Every small electric car rated
With the idea of going electric now entering the mainstream, here's how every model currently on sale stacks up...
Small electric cars
Peugeot e-208
Our pick Allure
List price £29,915
Target Price £29,478
Target PCP £382
Range 217 miles
For Cushioning ride; quiet cruiser; smart and plush interior; can be recharged quickly.
Against Sluggish infotainment system; small rear door openings; restricted visibility.
What Car? rating 5 stars
Looking for something small and electric? The Peugeot e-208 earned our top five-star rating by matching its stylish exterior with a high-quality interior, having enough real-world range to satisfy most drivers and being genuinely engaging to drive.
Indeed, the e-208 feels sprightly by the standards of electric cars, while its steering is well weighted and accurate, so manoeuvring around urban streets and into tight parking spaces is a breeze. And although ride comfort is by no means perfect, you’ll be bounced around less in the e-208 than you would in rivals such as the Mini Electric and Renault Zoe.
As with other recent Peugeots, the interior features an unconventional layout with a high-set digital instrument panel that you view over the top of an unusually small steering wheel, rather than through it. It might not suit everyone, but it does offer some customisation.
Unlike some rivals, there’s no loss of boot space compared with regular 208s, so there’s enough room for five carry-on suitcases.
Go for our recommended Allure specification and you’ll have most of the kit you’ll want, too, including climate control, 16in alloy wheels and power-folding door mirrors.
MG ZS EV
Our pick Excite
List price £28,495
Target Price £28,495
Target PCP £324
Range 163 miles
For Lots of room for passengers; large boot; good standard equipment for the money.
Against Rivals are better to drive; not especially comfortable; below-par range.
What Car? rating 3 stars
Seat Mii Electric
Our pick One
List price £22,800
Target Price £22,800
Target PCP £308
Range 161 miles
For Easy to park and manoeuvre; comfy ride; one of the cheapest electric cars on sale.
Against Tight rear seat space and small boot; does without some modern safety kit.
What Car? rating 4 stars
Kia e-Niro
Our pick 4
List price £37,995
Target Price £37,995
Target PCP £471*
Range 282 miles
For Good to drive; more practical than closely related Hyundai Kona; big real-world range.
Against Considerably more expensive to buy than a Nissan Leaf; long delivery times.
What Car? rating 5 stars
Nissan Leaf
Our pick 110kW Acenta
List price £29,845
Target Price £28,430
Target PCP £344
Range 168 miles
For Well priced; composed handling; lots of standard safety equipment; big boot.
Against Most versions have below-par range; those that don’t have an overly firm ride.
What Car? rating 4 stars
Vauxhall Corsa-e
Our pick SE Nav
List price £30,665
Target Price £29,618
Target PCP £346
Range 209 miles
For Pleasant to drive; good rear space; well equipped; capable of fast charging speeds.
Against Drab interior compared with e-208; Renault Zoe goes farther for the same money.
What Car? rating 4 stars
Honda E
Our pick 100kW
List price £29,660
Target Price £29,660
Target PCP £374*
Range 132 miles
For Distinctive styling; nippy in town; fun to drive; excellent standard safety equipment.
Against Poor range; expensive to buy; sluggish touchscreens; minuscule boot.
What Car? rating 3 stars
There's a lot more to Honda’s small electric hatchback than just cutesy styling. For a start, there’s a punchy 134bhp electric motor that’ll get you away from the traffic lights faster than a Renault Zoe or Seat Mii Electric. The E is also more fun to drive than its rivals, while a tight turning circle makes it brilliant around town.
However, its relatively short range of up to 132 miles means it isn’t as usable for longer trip as the Zoe, while its pair of infotainment touchscreens can be slow to respond to inputs and confusing to navigate. The other issue is price; for a car with limited practicality, the E is relatively expensive, so it’s a car you’d buy with your heart rather than your head.
Hyundai Kona Electric
Our pick 64kWh Premium
List price £38,600
Target Price £37,036
Target PCP £410
Range 280 miles
For Punchy performance; 250-mile-plus real-world range; good driving position.
Against Choppy ride; boot is relatively small; lets in quite a bit of road noise.
What Car? rating 4 stars
Renault Zoe
Our pick R135 GT Line
List price £32,695
Target Price £30,095
Target PCP £299
Range 238 miles
For Very low running costs; easy to drive; longer range than many similar-priced rivals.
Against Unsettled low-speed ride; tight rear head room; no auto emergency braking.
What Car? rating 4 stars
Peugeot e-2008
Our pick Active
List price £31,665
Target Price £30,815
Target PCP £373
Range 206 miles
For Stylish interior with upmarket materials; spacious for a small SUV; quiet at all speeds.
Against Firm ride, particularly around town; slow and distracting infotainment; pricey.
What Car? rating 3 stars
Kia Soul EV
Our pick First Edition
List price £37,295
Target Price £37,295
Target PCP £582*
Range 280 miles
For Impressive official range; fine driving position; lots of rear leg room.
Against Less practical than the e-Niro and not as composed, with overly sharp steering.
What Car? rating 4 stars
Mini Electric
Our pick Cooper S Level 2
List price £29,900
Target Price £29,900
Target PCP £397
Range 144 miles
For Lively performance; impressive quality; spacious in front; user-friendly infotainment.
Against Firm ride; limited range between charges; tight rear leg room; small boot.
What Car? rating 3 stars
*Over 36 months
And the others to consider...
BMW i3 - 2 stars
DS 3 Crossback E-Tense - 3 stars
Hyundai Ioniq Electric - 4 stars
Renault Twizy - 2 stars
Skoda Citigo-e iV - 4 stars
Smart Fortwo EQ - 2 stars
Smart Forfour EQ - 1 stars
Volkswagen e-Up - 3 stars
Volkswagen e-Golf - 4 stars
What Car? will be holding its first ever Electric Car Awards on 5 August. In the meantime, you can take a look at all of the upcoming electric models that you might want to consider waiting for by clicking the link below.
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