The electric vehicle (EV) revolution is in full swing, and some of the most compelling options available are also the most compact. The year 2025 is shaping up to be particularly exciting for the small EV category, with a wave of new models set to hit the market. Here at CAR, we are enthusiastic about small, city-friendly hatchbacks that make EV technology more accessible and affordable. Electric cars truly shine in urban environments. Regenerative braking becomes more effective in stop-and-go traffic, and the instant torque of electric motors is ideal for navigating city streets.
Choosing a small EV allows you to enjoy all the advantages of electric driving while minimizing potential downsides. You get the same smooth acceleration and quiet cabin experience as larger EVs, but with a smaller footprint that’s perfect for urban living. Range anxiety is also less of a concern with Small Evs, as they are primarily designed for city use where charging infrastructure is more readily available. Furthermore, these smaller models often prove to be more energy-efficient, maximizing your driving range per charge, especially at city speeds and in typical urban traffic conditions.
The Best Small Electric Cars at a Glance:
While small electric vehicles are ideal for many, we recognize they aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Families needing substantial passenger and cargo space might find our guide to the best electric SUVs more relevant. However, if you’re a couple or individual navigating ultra-low emissions zones or simply seeking an efficient and enjoyable city car, this list of the best small EVs for 2025 is for you.
Continue scrolling to explore our curated selection of the top small electric cars currently available. And for those seeking a bit more performance, don’t miss our recommendations for the best electric hot hatches.
Top Small Electric Cars to Buy in 2025
Renault 5 E-Tech
The Best Small Electric Car for Overall Excellence
Pros: Iconic styling, premium interior, attractive entry price.
Cons: Real-world range can be limited, rear passenger space is compact.
The Renault 5 E-Tech is arguably the most eagerly anticipated small electric car of 2025. Renault has masterfully revived a classic, creating a vehicle that we predict will be incredibly popular. Its design is undeniably appealing, drawing attention in a way that even far more expensive supercars struggle to achieve.
This EV embodies everything desirable in a small car: perfectly sized for urban environments, agile and fun to drive, and boasting a superb interior with a cutting-edge infotainment system featuring integrated Google Maps and Google Assistant. Battery options include 40kWh and 52kWh, providing WLTP ranges of 194 and 255 miles respectively. The Renault 5 E-Tech is particularly compelling due to its starting price of £22,995, positioning it as one of the most affordable new electric vehicles on the market and offering excellent value for money, especially when considering financing options.
For a detailed analysis, read our comprehensive Renault 5 E-Tech review
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Fiat Grande Panda
The Best Small Electric Car for Bold Design, Practicality, and Affordability
Pros: Stylish yet practical design, rich in detail, comfortable city driving, unbeatable price point.
Cons: Rear passenger space is not as generous as expected, some concerns about real-world range.
Closely following the Renault 5 is the Fiat Grande Panda, another standout small electric car for 2025. The Grande Panda marks the beginning of a new generation of Panda models, drawing inspiration from its heritage while boldly stepping into the future. Rather than simply creating an electric version of a past model, Fiat’s design team has unleashed their creativity. While it incorporates elements of the 1980s original, such as a practical dashboard shelf, the overall design is a striking example of modern Italian automotive artistry.
Notice the distinctive shapes within the cabin, the transparent yellow Perspex accents, the sustainably sourced blue plastics, and the intricate exterior details. It even features a cleverly concealed captive charging cable behind the front grille. Built on the same budget-friendly platform as the Citroen e-C3, the Grande Panda prioritizes comfort over razor-sharp handling. While initial tests suggest the 199-mile WLTP range might be optimistic in real-world driving, its starting price of just £20,975 makes it an exceptional value proposition, offering the right combination of features and price.
For a deeper dive, explore our Fiat Grande Panda review
Citroen e-C3
The Best Small Electric Car for Ride Comfort
Pros: Exceptional value, spacious rear seating, remarkably comfortable ride.
Cons: Handling can feel soft and less dynamic, boot shape is somewhat awkward.
Few small electric cars manage to balance practicality and affordability as effectively as the new Citroen e-C3. This compact EV is well-suited for both city commutes and longer journeys, boasting a claimed range of 199 miles and supporting fast 100kW rapid charging. Rear-seat passenger space is also surprisingly generous, comparable to vehicles in a larger class.
Starting at £21,990, the e-C3 significantly undercuts many of its electric supermini competitors, yet it still presents a modern and well-equipped interior with ample technology. The e-C3’s plush and comfortable ride is particularly well-suited to roads with imperfections, though this focus on comfort does result in less engaging handling when driven more spiritedly.
