The electric vehicle (EV) revolution is in full swing, and some of the most compelling options are found in the compact category. Small Electric Cars, especially city-focused hatchbacks, are democratizing EV technology by making it more accessible and affordable. These nimble vehicles are particularly well-suited for urban environments, where EVs truly shine. The market is burgeoning with new models from a variety of manufacturers, and 2025 is poised to be a landmark year for small EVs.
Choosing a smaller electric car offers numerous advantages while minimizing potential drawbacks. You get the signature EV benefits – instant torque and a quiet cabin – but in a package designed for city life. With charging infrastructure becoming increasingly available in urban centers, range anxiety is less of a concern for small EV owners. Furthermore, these vehicles are inherently efficient at city speeds and in stop-and-go traffic, maximizing range per charge in their intended environment.
Top Small Electric Cars at a Glance:
While small electric cars are ideal for city dwellers and couples, they may not suit everyone. Families needing ample passenger and cargo space might find our recommendations for the best electric SUVs more appropriate. However, for those navigating ultra-low emissions zones or seeking a stress-free commute, this list of the best small electric cars offers compelling solutions. And if you crave exhilarating performance in a compact EV, explore our guide to the best electric hot hatches.
Top Small Electric Cars to Consider in 2025
Renault 5 E-Tech Electric
Best Overall Small Electric Car: Fun, Stylish, and Practical
Pros: Iconic design, well-designed interior, attractive price point.
Cons: Real-world range could be better, limited rear passenger space.
The Renault 5 E-Tech Electric is arguably the most anticipated small EV arriving in 2025. Renault has masterfully revived a classic, creating a car that has the potential to resonate with buyers just like the reborn Mini and Fiat 500. Its striking design is a head-turner, possessing a charm that rivals even supercars.
Perfectly sized for urban environments, the Renault 5 is agile and enjoyable to drive. The interior is a highlight, featuring a premium infotainment system with integrated Google Maps and Google Assistant. Battery options include 40kWh and 52kWh, providing WLTP ranges of 194 and 255 miles, respectively. Crucially, the Renault 5 E-Tech Electric is competitively priced, starting from £22,995, making it one of the most affordable new EVs on the market and an excellent value proposition for financing.
For an in-depth analysis, read our Renault 5 E-Tech review
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Fiat Grande Panda Electric
Best Small Electric Car for Bold Design, Practicality, and Value
Pros: Stylish and practical, detail-oriented design, comfortable city driving, very affordable.
Cons: Rear space could be more generous, some concerns about real-world range.
Following closely on the heels of the Renault 5 is the 2025 Fiat Grande Panda. As the first of a new Panda family, it also draws inspiration from its heritage, but with a bolder approach. Instead of simply electrifying a retro design, Fiat’s design team was given creative freedom. While it incorporates elements of the iconic 1980s Panda – such as a practical dashboard shelf – the Grande Panda is a striking example of modern Italian automotive design.
The Grande Panda’s cabin features unique shapes, transparent yellow Perspex accents, and sustainably sourced blue plastics. Exterior details are equally distinctive, including a cleverly concealed charging cable behind the front grille. Sharing a platform with the Citroen e-C3, the Grande Panda prioritizes comfort over sporty handling. While initial drives suggest real-world range may fall short of the claimed 199 miles (WLTP), its starting price of just £20,975 positions it as a genuine bargain, offering compelling value for its design and features.
For a detailed perspective, see our Fiat Grande Panda review
Citroen e-C3
Best Small Electric Car for Ride Comfort
Pros: Excellent value, spacious rear seats for its class, exceptionally comfortable ride.
Cons: Handling can feel soft and less engaging, boot shape is not the most practical.
The new Citroen e-C3 stands out as a well-rounded small electric car, checking many boxes for urban drivers. Despite its compact size, it offers surprising versatility for longer trips, boasting a claimed range of 199 miles and supporting rapid charging at speeds up to 100kW. Rear-seat space is also notably generous, rivaling cars in larger segments.
With a starting price of £21,990, the e-C3 significantly undercuts many of its electric supermini competitors while still offering a modern and well-equipped interior. The e-C3’s plush and comfortable ride quality is particularly well-suited to roads with uneven surfaces, though this focus on comfort does result in less dynamic handling when driven more enthusiastically.
Read our comprehensive Citroen e-C3 review for more.
