Best ULEZ-Exempt Cars in 2024

The Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) is an initiative to discourage drivers from using roads in Central London (North and South Circular Roads). A daily ULEZ charge to drive in the zone is £12.50 unless a car meets minimum emissions standards:

• Euro 3 for motorcycles (L category)
• Euro 4 (NOx) for petrol cars, vans, and minibuses
• Euro 6 (NOx and PM) for diesel cars, vans, and minibuses

This is only a short explanation. For help and advice on cars, car finance options, dealers, and other car-related questions, reach out to Carplus. We’ll guide you through the entire journey, from choosing to financing a car.

And now, let’s finally move on to the best ULEZ-compliant cars.

1. Ford Fiesta

The first thing to mention about the Ford Fiesta is its compact dimensions and low running costs, i.e., it’s incredibly efficient to run. For a car in the supermini class, it still boasts a powerful engine. And it performs well on the highway while maintaining the official 65.7 mpg fuel economy. The smooth handling and ride quality come as a plus.

The best choice for many would be the 1.0-litre Ecoboost turbo petrol engine. You can drive the 99 ps form on its own or pair the engine with a mild-hybrid system to produce a more impressive 123 ps.

The choice of an engine is nothing more than a personal choice. All engines in the Ford Fiesta product line are ULEZ-exempt.

2. Nissan Leaf

The Nissan Leaf was one of the trailblazers in the electric car market. Pre-2018 models helped drivers make the green switch to fuel efficiency. But post-2018 is where the model truly excels in terms of performance (0 to 62 mph in 6.9-7.9 seconds) and range (109 miles and upwards).

To stay under the emission limit, drivers should go for the electric version with a 40 kWh or 62 kWh battery. The former offers 147 ps and up to 168 miles, while the latter promises 214 ps and a range of up to 239 miles.

For convenience, look for the 6.6 kW onboard charger, which tops up the battery in under four hours (from 0% to 100%). So, if you have a home charger and don’t spend all day driving, the Leaf will be great for getting you into Central London.

3. Renault Zoe

The Zoe is an all-electric vehicle that’ll easily transport you within the ULEZ. The entry-level version comes with a 52-kWh battery pack, capable of 245 miles of range when fully charged. Bear in mind that the EV capabilities drop slightly in harsh weather conditions.

There are also shorter-range 22 kWh models available, which are perfect for those who don’t cover long distances (under 150 miles a day or between charges). No matter the configuration, Renault’s supermini is guaranteed to always comply with the tightening environmental restrictions.

The biggest decision prospective buyers are facing is the decision between charging options. The rapid charger isn’t available as a standard, so be ready to pay more unless you have an AC Fast charge point nearby.

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4. BMW X1

SUVs are not your typical ULEZ-exempt cars, so you may be surprised to see one here. As some of the bulkiest and fuel-hungry cars on the road, SUVs can still make practical and environmentally friendly vehicles.

Out of all configurations, we’d recommend going for the xDrive25e. This is a plug-in hybrid with a fuel efficiency of 156.9 mpg. An all-electric range - which reaches 30 miles (although it translates to about 20 miles in real-life conditions) - is ensured by the 10-kWh battery. The full charge from 0 to 100 takes 3.5 hours on a 7.4 kW home wall box and about 4 hours on a standard three-pin plug.

The all-electric is available with one motor and battery combination. A 313hp dual-motor setup can get you from 0 to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds, and a 76-kWh battery offers 272 miles of range.

5. Kia Sportage

The Sportage is another SUV that surprisingly made it to ULEZ exceptions. Of course, it’s not due to the 187 ps default powertrain - it’s the hybrid variant.

Kia’s newest PHEV model combines a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine with an electric motor and generates 226 horses. The standard comes with a 66.9-kW electric motor and a 13.8-kWh battery pack and allows drivers to travel 32 miles on electricity alone before the combustion engine kicks in.

The automaker brought a 2-hour recharge through a home or public charger and quick acceleration from 0 to 62 mph in 7.7 seconds, making the hybrid the fastest Sportage available. The non-hybridised, non-compliant car is a bit slower, reaching the same speed in 9.9 seconds.

6. Mazda MX-5

SkyActiv-X is a combustion engine designed by Mazda to act as a standalone power unit, as well as in hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

The fully electrified version of the MX-5 is not available yet. But Mazda MX-5 confirmed that 25% of its model lineup would be fully electric cars in the next decade, including the much-loved MX-5 Miata. The fully electrified engine will come with a 97-kW battery.

The ULEZ-exempt MX-5, available now, is a hybrid version of the 2.0-litre SkyActiv-X. It’s advertised as pulling like a turbodiesel but accelerating like a normally aspirated gasoline engine. Mazda made a few interesting comments, saying that the model was real-world efficiency, not just the government tests.

7. Volkswagen Golf

Golf’s hybrid and electric versions are allowed in the ultra-low emissions zone, which can’t be said about the petrol models.

