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The electric car may already be cheaper than you think, but it's set to get even cheaper. These are the best of the compact crop
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When electric cars first entered the mainstream market, they weren't exactly accessible to the general buyer - particularly if they were small or compact electric cars.
That's down to several reasons.Up until now, high prices have been an important barrier to EV ownership, as have packaging and weight, plus the fact that small cars are fitted with smallerbatteries, which naturally offer lower driving ranges.
Batteries are expensive and more easily hidden in somethingSUV-shaped, which means that we’ve seen most of the innovation in the bigger segments, with the classes of larger EVs filling up quickly with very competitive models.
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But over the last few years, small electric cars have become more affordable and viable. Some of the best superminis on sale in the UK today have an electric option, while others are solely powered by electrons.
Plus, as battery technology improves, smaller electric cars can travel much longer distances on a single charge and can be topped up faster than ever. Some will even hit over 250 miles in the real worldwhen previously you might struggle to hit 150.
There's also a wider choice than ever at the lower end of the market, with brands such as Peugeot, Vauxhall, Mazda and a host of Chinese rivals regularly slashing list prices.
But why should you consider a small electric car? Well, small hatchbacks have long been among the most popular cars in the UK and to this day are some of the more enjoyable to drive.
The question is: which are the best small electric cars on sale today?We’ve tested each and every one, sohere is our rundown of those we consider to be the very best.
Best small electric cars 2024
1. Mini Cooper E
8
Pros
Fun to drive
Improved range
Good performance
Cons
Divisive styling
Distracting infotainment
Increased weight can be felt
The Mini Electric brought all of the fun factor you expect of the brand to the compact EV segment when it arrived in 2020 – albeit packaged with a few equally typical usability restrictions.
It's now back in 2024 for the Mini EV's second generation, sold alongside the fourth-generation, internal combustion Mini, gaining sleek new looks, extra range and the BMW Group's latest digital technology systems.
Based on a new platform in partnership with Chinese giant Great Wall Motors, the Cooper E is powered by a 181bhp electric motor and makes use of a 40.7kWh battery, with up to 190 miles of range. The more powerful Cooper SE gets 215bhp and a larger 54.2kWh battery, with up to 250 miles of range.
The new Mini is more grown-up proposition than the previous model, offering a far more usable range, faster charging and more premium lustre. Plus, the price is also very similar to its predecessor.
That said, it's heavier than before, which is felt in the corners and the car has lost some of the driver reward we might expect from it.
The interior is chock full of premium materials and it's a lovely place to sit, but the fiddly, unintuitive infotainment may put some drivers off.
Despite those minor qualms, Mini's updated electric hatch is up there with the very best in the segment, and is better than ever.
Read our Mini Cooper E review
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2. MG 4 EV
8
Pros
Provides excellent value
Offers good interior space
Genuinely good fun to drive
Cons
Driver assistance features need a lot of refining
Interior materials don’t feel like they will stand the test of time
Some interior usability niggles
Previous picks not affordable enough? Try this. TheMG 4 EVis an important moment in the development ofMG Motoras a serious car maker.
Since the British brand’s relaunch under the ownership of the Chinese giant SAIC, it has always played the budget end of the market. With the MG 4, it still does, but with a car that is genuinely impressive in its own right.
Being a physically smaller car than the previous two, it’s not quite as spacious, but not by much. Its rear-drive layout lets it serve up some real handling thrills while its soft but controlled ride means it’s well suited to rough British roads.
It has a very competitive range and charging figures too, and all for £26,995 for the SE model or £29,495 for the Long Range SE. There’s an Extended Range and a bonkers-fast 429bhp XPower model, but we wouldn’t bother.
You can see some of the cost savings in the low-grade interior materials and slightly haphazard infotainment and driver assistance features, but none of it is egregious enough to seriously detract from how much value for money the MG 4 offers.
Read our MG 4 EV review
3. Citroen e-C3
8
Pros
Decent daily performance
Affordable pricetag
Very comfortable
Cons
Other comparable EVs are quicker
Small battery won't suit all drivers
Lifeless steering
Could the arrival of the newCitroen e-C3 represent awatershed moment in the evolution of theelectric car?
It's certainly got a lot going for it. Priced from just £21,990, the e-C3 is primed to become one of the cheapest electric cars on sale in the UK.
