Hatchback

Today, the resurgent Seat brand is selling better cars than at any time in its history.

In large part, that’s because it is one of the brands owned by the VW Group. Underneath, all of the cars it sells are strongly related to similar models sold by Volkswagen itself, or the likes of Skoda and even Audi. If you are buying a Leon, for example, the hardware will be similar to that of the Golf, Octavia and A3.

But while Seat makes the most of this tie-up to offer everything from city, small and family cars, including estates, through to a full range of SUVs, it also adds in its own slice of character, both with its distinctive styling approach and because its engineers generally tune the cars to deliver sportier handling.

While all of its cars are decent, it is the SUVs that stand out. The Arona and Ateca are among the class leaders and have enjoyed triumphs at the What Car? Awards.

SEAT

MII Electric

Hatchback (2020 - )

Modern Fiats fall into two categories: the retro models and those with more functional designs.

Cars in the first camp appeal to the heart and include the 124 Spider sports car and the 500 series: a hatchback, a convertible, an SUV and two MPVs.

By contrast, the remaining models rely on their practicality and attractive pricing, with the Panda city car, Tipo hatchback and Fullback pick-up truck all prime examples.

Fiat can trace its roots back to the 19th century but is now part of the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles group, along with Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Jeep and Maserati.

Fiat

FIAT

The all-electric Fiat 500 is great fun to drive and has a reasonable range. Used prices are tempting, too.&nbsp;

Used Fiat 500 Electric 2021-present

<h2>What we're looking for </h2><ul><li>Generous enough real-world range to fit most lifestyles</li> <li>Plenty of charging options and quick top-up times </li> <li>Usable space and strong practicality</li> <li>Comfortable ride that isn’t hindered by a heavy battery</li></ul>

With so many electric cars now on offer, we've split the smaller models from the larger ones to ensure that we're able to compare direct rivals.

As well as being adept at coping with city life, small electric cars need to be roomy enough for a couple of adults and able to drive a decent amount of miles between charges.&nbsp;

There are some great small electric cars to choose from. The affordable Seat Mii Electric proves you don't have to have break the bank to go green, the Renault Zoe has been improved in every area, making it a great small EV prospect, and the Kia e-Niro was named our overall 2019 Car of the Year.

Small Electric

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/fiat/500/hatchback/review/n84">Fiat 500 Electric</a>&nbsp;is one of the latest variations on&nbsp;the iconic 500 city car, joining a list of seemingly thousands, from an SUV spin-off&nbsp;in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/fiat/500x/hatchback/review/n80">Fiat 500X</a>&nbsp;to even an MPV version in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/fiat/500l/hatchback/used-review/n970">Fiat 500L</a>. There's even a convertible version (also&nbsp;known as the 500e C) of this very <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric car</a>.&nbsp;

What about the regular Fiat 500 you've known since 2007? Well, that's now called the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/fiat/500/hatchback/review/n22352">Fiat 500 Hybrid</a>.&nbsp;

Performance &amp; Range:&nbsp;The smaller battery, a&nbsp;24kWh unit, comes with a 94bhp electric motor with an&nbsp;official range of just 115 miles. If that doesn't sound like much, don't fret:&nbsp;we suspect the vast majority of buyers will want the&nbsp;larger 42kWh battery, because it gets 118bhp and, more importantly, an official range of 199 miles.&nbsp;

As a side note, the 500e C&nbsp;is only available with the&nbsp;42kWh battery. Its official range does take a small hit, mind you, dropping to 185 miles.&nbsp;

The 500 Electric, with its 0-60mph time of 8.0sec, won't be scaring any Teslas, but it certainly feels nippy enough, especially around town but also on the motorway. For an extra dose of&nbsp;performance, we'd steer you towards the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/abarth/500/hatchback/review/n25801">Abarth 500e</a>.&nbsp;

Ride &amp; Handling: The 500 Electric&nbsp;is good fun to drive. With&nbsp;its&nbsp;tight turning circle and super-light steering, it's&nbsp;great for whizzing along narrow streets or darting away from traffic lights. Body control is good, even through tight turns, and there's&nbsp;plenty of grip to depend on.&nbsp;

On the other hand, at higher speeds, some rivals are more composed and confidence-inspiring. It's also rather noisy at motorway speeds. The ride can prove a bit choppy over patchy surfaces, too, although it's by no means uncomfortable.&nbsp;

Interior &amp; Practicality:&nbsp;Inside, you sit high up and rather upright, so you get a good view of the road ahead and to the sides. Interior quality is mixed, with some good materials and switchgear present, as well as decent build quality. However, a closer inspection reveals that the doors and centre console are made of scratchy plastics.&nbsp;

The 500 Electric isn’t a big car – even if this&nbsp;electric version is slightly larger than the 500 Hybrid –&nbsp;and there are still no rear doors. Rear-seat space is only generous if you're very small, with taller adults barely able to fit (if fit at all).&nbsp;

If you view it&nbsp;as an occasional four-seater, though, the 500 Electric&nbsp;is perfectly fit for purpose – both in hardtop and convertible forms. If you go for the hardtop, you'll get a bigger boot, although it's still only big enough for three carry-on suitcases.&nbsp;

Trims &amp; Equipment:&nbsp;Entry-level Action trim gets manual air-conditioning, which becomes climate control if you go for the next trim up:&nbsp;Red. The trim another step up,&nbsp;Icon, makes the most sense, though, because it gets rain-sensing wipers, keyless entry and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

Interested in buying a used&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/fiat/500/hatchback/review/n84">Fiat 500 Electric</a>? Visit our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars">Used Cars For Sale</a>&nbsp;pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.