The hybrid drive in the Golf is made of a turbocharged petrol engine and an almost silent electric motor. The combined power of the motor delivers 245 ps and a torque of up to 400 Nm. The electric e-mode is suitable for an urban drive - it covers a distance of up to 38 miles. The TSI engine sets in to increase range on the highway. On the country roads, the car engages both power units.

The fully electric version is equipped with a 35.8 kWh battery. The energy reserve is enough for an officially stated range of 186 miles. Also, the 134 ps e-motor allows the Golf to accelerate to 62 mph in 9.6 seconds.

8. SEAT Ibiza

The Ibiza won’t require drivers to pay the ULEZ charge, even in the diesel version. The 1.6 TDI is an incredibly efficient engine, producing 95 ps and maintaining a decent fuel economy of under 61.4 mpg.

SEAT’s self-charging hybrid cars don’t have conventional batteries. This electrified engine charges itself by recycling and storing the kinetic energy, which would normally be lost through braking or deceleration. So, there is no need to recharge the battery at home or at charging stations.

The car achieves impressive 99 g/km emissions and offers claimed economy of 74.3 mpg. Despite what you might expect from a 79 ps unit, Ibiza can offer a sporty driving experience.

9. Nissan Qashqai

The e-Power engine (mild-hybrid petrol) makes the Qashqai one of the best ULEZ-exempt powertrains on the city road. The standard 1.5-litre engine acts as a generator to charge the battery. In other words, it feeds the car’s electrical systems. In turn, the battery powers the electric motor to drive the wheels.

Similar to SEAT’s Ibiza, Nissan Qashqai uses the energy recovered under braking. Only this time, the battery is also chargeable. Thanks to the combined power of recovered energy and the battery, the car can spend nearly two-thirds of its time on roads using electric power alone.

The e-Power can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 7.9 seconds, but the car still feels most at home in urban settings.

10. Volvo XC40

One of the best configurations in Volvo’s XC40 product line is the plug-in hybrid recharge T4 petrol car. At this point, you’re already familiar with how the recharging mechanism works, so we’ll spare the explanation. Together with the 1.5-litre petrol engine, the electric motor offers a combined output of 211 ps. It accelerates to 62 mph in 8.5 seconds, which is more than enough for an average driver.

There is also an option of a more powerful T5 PHEV, which manages 0-62 mph acceleration in 7.3 seconds. Both XC40’s hybrid versions handle 21 miles in the electric-only mode.

Volvo is rumoured to release a fully electric engine in 2023 with a 223-mile range, 4.7-second acceleration (0-60 mph), 402 hp, and a 37-minute fast charge (10-80%).

11. Hyundai Ioniq

The Ioniq fits the category of ULEZ-compliant cars in the hybrid and fully electric versions. As usual, let’s start with the hybrid.

The car is equipped with both petrol engines and electric motors (1.6-kWh batteries), which generate a combined output of 139 hp. The limited capabilities of a small battery are compensated by regenerative braking. What’s more, the base Ioniq Blue model has scored the highest in terms of fuel efficiency out of all competing hybrids on the market.

The Ioniq electric’s 100kW electric motor generates zero emissions while providing 120 ps and a peak torque rating of 295 Nm.

12. Toyota Prius

Five years ago, Prime was one of the few plug-in hybrids. And it still remains a remarkably efficient hatchback.

Every standard Prius hybrid has a 1.8-litre petrol engine that is also equipped with a battery pack that powers an electric motor. This version is limited to the self-charging functionality, meaning it can only transform the braking power.

The Toyota Prius Plug-in version, on the other hand, can be charged to cover an electric-only distance of 34 miles. The battery is relatively tiny - 1.3-kWh - but it should be enough to handle city driving. The total charge takes two hours at a 240-volt outlet.

13. Honda Jazz

Honda’s e:HEV full hybrid is self-charging with no need for regular supply because it draws power from the combustion engine and regenerative braking. The Jazz delivers a driving range of up to 536 miles on a full tank. But the electric-only range is somewhat limited, considering the tiny 0.86kWh battery is only suited for short distances.

Even though the car couldn’t diminish emissions to zero, the CO2 emissions of just 79-141 g/km ensure that the Jazz is ULEZ compliant. The official 62.8 mpg fuel economy is also a huge plus for prospective owners.

Conclusion

Other major cities in the UK are also planning to introduce low emissions zones in the future. But because ULEZ has the strictest emissions standards in the country, your car will be compliant with clean air zones elsewhere if it passes the ULEZ requirements.

So, in conclusion to our list of the best ULEZ-exempt cars, here are the cities any of these twelve cars will also be compliant:

• Birmingham
• Brighton
• Glasgow
• Leeds
• Norwich
• Nottingham
• Oxford

Bath, Bristol, Cardiff, Derby, Hull, Manchester, Middleton, Sheffield, and Southampton are working on their zones, too.

If you’re ready to make the switch, let us know! Our car finance tool is the best in the game for comparing quotes, checking eligibility, and getting approved fast. Our team at Carplus is always there for you.