Octopus EV reveals Q2’s hottest electric cars as new entrants race straight into the top five
Leapmotor B10 and Vauxhall Frontera make an immediate impact just months after launch
Three of Octopus EV’s top five best-performing models now come from newer brands
Tesla Model Y returns to the top spot as competition intensifies across the SUV market
London, 6th July 2026 – Octopus Electric Vehicles, the UK’s leading EV-only leasing company, has revealed its top five most popular electric vehicles for Q2 2026, with two brand-new entrants making an immediate splash and newer manufacturers continue to strengthen their grip on the market.
Fresh from their February launches, the Leapmotor B10 and Vauxhall Frontera have gone straight into Octopus EV’s top five, landing in second and fifth place. Their rapid rise reflects growing demand from drivers for bigger, better-equipped electric SUVs at more accessible prices.
While the Tesla Model Y reclaimed the top spot this quarter, 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.
Octopus EV released their top performing EV models 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% year-on-year increase.*
Octopus Electric Vehicles’ Top Five Most Popular EVs – Q2 2026
Tesla Model Y
Leapmotor B10
JAECOO E5
OMODA E5
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 to Q3 2026
Commenting on what to expect for the next quarter 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.”
-Ends-
Notes to editors:
* New Automotive June EV data - reported in Reuters (03.07.2026)
Press Contact
Octopus Energy
Sam Salehi
sam.salehi@octoenergy.com
0204 5308 369
Octopus Electric Vehicles
Octopus Electric Vehicles, part of the Octopus Energy Group, was launched in 2018 to make it easy for drivers to make the switch to clean, electric transport. With over 133 electric cars now available from 30 different brands, Octopus Electric Vehicles’ team provides everything drivers need to take the road in a new EV.
Offering an all-in-one service, Octopus lease the cars, install charge points, provide specialist EV energy tariffs, and offer access to over 1.4m public charge points across Europe via Octopus Electroverse - all with a 4.8* rating on Trustpilot.
Octopus Electric Vehicles also specialises in salary sacrifice schemes – an employee benefit that makes driving a brand new electric car even cheaper than the petrol or diesel equivalent through tax savings. Placing customer experience first, Octopus Electric Vehicles has designed the scheme to be simple for an employer to set up and run, and support them at every step. Drivers can typically save between 30-40% every month on the cost of their EV; and at zero-cost for an employer to set up, it’s great for their team, their hiring and retention, and for their sustainability goals.
More information can be found at www.octopusev.com