Most efficient electric cars
Browse efficient electric cars from rated and reviewed dealers
Last updated July 27, 2025 by
Mario Christou
Miles per gallon (mpg), pence per litre at the pump, 80-litre fuel tank, these are all terms we’ve been familiar with for decades, and a car’s mpg is often the deciding factor in whether or not to buy it. Working out which are the most efficient EVs isn’t quite as simple, because it’s such a new concept.
The term you need to know is miles per kiloWatt hour - or mi/kWh, for short. It’s not quite as catchy as mpg, but it tells you how many miles a car can cover on a single kiloWatt hour of electricity. Simple.
For example, you’ve got a city car with a 50kWh battery, and it can travel five miles for every kWh of electricity used. That means you’ve got a 250 mile range. If you got a large SUV with a huge 100kWh battery under the floor, but it can only travel 2.5 miles per kWh you’ll only go as far as the city car with the small battery, too.
The battery is twice the size, but half as efficient, so you’ll use (and pay for) twice as much electricity on the same journey.
If you want to travel as far as possible, it’s not as simple as picking the EV with the biggest battery and being on your way. That’s without even considering that some cars can’t even be charged to their fullest capacity, with a few kWh left as a safety buffer to prolong the battery’s life - much like charging a laptop or iPhone battery.
And, much in the same way that European countries use litres of fuel used per 100km instead of MPG, there are loads of manufacturers which quote efficiency in kWh/100km too. We’ve built a unit converter to help you make sense of it, but for the purposes of this list we’re sticking to mi/kWh.
Our expert reviews team has tested every electric car on sale in the UK, and put together this list of the ten most efficient models you can buy. We’ve also got a list of the best EVs you can buy - efficiency notwithstanding - and you can check out the latest EV deals to be had on Carwow, too.
Electric Car Grant coming soon
The government has just announced a new electric car grant too, offering up to £3,750 towards your purchase of certain electric cars that cost less than £37,000.
Here's some more info about the scheme:
1. Mercedes CLA Electric - 5.1mi/kWh
Mercedes-Benz CLA Electric review
Battery range up to 484 miles
Best for: streamlined EV hyper-miling
Mercedes pulled a blinder when launching the new CLA. Not only is it an electric–only replacement for what was one of Mercedes’ best-selling small petrol cars, but it’s the longest range EV on sale today, going up to 484 miles between charges.
It pinches the crown from the much bigger - and much more expensive - Mercedes EQS, with a much smaller battery, but with staggering efficiency of 5.1mi/kWh.
Mercedes went all-out when designing the CLA, and you can see just how much effort it put into making it slip through the air in its exterior design. Every surface is smooth, from the blanked-off grille and minimal air intake to the tiny panel gaps and flowing flanks. Not only is it super-aerodynamic, but the CLA looks great, too.
The interior is another leap forwards, because Mercedes has abandoned the idea of a traditional dashboard as you know it - and not in the yawn-tastic, minimalist way that other brands have. We’re looking at you, Tesla…
You get a trio of displays set behind a continuous-looking pane of glass, perfectly upright, with air vents built into either end. There’s a 10.3-inch driver’s display, a 14.6-inch infotainment touchscreen in the middle and an optional 14.0-inch passenger display. Passenger screens are becoming a bit of a gimmick, but Mercedes has done a much better job of integrating it into the cabin than Audi, for example.
There’s plenty of room inside, across both rows, though three adults across in the back is a bit of a squeeze. The 405-litre boot is merely adequate for a small saloon, but you get a very handy 101-litre front boot too, which can easily take a small shop or a few backpacks in it. There’s an estate version coming soon, if you need the extra boot space.
It’s nice to drive, comfortable around town and on bumpy roads. The steering is light and easy to whip around and the brakes offer good feedback, meaning you don’t jerk to a halt as in some EVs. It’s quiet and comfy on the motorway, and the CLA is rather good fun on a twisty road, with loads of grip and little body lean.