Fiat 500 Hatchback

Honda is a company that doesn’t like to follow the crowd. So, while it competes in most of the traditional sectors of the car market, in each case it does something a little bit different.

The Jazz, for example, might look like just another rival to Britain’s best-selling car, the Ford Fiesta, but it’s actually much more practical than its rivals, with a flexible boot and Tardis-like interior.

The bigger Civic is also a practical choice, but it’s mainly distinguished by having eye-catching, love-it-or-hate-it styling, despite competing in a sector of the market that’s usually more conservative than a blue rosette.

And while it may not seem so radical now, Honda’s large SUV, the CR-V, was one of the first to forego any pretence of being an off-roader and instead focus on on-road driving dynamics.

Honda

Honda E

HONDA

Small, agile and desirable, the Honda E is an intriguing used buy with a disappointingly short range.

Used Honda E 2020-present

Once known as one of the world's best engine makers and one of the most innovative car manufacturers, Honda's mantle seems to have slipped a little since the turn of the millennium.

However, no one viewing this diminutive <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/honda-e/hatchback/review/n20882">Honda E</a>, the Japanese firm's first mass-produced battery-electric vehicle, could&nbsp;fail to be impressed by it. Its looks are close to adorable, for one, and this fiercely futuristic car comes with&nbsp;flush door handles, cameras instead of door mirrors and two enormous touchscreens on the inside.

But in the increasingly competitive world of small electric cars, you need more than just good looks to prosper. And that's where Honda has chosen to take a bit of a gamble. You see where many affordable mainstream EVs are now appearing with more than 200 miles of range, the dinky E arrived&nbsp;with a comparatively meagre 136 miles of range.

However, Honda is confident it has taken the right approach with this car, aiming it at a particular customer who won't be seeking the maximum range for price but will instead be looking for a stylish urban car for short hops only.&nbsp;

There are two trim levels, named simply <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/honda-e/hatchback/review/n20882">Honda E</a>&nbsp;and Honda E&nbsp;Advance. Both give you a decent amount of equipment, with Advance adding luxuries such as a heated steering wheel, a self-parking system and heated front seats, along with a&nbsp;more powerful electric motor.

It's certainly good to drive, feeling agile, nippy and fun. Go for the entry-level Honda E and you&nbsp;get 134bhp, whereas as mentioned the pricier Advance model packs 152bhp.&nbsp;Whichever version you choose, acceleration feels particularly urgent when you put your foot down at relatively low speeds, making the baby Honda ideally suited to the urban cut and thrust.&nbsp;

A push of a button enables one-pedal driving, whereby lifting off the accelerator pedal turns the car’s regenerative braking system up to its maximum level, slowing the car quickly without you needing to press the brake pedal at all, and helping to recharge the battery in the process.

Inside, an 8.8in screen serves as the instrument cluster behind the steering wheel, displaying your speed and remaining range, and this is joined to two 12.3in infotainment touchscreens that stretch out across the width of the dashboard. This array is flanked on both sides by&nbsp;6.0in screens that display a live feed from the futuristic camera door mirrors.&nbsp;

The driving position is great and the interior quality impressive. In fact, it feels really upmarket. Space is good up front, but&nbsp;in the back it's&nbsp;roughly on a par with the<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/zoe/hatchback/review/n152">&nbsp;Renault Zoe</a>, so there’s more leg and head room than in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/electric/hatchback/review/n20910">Mini Electric</a>&nbsp;or<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/mii/hatchback/used-review/n822">&nbsp;Seat Mii</a>. There are only two seatbelts in the back, so carrying five people is out of the question.&nbsp;The boot, meanwhile, is absolutely tiny.

If you're interested in buying a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/honda/honda-e?used=true&amp;nearlynew=true&amp;postCode=tw1%203sp">used Honda E</a>, or any of the other cars mentioned here, please head over to our used car classifieds site <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars">here</a>.

Page 1 of 5

Honda E Hatchback

Hatchback (2021 - 2023)

Talk about taking an idea and running with it. The big-selling Mini hatchback is still at the core of the firm’s range, but its cute styling and relatively compact dimensions have been spun off into an estate (the Clubman) and an SUV (the Countryman), as well as a convertible.

Despite its small size, the Mini is a firmly premium product, and the three-door hatchback counts the Audi A1 and Volkswagen Polo among its key rivals.

The fact that Mini is owned by BMW brings some big advantages –&nbsp;not least the fact that its infotainment system is based on BMW’s industry-leading iDrive.