For a more detailed assessment, see our Citroen e-C3 review
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Fiat 500 Electric
The Best Small Electric Car for Iconic Style and Image
Pros: Stylish and iconic design, enjoyable driving experience, well-built.
Cons: Limited interior space, shorter range in the base model.
The Fiat 500 Electric carries forward the retro-chic aesthetic of its internal combustion engine (ICE) predecessor, but underneath the surface, it’s a completely different vehicle. The traditional petrol engines have been replaced with a battery pack and an electric motor powering the front wheels. The standard model features a 24kWh battery and 94bhp motor, offering a claimed range of 118 miles, while a more powerful variant with a 42kWh battery and 116bhp motor increases the claimed range to 199 miles.
The 500e is undeniably attractive, pleasant to drive, and perfectly tailored for navigating tight city streets thanks to its compact size and excellent turning radius. It’s packed with technology for its small size, though with starting prices of £24,995 for the smaller battery and £27,995 for the larger battery, it’s positioned at the higher end of the small EV price spectrum.
For a comprehensive review, read our Fiat 500 Electric review
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Peugeot e-208
The Best Small Electric Car Balancing Style and Practicality
Pros: Appealing design inside and out, practical five-door access, respectable electric range.
Cons: Driving experience is not particularly engaging, higher trim levels can be expensive.
Peugeot has recently updated the e-208, giving this electric supermini a refreshed, more stylish appearance, enhanced technology, and a new long-range option. It now features a more powerful 154bhp motor and a 51kWh battery, which Peugeot claims provides a range of up to 258 miles. This is offered alongside the existing 50kWh battery and 134bhp motor version with a 225-mile official range. Peugeot has also recently reduced the e-208’s price by around £3,000, with the 50kWh model now starting at £29,950 and the 51kWh version at £30,950.
For city dwellers, the e-208’s blend of style and practicality is particularly appealing. This well-built and visually attractive car subtly signals its electric nature – the primary visual differentiator from a petrol version is the green accent on the EV number plate. The five-door configuration offers significantly easier access to the rear seats compared to the three-door Fiat 500 Electric, and the Peugeot also provides a greater driving range.
For an in-depth analysis, refer to our Peugeot e-208 review
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Hyundai Inster
The Best Small Electric Car for Maximum Interior Space
Pros: Exceptionally spacious for its compact size, distinctive design, decent range.
Cons: Only accommodates four passengers, ride quality can be firm.
If maximizing interior space within a small footprint is your priority, the Hyundai Inster is a standout choice. It’s an incredibly well-packaged new car, featuring smart individual rear seats that slide and recline, and a generous boot capacity of up to 351 litres. The flat front and rear floors further enhance the sense of spaciousness within the cabin. The amount of space Hyundai has managed to incorporate into this small car is truly remarkable.
While it’s configured for four passengers only, comfortably fitting five adults in any car of this size is typically challenging. The design might not appeal to everyone, but we find it visually striking and genuinely unique compared to other vehicles on the market. Prices are attractive, starting from £23,495, and buyers can choose between a 42kWh or 49kWh battery, offering claimed ranges of 203 and 229 miles, respectively.
For a comprehensive overview, see our Hyundai Inster review
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MINI Cooper Electric
The 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 original Mini Electric was a considerable success upon its launch in 2020, attracting style-conscious city drivers in large numbers. However, range and price were persistent 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.
Like its predecessor, this Mini remains incredibly enjoyable to drive, arguably setting the benchmark for small electric hot hatches. It delivers agile handling, brisk performance, and the signature light and responsive feel that Mini hatchbacks are known for.
For a deeper understanding, explore our Mini Cooper Electric review
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Vauxhall Corsa Electric
The Best Small Electric Car for a Conventional and Familiar Experience
Pros: Shares technology with the e-208 but with a more traditional dashboard layout, Long Range model available, widely popular.
Cons: Design is understated, historically suffers from rapid depreciation.
While the Peugeot e-208 boasts a stylish French design and a more avant-garde interior, its i-Cockpit driving position, featuring a small steering wheel and high-mounted instruments, isn’t universally liked. If you appreciate the underlying technology of the Peugeot but prefer a more conventional driving environment, the Vauxhall Corsa Electric is an excellent alternative. It essentially offers the same technology package in a more familiar and less visually assertive design.