Mercedes pulled a blinder when launching the new CLA. Not only is it an electric–only replacement for what was one of Mercedes’ best-selling small petrol cars, but it’s the longest range EV on sale today, going up to 484 miles between charges.
It pinches the crown from the much bigger - and much more expensive - Mercedes EQS, with a much smaller battery, but with staggering efficiency of 5.1mi/kWh.
Mercedes went all-out when designing the CLA, and you can see just how much effort it put into making it slip through the air in its exterior design. Every surface is smooth, from the blanked-off grille and minimal air intake to the tiny panel gaps and flowing flanks. Not only is it super-aerodynamic, but the CLA looks great, too.
The interior is another leap forwards, because Mercedes has abandoned the idea of a traditional dashboard as you know it - and not in the yawn-tastic, minimalist way that other brands have. We’re looking at you, Tesla…
You get a trio of displays set behind a continuous-looking pane of glass, perfectly upright, with air vents built into either end. There’s a 10.3-inch driver’s display, a 14.6-inch infotainment touchscreen in the middle and an optional 14.0-inch passenger display. Passenger screens are becoming a bit of a gimmick, but Mercedes has done a much better job of integrating it into the cabin than Audi, for example.
There’s plenty of room inside, across both rows, though three adults across in the back is a bit of a squeeze. The 405-litre boot is merely adequate for a small saloon, but you get a very handy 101-litre front boot too, which can easily take a small shop or a few backpacks in it. There’s an estate version coming soon, if you need the extra boot space.
It’s nice to drive, comfortable around town and on bumpy roads. The steering is light and easy to whip around and the brakes offer good feedback, meaning you don’t jerk to a halt as in some EVs. It’s quiet and comfy on the motorway, and the CLA is rather good fun on a twisty road, with loads of grip and little body lean.
2. Tesla Model 3 - 5.0mi/kWh
Tesla Model 3 review
Battery range up to 436 miles
Best for: a minimalist cabin
The Tesla Model 3 is one of the staple EVs on the road today, selling like hotcakes from the moment it was launched. It looks sleek, it’s great to drive and it’s one of the longest-range EVs on sale thanks to its impressive efficiency of 5.0mi/kWh, meaning it can go up to 436 miles.
A mid-life design update brought with it a much sleeker look for the Model 3, with slender, pointy headlights, C-shaped taillights and more interesting bumpers than the earliest examples of Tesla’s mid-sized saloon. The Performance version in particular is a looker, but you lose a lot of range compared to the Long Range model.
The interior is where the Model 3 splits opinion, because it was the car that introduced the ‘one-screen-does-all’ recipe, and it’s stuck with it ever since. You get a dashboard that’s paired back to the bare minimum - literally a trimmed beam across the cabin - and the 15.4-inch monitor in the middle houses the infotainment system, speedometer, gear selector and cabin controls.
The screen itself is very quick to respond to your inputs, the graphics are crisp and the menus are easy to navigate, but it is a bit off-putting having to look away from the road to keep an eye on your speed.
Material quality isn’t on par with its German alternatives, but the Model 3’s cabin is much improved from when it launched. It’s the interior space that impresses the most, with heaps of room inside and an equally impressive 590-litre boot, as well as a front boot for extra storage.
Out on the road, the Model 3 is adept at smoothing out rough roads around town. The sterling is effortless to use on tight roads and the optional ‘full’ self-driving system can even recognise traffic lights and stop signs.
Motorway miles are a breeze in the Model 3, because it’s quiet and comfortable at cruising speeds while being quite fun on a country lane. The compliant suspension gives you confidence on bumpy corners, and there’s not much in the way of body lean, either.
The Tesla Model 3 is one of the staple EVs on the road today, selling like hotcakes from the moment it was launched. It looks sleek, it’s great to drive and it’s one of the longest-range EVs on sale thanks to its impressive efficiency of 5.0mi/kWh, meaning it can go up to 436 miles.