MINI

Electric Hatch

Electric

Luxurious, well equipped and quick, the Mini Electric is a joy, but its low range does restrict usability

Used Mini Electric 2020-2024

Could the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/electric/hatchback/review/n20910">Mini Electric</a> be a better getaway car than the classic Minis in The Italian Job heist movie? It&nbsp;would certainly provide a swift and silent escape, with the&nbsp;only potential issue being the modest range.&nbsp;

Either way, it's&nbsp;one nippy <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">small electric car</a> and a compelling used buy.&nbsp;

Performance &amp; Range:&nbsp;All Electrics get a healthy 181bhp, allowing for a 0-60mph time of 7.3sec. If those figures impress,&nbsp;that's because almost resemble&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/hot-hatches/n17005">hot hatch</a>&nbsp;numbers.

The model's official range is 145&nbsp;miles, but in real-world conditions that number is closer to 125 miles (on a good day). Naturally, for many people, that simply won't suffice. If so, check out alternatives like the 199-mile <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/fiat/500/hatchback/review/n84">Fiat 500 Electric</a> and 217-mile <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/208/hatchback/review/n20228">Peugeot e-208</a>&nbsp;– again, those are official ranges, so still expect a drop off in real-world driving.&nbsp;

Ride &amp; Handling:&nbsp;There are four driving modes to choose from: Sport, Mid, Green and Green Plus. Sport sharpens up the accelerator response and gives you more of that instantly responsive electric-car feel. Green requires you to push the accelerator pedal much harder for a good burst of acceleration, encouraging you to drive more gently.&nbsp;

The Mini is relatively agile by electric car standards, feeling darty and changing direction without much body lean. Sadly, the Mini's steering doesn’t give you much warning when the front tyres are about to lose grip – something that happens sooner than you might imagine, especially when it's been raining. That spoils the fun a little.

Ride comfort isn't a big Mini Electric strength, either. It jostles you around along beaten-up urban backstreets&nbsp;and thumps over expansion joints. Having said that, the suspension takes the sting out of most bumps in the road, and the car settles well enough at higher speeds, so the slightly fussy ride is unlikely to be a deal-breaker.

Interior &amp; Practicality:&nbsp;The&nbsp;interior in the Electric lives up to Mini's upmarket standards, with plenty of soft-touch plastics on the dashboard, as well as solid-feeling knobs, switches and stalks. It looks great, too, with a cheerful, retro design – and thankfully, once you’ve got used to one or two quirks, that doesn’t compromise usability.

The driver's seat is comfortable, supportive and has a wide range of adjustment. The 5.5in digital screen behind the steering wheel (in place of conventional instrument dials) makes it easy to see how much charge there is in the battery at a glance, as well as how fast you’re going. The digital instruments in some rivals show a greater variety of detail and are larger, but the Mini covers the basics.

There’s no electric equivalent of the&nbsp;five-door Mini&nbsp;– you&nbsp;get the same body as the three-door petrol&nbsp;Mini hatchback. That&nbsp;means getting into the back of the Mini Electric requires a bit of contortion. Once you’re in, there's less head room than in the regular petrol model because&nbsp;the battery’s position means the rear seats have had to be mounted higher.

The reduced head room is more noticeable with Level 3 trim because it has a standard-fit panoramic sunroof that drops the height of the ceiling. A six-footer will need to cower, and stingy knee room will stop passengers slouching forwards to straighten their neck.

Boot space is exactly the same as in a petrol three-door Mini hatchback. That means you’ll squeeze in more luggage than you would in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/e/hatchback/used-review/n22807">Honda E</a>&nbsp;but the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/zoe/hatchback/used-review/n817">Renault Zoe</a> is a more practical choice.

A two-level boot floor comes as standard, as does a 50/50-split rear seat, and we could only fit a paltry three carry-on suitcases into the load bay.&nbsp;

Trims &amp; Equipment:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews/make/mini">Mini</a> gives you a choice of three trim levels – simply called&nbsp;Level 1, 2 and 3. If you go for Level 1, you'll get sat nav, two-zone air-con and cruise control. Level 2 adds&nbsp;rear parking sensors and a reversing camera, heated seats and the driving assistance pack, which includes&nbsp;automatic high-beam assistance and traffic-sign recognition. At the top end, Level 3 gets a head-up display, upgraded headlights and a panoramic roof.&nbsp;

Interested in buying a used&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/electric/hatchback/review/n20910">Mini Electric</a>? Visit our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars">Used Cars For Sale</a>&nbsp;pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.

Mini Electric Hatchback

Hatchback (2019 - 2023)

Peugeot has its strongest model line-up for some years, with some of its cars now rated by our testers as being among the very best available.

Highlights focus around the firm’s newest SUVs, the 3008 and 5008. The 5008 was named Large SUV of the Year at the 2018 What Car? Awards, thanks to its appealing blend of space, interior quality and low running costs.

That bodes well for future launches, too, because many of the learnings from these cars will be passed on as new versions of existing cars are launched – something that could take many years, because the Peugeot range is so big, ranging from an entry-level supermini with the 108 to an executive saloon with the 508, up into the SUV range and also vans.

