Best small electric cars 2026: the cheap EVs to choose

Despite having a similar name, the MG4 Urban is actually a completely different car to the MG4 EV mentioned elsewhere on this list. Not only does it look nothing like its namesake, but it's also bigger in every direction and much cheaper to buy. Is there a catch? Well, no. The MG4 Urban is an excellent small electric car.

Even the cheapest versions, which come with a 148bhp electric motor, are quick by electric car standards. These models, dubbed the Standard Range, can officially take you up to 201 miles on a charge, while the Long Range models get a bit more power and a jump in range to 258 miles. That figure is more than even the longest-legged versions of the Renault 5 can travel.

Inside, we like the MG4 Urban's commanding driving position, and the fact that you get physical controls for the air conditioning rather than having to rely on the touchscreen. Speaking of which, all versions get a 12.8in screen that's pretty easy to get along with.

And then there's the space. Rear-seat passengers, especially tall ones, will find that they have more room to stretch out in the MG4 Urban than they would in any rival, and you can fit more into its boot than you could into the rival Hyundai Inster or Renault 5.

Given all of those talents, you might expect the MG4 Urban to be one of the most expensive options in the class, but that's not the car. Indeed, it undercuts nearly every rival on a spec-for-spec basis. All things considered, then, it's little wonder that the MG4 Urban sits at the very top of this class.

“The MG4 Urban won’t be eligible for the government’s official EV grant, so I think it’s great MG has decided to offer its own ‘grant’ with a guaranteed £1500 saving on the list price.” – Will Nightingale, Reviews Editor

Read our in-depth MG4 Urban review

Its name may hark back to the past, but this new Renault 5 is definitely planted in the here and now. Indeed, as a small electric car, it’s bang on trend.

Go for the entry-level model and you won’t feel like the Renault 5 has been built to a budget, while our preferred mid-range models has all of the tech that we like in the larger and more expensive Renault Megane and Scenic. Among those are 10.3in and 10.1in screens for instruments and infotainment respectively.

We especially like that the Renault 5’s interior includes physical controls for the air-con, making it easier to get along with than that of the rival Cupra Born.

The larger, 52kWh battery which we recommend you go for can officially take you up to 253 miles between charges – further than the rival Hyundai Inster can manage in Long Range form – and enough, we think, to suit the needs of most buyers.

When you need to charge, a 100kW peak rate means a 15-80% top-up need only take half an hour, while the way the 5 symbol on the bonnet can also act as a charging indicator is delightful.

Capping things off is the price, because the 5 is priced attractively next to rivals, proving that going green doesn’t need to be expensive.

"Renault has done well in offering the 5 with a headline-grabbing price. I suspect that strong demand should slow any depreciation for the next few years, too." – Will Nightingale, Reviews Editor

Read our in-depth Renault 5 review

Given that it's based on the What Car? Award-winning Renault 5, it won't surprise you to learn that the Nissan Micra shares many of that car's positive attributes. Namely, it's good to drive, well priced and comes with lots of kit.

We'd go for the Extended Range version of the Micra, which as well as a helpful boost in power over the standard car – 148bhp compared with 121bhp – can also travel further, with an official range of 260 miles. That's further than most rivals can manage, and is also more than the Renault 5, because the Micra has a more aerodynamic shape.

A 15-80% top-up of the Micra's 52kWh battery could take as little as 30 minutes if you use the fastest public chargers, while all Micras come with an EV heat pump to more efficiently warm the interior in cold weather, thus saving your range.

It's a shame that space in the back of the Micra is at something of a premium, though. Anyone approaching six-feet tall will feel quite cramped on the rear bench, with the BYD Dolphin Surf being a better choice if you regularly carry taller passengers with you. At least with 326 litres of storage space, the Micra should be able to handle your weekly shop, or a couple of holiday suitcases, without any trouble.

“I find it disappointing that there’s a big lip at the Micra's boot entrance, because this would be a pain to lift heavy items over.” – Claire Evans, Consumer editor

Read our in-depth Nissan Micra review

Small electric cars which are good fun to drive, like the Cupra Born, are few and far between. We love that not only does the entry-level car, with its 58kWh battery give you a decent range – up to 264 miles officially – but it's also light and powerful enough to let you cover the 0-60mph sprint in 7.0sec – that's faster than the MG4 and the Renault Megane.

