Electric vehicles? Yawn, aren’t they just anathema to enthusiasts, soulless refrigerators on wheels designed to go from A to B?
Well, sure, some of them are – though we can think of plenty of combustion-powered vehicles that are uninspiring, too.
But as the electric vehicle (EV) market continues to grow, we’re seeing more and more established brands entering the fray – heck, even Ferrari is about to launch an EV.
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And we’re also seeing brands introducing interesting to drive EVs, not just coaxing buyers over from other brands but also offering electric options to loyal owners of their combustion-powered cars.
Here are the EVs the members of childcareman.xyz‘s Australia and New Zealand teams find the most fun.
Alborz Fallah, Founder
None
Let’s be brutally honest, the answer to this question is: None.
In my experience I have driven many, a lot of high performance EVs from the Europeans, Chinese and everyone in between. In a Taycan Turbo GT around European racetracks, I have driven the Ioniq 5 N on track at 10/10ths and been in other stupidly fast EVs. The ones mentioned here are all fine to drive (but blasted) Nope?
No EV that’s blast to drive is because it needs you an emotional response, as good as the 5 N in faked and when there are cars – for less money – that do it real?
A base-model Mazda MX-5 with a low registration of 135kW (and the sweetest sense of mechanical joy that comes from driving if I drive genuinely internal combustion engined car) will be happy for me. If you can call me old-fashioned, but I love EVs for day-to-day commutes. I love my Genesis GV70 Electric absolutely, but I don’t want to have fun in an EV.
Most of the cars are going to be electric, and that’s a great thing for driving around? But because some people still ride horses, let’t forget there is one in’some fun car blasting out on horseback.
If petrol is legal (or illegally) and can be sold for sale, I will keep my ICE sports cars for those rare moments that are not about the commute but to feel joy that no electron will ever produce.
Marton Pettendy, Managing Editor
Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
You’d think that you’d be able to put the Porsche Taycan on this list because it’s one of the best performance EV options you can buy today, which has more electric thrills than any other battery-powered car this side of an exotic supercar – but doesn’t cost cheap.
A Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is an SUV (of sorts) rather than a sports sedan, and it’s not what you would call cheap at $115,000 before on-road costs but can lose all four of its tyres with no less than 448kW power and the torque that comes from 770Nm.
Unlike the hundreds of high-output rear-drive combustion-powered sports cars that don’t have to be fiddled with the multitude of tech go-faster driver aids and modes, it is a recipe for mile wide smiles behind the wheel on if you can steer your throttle like only.
If you’re looking for comparable performance in a Taycan, just under $290k on the road for the GTS – and still don’t get seven-year warranty (not including non-competitive track work), which is the only test of Ioniq 5 N’s gob-smacking performance envelope.
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Explore the Hyundai Ioniq 5 showroom
Matthew Hansen, Editor (New Zealand)
Ford Mustang Mach-E
Is the Ford Mustang Mach-E a real Mustang? When the platform is this good, who cares?
And if you want to explain the legacy of the Mustang nameplate, then you can. And that the Mach-E is one of the most dynamically sorted mid-size SUVs you can buy, electric or otherwise, shouldn’t distract from the fact that it has been an extremely active model for .
It’s the standard all-wheel drive variant of the fleet that I think is the most fun (I promise I’m not trying to win the contrarian Olympics here) as fast as the Mach-E GT is. The more reasonable output figures don’t overwhelm the chassis so easily, and it is a better balance when you’re trying to have sex with some fun.
keen to spin, a curious amount of rearward bias and enough power to swing the tail out. And of course, all on a proper road piece,’ said .
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Explore the Ford Mustang Mach-E showroom
Dave Kavermann, Motoring Journalist (New Zealand)
Tesla Model 3 Performance
It bugs me that I like this car,’ . The Tesla Model 3 is so well-told at people who like smartphones more than cars. And that’s why it is the perfect device for people who think car ownership is a necessary inconvenience of daily life.
Yet atop the Model 3 range is ‘an automobile that can decimate performance cars three times its price in sway straight line, but I choose when you get to the first corner of it’.