Buyers should evaluate some of the lower-rated cars in the range more carefully, though. Some are now quite old, and are subsequently left behind in terms of quality when compared with the opposition, making them below-average buys, in our estimation.

Peugeot

Temporary taxonomy to get review live.

ChrisH 01/10/2019

E-208

PEUGEOT

e208

With used prices as reasonable as they are, it's hard to criticise the comfortable and stylish Peugeot e-208.&nbsp;

Used Peugeot e-208 2019-present

In the UK, we love&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/small-cars/n16997">small cars</a>: everyone, from first-time drivers to the more mature, gets around in them. Nowadays,&nbsp;an increasing number of them are sporting electric power, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/208/hatchback/review/n20228">Peugeot e-208</a> being one of them.&nbsp;

It's the electric car (<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">EV</a>) counterpart to the more traditional, petrol-powered <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/208/hatchback/review/n30">Peugeot 208</a>, and, as a used buy, we believe there's little that comes close to matching it in terms of&nbsp;value.

Performance &amp; Range:&nbsp;Pre-2023 facelift, there's just one battery and electric motor configuration with the e-208, but it's no dud. You have a 134bhp motor that&nbsp;drives&nbsp;the front wheels and is powered by a 50kWh battery.&nbsp;Acceleration is nippy,&nbsp;even if it's 0-60mph time of&nbsp;7.9sec (in our hands) won't scare an entry-level&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-3/saloon/review/n19010">Tesla Model 3</a>&nbsp;– it'll scare your average petrol/<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/hybrid-cars/n17013">hybrid</a> small car, though, and that includes the regular 208.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The e-208's official range is 217 miles: a decent figure that bests&nbsp;rivals such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/fiat/500/hatchback/review/n84">Fiat 500 Electric</a> and (first-gen)&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/electric/hatchback/review/n20910">Mini Electric</a>&nbsp;but ultimately falls short of the 52kWh&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/zoe/hatchback/review/n152">Renault Zoe's</a>&nbsp;remarkable 239-mile official range. The 58kWh VW ID 3 can go even further – 265 miles, officially – but you're generally looking at higher prices at that point.&nbsp;

Now, be wary that (like with every EV) real-world range is unlikely to live up to official figures, especially when it's cold. In the e-208's case, expect to travel&nbsp;around 160 miles before running out of juice.&nbsp;

The facelift introduced a&nbsp;51kWh battery that has a&nbsp;154bhp electric motor and a&nbsp;248-mile official range –&nbsp;it sits alongside the 50kWh version in the line up&nbsp;– and expect that to achieve around 190 miles on a full charge.&nbsp;

Ride &amp; Handling: The e-208 isn't quite as sporty as the tiny, go-kart-like steering wheel would suggest and the steering doesn’t give you a great sense of connection to the road. However, there's good grip and enough composure to give you enough confidence on a twisty road.&nbsp;

The e-208 has a softer suspension than some of its rivals, allowing it to&nbsp;glide comfortably along motorways. The ride can get a little bouncy at times, but potholes and other road imperfections are generally dealt with well.&nbsp;

There's some wind noise at higher speeds, but, for the most part, road noise is kept to&nbsp;a minimum.

Interior &amp; Practicality:&nbsp;Inside, there’s plenty of room in the front. Alas, rear room is a little tighter than in the e-208’s main rivals. Boot space is a similar story, but we managed to fit five carry-on suitcases below the parcel shelf and that's a decent effort.&nbsp;

Good-quality materials and a stylish, expensive-looking design make the e-208's interior feel upmarket, with only a few scratchy plastics stopping it from reaching Mini Electric levels of premium.&nbsp;

Peugeot's "i-Cockpit" driver&nbsp;display splits opinion&nbsp;based on different&nbsp;driving positions. If you're a taller individual, especially in the&nbsp;torso, you might find the top of the steering wheel (which is meant to be sit below the dials) is naturally getting in the way of some of the display. The alternative is to position the wheel&nbsp;effectively on your lap, which isn't especially comfortable.

That being said, the "i-Cockpit" design might very well suit you, so it's best you sit in an e-208 yourself before making any final judgements.&nbsp;

Trims &amp; Equipment:&nbsp;Trims available echo those of the regular 208. Entry-level Active comes with 16in alloy wheels, a 7.0in touchscreen and rear parking sensors. Allure trim adds 17in wheels&nbsp;and a wireless phone charging pad. GT Line has front parking sensors and a rear-view camera. From Allure trim up, the 7.0in touchscreen could be upgraded from new&nbsp;to a 10.0in touchscreen, which comes as standard on the GT spec.

The 2023 facelift – that also saw styling tweaks, inside and out, as well as the aforementioned&nbsp;new battery and motor option&nbsp;– added an&nbsp;E-Style trim.&nbsp;It’s only available with the 134bhp motor and 50kWh battery, but it adds 16in alloy wheels, front parking sensors and some extra styling details over Active (yet sits below Allure).

Interested in buying a used&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/208/hatchback/review/n20228">Peugeot e-208</a>? Visit our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars">Used Cars For Sale</a>&nbsp;pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.

