The fuel crisis created by the latest Middle East conflict has given electric cars a new moment in their evolution, spiking both interest and sales in 2026. Unlike just a few years ago, there are now EVs in all price brackets, in various sizes and shapes, and from various brands as well.
But despite there being a plethora of available models, many car enthusiasts are still to be won over by EVs. Sure, many EVs – like many ICE cars – aren’t endowed with much character and are built largely for A to B transport. But thankfully, there are special ones. Here are 10 EVs with soul:
Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
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Price: From $115,000 plus on-road costs
Drivetrain: Dual-motor all-wheel drive, 478kW/770Nm, 84kWh battery
Range: 448km (WLTP)
Why it’s got soul: It’s the first EV with genuine driver involvement
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N was a genuinely groundbreaking moment for the car industry. Finally… finally, there was an electric car that offered driver involvement similar to what enthusiasts expected from a performance car. In addition to going very fast – which EVs can be great at – the Ioniq 5 N engaged the driver thanks to features like its fake gearbox that simulates turbo lag and gears to make you downshift. It’s also very fun to drive, with even a drift mode for those wanting to fry a set of tyres. The 5 N didn’t win 2024 Wheels Car of the Year for nothing, after all.
Mini Cooper and Aceman
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Price: From $58,990 +ORC (Cooper), $60,990 +ORC (Aceman)
Drivetrain: Front-mounted single-motor, 150kW/330Nm, 54.2kWh
Range: 402km (Cooper SE), 406km (Aceman SE)
Why they have got soul: Minis have always gone above and beyond other makers to include cute and characterful features, and the latest generation is no exception
Ever since the rebirth of the Mini brand back in 2001 by parent company BMW, its products have been known for a high fun factor, darty go-kart like handling and a cute styling that made them feel more like a pet than a car. The latest generation of Mini products pushes the cute factor further, though it’s actually on the inside and the huge OLED display that’s standard in every model. Switching between the car’s various driving modes produces cool noises and actually changes the feel of the car throughout, giving a cute and soulful feel to the latest products from the iconic brand.
Abarth 500e
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Price: From $58,900 +ORC
Drivetrain: Front-mounted single-motor, 113kW/235Nm, 42kWh battery
Range: 253km
Why it’s got soul: Abarth’s angry-looking 500e is fun to drive, quick and even makes noises
There was fear amongst car enthusiasts when Fiat’s performance arm Abarth announced that it would only make EVs in the future because cars like the 595 are some of the most fun you can have behind the wheel. But when the very angry looking 500e launched, it was thankfully a hoot to drive. Even in a more introverted colour than the acid green shown above, the 500e is full of character too, from the various Abarth scorpion badges, acid green highlights and the speaker at the rear producing its fake noise.
Tesla Model 3 and Model Y Performance
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Price: From $80,900 +ORC (Model 3), $89,400 +ORC (Model Y)
Drivetrain: Dual-motor all-wheel drive, 343kW (Model 3)/460kW (est. Model Y), 82kWh battery (est.)
Range: 571km (WLTP – Model 3), 580km (WLTP – Model Y)
Why they have got soul: They’re great to drive, and packed full of fun features
Tesla was the first mass market EV brand to launch in many markets globally and really brought the whole ‘performance EV’ idea to many. It also changed the mindset on EVs for buyers as well. The brand’s fast models, like the Model 3 and Model Y Performance, especially, pull your face off with their acceleration and cornering ability, but they also offer lots of fun features to give them personality. Dive into the touchscreen and you’ll find the dog mode to keep your pet cool while you’re ducking out at the shops, or the whoopie cushion, or the Mars scape in the screen.
