SUVs excel at practicality, passenger space, and hauling sizeable luggage - but they’re far from the perfect fit for every driver.
Plenty of people favour smaller cars for their lightness, manoeuvrability, and everyday usability.
Fortunately, carmakers have taken notice.
A growing wave of compact electric models is hitting the market, from retro-styled favourites like the Renault 5 to modern hot hatches such as the Abarth 500e.
So which small electric cars deserve your attention?
We’ve put together a comprehensive list of the standout options that we think are genuinely worth your money.
Renault 5
The Renault 5 is one of the best small electric cars on sale today, with a striking design, a good driving range and decent all-round comfort.
It’s available with two different powertrains. The cheapest has a 120bhp motor and a 40kWh battery, while the more expensive has a 150bhp motor and a 50kWh battery.
With the 40kWh battery, the Renault 5 has a range of 308km (191 miles), while the larger 50kWh unit produces a far more livable 407km (252 miles).
Aside from its retro design, the Renault 5 features a premium interior with lots of solid-feeling materials. The seating position is ideal too, offering plenty of visibility. Ride comfort is up there with the best in the class.
Mini Cooper E
The Cooper E is the battery-powered small EV we always wanted from Mini, being more refined and offering a better range than its predecessor. The sleek new Cooper E is more powerful than before and boasts a longer range.
Entry-level cars are powered by a 181bhp electric motor paired with a 40.7kWh battery, with a range of 305km (190 miles). The Cooper SE gets 215bhp and a 54.2kWh battery, which is good for 250 miles of range.
Despite some minor concerns, this electric hatchback ranks among the segment's finest. The cabin is an inviting space, boasting an abundance of premium materials, though some drivers may be deterred by the complicated and difficult-to-use infotainment system.
Renault 4
The Renault 4 is the Renault 5’s SUV-styled sibling, geared towards practicality rather than fun.
There’s more interior space with this car, with a boot measuring 375 litres, which is 50% larger than its hatchback sibling.
Every Renault 4 gets a 53kWh battery with a 148bhp motor. It will travel from 0-100kph (0-62mph) in 8.2sec, which is reasonable for a car of this type.
As for range, Renault claims you’ll get up to 397km (249 miles) on a charge, which is bolstered by a maximum charging speed of 100kW.
Kia EV3
The Kia EV3 stands out as an exceptionally well-balanced electric vehicle, offering a compelling blend of practicality, performance, range, and versatility in an affordably priced package. This makes it a far more attractive choice than its competitors.
One of its key strengths is an interior atmosphere designed to make anyone, regardless of age, feel comfortable - a rare quality in many cars.
Furthermore, its substantial 81.4kWh battery surpasses rivals, providing an impressive range of 603km (375 miles).
MG 4
When the MG 4 first arrived, it proved to be a vital car in transforming the brand’s perception. It’s one of the more rational EV purchases a driver can make due to its long range, enjoyable demeanour and low entry price.
It was launched with two powertrains and two trim levels. The standard-range model, named the MG 4 EV, has a 51kWh battery and 168bhp, while the Long Range model gets 201bhp and a 64kWh battery.
About a year later, those were joined by the 77kWh MG4 Extended Range and the dual-motor, four-wheel drive MG 4 XPower. With its extended range battery, the MG 4 offers as high as 519km (323 miles) on a charge.
BYD Seagull
BYD’s Seagull, known as the Dolphin Surf in the United Kingdom, is one of China’s cheapest electric cars.
It’s available with either 87bhp or 154bhp. With 87bhp, drivers will hit 0-100kph (0-62mph) in 12.1sec. This time drops to around 9.0sec with the more powerful 154bhp motor.
The Seagull also comes with two battery options. A small 30kWh battery produces a city-friendly 220km (137 miles) of range, while a larger 43.2kWh unit raises the game to 321km (200 miles).
Inside, the Seagull is a comfortable place to sit and boasts lots of equipment. All cars get a rotatable infotainment screen and a digital driver display, while some specifications add premium equipment, including heated seats and a reversing camera.
Citroen e-C3
The boxy e-C3 has lots going for it, including a smart, handsome design with a practical interior.
