Throughout history, there have always been tipping-point moments when what was once feared has been embraced. Horses to horseless carriages, candles to light bulbs, brooms to vacuum cleaners. Electric cars are having a harder time finding favour, but the global shift is finally gaining momentum: more than 10 million EVs have now found homes, with annual increases between 230 and 300 percent, year-on-year, depending on the market. And while China remains focused on affordable electric cars, much of the rest of the world is producing exclusive vehicles, where silence and effortless power make the most sense in the electric realm. These are the key players for 2025.
North of the Black Forest
Volvo’s brave decision to transition entirely to electric by 2030 shook the world back in 2021 and it hasn’t been easy. But the Swedish company now has a distinct advantage over others playing catch-up. Their enormously successful hatchback EX30 is a South African favourite, well-loved and coveted in equal measure, paving the way for the equally pretty, full-sized SUV, the EX90. Pretty? Volvo are masters of cool and EX90 delivers a masterclass in design simplicity. Its sister, the XC90, while no ugly duckling, does suddenly seems overly fussy, so pure are the EX90’s lines. And given it’s a full seven-seater, the achievement is that much more admirable. Inside it gets even better, with a light, elegant Scandinavian template as calming as it is exceptional.
Powering the big Swede are two motors and a 111kWh battery pack, good for a range of 480km before a charge is needed. And, on a fast charger, that’ll take under an hour. Acceleration, as expected, is seamless and of the fist-in-a-velvet-glove type: no noise, no drama, just elegant progress at the rate of 4.9 seconds to 100km/h. The ride, happily, has been improved, this beast softer and more compliant over bad roads. It all adds up to a powerful argument for buying north of the Black Forest; EX90 easily has the making of the Germans, most notably Mercedes-Benz’s EQE and BMW’s iX.
Drama revisited
Porsche’s first fully electric production model introduced happy customers to the concept of an NEV (new energy vehicle) as a ballistic sports car. It set records across racetracks and gained a faithful, adoring following. For 2025, Porsche has both refined and innovated. New batteries and charging systems mean it’s capable of half-hour charging times. They’ve also introduced a real beast, the Taycan Turbo GT, which manages 0-100km in just 2.3 seconds. Imagine what that feels like, especially as electric’s party trick is offering all of its power immediately. Neck braces and strong stomachs are called for. Yet Taycan’s real appeal is its everyday useability. It has four seats and a suspension system that is configured for comfort as well as dynamism. Add a superbly communicative steering and chassis setup and a very liveable cabin, and you have a recipe for satisfaction. For the ultimate city and touring version, opt for the Turismo, an extended model that is arguably more good-looking as well as roomier, with a full-sized hatchback and plenty of room in that boot.
Big name, big beast
Taking what was a flagship for old-school simplicity and turning it into a cutting-edge new tech hero takes guts, but then Mercedes-Benz has never shied away from a challenge. This is quite the sell though, turning the iconic G-Wagen into an electric 4×4. The G580 marks the launch of production-ready off-road vehicles into the market. Does it work? In a word, yes. With all of the G-Class off-road can-do as standard, it’s a breeze on the rough stuff; lockable differentials, high and low range and superb ground clearance make for stress-free exploring. And inside it’s the equal of any luxury sedan, the marque’s latest infotainment and electronic suites included. The Achilles heel is range – clearly G580 is going to be a weekend warrior, good for sorties into the countryside that are no more than 250km away. It’s range of roughly 500km reduces dramatically in head-wind conditions. There’s a reason most electric cars are teardrop shaped – aerodynamics are vital in the electric environment.
This is quite the sell though, turning the iconic G-Wagen into an electric 4×4. The G580 marks the launch of production- ready off-road vehicles into the market.
Peter Frost
