Over the past few years, electric cars have become a common sight on UK roads, and with the introduction of various small electric cars comes much more affordable prices on the EV market.
While initial prices of small electric vehicles may be higher than their internal combustion engine (ICE) counterparts, drivers are able to save in the long run when it comes to running costs.
With their smaller batteries, nippy driving experience, and shorter charging times, small electric cars are an ideal choice for tackling Britain's unpredictable city roads. But with so many small EVs available, which ones are really the best? We highlight our top picks below.
- Peugeot e-208
- Renault ZOE
- Vauxhall Corsa Electric
- Fiat 500e
- smart EQ forfour
- Dacia Spring
- Citroën ë-C3
- Kia Niro
- MG4 EV
- Renault 5 E-Tech
Peugeot e-208
Kicking off the list with one of the most stylish electric superminis on the market, the Peugeot e-208. With its well-defined exterior design and modern interior, even older models are sure to turn heads out on the road.
But looks aren't all the e-208 has to offer, with an official top range of up to 268 miles (200 miles in earlier versions) and an intuitive charging time of up to 80 percent in just 25 minutes when using a rapid charger, it's more than practical, too.
A whole host of high quality features are available with the e-208, including adaptive cruise control, DAB, and Connected 3D Navigation in higher spec models to add to the wow-factor of this chic supermini.
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Renault ZOE
An ideal choice for those looking for an affordable urban runaround, the Renault ZOE is stylish, practical, and has pretty decent range for such a compact car.
Step inside this nippy little EV to find an impressive array of hi-tech features, including an EASY LINK multimedia system, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay, which add a welcome touch of entertainment to your drive.
Earlier versions of the ZOE have a range of around 160 miles, whereas new models boast a new, powerful Z.E.50 battery, which subsequently allows the Renault ZOE to offer an impressive driving range of up to 245 miles. You can also recover 90 miles of charge in just 30 minutes, thanks to the ZOE's rapid charging feature.
You can’t buy a new ZOE as Renault recently stopped production, but if you're looking for a more affordable compact car with adorable looks and rapid charging times, there are several options of used ZOE models to choose from.
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Vauxhall Corsa Electric
One of the UK's most popular cars is now available as an all-electric model, which looks virtually identical to the ICE-powered Corsa, which has the same amount of boot space despite the electric model making room for its battery.
With a maximum range of 266 miles in a brand-new Corsa and an effective 222 miles in previous models, there's no wonder why the Corsa Electric is so popular. Simply plug your Corsa Eelectric into your wallbox, and you'll be driving away with a fully charged EV in as little as 7.5 hours. Alternatively, you can use a rapid charger to speed up charging times, with a 100kWh you can top up from 10 to 80 percent in only 30 minutes.
As with all EVs, its low impact on the environment is just another reason to buy the Corsa Electric, especially with welcome features including 'Eco' drive mode which reduces energy consumption significantly.
All new and used models come with a 7-inch colour touchscreen with Satellite Navigation and rear parking sensors as standard, so long journeys and manoeuvring through busy car parks are both made easy.
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Fiat 500e
You really can't mention small cars without thinking of the iconic Fiat 500e city car, and its styling based on the original model’s retro looks.
If you predominantly drive in the city, the nippy little 500e is a great buy in the EV market. Its rapid charging times are competitive, reaching 80 percent charge in 35 minutes, and 30 miles is replenished in as little as five minutes.
There are a couple of battery options to choose from in the Fiat 500e Electric. While the 24kW version has a low price and is capable of up to 118 miles, it's the 42kWh battery you'll want to go for if you want to get more miles out of your motor, as it can achieve up to 199 miles.
smart EQ forfour
A city car through and through, the smart EQ forfour builds on the tiny fortwo to offer more space, four doors, with the same rear-engine.
The well-trimmed interior has a refined feel and is surprisingly roomy for such a small city car. Quality features you'd expect from a Mercedes-Benz manufactured vehicle include rear parking aid, touchscreen infotainment, and automatic climate control.
The electric driving range in the EQ forfour is just under 80 miles, that's plenty when you consider the average UK daily mileage is only 21 miles. It may not keep up with its petrol and diesel equivalents in terms of driving range, but its style, smooth driving experience, and zero emissions are more than enough to impress.