A mid-life design update brought with it a much sleeker look for the Model 3, with slender, pointy headlights, C-shaped taillights and more interesting bumpers than the earliest examples of Tesla’s mid-sized saloon. The Performance version in particular is a looker, but you lose a lot of range compared to the Long Range model.
The interior is where the Model 3 splits opinion, because it was the car that introduced the ‘one-screen-does-all’ recipe, and it’s stuck with it ever since. You get a dashboard that’s paired back to the bare minimum - literally a trimmed beam across the cabin - and the 15.4-inch monitor in the middle houses the infotainment system, speedometer, gear selector and cabin controls.
The screen itself is very quick to respond to your inputs, the graphics are crisp and the menus are easy to navigate, but it is a bit off-putting having to look away from the road to keep an eye on your speed.
Material quality isn’t on par with its German alternatives, but the Model 3’s cabin is much improved from when it launched. It’s the interior space that impresses the most, with heaps of room inside and an equally impressive 590-litre boot, as well as a front boot for extra storage.
Out on the road, the Model 3 is adept at smoothing out rough roads around town. The sterling is effortless to use on tight roads and the optional ‘full’ self-driving system can even recognise traffic lights and stop signs.
Motorway miles are a breeze in the Model 3, because it’s quiet and comfortable at cruising speeds while being quite fun on a country lane. The compliant suspension gives you confidence on bumpy corners, and there’s not much in the way of body lean, either.
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3. Dacia Spring - 4.6mi/kWh
Dacia Spring review
Battery range up to 140 miles
Best for: a cheap second car
The Dacia Spring is the David on this list of goliaths, not just because it’s so cheap compared to the rest, but because it’s tiny - even when compared to a Mini. It combines funky looks with low running costs, and though it’s only got a microscopic battery, it manages an impressive 4.6mi/kWh.
You can see a clear link between the Spring and bigger, beefier Dacias like the Duster and Bigster, with its Y-shaped headlight patterns and plastic cladding all around its little body. The skinny wheels and tyres do make it look a bit flimsy when compared to a Citroen e-C3, for example, but that can be forgiven for its price.
As can the interior, which manages to look rather funky, even though it’s certainly built to a cost. All of the materials around you - not exaggerating here - are made from hard, scratchy plastics, which aren’t pleasant to the touch. You do get some good standard kit though, namely cruise control, air conditioning and remote locking.
Base model Springs do without an infotainment screen in favour of a phone mount, but there’s a surprising amount of room inside, and the boot is shockingly big for such a small car, at 308 litres.
You feel the cost savings coming through once you get behind the wheel of the Spring. Both motor options are some of the lowest-powered cars on sale, and they feel slow - even amongst traffic in town. It’s only got 140 miles of range, too.
It’s a struggle getting up to motorway speeds, hardly a surprise considering the Spring’s top speed is only 8mph more than the national speed limit, and once you’re there you do get battered around by crosswinds. Twisty roads are far out of the Spring’s comfort zone too, with very little grip and a whole lot of body lean making it disconcerting on a country lane.
The Dacia Spring is the David on this list of goliaths, not just because it’s so cheap compared to the rest, but because it’s tiny - even when compared to a Mini. It combines funky looks with low running costs, and though it’s only got a microscopic battery, it manages an impressive 4.6mi/kWh.
You can see a clear link between the Spring and bigger, beefier Dacias like the Duster and Bigster, with its Y-shaped headlight patterns and plastic cladding all around its little body. The skinny wheels and tyres do make it look a bit flimsy when compared to a Citroen e-C3, for example, but that can be forgiven for its price.
As can the interior, which manages to look rather funky, even though it’s certainly built to a cost. All of the materials around you - not exaggerating here - are made from hard, scratchy plastics, which aren’t pleasant to the touch. You do get some good standard kit though, namely cruise control, air conditioning and remote locking.
