the award for Best Used Hybrid Premium SUV.
Judges highlighted the combination of luxury, refinement and driving ability offered by the plug-in hybrid SUV, together with its useful electric-only capability.
Huntingford said: “Choose any used BMW X5 and you’re getting a classy and luxurious SUV that’s good to drive and impressively quiet.
“But it’s worth hunting out the xDrive45e version, because its 54-mile pure electric range means many journeys can be completed without using a drop of petrol.”
i5 Touring leads electric estate category
The BMW i5 Touring was named Best Used Electric Estate, with judges praising its combination of performance, practicality and premium interior.
According to the What Car? judging panel, the electric estate “delivers exhilarating performance, an enjoyable drive and a luxurious interior.”
Its combination of long-distance ability and estate-car versatility helped secure another award for BMW in an increasingly competitive used EV market.
BMW 330e takes executive hybrid honours
BMW’s long-established plug-in hybrid offering was also recognised, with the BMW 330e winning the 2026 Best Used Hybrid Executive Car category.
The electrified 3 Series remains a What Car? favourite, with judges highlighting its ability to combine plug-in hybrid efficiency with the qualities traditionally associated with BMW’s compact executive saloon.
Judges described it as offering “all the panache and driveability you’d expect from a 3 Series.”
Original BMW iX3 remains a strong used EV choice
Completing BMW’s five-award haul, the previous-generation BMW iX3 was named Best Used Electric Premium SUV.
Huntingford said: “The latest BMW iX3 is so good that it’s the reigning What Car? Car of the Year, but this original version is great too, offering top-notch refinement, a fine ride and handling balance, and a classy, user-friendly interior.”
The recognition comes as the latest-generation iX3 continues to establish BMW’s Neue Klasse technology in the UK.
Introduced earlier this year and already named the 2026 What Car? Car of the Year, the latest iX3 offers a claimed electric range of up to 500 miles WLTP, together with a practical interior and BMW’s latest driver assistance technology.
This includes Motorway Assistant, which enables hands-free Level 2 assisted driving at speeds of up to 70mph where conditions and regulations permit.
The recently introduced BMW iX3 40 has also lowered the entry point to the latest iX3 range, with prices now starting from £53,250 OTR.
Motoring Echo Verdict
BMW’s five What Car? Electric Car Awards demonstrate the breadth of the manufacturer’s electrified offering, but perhaps more significantly show that its appeal is extending beyond the latest showroom models.
While the forthcoming i3 Saloon points towards BMW’s next generation of electric cars and Neue Klasse technology, awards for the X5 xDrive45e, 330e, i5 Touring and previous-generation iX3 underline the growing choice available to buyers looking for a premium electrified model on the used market.
With the new i3 Saloon arriving in October and the latest iX3 already establishing the Neue Klasse generation in the UK, BMW’s electric model offensive is gathering further momentum.