Dacia Spring
As the smallest car within Dacia’s range, the newest version of the Spring was designed to be an eco-friendly city car, with an all-electric powertrain and compact measurement, ideal for daily city driving.
Considered the most affordable electric car in Europe, the Spring is a little gem that comes with a couple of options, the Dacia Spring 45 and Dacia Spring 65. Whilst the 45 is an excellent choice for those prioritising economy, the 65 is all about the performance.
Capable of delivering 190 miles on a single charge, driving the Spring in city means that you won’t need to top it up everyday. When you do need to recharge it, you’ll be able to refill the battery from 20 to 80 percent in as quick as 45 minutes using a 48kWh charger.
Looking inside, the cabin follows Dacia’s traditional design language and it uses durable materials and good standard technology that can be upgraded to add a 7-inch infotainment system. The seats are comfortable and the steering wheel height can be ergonomically adjusted to provide extra comfort to the driver.
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Citroën ë-C3
Boasting Citroën’s brand-new design identity, the ë-C3 is a beauty styled with bold lines and a square exterior that convey a modernist appearance with touches of futuristic detailing.
Offered with a fully-electric powertrain, the ë-C3 is equipped with an electric motor and a 44kW battery pack instead of an engine. This combo produces 114bhp and has a range of 199 miles on a single charge. Topping up can be quick and easy, when using the 100kW DC rapid charger, which allows charging from 20 to 80 percent in only 26 minutes.
Even though this car was developed to be compact and easy to drive in the city, the interior feels spacious and comfortable. Equipped with the manufacturer’s new Head-Up display, vital information is reflected onto a glossy black section between the top of the dashboard and the bottom of the windscreen making the information visible to the driver at all times.
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Kia Niro
Diving into the world of compact SUVs, the Kia Niro was designed with nature in mind for those who prioritise driving an eco-friendly car that offers electric powertrains whilst featuring small dimensions that offer practicality.
Available with hybrid (EV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV), and battery electric vehicle (BEV) powertrains, the Niro was engineered offer great fuel efficiency and to be a low to zero emission alternative to the regular combustion engine SUVs.
With up to 280 electric miles of range, charging times can vary according to the type of powertrain you choose to purchase. The PHEV models are capable of up to 40 miles using solely electric power.
Futuristic, innovative, and roomy, Kia used recycled and eco-conscious materials to design the cabin, including vegan leather and VOC-free paint. Comfortable in the front and back, the interior fits up to five people, who have plenty of head and legroom.
MG4 EV
Introducing MG’s latest generation of hatchbacks, the MG4 EV reflects the manufacturer’s ambition to produce eye-catching vehicles that display a bold style. This compact hatchback is available with 4 options of electric powertrains which offer different specifications.
The entry-level model produces 168bhp and delivers 218 miles of combined range. If you’re looking for a sports car experience, you can choose the range topping XPOWER that produces impressive 429bhp and delivers 239 miles of combined range.
When using a rapid charger, the MG4 EV can be topped up from 10 to 80 percent in only 30 minutes, but if you have a domestic socket, you can leave your vehicle charging overnight, which would take about 14 hours.
The interior is comfortable and can fit comfortably up to 5 adults. Equipped with decent technology the 7-inch infotainment system comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto pre-installed to facilitate connectivity to smartphones.
Renault 5 E-Tech
Renault is bringing back one of its icon models that was launched in 1972 but was removed from the range in 1996. Making its new debut in grand style, the Renault 5 E-Tech is bringing back the avant-garde design in a reimagined style that modernises its looks and onboard technology.
Compact, affordable, and economic, the 5 E-Tech is an excellent choice of a small all-electric car. Offered with a couple of powertrains, the range varies between 190 to 248 electric miles, and the battery can be recharged from 15 to 80 percent in 30 minutes with a rapid charger.
Packed with innovative onboard technology, Renault equipped this beauty with the latest generation of OpenR Link System which comes with over 50 pre-installed applications, including Google.
The inside feels comfortable and spacious for a small vehicle and is capable of carrying up to 5 people.
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Find your next electric car with Evans Halshaw
As time goes on, more and more electric cars are making it to the market, which means more affordable prices and less impact on the environment. If you're looking for a new or used small electric car, the models above make a great starting point to explore.
At Evans Halshaw, we offer a great range of deals on electric cars, but if you haven't found what you're looking for, our blog section is frequently updated with car buying advice and general motoring tips.