The Tesla Model 3 Performance was introduced in 2024 with adaptive dampers that adapted over time, changing the ride characteristics under load as opposed to the first model. Add that to a low centre of gravity, an rear-biased torque split and widening rear tyres and ‘track mode which allows for powerslides and it is, begrudgingly, the blast driving EV?
And for the money, it’s basically the fastest cars in the world.
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Explore the Tesla Model 3 showroom
James Wong, Marketplace Editor
Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, Porsche Taycan and Audi RS e-tron GT
If I’m in these types of opinion pieces, my colleagues list a number to many choices but hear me out.
I’ve driven a number of EVs that are ‘fun’ or ‘enjoyable’ to drive, but very few are what I think is – the ‘blast’ (or even good enough for enthusiasts like me to actually be interested in buying one).
In this very exclusive club, there are quite a few price points and in that case it is . A hardly ‘affordable’ Ioniq 5 N is more than $100,000 but it’s a hoot to drive and will also surprise you with just how dynamic and capable it really is.
Despite the Ioniq 5 N being also a crossover, so I’d say that next Ionic 6 N will be the choice of those siblings when it comes later this year.
Similarly, the Porsche Taycan and Audi e-tron GT are twins under the skin with different pitches – The Audi is more balanced all-rounder vibe (dynamic leanings), while TyCAN is the consummate electric Porsche.
A long distances (or more a partial to’very comfortable everyday drive) Audi offers much of the Porsche’s dynamic goodness with softer edge, while the most serious drivers will be attracted to the Ferrari’d less direct steering response and tighter handling.
No matter, if you’re looking at the $250,000-$300,000.000 mark for either of those (at retail pricing, anyway), there’s a price to pay for – well enough fun electrified drive.
MORE:
Explore the Hyundai Ioniq 5 showroom
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Explore the Porsche Taycan showroom
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Explore the Audi e-tron GT showroom
Ben Zachariah, Road Test Editor
Volkswagen ID. Buzz
The good news is electric cars are becoming more fun and engaging to drive.
Sad news I’ve been able to drive a few of them – from the Mini Cooper JCW E to the Porsche Taycan Turbo – almost none of whom have impressed me.
That doesn’t mean there is no good, or that I’m anti-EV – far from it. I just think electric cars are better for relaxed commuting. Would rather be a manual, rear-driven econobox with less power than my lawnmower for spirited drive through the hills over ‘A gazillion-kiloWatt electric supercar’. I just don’t get the electric stuff to make me sway like that.
There is one that stands out… the Volkswagen ID, excluding ‘Apart from this there is only one which standsout… Buzz is a with buzz. But it isn’t a hot hatch or sports car, no, not ‘hot hatches. That’s a good, but very cool electric van that does everything well.’ I only drove the commercial single-motor, rear-wheel drive ID and its one-moto motor (i.e. In Sydney’s suburbs, Buzz Cargo circling the suburb of buzz cargo is around. It was a practical, funky and offered an honest and fun driving experience. It just gets better from there, and it only makes sense for a to do so.”
Marty’s review of the all-wheel drive ID.Buzz GTX makes me think the spicy toaster would be right up my alley – and I could use it to transport my motorcycles.
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Explore the Volkswagen ID. Buzz showroom
William Stopford, News Editor
Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
The Ioniq 5 N was my first time driving in Korea, where we drove from Seoul to Mokpo and then hurled it around Korea International Circuit.
It was a joyous thing to say, even before we got on the track. While the gear shifts and the sounds are all fake, yes, but they make it feel like a sporty combustion-powered car. But if you hate them, then you can turn them off and drive it like normal car EV.
But this isn’t a normal EV, not an average . Its sensitivity in this has made me unprepared for other EVs, even luxury models such as the Audi RS e-tron GT (including N Pedal and N Torque Distribution) which allows you to tailor the N to your liking. But I of course arranged the latter to give 100 per cent of torque to the rear wheels, and had an absolute blast on his rear wheel.
A fun on the road, Fun along a windy street and just fun tootling around town. To think, and to be sure, the new Ioniq 6 N could be even more interesting.