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Fiat 500 Electric
Best Small Electric Car for Iconic Style and Image
Pros: Timeless styling, enjoyable driving experience, good build quality.
Cons: Rear space is very limited, shorter range in the base model.
The Fiat 500 Electric retains the beloved retro-chic aesthetic of its internal combustion engine (ICE) predecessor, but underneath, it’s a completely different vehicle. The petrol engines are gone, replaced by a battery pack and electric motor driving the front wheels. The standard version combines a 24kWh battery and 94bhp motor, offering a claimed range of 118 miles, while the upgraded variant features a 42kWh battery and 116bhp motor with a claimed 199-mile range.
The 500e is undeniably stylish, fun to drive, and perfectly adapted to navigating tight city streets thanks to its small size and excellent turning radius. It packs a surprising amount of technology into its compact frame. However, with starting prices of £24,995 for the smaller battery and £27,995 for the larger battery, it is positioned at the higher end of the small EV segment.
Explore our detailed Fiat 500 Electric review
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Peugeot e-208
Best Small Electric Car for Style and Practicality Combined
Pros: Attractive design inside and out, practical five-door access, respectable electric range.
Cons: Driving experience is not the most engaging, higher trim levels can be expensive.
Peugeot has recently updated the e-208, giving this electric supermini a refreshed look, enhanced technology, and a new long-range option. It now offers a more powerful 154bhp motor and 51kWh battery, which Peugeot claims delivers up to 258 miles of range on a single charge. This complements the existing 50kWh and 134bhp version with its official 225-mile range. Peugeot has also recently reduced e-208 prices by approximately £3,000, with the 50kWh model now starting at £29,950 and the 51kWh version at £30,950.
For city driving, the e-208 excels with its blend of style and practicality. This well-built and visually appealing car subtly emphasizes its electric nature – the main visual cue being the green accent on the EV number plate – while offering the convenience of five doors. This makes accessing the rear seats significantly easier than in the three-door Fiat 500 Electric, and the Peugeot also offers a greater driving range.
Read our detailed Peugeot e-208 review for a deeper dive.
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Hyundai Inster
Best Small Electric Car for Maximum Interior Space
Pros: Exceptionally spacious for its size, distinctive design, competitive range.
Cons: Only seats four, ride quality can be firm.
If maximizing interior space within a compact footprint is a priority, the Hyundai Inster is highly recommended. It stands out for its intelligent packaging, featuring sliding and reclining individual rear seats and a generous boot space of up to 351 litres. The flat front and rear floors further enhance the sense of spaciousness in the cabin. Hyundai has impressively maximized interior volume in this small car.
While it is a four-seater, fitting five adults comfortably in any car of this size is generally challenging. The Inster’s design may be polarizing, but we find it appealing and genuinely unique in the current market. Prices start at an attractive £23,495, and buyers can choose between 42kWh and 49kWh battery options, providing claimed ranges of 203 and 229 miles, respectively.
For an extensive analysis, see our Hyundai Inster review
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MINI Cooper Electric
Best Small Electric Car for Fun and Engaging Driving
Pros: Exceptionally fun to drive, competitive pricing, significantly improved range.
Cons: Practicality remains limited, interior doesn’t feel as premium as previous models.
The Mini Electric was a popular choice upon its 2020 launch, particularly among style-conscious city drivers. However, range and price were key concerns. The new Cooper Electric addresses these issues, offering a lower starting price (from £30,000) and a substantially increased range – up to 249 miles for the top-spec Cooper SE.
Continuing its legacy, the new Mini Cooper Electric is incredibly fun to drive, arguably setting the benchmark for (small) electric hot hatches. It delivers agile handling, brisk performance, and the signature light and lively feel that Mini hatchbacks are known for.
For a comprehensive review, read our Mini Cooper Electric review
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Vauxhall Corsa Electric
Best Small Electric Car for Familiar and Conventional Design
Pros: Shares technology with the e-208 but with a more traditional dashboard layout, Long Range model available, popular and widely available.
Cons: Styling is less exciting, historically prone to depreciation.
The Peugeot e-208 offers French flair and a distinctive interior, but its i-Cockpit driving position with a small steering wheel and high-mounted instruments isn’t for everyone. If you appreciate the e-208’s underlying technology but prefer a more conventional driving experience, the Vauxhall Corsa Electric is a compelling alternative. It essentially offers the same technology in a more understated (or less exciting) package.
