Q2’s hottest electric cars - new entrants race straight into the top five

• Leapmotor B10 and Vauxhall Frontera have made an immediate impact just months after launch
• Three of our top five best-performing models are from newer brands
• Tesla Model Y has returned to the top spot with more competition in SUVs

We often get asked what the most popular EVs are. And the honest answer is it changes a lot. So we now publish the top models every 3 months to keep you in the loop with what’s hot.  From April - June 2026 two brand-new models have made an immediate splash and newer manufacturers continue to strengthen their grip on the EV market.

Fresh from their February launches, the Leapmotor B10 and Vauxhall Frontera have gone straight into our top five, landing in second and fifth place. Why? There’s growing demand for bigger, better-equipped electric SUVs at more affordable prices. 

While the Tesla Model Y reclaimed the top spot, the bigger story is the speed at which new challengers are reshaping the leaderboard. Alongside the Leapmotor B10 debuting in second, the Jaecoo E5 held strong in third, and the Omoda E5 remained in fourth - meaning three of the top five best-performing models now come from newer brands.

This comes hot on the heels of an extremely strong month for EV sales in the UK, with New Automotive reporting that EVs captured 30% of the market in June - a 37% increase on last year.

Octopus Electric Vehicles’ Top Five Most Popular EVs – Q2 2026

1. Tesla Model Y
2. Leapmotor B10
3. JAECOO E5 
4. OMODA E5
5. Vauxhall Frontera

Alvin Castillo, Procurement Director at Octopus Electric Vehicles, said: “What we’re seeing this quarter is how quickly the market moves when a car gets the fundamentals right - price, space and simplicity.

“The Leapmotor B10 has landed straight into second place because it offers exactly what a lot of drivers want: SUV practicality, strong tech, and no complicated choices. There’s one version, everything’s included, and customers just pick a colour. That simplicity really matters.

“The Vauxhall Frontera tells a similar story. It’s a known badge at a genuinely competitive price, and it proves that drivers don’t need to compromise on size to make the switch.

“What’s also striking is that three of our top five models now come from newer brands. A few years ago that would have been unthinkable, but today these brands are competing on quality, value and innovation - and customers are responding.”

Eurig Druce, Group Managing Director, Stellantis UK, commented: “Leapmotor has had a great first year in the UK – with more than 10,000 electric cars finding homes here since launch, and taking more than 1% of the new car market for the first time in June, it’s clear that high specification, innovative technology and great value are a winning combination with UK car buyers.

“Vauxhall has been ahead of the curve on the move to electrification, having offered every car in its line-up as an EV or Hybrid for some time. The New Frontera Electric builds on that experience by offering a functional and spacious family SUV with first-in-industry pricing where the electric versions are actually lower priced than the hybrid ones.”

Looking ahead in 2026

Commenting on what to expect for the next 3 months in the UK EV market, Castillo commented: “In Q3 we’ll see exciting developments with premium new entrants like the Denza Z9 GT bring game-changing technology such as nine-minute flash charging, while brands like LEPAS and Volkswagen’s ID.Polo will add even more choice for drivers.

“The market is moving fast - especially with brands pushing hard on innovation, quality and value. That’s great news for consumers, because it means better cars, better tech and better prices.”