Power comes from a 44kWh battery which offers a range of 199 miles (WLTP). It powers a front-mounted 111bhp electric motor, which allowsthe ë-C3 to hit 0-62mph in around 11.0sec and on toa top speed of 84mph.
All ë-C3s are offered with a 44kW battery at launch, with a range of 199 miles (WLTP). There might also be a smaller battery variant coming to the UK next year, already priced at €19,990 (£17,250)in Europe.
We've only driven the e-C3 on international tarmac so far, but we were impressed by its equipment levels as well as its comfort.
Downsides? Well, there's no denying a range of 199 miles might not be quite enough for some drivers, and while comfortable, it's not the most dynamic car to drive, with numb steering that wants for driver involvement.
Read our Citroen e-C3 review
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4. Vauxhall Corsa Electric
8
Pros
Welcome range improvements
100kW charging speed
One of the UK's cheapest EVs
Cons
Interior isn't as smart as the Peugeot e-208
Not that exciting to drive
Poor second-row passenger space
Vauxhall's sibling to the Peugeot e-208 doesn't quite have the same style or imaginatively configured interior of its sibling, but because it’s largely the same underneath, it’s still one of the best small electric cars.
Early versions were a little behind the Peugeot on range, but an update that added a taller final drive ratio and a standard heat pump lifted the range from 209 to 222 miles – and now a battery capacity hike and a new electric motor have lifted it again, this time to 246 miles.
The Corsa Electric's facelift also brought with it a thoroughly revised front end and a new multimedia system.
The Corsa might be a little plainer than the Peugeot, but to our eyes, it still looks handsome enough; especially in its latest form.
The driving experience combines a genuine 220-mile everyday battery range with keen and competent handling and a comfortable ride, while 100kW DC rapid charging compatibility as standard should be a selling point too.
Vauxhall also has purchase incentives such as free home charger installation and access to a special home energy tariff.
Vauxhall's large UK dealer network and the brand's desire to offer some decent discounts have helped to make this one of the UK's best-selling EVs, converting people who hadn't previously considered electric motoring. Our testers reckon it's certainly good enough to leave the right kind of impression.
Read our Vauxhall Corsa Electric review
5. Fiat 500e
8
Pros
Iconic 500 design
Decent technology
Drives well at speed
Cons
Overly high driving position
So-so real-world range
Poor pedal placement
Fiat's model range is now slightly confusing because the old car lives on as the Fiat 500 Hybrid (despite being only a mild hybrid). The one you want, however, is the newer electric 500.
It might look familiar, but it's only when you see them side by side that you realise the new electric 500 is completely new.
Fiat has done a marvellous job at retaining the modern-day 500's cute retro looks while making it into a car for the modern age.
Because it was developed as a purely electric car from the outset, it has a fairly sizeable (for a small car) 42kWh battery and a theoretical WLTP lab test range of 199 miles, although we discovered that translates to more like 140 miles in real-world use.
There is a cheaper Fiat 500 Action model with a 24kWh pack, but we don’t think the financial savings are great enough to offset the much shorter range.
The electric Fiat drives substantially better than any other 500 as well, with its 117bhp motor making it surprisingly zippy and fun for a city car. Yes, we found the steering to be quite light, but there's plenty of grip and an absence of body roll - and while it's not exactly at home on the motorway, it copes remarkably well.
The interior is also a massive improvement over that of previous 500s too. It's still quite plasticky, but it looks great, the seats are comfortable and the infotainment is logical and responsive.
There's even a convertible model with a roll-back canvas roof. It's still not great for tall drivers, though, and it goes without saying that you shouldn't plan on carrying adults in the rear very often.
Inflation and the death of the Plug-in Car Grant have not been kind to the electric 500's list price, though. At launch, you could buy one for under £20,000, but now the range starts at around £30,000.
If you want the longer-range version, you’ll need to fork out even more. That's a fair chunk of change for such a tiny tot, but we’re still quite fond of this tiny, fashionable EV that’s surprisingly good to drive when you escape the city.
Read our Fiat 500e review
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6. Dacia Spring
8
Pros
Easy to drive smoothly
Lighter and more compact than other EVs
Excellent value for money
Cons
Very slow, hitting 0-62mph in over 13sec
Driving position and seat lack adjustability
Small battery, low range
The Dacia Spring is the UK's cheapest full-size electric car, and at £14,995,there's no car on sale todaythat comes close to it in terms of affordability.