Historically, the Corsa Electric has suffered from high initial costs and rapid depreciation. However, Vauxhall has introduced the ‘Yes Edition,’ significantly reducing the starting price by over £6,000 to £26,895. While the name might be uninspired, the value proposition is now strong. Like the e-208, it offers 134bhp/50kWh and 154bhp/51kWh versions, with the latter providing a range of up to 248 miles. However, top-spec models remain expensive for a Corsa, approaching £35,000.
Read our in-depth Vauxhall Corsa Electric review
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Jeep Avenger
Best Small Electric Car for SUV Styling in a Compact Size
Pros: Fun and distinctive styling, easy to maneuver, city-friendly dimensions.
Cons: Rear seat space is limited for its class, interior quality could be improved.
The Jeep Avenger might seem like a larger vehicle at first glance, but this electric crossover is surprisingly compact. At just 4.1m long, it’s barely larger than the Corsa, yet it embodies Jeep’s iconic design language with a chunky stance and signature seven-slot grille. Its compact proportions and excellent visibility make it surprisingly well-suited for urban driving. The raised seating position appeals to SUV enthusiasts in a smaller, more manageable package.
Being part of the Stellantis group, the Avenger shares the 154bhp electric motor and 51kWh battery with the Corsa Electric and e-208, delivering adequate performance and a claimed range of up to 248 miles. While the Avenger is a compelling small EV, it’s not without compromises. Rear-seat space is comparable to superminis, and the interior quality feels somewhat basic in places. Jeep has recently reduced prices by £5,000, bringing the starting price down to £29,999.
Explore our detailed Jeep Avenger review
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Small Electric Car Buyer’s Guide and FAQs
Advantages and Disadvantages of Small Electric Cars
Small electric cars offer several key benefits. They excel in urban environments due to their easy parking and maneuverability on congested streets. They are also among the most affordable electric cars available, making EV ownership more accessible. Furthermore, they provide congestion charge exemptions and free access to low-emission zones in many cities. An added bonus is their significantly quieter operation compared to small petrol cars, contributing to a more relaxed commute.
However, small electric cars also involve certain trade-offs. Their compact size typically means smaller battery packs, resulting in limited maximum driving ranges. While this is less of an issue for daily city driving, it can be a constraint for frequent long-distance journeys.
Price is another consideration. While small EVs are relatively affordable within the electric car market, they are still generally more expensive than their petrol-powered counterparts. For example, comparing petrol and electric versions of the Peugeot 208 reveals a price premium for the electric model, although this gap is gradually narrowing.
Charging infrastructure and costs also play a role. Relying solely on public charging for a small electric car can potentially lead to higher electricity costs compared to petrol expenses.
The most cost-effective way to run an EV is typically by charging at home, requiring off-street parking and the installation of a home charging point. This can present a financial and logistical challenge for residents in densely populated urban areas.
Reliability of Small Electric Cars
While EV technology is still evolving, electric vehicles generally have fewer moving parts than internal combustion engine cars, which can contribute to greater reliability. However, like any electronic device, EVs can experience issues, and battery capacity does gradually degrade over time, potentially reducing range. Current data and experience suggest that significant battery degradation is unlikely to be a major concern for many years, especially for new or nearly new vehicles. Therefore, reliability should not be a primary deterrent when considering a small electric car.
What is the Smallest Electric Car on the Market?
The cars featured in this guide are comparable in size to conventional superminis or city cars – compact and city-friendly, but not truly tiny. For genuinely tiny EVs, the quadricycle category comes into play. Historically, this sector included models like the G-Wiz and Renault Twizy. Currently, the Citroen Ami represents a leading example in this ultra-compact EV segment.
Are Small Electric Cars Suitable for City Driving and Short Journeys?
Small electric cars are ideally suited for city driving and short trips. The instant torque delivery of electric motors makes them exceptionally responsive in urban traffic. Stop-and-go city driving conditions can also help optimize battery efficiency through regenerative braking. Typically equipped with smaller batteries, small EVs are inherently better suited to shorter journeys, making them a natural fit for urban commutes and errands.
While capable of longer journeys, small EVs with their smaller batteries will require more frequent charging stops compared to larger, long-range EVs. However, for their intended urban use, they offer an excellent and efficient transportation solution.
Our Testing Methodology
As with all CAR reviews, each of the small electric cars in this guide has undergone thorough testing by our team of experienced motoring journalists and specialist writers. For more details on our rigorous testing process, please refer to how we test.
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