You can pay more for a larger 79kWh battery which offers more range, along with a more powerful motor which drops the sprint time down to 5.6sec, but we think most drivers will be satisfied with the standard car. 

No matter which version you choose, the ride is comfortable, and feels more settled than that of the MG4. And then there's the handling, which is tidy and precise. Plus, with a turning circle of just 10.2m, the Born is a doddle to thread along city streets. Indeed, compared with the Volkswagen ID 3, with which the Born shares most of its components, you'll appreciate many of the tweaks Cupra has made to turn it into a more enjoyable car to drive quickly.

“I regularly travel five-up, which means the 58kWh Born is the one I'd choose every time. Why? Well, it comes with three rear seats, whereas the 77kWh model can only seat two in the back.” – Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor

Read our in-depth Cupra Born review

The Renault Megane used to be a fairly frumpy family hatchback powered by petrol – now it's an electric SUV aiming to steer you away from rivals including the Cupra Born, MG4 EV and Nissan Leaf.

Where the Megane scores big points is inside, where it's easy to get comfortable thanks to having lots of adjustment in the seat and steering wheel, and a driving position which places you fairly high up. Certainly, it's better than in the MG4 EV, with its offset steering wheel. There's lots of storage in the car for your odds and ends, too, and we managed to fit an impressive seven carry-on suitcases into its boot. The Cupra Born and VW ID 3 are both more accommodating for rear passengers, though.

It's worth going for entry-level Equilibre trim over the most expensive Megane models, because this comes with the smallest 18in alloy wheels, which produce the best ride. Speaking of which, the Megane's ride is firmer than in the MG4, but that doesn't translate into enjoyable handling, where the Megane's light steering can make it tricky to place the car where you want it.

“I like silence on my morning commute, so I appreciate the lengths Renault has gone to to cocoon drivers from the outside world. Driving the Megane is certainly a quieter experience than in the rival Cupra Born.” – Stuart Milne, Digital Editor

Read our in-depth Renault Megane review

Let's be clear – the MG4 EV is a bargain, safely under-cutting almost every other electric car of similar size. Yet don't go thinking that just because the MG4 has been built to a budget, that it's not hugely compelling in the areas which matter for electric car buyers.

Let's start with the range. Even the entry-level SE model can officially take you 218 miles between charges, while the Long Range model, with its more powerful motor and larger 61.7kWh battery, ups the range figure to 281 miles according to official figures. Even in the depths of winter, we recorded an impressive 196 miles in our real-world tests.

No matter which version you go for, the MG4's ride is decent, with most lumps and bumps taken care of in a respectable manner, though the Cupra Born and Renault Megane are even comfier. 

While the driving position of the MG4 isn't up there with the best in this class, because the steering wheel is slightly offset to the left, most of the car's controls are easy to get to grips with. Tall passengers will be more comfortable in the rear of the MG than they would in either of its Cupra or Renault rivals, too.

Despite costing far less than most rivals to begin with, our recommended SE models don't skimp on it, with adaptive cruise control, rear parking sensors and even the ability to use the car's charge to power external devices all coming as standard.

“If you regularly travel big miles like I do, then you'll be pleased to know that going for the Long Range model also ups the MG4's maximum charging capacity to 135kW – slightly more than the Born can manage. ” – Will Nightingale, Reviews Editor

Read our in-depth MG4 review

The Volkswagen ID 3 has been treated to a mid-life refresh, and while it's not at the top of the small electric car pile, it is still thoroughly recommendable.

Regardless of which version you choose, you'll get a single electric motor powering the rear wheels, but while you could spend more for a Pro S model with a 77kWh battery, we'd save our money and go for the Pro model, with its 58kWh battery, instead. This can officially take you up to 265 miles between charges – that's further than a Nissan Leaf – plus thanks to its lower weight, the Pro can out-sprint an MG4 EV SE to 62mph.

While the ID 3's interior used to be a bit of a let-down, but this recent facelift has smartened up the materials used inside, adding soft-touch materials to pretty much every surface you're likely to touch regularly. Still, some parts of the interior still don't feel as well put together as, say, the BMW 1 Series. The centre console, for example, is very obviously made from cheaper plastics.