Base model Springs do without an infotainment screen in favour of a phone mount, but there’s a surprising amount of room inside, and the boot is shockingly big for such a small car, at 308 litres.
You feel the cost savings coming through once you get behind the wheel of the Spring. Both motor options are some of the lowest-powered cars on sale, and they feel slow - even amongst traffic in town. It’s only got 140 miles of range, too.
It’s a struggle getting up to motorway speeds, hardly a surprise considering the Spring’s top speed is only 8mph more than the national speed limit, and once you’re there you do get battered around by crosswinds. Twisty roads are far out of the Spring’s comfort zone too, with very little grip and a whole lot of body lean making it disconcerting on a country lane.
4. Peugeot e-208 - 4.5mi/kWh
Peugeot e-208 review
Battery range up to 268 miles
Best for: a chic interior
The Peugeot e-208 is one of the most stylish small cars you can buy, and it holds its own against cars twice its price for fit and finish. It’s also one of the most efficient EVs on sale right now, managing 4.5mi/kWh from a new battery and electric motor combo introduced in a mid-life refresh.
Striking LED running lights at the front, a retro-inspired window line, sporty wheel arch cladding and a perky rear end all contribute to what is an excellent piece of car design. The 208 has a lot of road presence for such a small car.
Things get even better inside, with a fantastic interior layout. The dashboard wraps around onto the door cards, with heavily sculpted dash, piano key-style buttons beneath the crisp infotainment system and a funky 3D driver display on GT-trim cars.
The interior plastics are almost all soft and squidgy to the touch, and the front seats are hugely supportive. The e-208 loses points on space though, because the cabin is cosy up front and cramped in the rear - especially lacking in legroom. The 311-litre boot is well sized, though there’s a tall boot lip to contend with.
The ace up the e-208’s sleeve is that it’s an excellent car to drive around town, with peppy performance off the lights, well-judged regenerative braking and its - admittedly divisive - small steering wheel being easy to flick around. It’s a bit crashy through potholes and over rough country lanes, but it’s quiet and relaxing to drive on the motorway, and with a 268-mile range you won’t be afraid to venture out of town from time to time.
The Peugeot e-208 is one of the most stylish small cars you can buy, and it holds its own against cars twice its price for fit and finish. It’s also one of the most efficient EVs on sale right now, managing 4.5mi/kWh from a new battery and electric motor combo introduced in a mid-life refresh.
Striking LED running lights at the front, a retro-inspired window line, sporty wheel arch cladding and a perky rear end all contribute to what is an excellent piece of car design. The 208 has a lot of road presence for such a small car.
Things get even better inside, with a fantastic interior layout. The dashboard wraps around onto the door cards, with heavily sculpted dash, piano key-style buttons beneath the crisp infotainment system and a funky 3D driver display on GT-trim cars.
The interior plastics are almost all soft and squidgy to the touch, and the front seats are hugely supportive. The e-208 loses points on space though, because the cabin is cosy up front and cramped in the rear - especially lacking in legroom. The 311-litre boot is well sized, though there’s a tall boot lip to contend with.
The ace up the e-208’s sleeve is that it’s an excellent car to drive around town, with peppy performance off the lights, well-judged regenerative braking and its - admittedly divisive - small steering wheel being easy to flick around. It’s a bit crashy through potholes and over rough country lanes, but it’s quiet and relaxing to drive on the motorway, and with a 268-mile range you won’t be afraid to venture out of town from time to time.
5. Fiat 500e - 4.5mi/kWh
Fiat 500e review
Battery range up to 195 miles
Best for: stylish commuting
The Fiat 500e runs the Peugeot e-208 close for the title of best-looking city car, oozing with retro charm but updated in electric guise with some rather funky details. It runs it close for efficiency too, also offering 4.5mi/kWh, but it’s just not as practical as its French alternative, and you only get up to 199 miles of range.
Fiat has managed to avoid the 500e looking like a pastiche of the classic model while retaining its appeal. The round headlights have been cut-off with little LED ‘eyebrows’ above them, you get bulging wheel arches and a pair of dinky taillights with a C-shaped motif in them.