Peugeot e-208 Hatchback

Hatchback (2012 - )

Decently priced used and with a respectable range, the Seat Mii is worth a look if you're after an all-electric city car.

Used Seat Mii Electric 2019-2022

In 2019 it was out with <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/mii/hatchback/used-review/n822">the petrol-powered Seat Mii city car</a> and in with the Seat Mii Electric. If you think that the new Mii Electric looks the same as the regular Mii, apart from the ‘Electric’ badging, you are quite correct. And, if you think this car also looks like the Skoda Citigo and Volkswagen Up, well, you’re right there too.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/up/hatchback/review/n9">Up</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/citigo/hatchback/review/n10">Citigo</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/mii/hatchback/review/n11">Mii</a>&nbsp;were all released in quick succession back in 2012 – three virtually identical, very impressive city cars that were created as a joint effort by the mighty Volkswagen Group. These days, though, it’s difficult to make money at this end of the market, so, with city car sales dwindling and interest in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/category/electric">electric cars</a>&nbsp;rising, all three became electric in 2019. Alas the Mii and Citigo went off sale in 2022.&nbsp;

The good news is this&nbsp;Mii Electric looks to have the crucial elements to be a success, at least on the used market.&nbsp;Chiefly, a claimed electric range of 161 miles and one of the lowest used price tags for an electric car.&nbsp;

<iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3971N-UF3z0" width="560"></iframe>

Let’s start with the Mii Electric’s range. Its 36.8kWh lithium-ion battery will provide enough juice for the Mii Electric to cover 161 miles on a full charge, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/what-are-wltp-and-rde-new-fuel-tests-explained/n1223">WLTP test cycle</a>. We are yet to put it through our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-car-real-range-which-electric-car-can-go-farthest-in-the-real-world/n18159/">Real Range test</a>, but the WLTP figures suggest that it is able to travel farther than a Volkswagen e-Golf (144 miles), although many other electric cars will go farther still.

Still, among the smaller&nbsp;electric cars, the 161-mile range isn’t too disappointing and, significantly, the Mii Electric is much cheaper than its closest rivals – something we’ll cover in more detail later on.

What about its performance? Well, the electric motor delivers 82bhp and 156lb ft of torque, and, while that might not sound particularly mighty, you can still be pretty sure of embarrassing most cars off the line at the traffic lights. Beyond city speed limits, though, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/zoe/hatchback/review/n152">Renault Zoe</a>&nbsp;has a definite speed advantage.&nbsp;

The Mii will manage motorway journeys (although its top speed is limited to 81mph), but its acceleration at those higher speeds isn’t as flexible as it is when driving slower. While it only takes a gentle squeeze of the right foot to nip into a different lane of traffic around town, it’s harder to get an equivalent burst of speed when overtaking.&nbsp;

There are three driving modes: Normal, Eco and Eco+. Normal offers maximum power while the others limit it in order to eke out range (Eco+ even switches the air conditioning off). The levels of regenerative braking (a system that harnesses energy that would be wasted when braking and uses it to top the battery up) can also be controlled via the gear selector. In its highest setting, the braking force delivered when you lift your foot off the accelerator is strong enough to bring the car to a near standstill, but doesn’t quite allow for one-pedal driving like the Nissan Leaf’s system can. The brake pedal feels natural and consistent in its responsiveness, though – not something you can always say of an electric cars.

Around town, the Mii Electric is relaxing to drive. Its steering is light and accurate and the car’s small, boxy dimensions make it easy to thread through narrow side roads. A tight turning circle also helps. The ride quality is a particular highlight; it handles larger road imperfections,&nbsp;such as speed bumps and potholes, with impressive composure, and it feels settled at all speeds. It’s quiet, too –&nbsp;you’ll notice some blustery wind noise whipped up around the door mirrors at motorway speeds, but little else to disturb the peace.

Inside, the Mii Electric feels a bit dated compared to its rivals. The Mii itself is an old design by now, and while there is no doubting the solidity of its interior, the materials used don’t impress; there’s quite a bit of hard, scratchy plastic&nbsp;around, while the steering wheel feels of particularly low quality. There is, however, a bright, interestingly styled plastic panel across the dash to inject a bit of colour into it. By comparison, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/zoe/hatchback/review/n152">Renault Zoe</a>&nbsp;feels more polished and modern.

The Mii also lacks a touchscreen infotainment system. Instead, there’s a phone holder mounted on top of the dash, with a colour screen and physical shortcut buttons that allow you to cycle through your phone’s functions via a smartphone-integration app. The app also enables you to lock and unlock the car through your phone or&nbsp;set the air-con before you get in. It may not feel quite so cutting edge as a touchscreen infotainment screen, but it is still a practical solution. That said, a&nbsp;system with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-apple-carplay/n1193">Apple CarPlay</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-android-auto/n1194/">Android Auto</a>&nbsp;would be less fiddly to

The driving position is fine, but the steering wheel adjusts only up and down, not in and out, and could partly block your view of the instrument panel depending on how you set it. The seat’s backrest adjusts with a ratchet lever rather than with a rotary wheel, too, so you might find the precise angle you want elusive. There’s no adjustable lumbar support, either. Meanwhile, the trip computer display looks a bit old-fashioned, too – its small nature and low screen resolution is a far cry from the fully digital display of the Zoe.&nbsp;

Visibility out of the car is great all round. That’s particularly good news because, while rear parking sensors come as standard, there’s no sign of front parking sensors or a rear-view camera, even on the options list. Nor are super-bright LED headlights available, a feature that comes as standard on the Zoe.