There’s just one powertrain available: a single motor producing 113bhp, paired with a 44kWh battery. Range stands at 328km (201 miles), with a maximum charging speed of 100kW.
The Citroen has 310 litres of boot space to play with, which isn’t quite as much as the Renault 4, but space increases to 1188 litres with the rear seats folded flat.
Inside, the e-C3 comfortably matches its rivals for equipment. As standard, it gets LED headlights, parking sensors, a head-up display and a 10.25-inch touchscreen, while top versions get heated seats, a heated steering wheel and automatic air conditioning.
Vauxhall/Opel Corsa
The electric Vauxhall Corsa has been on sale since 2020 and has since become one of the world’s most popular small electric cars.
The hatchback gained a design update recently, which added the car maker’s visor front end, as well as a new battery line-up.
Two batteries are available: one offering 428km of range, and another with 355km (220 miles) of range.
As for power, the Corsa also gets two motor options. The range opens with a 134bhp motor, with a more powerful 154bhp option adding some extra punch. With this, the Corsa becomes one of the fastest options in the class.
Dacia Spring
The Dacia Spring stands out as one of the world's most affordable full-size electric cars.
The base model, featuring a modest 44bhp electric motor, has a leisurely 0-100km/h (0-62mph) time of 19.1 seconds.
Opting for the slightly more expensive 64bhp variant improves the sprint to 13.7 seconds. While still not fast, this performance is comparable to a 1.0-litre Volkswagen Up.
Both versions are powered by a 26.8kWh battery, offering a claimed range of 220km (137 miles) overall, or up to 299km (186 miles) with careful city driving.
Standard equipment levels are good, including a 7.0-inch touchscreen, electric windows, cruise control, and rear parking sensors.
Volkswagen ID 3
Despite initial strong sales, the Volkswagen ID.3's progress in becoming a true successor to the Golf was hampered by persistent issues. Volkswagen addressed these concerns with a much-needed facelift, which aimed to fix infotainment faults and included several key updates.
The hatchback now features a more striking front design, a simplified model structure, and better interior material quality. Crucially, the infotainment touchscreen was significantly overhauled and is now far more user-friendly than its predecessor. However, the touch-sensitive heating controls located below the screen, as well as those on the steering wheel, remain.
The current ID.3 lineup consists of the 52kWh Pure, the 58kWh Pro, and the 77kWh Pro S. The latter promises an impressive range of up to 555km (345 miles).
In terms of driving, the ID.3 is difficult to fault. While it doesn't offer the engaging feel of the technically related Cupra Born, it features adequately agile steering and is exceptionally easy to drive in urban areas and manoeuvre in car parks. Moreover, like the Golf, it maintains good ride quality, even for a heavy compact car equipped with large wheels.
Ford Puma Gen-E
The Ford Puma Gen-E might just be the most important car in this list, not least because it brings some genuine driver engagement to the class.
This is the all-electric version of the UK's best-selling car, and it's Ford's second crack at an electric car that has been developed fully in-house, following the Mustang Mach-E (the Explorer and Capri were both co-developed with Volkswagen).
Energy comes from a 43.6kWh battery, which drives a 166bhp, front-mounted electric motor. According to Ford, you will get around 374km (233 miles) of range on a charge.
Peugeot e-208
The Peugeot 208, in its electric form, offers a compelling package, unlike its unremarkable combustion-engined counterpart.
It boasts a genuinely usable range, good performance, practicality, style, and a sense of quality.
However, it is not without flaws, including a high price tag, a disappointing interior, and a confusing powertrain and trim line-up. Its steering is notably direct, though body control suffers somewhat during spirited driving.
Ultimately, it shares its underpinnings with the Corsa but comes with a significantly higher cost. It's arguably a choice driven more by style than practicality.
Alpine A290
The Alpine A290 stands out as one of the top electric sports cars available, being much more than simply a rebranded Renault 5.
It boasts a sophisticated ride, precise steering, and a truly responsive throttle, complemented by an interior that feels both impressive and high-quality.
Mechanically, the A290 shares a similar suspension layout but features Alpine-specific upgrades. These include new springs and dampers, anti-roll bars, hydraulic bump stops, and a lighter aluminium front subframe.
