The coolest Dacia Hipster alternatives you can buy right now

The Dacia Hipster is a cool-looking EV, but you can’t buy one. You see, it’s just a concept for now, although there’s a good chance a production version will arrive sooner or later.

You can read all about our news editor Jamie’s first impressions from viewing the Hipster concept in Paris. Weighing just 800kg and partly made from recycled materials, the Hipster is Dacia’s idea of an affordable urban EV, and crams four seats into its three-metre length with a surprising amount of space. Dacia intends the Hipster as a spiritual heir to affordable, practical cars like the Citroen 2CV or the original Fiat Panda.

It looks a bit like a baby Land Rover Defender or even a cyborg pet dog from some dystopian future. Can a car look cute and tough at the same time? The Hipster seems to pull it off.

Which makes it all the more disappointing that this four-seat EV isn’t on sale, at least for now.

So, if you like the idea of a funky electric runabout but don’t have time to wait for Dacia to decide whether to build a production Hipster, here are some alternatives.

Remember, you can buy a brand new or used car right here on Carwow. And you can sell your car, too. We’re here to help you through every step of your car-changing journey.

Dacia Spring

You can buy an urban four-seater from Dacia already: the Spring. It’s not a head-swivelling attention magnet like the Hipster, but the Spring does look appealing.

The best thing about the Dacia Spring is the price. It is properly bargain-basement cheap for an EV, starting from £14,995. Like any EV, so long as you have somewhere for a charging point it will be affordable to run too.

It’s a real shame that the car has a one-star safety rating from Euro NCAP. If that doesn’t put you off, the driving experience might. The Spring leans heavily in bends and runs out of grip surprisingly early. It also has a short range and slow charging speeds, although you may be able to forgive these faults if you mostly drive around town.

Citroen Ami

When is a car not a car? When it’s a quadricycle like the Citroen Ami. In its native France, the Ami’s quadricycle classification means it can be driven by 14-year-olds, so be ready to leap out of the way if you spot one on holiday.

For such a slow car (it will only do 28mph) the Ami is surprisingly fun to drive. Whether you see one in the street or you are sat behind the wheel, it’s hard to suppress a smile.

Storage space is at a premium and it’s not the most practical thing if you live out in the country. But that’s a bit like complaining a bicycle won’t tow a caravan. Stick to the Ami’s intended use of short-distance urban driving and it’s an affordable and quirky way to get around.

Hyundai Inster

With its mini-but-mighty styling, the Hyundai Inster gives off a similar vibe to Dacia Hipster. It backs up those good looks with decent space of such a small car and a reasonable range of over 200 miles in official tests.

Towns and cities are where the Inster really belongs, but unlike some small EVs it doesn’t feel out of its depth the moment you hit an A-road. It also charges more quickly than many small EVs, with a maximum charging rate of 120kW.

It’s a shame that the base model doesn’t have the clever rear seats of pricier versions, which slide back and forth to give surprising rear legroom if there’s nothing in the boot. The cabin plastics are bit cheap-looking, and the Inster can’t compete on price with the likes of the Dacia Spring or the Leapmotor T03. But if you are prepared to spend the extra the Inster is a better all-round car.

Fiat Grande Panda

Buyers have a choice of hybrid and fully electric versions of the new Fiat Grande Panda. Either way, this is a good-looking small car with a big boot. On the other hand, you can buy a cheaper city runabout from Dacia or Leapmotor.

The hybrid is the one to choose if you park on the street. It’s more affordable than the electric model but still capable of running on electricity alone for short periods using the 28hp electric motor.

Go for the EV instead and you’ll pay around £2,000 more but should slowly recoup some of that through lower running costs. It has some clever design features, including a built-in charging cable that pops out from behind the Fiat badge on the nose. There’s another flap on the left at the rear to take care of DC fast charging at up to 100kW.

Either way, the Panda has a lot more boot space than most city cars, and the cabin is cheap but characterful.

Used Honda e

Shop for a used EV and you can stretch your budget further. If you want a stylish second-hand electric car, take a close look at the Honda e.

While many small EVs like the Hipster try to look tough, the Honda e leans into being cute. With its Panda-like face and cuddly vibe, you’ll want to give it a hug as much as drive it.

Although the Honda e is bigger than the likes of the Dacia Spring or Citroen Ami, it’s still a small car. That’s great for squeezing into a cramped parking spot, but not so good if you regularly carry adults in the back seats. Children will be happier than grown-ups.

The dashboard is dominated the huge screens which span almost the full width of the dashboard. You can customise them to your heart’s content, even turning them into a virtual fish tank with electronic fish that need to be fed. The screens are flanked by rear-view camera displays in place of door mirrors, a classic example of solving a problem that doesn’t exist.

As a new car, the Honda e is pricey. Shop for a used example through Carwow instead and this quirky EV is more budget friendly.

Car change? Carwow!

Looking for a new set of wheels? With Carwow you can sell your car quickly and for a fair price – as well as find great offers on your next one. Whether you’re looking to buy a car brand new, are after something used or you want to explore car leasing options, Carwow is your one stop shop for new car deals.

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