Of the electric cars currently available, the Seat Mii Electric is among the smallest. In fact, only a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/smart/forfour-eq/hatchback/review/n18072">Smart ForFour EQ</a>&nbsp;is smaller. But, even if you’re tall, sitting in the front won’t be a problem for you. Storage space is decent, too, with useful door pockets and a single cupholder located centrally below the dashboard. Another practical touch is the small shelf that divides an open-faced cubbyhole ahead of the gear selector.

The battery is stuffed under the rear seats, the bench being raised by 5cm compared with that of the petrol Mii in order to fit them underneath. However, the impact on space isn’t especially marked; thanks to the Mii’s comparatively boxy styling, there’s still a decent amount of head room for adults. Those who are six feet tall and under should find enough room to be comfortable on short journeys, although taller folk will find their hair brushing the ceiling. Knee and leg room, meanwhile, should be just about acceptable if you aren’t especially tall. There are only seatbelts for four, though, and you can’t lower the rear windows; they pop out instead.

An adjustable boot floor is an optional extra, and&nbsp;at its lowest setting the Mii Electric’s&nbsp;boot is impressively deep, but it doesn’t go back very far and there’s a big loading lip at the opening. A thoughtful touch, though, is the storage well just underneath the lip, where you can keep the&nbsp;charging cable close to hand.

If you're interested in buying a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/seat/mii?used=true&amp;nearlynew=true&amp;postCode=tw1%203sp">used Seat Mii Electric</a>, or any of the other cars mentioned here, check out our used car classifieds site <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars">here</a>.&nbsp;

Page 1 of 5

&nbsp;

Seat Mii Electric Hatchback

Hatchback (2017 - 2020)

One of the greatest success stories in the car world of recent decades is Skoda’s rise to become a hugely credible mainstream maker of good-value, good-sense cars.

Central to that success has been its place within the VW Group, alongside the Volkswagen brand itself, plus the likes of Seat and Audi. That has given it access to exactly the same underpinnings for its cars as the other brands, and it has complemented this by adding its own developments, from the way the cars drive and ride through to the features they have and the pricing.

The result is a range that extends from a city car to a large executive saloon, with family and large seven-seat SUVs too. There’s a wide variety of petrol and diesel engines, all of which are competitive for the class.

As a result, Skoda has a range of cars that is almost entirely class-leading or among the class leaders, and it has enjoyed long-time success at the What Car? Awards as a result.

Skoda

Temporary taxonomy until CAP catches up. ChrisH 29/11/2019

Citigo

SKODA

Citigo iV

The Citigo e iV is one of the best small electric cars and is good value used.

Used Skoda Citigo e iV 2019-2022

While it’s fairly typical for an updated car to get a new engine, it’s not often that an entirely new propulsion system is introduced. The Skoda Citigo e iV is somewhat different, however; rather than just tinkering with the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/citigo/hatchback/used-review/n836">Citigo’s</a> petrol engines when it was tweaked in 2019, they were ripped out and stuck straight in the bin.

In their place is an 82bhp electric motor that’s powered by a 36.8kWh battery pack. In English, that’s enough juice for 162 miles of range in official tests. That’s some way behind the likes of the<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/zoe/hatchback/review/n152">&nbsp;Renault Zoe</a>, but way more than the paltry range offered by the<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/smart/forfour-eq/hatchback/review/n18072">&nbsp;Smart Forfour EQ</a>, and even the more upmarket – and considerably more expensive – <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/hatchback/hatchback/used-review/n906">Mini Electric</a>.

Of course, there are a couple of rivals that are much closer to home; the<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/mii/hatchback/review/n11">&nbsp;Seat Mii Electric</a>&nbsp;and the<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/up/hatchback/review/n17244">&nbsp;Volkswagen e-Up</a>. If you think they all look a little similar, that’s because they’re all virtually the same car, just badged differently. By developing all three cars together, Volkswagen Group was able to save an awful lot of money to help make them cheaper to buy and more profitable. Not that this should be a surprise; they did exactly the same when they launched the original petrol versions of the Up, Mii and Citigo way back in 2012.

Let’s start with the Citigo e iV’s range. Its 36.8kWh lithium ion battery will provide enough juice for the car to cover 161 miles on a full charge, according to the<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/what-are-wltp-and-rde-new-fuel-tests-explained/n1223">&nbsp;WLTP test cycle</a>. We are yet to put it through our<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-car-real-range-which-electric-car-can-go-farthest-in-the-real-world/n18160">&nbsp;Real Range</a>&nbsp;tests, but the similar Seat Mii Electric achieved 111 miles. Official WLTP figures suggest that it is able to travel farther than a<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf/hatchback/review/n17165">&nbsp;Volkswagen e-Golf</a>&nbsp;(144 miles); although many other electric cars will go farther still, the Citigo e is much cheaper to buy used than its closest rivals.