It also comes close to being the UK's cheapest car in general, with the Dacia Sandero, the Kia Picanto and Fiat Panda the only cars that undercut it.
Entry-level cars are powered by a puny-sounding 44bhp electric motor, which hits 0-62mph in a - let's say... leisurely... - 19.1sec.
The higher-powered 64bhp variant slashes that time to 13.7sec. Again, that might not sound all that quick (and it isn't), but it's about as quick as a 1.0-litre Volkswagen up!.
Both models are equipped with a 26.8kWh battery which produces 137 miles, which rises to 186 miles with some careful city driving.
Equipment levels look good, too, with a 7.0in touchscreen, electric windows, cruise control and rear parking sensors included as standard.
Read our Dacia Spring review
7. BYD Dolphin
7
Pros
Up to 265 miles of range
Starts from £25,490
Very well equipped
Cons
Charging speeds max out at just 88kW
Woolly handling
Frustrating control interfaces
If you are after value for money, particularly for an EV, the incoming Chinese car manufacturers are a good place to start. The latest company with big plans for Europe is BYD, which is rapidly building a full range of electric cars. Its smallest model, for now, is the Dolphin.
It is by no means the best car on this list, but given the entry-level model costs £25,490, rising to £30,990 for the fully loaded long-range version, some of its flaws can be excused.
The handling is quite woolly and the leatherette is a bit naff, but the main problem of all BYDs is that the infotainment system is infuriating. Even though the screen is huge, it hides important settings in deep sub-menus and doesn’t integrate with phone mirroring very well.
However, you get all the equipment you could possibly wish for, the ride is fairly plush and real-world range of comfortably over 200 miles is not to be sniffed at. The Dolphin is also a tad larger than the other cars on this list, so it offers more interior space as well.
Read our BYD Dolphin review
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8. Mazda MX-30
7
Pros
Upmarket interior
Smart styling
Sharp steering
Cons
Range is too short
Impractical rear doors
Not as light as it should be
Mazda has never been afraid to do things its own way, and the approach it has taken with its first all-electric car is no different. The MX-30 is therefore not quite what you might expect, but it's an appealing proposition all the same.
Toy-car looks are wrapped around an unusually small battery pack – just 35.5kWh, giving an official range of 124 miles – because Mazda believes owners simply won't need more (and increasing the size of the battery would mean unnecessary cost and weight).
The car is reasonably spacious inside, has an SUV-lite body that is very much on trend, and is trimmed in interesting materials that give the cabin a singularly cosy and likeable atmosphere.
It also includes distinctive 'suicide' rear-hinged back doors - a nod to the brand's old rotary-powered RX-8 coupé - but we found them slightly impractical in day-to-day use.
Dynamically, the MX-30 also stands out - although only when you're travelling with a bit of pace on an interesting road.
With 143bhp and 199lb ft, the electric motor didn’t blow our socks off in a straight line, but the weighting of the MX-30's steering and the supple manner in which the suspension transfers weight while cornering are genuinely reminiscent of the MX-5 sports car. Around town, however, we found it a little plain.
Rapid charging at up to 50kW is possible so, if the limited range works for you, there is plenty to like about the unusual Mazda MX-30. And if it doesn't, there's always the rotary-engined, range-extended REV version. See? Mazda likes different - so do we.
Read our Mazda MX-30 review
9. Peugeot e-208
6
Pros
Good, usable battery range
Pleasant, generally inviting interior
Performance and drivability
Cons
Expensive
Ride comfort
Meagre back-seat space
As a traditional combustion-engined supermini, the Peugeot 208 doesn't do an awful lot to stand out from the crowd.
However, in an all-electric guise, it makes good use of its genuinely usable range, goodperformance,practicality, style and perceived quality.
This Peugeot's materially rich and distinctive interior distinguishes it just as clearly as the stylish bodywork. Its practicality is on a par with the now-departed Renault Zoe's and better than a Mini Electric's.
Both of those aspects are key considerations for cars like this.Certainly, you get an adequate dose of that electric-motor-enabled zip.
The car also rides with a suppleness missing from some smaller EVs, which often struggle to contain their body mass on the road, while in its higher-speed body movements, it doesn't feel as heavy as its main rivals.
