The fastest-accelerating cars in the UK, and the slowest

Version Turbo GT W/ Weissach Pack | 0-62mph time 2.2sec

We're big fans of the Porsche Taycan, which even in standard form offers performance and pampering comfort in equal measure. As an electric performance car it has very few equals – but in range-topping Turbo GT form, and with the optional Weissach performance pack added, it's an absolute monster.

With a scarcely believable 1020bhp going to its wheels, the Taycan Turbo GT feels outrageously fast, pushing you back into your seat with the sort of clout you'd expect from Thor's hammer – and you'll be at 62mph just 2.2sec after you set off, making it the fastest-accelerating car you can currently buy.

What's especially impressive about the Taycan, though, is how very usable and comfortable it is when you're not breaking acceleration records. You can fit more into its boot than you can into a regular Volkswagen Golf family car, for example, and while the rival Mercedes EQE has a touch more room for rear passengers, a couple of six-footers will still be comfy in the back of the Taycan.

If there was ever a car for all seasons, we think the Porsche Taycan comes pretty close.

Read our full Porsche Taycan review

Version RS Performance | 0-62mph time 2.5sec

It should come as little surprise to see the Audi E-tron GT trail its Porsche Taycan rival by mere fractions of a second, here – after all, the two cars are mechanical siblings, sharing many of their components underneath their bodies. In a similar fashion to the Taycan Turbo GT, the RS Performance version of the E-tron GT is the most powerful version on offer, and its motors develop a colossal 738bhp under normal conditions.

We say 'normal conditions' because, if you engage the launch control function, that output is briefly upped to 912bhp, which helps the E-tron GT to rocket to 62mph in 2.5sec. And while the RS Performance can't go quite as far as the regular E-tron GT between charges, the difference isn't enough to make a big difference in real-world conditions.

Elsewhere, the E-tron GT offers direct and accurate steering, yet it's quieter at motorway speeds than the Tesla Model 3, meaning it can also be a relaxing companion for long journeys. You can fit a set of golf clubs in the E-tron GT's boot without any trouble, and there's a front boot with usefully deep storage for a couple of soft bags.

We just with some of the interior materials felt a bit more upmarket, because some feel barely any more luxurious than in the Audi A3 family hatchback.

Read our full Audi E-tron GT review

Version Turbo W/ Sport Chrono Pack | 0-62mph time 2.7sec

No version of the Porsche 911 sports car feels slow when you put your foot down, but the Turbo delivers the kind of acceleration which will have you pinned to you seat. It's currently only available as a special edition celebrating 50 years of the model.

With the optional Sport Chrono Pack fitted, the 911 Turbo can reach 62mph in 2.7sec, and, if you can find the kind of road where it's legal to do so, will keep going to a top speed of 205mph. Expect costs of all kinds to be eye-watering, whether it's the £200,600 needed to own the car in the first place, or the 23.0mpg fuel economy you'll get when you drive it.

Inside, the materials used in the 911 all feel top-notch, and while you can fit more into the boot of the rival Jaguar F-Type or Mercedes-AMG GT, there's still enough room in the Porsche's front boot for a couple of soft bags.

Read our full Porsche 911 review

Version 620 | 0-60mph time 2.79sec

The Caterham Seven has lightness on its side, meaning it doesn't need a lot of power to rocket up to 62mph. It's also super simple, with an engine, two seats and a basic interior which doesn't include a fixed roof. You can even build it yourself if you choose to.

The cheapest model is powered by a tiny three-cylinder petrol engine, but here we're looking at the range-topping 620 model, which is primarily designed for track use. With 310bhp available from its supercharged 2.0-litre petrol engine in such a lightweight body, this Caterham feels like a tiny rocket ship. Left unchecked, it'll keep accelerating to 149mph.

As you might expect, practicality in the Caterham Seven is limited to whatever you can fit on the passenger seat, be that some luggage or a friend. The interior is also narrow, and there's not a lot of space for your hips, or to rest your foot when it's not on the clutch pedal.

Read our full Caterham Seven review

Version E Performance | 0-62mph time 2.8sec

The Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance is proof that hybrid power can be used for fun as well as frugality. It keeps the 604bhp V8 petrol engine from the lesser AMG 63 Pro model, but adds a 202bhp electric motor – with the result being that it can get you to 62mph faster than a Ferrari 296 GTB.

Despite being a plug-in hybrid, you won't get very far on electric power alone, with the E Performance's official range being just 6.8 miles. And while fuel economy is better than most other versions, at an official 34.5mpg, you'll need to be particularly green-footed to get anywhere close to that.

We like the dramatic looks of the Mercedes-AMG GT inside, because it feels suitably futuristic and its huge infotainment screen is easy to read. The quality of materials is a bit hit and miss, though, and in most respects fails to match the high bar set by the Porsche 911 or Bentley Continental GT.