So, how milk float-like is it to drive? Well, its electric motor delivers 82bhp and 156lb ft of torque, and, while that might not sound particularly mighty, you can still be pretty sure of embarrassing most cars off the line at the traffic lights. Beyond city speed limits, though, the<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/zoe/hatchback/review/n152">&nbsp;Renault Zoe</a>&nbsp;has a definite speed advantage.&nbsp;

The Citigo e iV will manage motorway journeys (its top speed is limited to 81mph), but its acceleration at those higher speeds isn’t as swift as it is at lower speeds; while it only takes a gentle squeeze of the right foot to nip into a different lane of traffic around town, it’s harder to extract an equivalent burst of speed when overtaking on the motorway.

There are three driving modes: Normal, Eco and Eco+. Normal provides maximum power while the others limit it in order to eke out range (Eco+ even switches the air conditioning off). The levels of regenerative braking (a system that harnesses energy that would be wasted when braking and uses it to top the battery up) can also be controlled via the gear selector. In its highest setting, the braking force delivered when you lift your foot off the accelerator is strong enough to bring the car to a near standstill, but doesn’t quite allow for ‘one-pedal driving’ like the<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/leaf/hatchback/review/n17338">&nbsp;Nissan Leaf’s</a>&nbsp;system can. The brake pedal feels natural and consistent in its responsiveness, though – not something you can always say of an electric car’s.

Around town, the Citigo e iV is relaxing to drive. Its steering is light and accurate and the car’s small, boxy dimensions make it easy to thread through narrow side roads. A tight turning circle also helps. The ride quality is a particular highlight; it handles big road imperfections, such as speed bumps and potholes, with impressive composure, and feels settled at all speeds. It’s quiet, too – you’ll notice some blustery wind noise whipped up around the door mirrors at motorway speeds, but little else to disturb the peace.

Inside, the Citigo e iV feels a bit dated compared with its rivals. The Citigo itself is an old design by now, and while there is no doubting the solidity of its interior, the materials used don’t impress; there’s quite a lot of hard, scratchy plastic around, while the steering wheel feels of particularly low quality. There is, however, a bright, interestingly styled plastic panel across the dash to inject a bit of colour. By comparison, the<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/zoe/hatchback/review/n152">&nbsp;Renault Zoe</a>&nbsp;feels more polished and modern.&nbsp;

The Citigo also lacks a touchscreen infotainment system. Instead, there’s a phone holder mounted on top of the dash, with a narrow colour screen and physical control buttons that allow you to cycle through your phone’s functions via a smartphone integration app. The latter also enables you to lock and unlock the car through your phone, and also to set the air conditioning before you get in. It may not feel quite so cutting edge as a touchscreen infotainment system does – an infotainment system with<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-apple-carplay/n1193">&nbsp;Apple CarPlay</a>&nbsp;or<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/what-is-android-auto/n1194">&nbsp;Android Auto</a>&nbsp;would be less fiddly to use – but it is still a practical solution.&nbsp;

The driving position is fine, but the steering wheel adjusts only up and down, not in and out, and could partly block your view of the instrument panel, depending on how you set it. The seat’s backrest adjusts with a ratchet lever rather than with a variable wheel control, too, so you might find it tricky to get the precise angle you want. There’s no adjustable lumbar support, either. Meanwhile, the digital trip computer display looks a bit old-fashioned – its small size and low screen resolution is a far cry from the fully digital display of the Zoe.&nbsp;

Visibility out of the car is great all round. That’s particularly good news, because, while rear parking sensors come as standard on top-spec SE L trim, there’s no sign of front parking sensors or a rear-view camera, even on the options list. Nor are super-bright LED headlights available on the Citigo; these come as standard on the Zoe.

Of the electric cars currently available, the Skoda Citigo e iV is among the smallest; in fact, only the<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/smart/forfour-eq/hatchback/review/n18072">&nbsp;Smart ForFour EQ</a>&nbsp;is smaller. Yet, even if you’re tall, sitting in the front won’t be a problem for you; its high roofline allows plenty of head room. Storage space is decent, too, with useful door pockets and a single cupholder located centrally below the dashboard. Another practical touch is the small shelf that divides an open-faced cubbyhole ahead of the gear selector.

The battery is stuffed under the rear seats, the bench being raised by 5cm compared with that of the old petrol Citigo in order to fit them beneath. However, the impact this has on space isn’t especially marked and there’s still a decent amount of head room for adults. Those who are six feet tall should find enough room to be comfortable on short journeys, although taller folk will find their hair brushing the ceiling. Knee and leg room, meanwhile, should be just about acceptable if you aren’t especially long in the leg. There are only two seats in the back, though, and you can’t lower the rear windows – they pop out instead.