Ford Mustang Mach-E GT
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Price: From $98,490 +ORC
Drivetrain: Dual-motor all-wheel drive, 434kW/955Nm, 91kWh battery
Range: 515km (WLTP)
Why it’s got soul: More dynamic than most EVs, and quite fun to drive too
Although it doesn’t feature a V8 engine like its ICE coupe sibling, Ford’s only EV built from the ground up has seen modest sales in Australia, and we think it’s overlooked as every variant in the Mach-E range drives quite well. Even the base model Select offers steering feel not found on many EVs, the ride is well tuned and it’s a fun car to drive. The top-spec GT adds more performance too – making 434kW of power and a massive 955Nm of torque, it hits 100km/h in just 3.5 seconds and is a hoot to drive.
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Price: From $46,990 driveaway
Drivetrain: Front-mounted single-motor, 150kW/283Nm, 58.3kWh or 81.4kWh battery
Range: 436km (Standard Range) – 604km (Extended Range)
Why it’s got soul: It drives really well, and it’s also quite fun too
Sure, it’s a small SUV, and sure, the performance variant isn’t yet available in Australia, but the Kia EV3 just drives so well. Its styling gives it a cute and futuristic character, while the interior is refreshingly simple to look at but also warm and inviting due to the materials used, unlike the vast majority of its rivals. Priced from just $46,990 driveaway, the EV3 is also great value for money, and it can travel up to a long 604km on a charge. If you’re after a small electric SUV that will satisfy from behind the wheel, the EV3 is great.
Porsche Taycan
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Price: From $181,200 +ORC
Range: Rear-mounted single-motor and dual-motor all-wheel drive, up to 580kW, 105kWh battery
Why it’s got soul: Even though it’s electric, it’s still a Porsche. Duh
Yep, the Taycan is electric, but it’s still a Porsche and that means that it’s been engineered meticulously, offers plenty of feedback through the steering and is dynamically special. Both rear- and all-wheel drive drivetrains are available – even the base model makes a huge 300kW of power – and going up the range makes it even faster and more involving. The Taycan also looks like a proper Porsche and not a copy, and the Electric Sport Sound gives it more character too.
Kia EV6 GT
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Price: From $99,660 +ORC
Drivetrain: Dual-motor all-wheel drive, 478kW/770Nm, 84kWh battery
Range: 450km (WLTP)
Why it’s got soul: It borrows the Ioniq 5 N’s fake gear shifting tech, which gives it more driver engagement than many EVs
The EV6 GT was actually launched before its Ioniq 5 N cousin, though the Hyundai turned up the wick on the Kia considerably. Kia fired back with the EV6 GT’s facelift, which added even more power, the Hyundai’s fake gearing and its fake engine noises to give it more character and engage the driver even more. As a result, not only is the EV6 GT very fast but it’s also very fun to drive and full of soul.
Genesis GV60 Magma
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Price: From $120,000 (est. – yet to launch in Australia)
Drivetrain: Dual-motor all-wheel drive, 478kW/770Nm, 84kWh battery
Range: 448km (WLTP)
Why it’s got soul: Take the same answer from the EV6 GT above and apply a more luxurious fit and finish throughout
It’s not been released yet in Australia, but the early overseas ride reviews for the GV60 Magma have been quite positive in the way it drives. Plus, it’s almost identical underneath to the EV6 GT and the Ioniq 5 N, both of which are excellent drives. The GV60 Magma is the first production model from the brand’s new performance range, and aside from the masses of orange colouring, the soul in the GV60 Magma comes from its performance, fun factor and luxurious interior.
Honda Super-One
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Price: Under $40,000 (est. – yet to launch in Australia)
Drivetrain: Front-mounted single-motor, 47kW (74kW in boost mode), 29.6kWh battery
Range: 205km (in Europe; Australian figures TBC)
Why it’s got soul: Just look at it
Even though it’s only a tiny city car, and even though it only makes just 47kW of power, one of the electric cars with actual soul is the Honda Super-One. Firstly, just look at its funky styling, but secondly, look closer at details like the sports seats and purple ‘boost’ button and you realise that it means business and wants to have fun. A car encouraging you to have fun surely has a lot of soul. The Super-One is actually Honda‘s first electric vehicle to launch locally, and while it won’t be the biggest car on the market, we think it’s going to be an absolute hoot to drive.