“I like knowing that the ID 3 will take good care of me if something goes wrong. Automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance and a driver fatigue monitor all come as standard, and the car scored a full five stars from Euro NCAP when it was crash tested back in 2020. The tests have gotten tougher since then, though.” – Steve Huntingford, Editor

Read our in-depth Volkswagen ID 3 review

The regular BYD Dolphin used to feature on this list, but these days it's the smaller and cheaper Dolphin Surf which we think will suit small electric car buyers the best. Indeed, with a list price which makes it cheaper to buy than the rival Citroën e-C3 and Renault 5, the Dolphin Surf is one of the cheapest electric cars around.

There's more to it than just being cheap, though, because every Dolphin Surf comes loaded with kit. Adaptive cruise control, keyless entry and air conditioning all come as standard, while our recommended Boost models add alloy wheels, automatic wipers and electric front seats for a very reasonable increase. Boost models also up the Dolphin Surf's maximum charging rate from 65kW to 85kW – meaning you can top up its battery faster.

Speaking of batteries, it's worth going for a Boost model since this upgrades the Dolphin Surf's battery from a 30kWh usable capacity to 43.2kWh, which gives an official range of 200 miles – slightly further than an e-C3 or Renault 5 in Urban Range form can take you.

“As a tall driver, I'm often concerned about how well I'll fit into some small electric cars, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much room I had to stretch out in the back of the Dolphin Surf. That's despite it being a strict four-seater.” – George Hill, Used Cars Writer

Read our in-depth BYD Dolphin Surf review

If you want a small electric car with a smattering of SUV style, then the Hyundai Inster is well worth a look. Its rufty-tufty bodywork gives the look of a traditional petrol-engined SUV, but because it's both small and electric, it should cost you comparitive pennies to run – especially if you can charge it up at home.

While the smaller of the two available batteries can only take you up to 203 miles between charges offiically, it's worth paying a little more for the Long Range model, which ups that figure to 229 miles. That's more than the Dacia Spring, Citroën ë-C3 and Fiat 500e can manage.

The Inster has a comfy ride, too, with its relatively soft suspension doing a good job of soaking up lumps and bumps in the road. In fact, combined with well-weighted steering, the Inster feels well suited to drivers living in the city.

Go for a car in 02 trim and you can slide the rear seats backward to create a surprising amount of leg room, but it's worth noting that, unlike some rivals, the Inster only has two rear seats. At least you'll have more space for luggage than you would in the likes of the BYD Dolphin and e-C3. Plus, starting prices for the Inster are less than those of the Dolphin.

"The Inster is a good fit for drivers like me who like to sit high up. I also like its large windows, which help to give you excellent visibility.” – Darren Moss, Deputy Editor

Read our in-depth Hyundai Inster review

Business tycoons will be used to talking about cost-effectiveness, but it's a phrase that's summed up perfectly by the Citroën ë-C3. Here's a small electric car which offers on-trend SUV styling, a decent range of close to 200 miles, and all the practicality a growing family might need, for a price that's less than most rivals.

Indeed, the e-C3 is one of the cheapest electric cars on sale, undercutting everything but the Dacia Spring, which is a significantly smaller car and has a far cheaper-feeling interior. The e-C3, on the other hand, has an interior which is both comfortable to sit and and inviting to behold. Indeed, it's more inviting than that offered in the MG4.

It's a shame that the e-C3's 10.25in infotainment touchscreen didn't receive more attention, because its graphics aren't impressive to look at, and it has limited applications – though you do still get Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring.

Rear passengers will find they have more head room than in the BYD Dolphin, although that car counters with a bit more leg room, as well as more room for luggage. Still, the 310-litre boot offered by the e-C3 should still carry your weekly shop or a couple of holiday suitcases with ease.

“I was impressed with how nippy the e-C3's 111bhp motor made the 0-50mph sprint feel. Performance does tail off beyond that, but motorway overtakes are still easily accomplished.” – Dan Jones, Senior Reviewer

Read our in-depth Citroën ë-C3 review

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