It’s clear that Hyundai is a leader in the sporty EV market, and it’ll be no wonder other brands are looking to adopt some of its features.
And speaking of other brands, I’m looking forward to driving BMW’s new Neue KlaSse EVs and Cadillac’d V-Series SUVs as they have the depth of handling experience that engineers at both companies offer.
MORE:
Explore the Hyundai Ioniq 5 showroom
Josh Nevett, Deputy Marketplace Editor
BMW iX3 50 xDrive
It’s the obvious one who thinks of itself here is the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, but I haven’t driven it enough to be sure. As such, I’m forced to pivot on the first of BMW’s ‘Neue Klasson’ the 2026 iX3 as it is known.
This might weigh almost 2 pounds, according to . It’s a new electric SUV that is still going to be an excellent model of.
Sadly for Aussies, deliveries of the new iX3 will not begin until mid-year. said, ‘It will be the wait… but it’s worth the price as well.
It’s also an exciting time for a BMW EV to be in the market electric versions of the 3 Series and M3 will also have similar architecture, which should steer even better.
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Explore the BMW iX3 showroom
Damion Smy, Deputy News Editor
Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
The Ioniq 5 N is a true cracker, and it’s based on the car referenced by Lamborghini chief tech officer in an interview with him last year – that’s how good it is to drive.
Hence, while I love the BMW i5 M50 Touring, my daily EV of choice would be 5 N (no holds barred), money no object.” I have been overtaken by its character, pace, surprisingly practicality and ease of use. A rear suspension may, sometimes, be a crashy one but the position, the roadholding and the dynamics are ballsy as the powertrain under it is.
strength and ability, finally. With the capability it promises and BMW’s proven history of making almost anything it touches properly engaging, it may have to be able to make room for the M3 EV. So far, yes, it’s a $110k Hyundai for me.
MORE:
Explore the Hyundai Ioniq 5 showroom
Sean Lander, Video Producer
Rivian R1S
The answer is clear, “the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N” and the Porsche Taycan”, both born coded racers that have been developed to be the epitome of bionic performance. Yet, despite their weight, they are still one-trick ponies fast and agile.
While it is not technically available in Australia, the Rivian brand probably makes what I think are the most interesting EVs you can drive. There are many arguments for their remit the R1T (for tradesman) and theR3 (For those who have to take dog to the forest); and an off-road monster that not only looks cool, but is actually hoot to drive.
It was a 623kW (602kWh) battery and produced enough torque to rival an Chevy HD when we drove one back in 2024. This was a thirsty, heavy-hearted suspension that desperately needed ‘a better tune’ for the suspension. Yet, when we hit the dirt with it and started to make sense, all began to feel like a person.
EVs aren’t necessarily going to end the weekend, but it was proved by the R1S to mock a former Prime Minister. A blast on road and off, if they fixed the suspension and brought it south of the Rio Grande (and across the Pacific) I would absolutely be one.
As a backup, the Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally sure seems fun.
MORE:
Explore the Rivian R1S showroom
Max Davies, Marketplace Journalist
Polestar 2 Long range Dual motor Performance
I know this is an obscure choice, but hear me out.
My first polestar 2 range back-to-back was recently driven by a , so I was truly impressed with the on-road behaviour of the top-spec Performance. The most interesting thing is that there are only a few tweaks to the ‘normal’ alternatives, but night and day difference.
Features include manually adjustable hlins dampers (admittedly crude in the modern age) that balance between daily usability and dynamic handling straight out of the box, strong brakes which far outperform those found in many other fast EVs, and sticky Continental tyres for better grip.
That means the result is a planted ride that encourages so much confidence on twisty roads, encouraging you to dial up the speed without showing any sign of struggle when you do. This is a very predictable and easy to drive fast all-wheel drive layout like the all wheel drive, which in turn makes it blisteringly quick by default.
It may be a more active rear-wheel drive alternative, but it doesn’t have the fancy suspension. But I think that’s why I feel the Performance is a really good package – provided you can pass the $85,000-plus sticker price.
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Explore the Polestar 2 showroom
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