Top five most popular electric vehicles | Omoda E5 takes top spot

The most popular electric vehicles (EVs) in quarter two have been revealed, according to new data from Octopus Electric Vehicles.

The Omoda E5 secured top spot, with drivers increasingly drawn to high-spec models from newer, EV-first brands – no longer relying solely on the traditional heavyweights – says the vehicle leasing company.

Salary sacrifice has been a huge incentive for drivers, it explains, allowing employees to lease EVs through their employer with payments deducted from their gross salary, cutting income tax and national insurance costs. 

Procurement director at Octopus Electric Vehicles, Alvin Castillo, said: “We’ve hit a tipping point. The early adopters have paved the way, and now we’re seeing everyday drivers make the switch because it just adds up – from cost and convenience to cutting carbon.

“The Omoda E5 topping the charts is proof that if a car delivers on style, spec and savings, drivers are all in.

“During the early years of the EV journey, innovators like Tesla took market share from some of the better-known European brands.

“However, newer brands are increasingly bringing great value for customers, and the numbers show just how popular they are.”

Octopus Electric Vehicles’ top five most popular EVs – April to June 2025

1. Omoda E5 
2. Cupra Born 
3. Tesla Model Y 
4. Ford Puma Gen-E 
5. Skoda Elroq 

Castillo says that Omoda, which is sister brand to Jaecoo and owned by Chery International, has been “taking the market by storm” since it launched the E5.

He explained: “The reason is simple; great value. At just over £300 a month via salary sacrifice, including insurance and maintenance, with its sleek design and strong spec sheet, it’s an easy win for drivers who want maximum return for their money.”

He added: “It’s no surprise to see Tesla still in our top five. When we first started leasing EVs in 2021, they were by far the most popular brand, but the market is moving quickly.

“The revamped Model Y offers exceptional space, performance, and range – plus access to Tesla’s class-leading charging network.

“Ford is a household name, as a late developer in the EV space, it's great to see some amazing cars arriving from them.

“The electric Puma Gen-E offers a seamless transition for Ford fans, priced at just £314 per month, making it the most affordable option on the list and perfect for EV newcomers.”

Chris Clayton, head of fleet for Omoda Jaecoo UK, said seeing the E5 become the top-performing EV through Octopus Electric Vehicles is a “real milestone”.

“It proves that UK drivers are ready to embrace something new and they’re responding to the E5’s combination of bold design, advanced technology and ethos of premium without the price premium,” he added.

According to Castillo, the industry entering a pivotal moment in the UK’s EV journey: “The combination of lower prices, longer ranges, and higher specs is reshaping the market.” 

“The arrival of compelling new entrants – like the upcoming Jaecoo J5 and Geely EX5  – shows how rapidly things are moving.

“With salary sacrifice making EVs more financially accessible than ever, we expect demand to stay strong into the second half of 2025.”

The announcement comes after Octopus announced a partnership with BYD, which aims to making vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology more accessible to drivers in the UK for the first time. 

Drivers can access a bundle package that gives them completely free charging on a leased BYD Dolphin, along with an installed home charger and access to a smart tariff that unlocks the power of V2G.

Using cars as miniature power stations, V2G provides power back to the grid when they’re sitting idle on your driveway, reducing the need to power up dirty fossil fuel power plants.