Which EV brand has the best design in 2026? | MVE

Electric car design raises a question that ICE cars never had to answer: should a car that works completely differently also look completely different? Manufacturers have given very different answers, and that's what makes the EV design landscape in 2026 genuinely interesting.

Exterior design: who takes risks?

Let's start with an honest hierarchy.

Porsche remains the benchmark for timeless design. The Taycan (2019) is 7 years old and hasn't aged a day. Its proportions are those of a true GT, its surfaces are taut without being aggressive. It's the textbook case in automotive design schools, and the Red Dot award it won confirms that.

Polestar plays the opposite card: total Scandinavian minimalism. The Polestar 2 and Polestar 3 have nearly flat surfaces, an assumed absence of ornamentation, and an interior-exterior visual consistency that's hard to find elsewhere. If you like Nordic design (Bang & Olufsen, Muuto, Hay), Polestar is made for you.

Genesis (the Korean premium brand, less well known in Belgium) has produced the most awarded cars in international competitions for the past 3 years. The GV60 with its distinctive front end, cross-shaped lights and flowing lines is one of the most recognised premium SUV designs of the decade. The problem: the dealership network in Belgium remains limited.

Peugeot is the positive surprise in the mainstream segment. The e-3008 (2023) has SUV-coupé proportions with a spectacular illuminated front end. The Car Design Award 2024 was no accident. In photos, it impresses. In person, it impresses too.

Which EV brand wins the interior design battle?

An EV's interior is a blank canvas. Without a transmission tunnel or gear lever, designers suddenly have space. Some have used it brilliantly.

Mercedes EQS: the Hyperscreen is a 141 cm panel stretching from door to door, slightly curved, unifying the entire dashboard. It's spectacular in photos, disorienting at first contact, and very well organised once you understand it. It's been the most talked-about interior on the market since 2021.

Hyundai IONIQ 5: the retro-futuristic inspiration (references to the 1970s Pony) creates a unique atmosphere. The recycled-material headliner, the completely flat floor, the screens that pivot for the passenger... it's been thought through from start to finish as a living space, not a technical cockpit.

BMW i4 / iX: the BMW curved dual display (iDrive Curved Display) is clean, readable, with consistent premium materials. Less spectacular than Mercedes, but more serious and easier to use day to day.

Tesla makes a radical choice: a single 15-inch central screen, almost no physical controls, a dashboard that looks like a tablet mounted on a shelf. You love it or you don't, but it's a genuine design statement, not laziness. The consistency is total.

Renault Mégane E-Tech: the horizontal interior with the portrait screen and the light strip is well above what you'd expect from a compact at this price. Renault hired art directors who previously worked in luxury, and it shows.

Does design really reveal an EV brand's DNA?

Some brands have made electric design a strong signature. Hyundai-Kia with the E-GMP platform and its boxy proportions fully embraces the "EV" look. Renault with the illuminated diamond emblem and horizontal lines creates a cohesive visual family. Peugeot with the lion in the illuminated grille and the i-Cockpit does the same.

Others stick to conservatism: the Volkswagen ID.4 looks like an oversized Golf, the Skoda Enyaq is sober and functional without trying to make a statement. That's not a flaw if it's what you're looking for.

What design evolution should we expect from EVs in the coming years?

A point worth noting for 2026: Chinese manufacturers are progressing rapidly on design. The BYD Seal has a sleek silhouette that holds its own against any European saloon. The AITO M9 (Huawei / Seres) has a cascading-screen interior that surpasses what BMW and Mercedes offer. These models are not all available in Belgium yet, but they are redefining market expectations for what's possible at a given price point.

Frequently asked questions

What criteria should you use to judge electric car design?

Car design covers two axes: the exterior (silhouette, proportions, light treatment, visual consistency) and the interior (ergonomics, materials, control layout, ambient lighting). For EVs specifically, a third criterion matters: does the design reflect the vehicle's electric nature, or is it an ICE car with a charging port tacked on?

Which electric car wins the most design awards?

In recent years: the Genesis GV60 and Electrified G80 have won multiple Red Dot Design Awards and iF Design Awards. The Polestar 2 and Polestar 3 are regularly awarded for the consistency of their interior-exterior design. The Porsche Taycan received the German Design Award and features in automotive design reference studies as an example of successful electric design.

Is Peugeot really a design brand?

Peugeot has a strong design heritage (the 205, the 406 Coupé Pininfarina, the 607) that faded in the 2010s. The comeback with the i-Cockpit (2016) and the acceleration with the e-3008 (2023) mark a real shift. The Peugeot e-3008 won the Car Design Award 2024 in the SUV category. The panoramic i-Cockpit interior is one of the most sophisticated in the mainstream range. This is no longer a brand that copies — it's a brand that creates.

Does BYD have good design?

BYD has undergone a radical transformation since 2021 with the hiring of Wolfgang Egger (former head of design at Audi, Alfa Romeo). The Seal (saloon), Han and Atto 3 have noticeably more mature designs than previous generations. The Seal's interior with its rotating screen is a strong visual signature. BYD is less consistent than Peugeot or Polestar (the range is broad and varied), but the direction is clear.

Which EV has the best interior design?

At the top end, the Mercedes EQS with its Hyperscreen (a 141 cm panel spanning the entire dashboard) is an extraordinary visual statement. The BMW Panoramic iDrive (iX, i7) is more restrained but very well executed. Among mainstream models, the Hyundai IONIQ 5 with its retro-futuristic interior (inspired by the 1970s Pony), recycled-material headliner and completely flat floor is one of the most cohesive interiors in its segment.

Is the Renault Mégane E-Tech well designed?

Yes, and it's a pleasant surprise compared to previous Méganes. The Mégane E-Tech (2022) has a very horizontal interior with a well-integrated dual 9-inch portrait screen, decent materials for the class and quality ambient lighting. The exterior is more discreet, with clean bodywork and few gimmicks. It's not the car that turns every head, but it's a cohesive design that has aged well — rare at this price point.

Which electric car brand has the best design in 2026?