An adjustable boot floor is an optional extra, and, at its lowest setting, the Citigo’s boot is impressively deep. It doesn’t go back very far, though, and there’s a tall load lip at the tailgate. One thoughtful touch is the storage well that's found just underneath the boot's entrance; it's the ideal place to keep a charging cable close to hand.

If you're interested in buying a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/skoda/citigo?used=true&amp;nearlynew=true&amp;postCode=tw1%203sp">used Skoda Citigo e iV</a>, or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to our used car classifieds site <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars">here</a>.

Page 1 of 5

Skoda Citigo iV Hatchback

Vauxhall has an incredibly diverse range of cars on sale, a few of which stand out above the class average. Add in the fact that it still offers some of the largest Target Price discounts in the market (something it is trying, without huge success, to cut back on), and there are very good reasons to consider buying one of its better models.

However, you need to choose carefully, because it is also a brand in transition. It has a newish parent company – the same one that owns Citroën, DS and Peugeot. And while Vauxhall’s newer models tend to be competitive, some of the others feel dated; a quick check of our star ratings will reveal which is which.

Still, given the recent success of sister brands Citroën and especially Peugeot, each new launch should make its range more appealing to buyers.

Vauxhall

Corsa Electric

VAUXHALL

Corsa-e

The driving experience leaves room for improvement, but a used Corsa-e offers performance, versatility and low running costs.&nbsp;

Used Vauxhall Corsa-e 2020-present 

For a few years now, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/corsa/hatchback/review/n21183">Vauxhall Corsa-e</a>&nbsp;has sat alongside the petrol-powered&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/corsa/hatchback/review/n33">Vauxhall Corsa</a>&nbsp;as the Corsa's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric car (EV)</a>&nbsp;counterpart. That's right, the car you probably passed your driving test in has a zero-emissions twin.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Vauxhall's parent company –&nbsp;Stellantis – is largely&nbsp;to thank for its existence.&nbsp;Seeing as&nbsp;Stellantis&nbsp;also owns Peugeot, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/208/hatchback/review/n20228">Peugeot e-208</a> made&nbsp;perfect sense as the basis for the Corsa-e. It and the e-208 share&nbsp;lots of major parts, and that's no bad thing because the&nbsp;e-208 is a car we rate highly.

Performance &amp; Range:&nbsp;The Corsa-e is fitted with&nbsp;a 50kWh battery and an electric motor allowing for 134bhp to be sent to the front wheels. During What Car? testing, it managed 0-60mph in a 8.0sec, which is more than respectable for a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/small-cars/n16997">small car</a>.&nbsp;

From miles per hour to miles of range:&nbsp;the Corsa-e's&nbsp;official figure is 222 miles on a full charge. That's similar to the e-208's 217&nbsp;miles&nbsp;and we know that car is capable of more that 160 miles in real-world driving conditions.

In 2024, the Corsa-e saw a facelift, ushering in a new battery and electric motor option (to sit alongside the 50kWh one). It's comprised of a 51kWh battery and&nbsp;154bhp electric motor (still driving the front wheels only). The official range of this version is 246 miles. The facelifted e-208 also received&nbsp;this battery and motor.&nbsp;

Ride &amp; Handling:&nbsp;Whichever trim you choose, the Corsa-e falls short of being truly sporty to drive, despite its zippy performance. It leans more through corners than&nbsp;petrol-powered Corsas – a side-effect of lugging around the extra weight of its 50kWh battery.

The steering has been given a weightier feel than the non-electric version, but it's still rather vague. The e-208 feels better sorted on the road, bordering on good fun to drive.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The ride of the Corsa-e edges towards the firm side, and the car feels a little fidgety over abrasive surfaces. Unlike the more supple e-208, it struggles to take the sting out of sharper intrusions, such as potholes and expansion joints. That said, its ride never becomes outright uncomfortable.&nbsp;

Interior &amp; Practicality:&nbsp;While this&nbsp;is a small car, even tall drivers should find enough space up front. Head and leg room are good, and the interior is wide enough to not risk an elbow fight between front-seat occupants.

In the back, meanwhile, there’s enough space for children and those of modest stature, but a pair of larger adults won't want to spend too long in the back. To add a third would be a real squeeze, although the middle seat is at least softly cushioned. Every Corsa-e has five doors, so access to the rear seats is no problem.&nbsp;

The Corsa-e doesn’t compromise on interior or boot space compared with its petrol-powered stablemate, even though it has to accommodate a sizeable battery. The only concessions are that it can’t carry a spare wheel.

Trims &amp; Equipment:&nbsp;Every Corsa-e is pretty well equipped.&nbsp;SE Nav trim&nbsp;gets you&nbsp;sat-nav and smartphone integration features, plus rain-sensing wipers, automatic LED headlights, high-beam assist,&nbsp;keyless start and climate control. Elite Nav adds larger 17in alloy&nbsp;wheels, heated seats, a heated steering wheel, a rear-view camera, LED front fog lights, tinted rear windows and a 10in colour touchscreen infotainment system.

Interested in buying a used&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/corsa/hatchback/review/n21183">Vauxhall Corsa-e</a>? Visit our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars">Used Cars For Sale</a>&nbsp;pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.