Read our full Mercedes-AMG GT review

Version Performance | 0-60mph time 2.9sec

Tesla's most affordable model is an outstanding electric car, and in range-topping Performance guise it's also incredibly fast, dispatching the 0-62mph sprint in 2.9sec. Power — 618bhp of it — is sent to all four wheels via two electric motors, and as you'd expect from an electric model, pressing your foot to the floor results in being pinned back in your seat.

It's not like range suffers much if you choose the Performance over more eco-focussed versions of the Model 3, either, because it can still officially mange 328 miles between charges – more than the entry-level RWD, but less than the 390 miles of the Long Range. And let's not forget the convenience or speed or using the Tesla Supercharger network when you need to plug in.

The Model 3 is a comfortable choice, despite having a ride which is firmer than that of the rival Volkswagen ID 7. It also handles well, being keener to change direction than the ID 7 or the BYD Seal. There's decent space for luggage split between the Model 3's twin boots, too, and you should have no trouble fitting your holiday luggage inside.

While the Lamborghini Huracan Evo, McLaren 720S and Ferrari 296GTB match the Model 3's 0-62mph time, we've put the Model 3 first here because it costs so much less to buy, with prices starting from £62,980 for the Performance model.

Read our full Tesla Model 3 review

Version Evo | 0-62mph time 2.9sec

Above all, a Lamborghini should be a theatrical motoring experience, and the Huracan is exactly that. With 631bhp coming from its V10 petrol engine, the Huracan Evo sounds outrageous, whether you're pootling around town or setting lap times at your local track. And if you're doing the latter, it's good to know that the Huracan can officially rocket you to motorway speeds in just 2.9sec.

While its steering isn't as communicative as that of a Porsche 911 or McLaren 720S, the Huracan feels delightfully playful through corners, with the latest Evo model allowing for a little more slide from the rear end than the first-generation Huracan.

The drama of the Huracan's exterior continues inside, but most things are also usable. The 12.3in digital instrument cluster is easy to read, for example, and everything feels well screwed together. It's a shame, though, that even something as simple as changing the stereo volume is now done through the infotainment touchscreen.

Of course, if you're worried about costs, then the chances are that the Huracan is not for you. But if you can afford to buy and run one, the Huracan is a flambuoyantly brilliant sports car.

Read our full Lamborghini Huracan Evo review

Version 720S | 0-62mph time 2.9sec

Like a good number of the cars on this list, the McLaren 720S spectacular 0-62mph time of 2.9sec is helped by two things – power and weight. 

For the former, it gets a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 petrol engine developing 710bhp. And for the latter, well, with a weight of just 1419kg the 720S doesn't weigh much more than a typical family hatchback. 

It won't surprise you to learn that the 720S feels explosively fast, with self-adjusting wings and ducts on the car helping you to stick to the road whether you're accelerating along straight stretches or darting through corners. What is surprising is how easy this McLaren is to drive quickly – indeed, it's no harder to drive than a regular Porsche Cayman, meaning it inspires confidence to push on.

On the motorway, the 720S is just as cosetting as most executive saloons, and while it can't match those cars for stroage space, the front boot is large enough for a couple of weekend bags, and you can stash a set of golf clubs behind the seats.

Read our full McLaren 720S review

Version 296 GTB | 0-62mph time 2.9sec

The Ferrari 296 GTB is a good example of duality in action. On the one hand, its 15-mile electric-only range means you can drive through city streets with no amount of fuss, leaving passers by scratching their heads as to whether this really is a Ferrari. And once on the open road, you can fire up the V6 petrol engine, sprint to 62mph in less time than it takes to swig a cappucino and remind them that, yes, it is.

Despite being a complex car, the 296 GTB doesn't feel intimidating. Indeed, its light steering and well controlled chassis means that pushing on in the Ferrari is about fun rather than frustration. The ride is smooth on country roads, though it does get a little brittle around town – though the adaptive dampers do a better job at rounding off lumps and bumps than most rivals.

There are only two seats in the 296 GTB, but they're spacious enough for even taller adults to find comfort. Plus, while there's no traditional boot as such, the 'frunk' is large enough for a couple of overnight bags. A Porsche 911 is even more spacious, though.

Read our full Ferrari 296 GTB review

Version Eletre R | 0-62mph time 2.95sec

Lotus' first fully electric car is a big and heavy SUV – but one which still more than performs like the sports cars the brand is famous for. While the entry-level Eletre and mid-range Eletre S both produce 603bhp, the range-topping Eletre R has its power upped to 905bhp. And while we're yet to drive the R, even the S feels quick, though it doesn't push you back into your seat in the way that a Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo might. 

The Eletre looks suitably upmarket inside, with a 15.1in infotainment touchscreen and premium materials such as Alcantara. And unlike some of the Lotus models of old, everything inside the Eletre feels well put together and built to last. As a bonus, your passengers will find that they have plenty of room to stretch out, and can enjoy even more head and leg room than they'd find in a Bentley Bentayga.

While the Porsche Cayenne can carry more luggage in its boot, you still shouldn't struggle to fit your holiday suitcases into the Eletre – plus there's a 'frunk' for storing the charging cables.

Read our full Lotus Eletre review

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