The steering is striking for its directness, although body control deteriorates a little if you drive more enthusiastically.
All that said, it's largely the same as the Corsa underneath - but significantly more expensive. A style pick over sense, perhaps.
Read our Peugeot e-208 review
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10. GWM Ora 03
6
Pros
Cutesy looks
Plush and spacious interior
Decently mature ride and handling
Cons
Lacks some features
Buggy infotainment software
Limited range
The GMW Ora 03 (formerly Ora Funky Cat), from Chinese car manufacturing group Great Wall Motors, might grab your attention for any number of reasons.
It's a fairly large and practical car among its peers, after all, with a fairly eye-catching price. It's based on a model platform that GWM has called 'LEMON' - although quite what that acronym stands for, or why you'd want to use it, is unclear.
The car itself is a mixed bag. It's certainly spacious by class standards, and moderately attractive - although, while rear leg room is generous, rear head room is hamstrung by the car's under-seat battery location.
There are plenty of notes of material richness about the cabin, but also as many cheap touches. The infotainment system has plenty of functionality but a fiddly and infuriating layout of very small controls.
On the road, the car rides and handles well enough, but it steers discouragingly lightly, and has quite roughly tuned electronic stability control. Performance is quite strong when the battery is fully charged, but it deteriorates notably as it nears depletion. Cabin noise isolation is also a clear weak point for the car.
Overall, it's consistency of finish and depth of apparent engineered-in integrity that the 03 lacks. It's not a terrible car - but it shows that plenty of Chinese brands still have a lot to learn.
Read our GWM Ora 03 review
FAQs
Are small electric cars reliable?
Electric cars are proving to be pretty reliable so far according to reliability data from our sister title, What Car? – indeed in the 2022 survey, most electric-car owners rated their models very highly. Electric cars recorded an average rating of nearly 91%; the original Nissan Leaf topped the EV chart with a mighty 98.9% score.While there are few independents set up to work on EVs right now, meaning maintenance will often have to be carried out at a main dealer, there are far fewer moving parts – so theoretically fewer points of failure. Certainly, What Car?’s data suggests there’s little to fear.
Should a family have two electric cars?
EVs were often relegated to second-car duties: school run, shopping trips and the like, with a combustion-powered car on hand to take on longer journeys, such as family holidays. It’s likely that it started because the first clutch of models, such as the original Nissan Leaf and Renault Zoe, were small and capable of modest ranges.Anecdotally, there’s an increase in the number of all-electric households owning a small EV for daily duties, and a larger model on hand for those longer trips. There’s certainly little reason not to go all-electric, just bear in mind that most homes will still only have one wallbox charger.
What is the smallest electric car?
The Citroen Ami is often thought of being the smallest electric car on sale today. And at 2.4m long and 1.4m wideit’s certainly tiny, yet there’s still decent enough space for a driver and a passenger. Technically, the Ami isn’t a car, though, and in the UK is classed as a quadicycle – which means you can't take iton a motorway; although with a 45mph top speed, you wouldn’t want to.The smallest ‘proper’ electric car is the Smart EQ Fortwo. It’s bigger in every dimension than the Ami, but still retains its party piece of being able to park perpendicular to the kerb.
Are electric cars good for short trips?
If there’s an area where all EVs excel, it’s on short trips. There’s no worries about engines never getting to operating temperature or clogged particulate filters. Most EVs even allow you to set a timer to heat the car up and defrost the windows on winter mornings, removing the need to have a car idling on the driveway while the air-conditioning clears the glass.
What is the average price of a small electric car?
The cheapest electric car (that isn’t the sub-£8,000 Citroen Ami) is the £22,000 Smart EQ ForTwo which costs a little over £22,000. But typically you can expect to pay between £25,000 and £30,000 for a small electric car – many of those are on our list.It's worth noting that many car manufacturers struggle to make electric cars profitable, so there are relatively few electric city cars on the market, even though such a model would argubly be perfect for crowded streets. Typically, what is classed as a small EV would be referred to as a supermini if it were petrol or diesel powered.
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Comments
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Rick Maverick 13 July 2024
#1 & #2 .... so predicatable. Totally ;)
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MassDamper 6 February 2024
The Honda E's no longer on sale in the UK.
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catnip 28 October 2023
"The electric car may already be cheaper than you think...."
Can't really see anything in this article that is convincing me of that.
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