The interior is night-and-day different from the old model though, with a floating infotainment system and a funky driver’s display set back into the dashboard. There are rows of physical climate control buttons under the central display, which is great, and overall the cabin looks very smart.
Space is at a premium though, and while two adults in the front will be just fine, it’s a squeeze to fit even small adults in the back of the 500e. You’ve only got a tiny 185-litre boot, too, the small Fiat really is best as a commuter or for carrying the weekly shop.
It feels most at home in town, where it’s easy to manoeuvre, easy to park and - once you get used to the super-strong regenerative brakes - a piece of cake to drive in traffic. You get shaken around by speedbumps and potholes though, and it’s more pronounced the faster you go, so motorways and country lanes aren’t the 500e’s strong suit.
The Fiat 500e runs the Peugeot e-208 close for the title of best-looking city car, oozing with retro charm but updated in electric guise with some rather funky details. It runs it close for efficiency too, also offering 4.5mi/kWh, but it’s just not as practical as its French alternative, and you only get up to 199 miles of range.
Fiat has managed to avoid the 500e looking like a pastiche of the classic model while retaining its appeal. The round headlights have been cut-off with little LED ‘eyebrows’ above them, you get bulging wheel arches and a pair of dinky taillights with a C-shaped motif in them.
The interior is night-and-day different from the old model though, with a floating infotainment system and a funky driver’s display set back into the dashboard. There are rows of physical climate control buttons under the central display, which is great, and overall the cabin looks very smart.
Space is at a premium though, and while two adults in the front will be just fine, it’s a squeeze to fit even small adults in the back of the 500e. You’ve only got a tiny 185-litre boot, too, the small Fiat really is best as a commuter or for carrying the weekly shop.
It feels most at home in town, where it’s easy to manoeuvre, easy to park and - once you get used to the super-strong regenerative brakes - a piece of cake to drive in traffic. You get shaken around by speedbumps and potholes though, and it’s more pronounced the faster you go, so motorways and country lanes aren’t the 500e’s strong suit.
6. MINI Electric - 4.4mi/kWh
MINI Electric (2019-2024) review
Battery range up to 145 miles
Best for: fun B-road bashing
You might have noticed by now that hatchbacks are some of the most efficient EVs on sale, and the Mini Cooper Electric is no exception at 4.4mi/kWh. It’s the best-looking Mini there’s been in 20 years, the interior is fantastic and it’s fun to drive, too.
The basic Cooper and Cooper S are the lookers of the range, recognisably a Mini but with a super-minimalistic, sleek design. Big, round headlights, a neat grille and the classic two-tone paint scheme look as good as ever, but Sport and John Cooper Works models look a bit fussy with their bigger body kits.
Inside the Mini is a masterclass, with a dashboard that, on appearances, at least, gives the e-208 a proper run for its money. The dash is set back away from you, while the central display looks fantastic and is easy to use. You get a small digital display in front of you too, and the harder interior plastics have been trimmed in fabric.
Build quality feels solid, and there’s enough room up front for two adults to get comfortable, but much like the Fiat 500e there’s very little space in the back, and it’s a squeeze to get in there too. The 210-litre boot space is very small, too.
With up to 249 miles of range, the Mini isn’t too far behind the e-208. It’s not the easiest car to drive around town as visibility isn’t great, and it’s bouncy over bumps. Driving on the motorway is a noisy experience, but you'll have fun on a country lane, where the Cooper Electric is a joy to chuck into fast corners.
You might have noticed by now that hatchbacks are some of the most efficient EVs on sale, and the Mini Cooper Electric is no exception at 4.4mi/kWh. It’s the best-looking Mini there’s been in 20 years, the interior is fantastic and it’s fun to drive, too.