Customers can choose between two power outputs: 178bhp or 217bhp. The quicker model, which has been the focus of our testing, claims a 0-62mph sprint time of 6.4 seconds.
Fiat 500e
The Fiat 500e was one of the pioneering small electric cars, having been on sale since 2020. Its design is timeless, and its capabilities are still strong.
Back then, it was a standout option for driver engagement and range, and while things haven’t quite moved on since then, it’s still a good option for drivers who want a stylish small EV.
Today, the driving range stands at 320km (199 miles), and the equipment is excellent for the price. Every car gets a wireless smartphone charger, a 10.25in touchscreen, all-around parking sensors and a reversing camera.
Hyundai Inster
The Inster is a small EV with surprising internal space that seeks to challenge larger electric vehicles by offering its own distinct approach.
The Standard Range model is powered by a 42kWh battery and 95bhp front-mounted electric motor for a 327km (203-mile) range, while the Long Range model gets a larger, 49kWh battery and a 113bhp motor for a 368km (229-mile) range.
The Inster is an appealing package. It offers a mature feel at higher speeds and excels as a town car, packing significant equipment without feeling like an entry-level offering.
Furthermore, its user-friendly nature makes it very easy to live with; real consideration has been given to simplifying driving and operation, avoiding overly complex screens or excessive touch-operated functions.
Volvo EX30
Many were surprised when Volvo revealed the EX30, which is the Swedish car maker’s smallest electric car to date.
What wasn’t surprising was how much of a genuinely capable all-around package the model was, with good levels of comfort, a spacious interior and plenty of technology.
Entry-level cars get a single rear-mounted electric motor, producing 268bhp and 253lb ft. For those who want even more, there’s also a twin-motor Performance Plus version with a second motor, producing 423bhp and a 0-100kph (0-62mph) of just 3.6sec.
The latter is good for up to 476km (296 miles) of WLTP range – although that drops to 451km (280 miles) if you go for the chunkier Cross Country twin-motor car.
Leapmotor T03
The Leapmotor brand, while perhaps unfamiliar, is a Chinese car manufacturer with a unique sales structure outside of China.
Internationally, Leapmotors are sold through Leapmotor International, a joint venture with Stellantis. This partnership with Stellantis - the parent company of established brands like Citroën, Fiat, Jeep, and Peugeot - allows customers to test drive and purchase Leapmotor vehicles within familiar Stellantis showrooms, lending a sense of trust and familiarity to the new marque.
The car is offered with a single powertrain: a front-mounted 94bhp motor. Drivers can choose from a variety of paint colours. It comes equipped with a 37.3kWh battery, which provides a range of up to 265km (165 miles).
Standard features on the T03 include an 8.0-inch digital instrument display, a multifunction steering wheel, and a 10-inch infotainment touchscreen with built-in sat-nav and a DAB radio. Note that Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are not included.
Cupra Born
The Cupra Born strikes a compelling balance across crucial areas: size and practicality, weight and power, real-world range, and price.
It offers an engaging driving experience with sufficient, yet not excessive, power that avoids compromising efficiency. Its balanced, rear-driven chassis delivers precision and purpose in its body control, all while maintaining four usable seats and a decent boot.
With battery sizes as large as 79kWh, the Born is capable of up to 593km (369 miles) on a charge, which is one of the highest figures on this list.
The Born is a complete package, making it the ideal affordable EV for enthusiastic drivers taking their first steps into zero-emissions motoring. Perhaps tellingly, it feels more like the spiritual successor to the Volkswagen Golf GTI for the electric age than anything currently produced by Volkswagen itself.
Fiat Grande Panda
With its adorable design and accessible demeanour, it’s easy to like the Fiat Grande Panda.
The new model is a distinctive small crossover with a unique, retro-infused design, which helps it stand out from its platform siblings, the Citroën ë-C3 and the Vauxhall Frontera.
We've tested both the hybrid and all-electric versions and were impressed with both. The hybrid version features a 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine assisted by a 29bhp electric motor. In contrast, the all-electric model uses a single, front-mounted electric motor producing 111bhp and 90lb ft.
The electric version boasts an official claimed range of 199 miles. Whichever powertrain you choose, the Grande Panda promises a frugal and characterful package.