The Corsa Electric has previously been criticized for a high initial price and significant depreciation. However, Vauxhall has responded by introducing the ‘Yes Edition,’ significantly reducing the starting price by over £6,000 to £26,895. While the name might be unconventional, the value proposition is now very compelling. Like the e-208, it’s available with a 134bhp/50kWh configuration or a 154bhp/51kWh setup, with the latter providing a range of up to 248 miles. However, top-spec models can still reach prices near £35,000, which is considerable for a Corsa.
For an in-depth assessment, read our Vauxhall Corsa Electric review
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Jeep Avenger
The Best Small Electric Car with SUV Styling
Pros: Appealing and distinctive styling, easy to maneuver, well-suited for city driving.
Cons: Rear seat space is limited, interior quality feels somewhat basic.
You might initially question whether the Jeep Avenger qualifies as a small car, given its Jeep branding. However, this new electric crossover is surprisingly compact. At just 4.1m in length, it’s only marginally larger than the Corsa, yet it retains the robust appearance of a Jeep with its upright stance and signature seven-slot grille. Its compact dimensions and excellent visibility make it exceptionally practical for city driving, appealing to those who appreciate the higher driving position of SUVs but in a smaller, more manageable package.
Being part of the Stellantis group, the Avenger shares the same 154bhp electric motor and 51kWh battery as 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 that of a supermini, and the interior materials in some areas feel less refined. Jeep has recently reduced prices by £5,000, bringing the starting price down to £29,999.
For a detailed perspective, check out our Jeep Avenger review
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Small Electric Car Buyer’s Guide and FAQs
The Pros and Cons of Small Electric Cars
Small electric cars offer several key advantages. They are incredibly easy to park and navigate through congested city streets, they are among the more affordable electric cars currently available, and they provide emission-free access to areas with vehicle restrictions. Furthermore, they operate much more quietly than small petrol cars, contributing to a more peaceful and relaxing daily commute.
However, choosing a small electric car does involve some trade-offs. Due to their size, they typically have smaller battery packs, resulting in more limited maximum driving ranges compared to larger EVs. While this is less of a concern for typical city driving, where daily commutes might average around 30 miles, it can be a significant limitation for those who frequently undertake longer journeys.
Price is another factor to consider. While small EVs are more budget-friendly within the electric car market, they often still carry a higher price tag than their petrol-powered equivalents. For instance, consider the Peugeot 208; the most affordable petrol automatic version is approximately £4,000 less expensive than the entry-level electric model, although this price gap is steadily decreasing.
Charging can also present challenges. Relying solely on public charging stations for your small electric car can potentially lead to higher electricity costs compared to the equivalent petrol expenses.
The most cost-effective way to operate an EV is generally by having a dedicated off-street parking space where you can install your own home charging point. However, this is often a financial and logistical hurdle for many urban residents living in densely populated cities.
Are Small Electric Cars Reliable?
While electric vehicle technology is still evolving, EVs generally have fewer moving parts compared to internal combustion engine cars, which can contribute to enhanced reliability. Like any electronic device, components can fail, and EV batteries do experience gradual degradation over time, leading to a slight reduction in driving range. However, current data and user experiences suggest that significant battery degradation is unlikely to be a major concern for many years, particularly for new or nearly new vehicles. Therefore, reliability should not be a primary deterrent when considering a small EV.
What is the Smallest Electric Car?
The vehicles featured in our list are comparable in size to conventional superminis or city cars—compact and well-suited for urban environments, but not truly tiny. For genuinely miniature electric vehicles, you would need to explore the quadricycle category. Historically, this category includes EVs such as the G-Wiz and Renault Twizy, and currently, the market includes models like the Citroen Ami.
Are Small Electric Cars Good for City Journeys and Short Trips?
Small electric cars are ideally suited for city driving and short trips. The instant torque delivery of electric motors makes them exceptionally responsive in city traffic, and the stop-and-go nature of urban driving helps maximize regenerative braking, contributing to battery efficiency. Typically, small EVs are equipped with smaller batteries, resulting in shorter driving ranges, which inherently makes them better suited for shorter, urban-centric journeys.
This is not to say that longer trips are impossible; most small EVs offer more than sufficient performance for highway driving. However, you will need to plan for more frequent charging stops compared to larger EVs with extended ranges.
How We Tested
As with every review published on CAR, each model featured has undergone extensive testing by our team of experienced motoring journalists and specialist writers. To learn more about our rigorous testing procedures, please visit how we test.
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