The basic Cooper and Cooper S are the lookers of the range, recognisably a Mini but with a super-minimalistic, sleek design. Big, round headlights, a neat grille and the classic two-tone paint scheme look as good as ever, but Sport and John Cooper Works models look a bit fussy with their bigger body kits.
Inside the Mini is a masterclass, with a dashboard that, on appearances, at least, gives the e-208 a proper run for its money. The dash is set back away from you, while the central display looks fantastic and is easy to use. You get a small digital display in front of you too, and the harder interior plastics have been trimmed in fabric.
Build quality feels solid, and there’s enough room up front for two adults to get comfortable, but much like the Fiat 500e there’s very little space in the back, and it’s a squeeze to get in there too. The 210-litre boot space is very small, too.
With up to 249 miles of range, the Mini isn’t too far behind the e-208. It’s not the easiest car to drive around town as visibility isn’t great, and it’s bouncy over bumps. Driving on the motorway is a noisy experience, but you'll have fun on a country lane, where the Cooper Electric is a joy to chuck into fast corners.
7. Tesla Model Y - 4.4mi/kWh
Tesla Model Y review
Battery range up to 387 miles
Best for: a tech-fest
The Tesla Model Y is the SUV version of the Model 3, which means it’s off to a strong start as it comes from good stock. It’s not quite as efficient as its saloon sibling at 4.4mi/kWh, but it offers even more space inside and a similarly impressive driving experience.
It doesn’t look anywhere near as sleek though, even with the recent mid-life update. You get full-width light bars front and rear which are slightly at odds with its curvaceous silhouette, and while it looks extra-futuristic now, it also looks extra-generic.
The interior is much the same affair as the Model 3, with a central display dominating the cabin…because it’s the only real feature you get, aside from the steering wheel and indicator stalk. Material quality feels great, though build quality is flimsy lower down, but even the cheaper plastics are trimmed in soft-touch vegan leather.
You get miles of space inside in all directions, both front and rear, and there’s plenty of room for five adults to travel in comfort. An enormous 854-litre boot makes the Model Y hugely practical, as does the large front-boot.
Range is down on the Model 3, only going as far as 387 miles to a charge, and it’s not quite as good to drive either. It’s bouncier around town than its saloon counterpart, there’s more wind noise on the motorway and the steering feels a bit vague on a country lane - so overall the Model Y is best driven at a steady pace.
The Tesla Model Y is the SUV version of the Model 3, which means it’s off to a strong start as it comes from good stock. It’s not quite as efficient as its saloon sibling at 4.4mi/kWh, but it offers even more space inside and a similarly impressive driving experience.
It doesn’t look anywhere near as sleek though, even with the recent mid-life update. You get full-width light bars front and rear which are slightly at odds with its curvaceous silhouette, and while it looks extra-futuristic now, it also looks extra-generic.
The interior is much the same affair as the Model 3, with a central display dominating the cabin…because it’s the only real feature you get, aside from the steering wheel and indicator stalk. Material quality feels great, though build quality is flimsy lower down, but even the cheaper plastics are trimmed in soft-touch vegan leather.
You get miles of space inside in all directions, both front and rear, and there’s plenty of room for five adults to travel in comfort. An enormous 854-litre boot makes the Model Y hugely practical, as does the large front-boot.
Range is down on the Model 3, only going as far as 387 miles to a charge, and it’s not quite as good to drive either. It’s bouncier around town than its saloon counterpart, there’s more wind noise on the motorway and the steering feels a bit vague on a country lane - so overall the Model Y is best driven at a steady pace.
Battery range up to 266 miles
Best for: a simple driving experience
The Vauxhall Corsa Electric has avoided going down the retro styling-route that a lot of its counterparts have, and though it’s not quite as charming to look at, it’s still an efficient and capable small hatchback, offering up to 4.4mi/kWh and 246 miles of range.
You get a pointy, sporty front end on the Corsa, with a black strip joining up the headlights in what Vauxhall calls a ‘visor.’ It’s a good looking car, but it doesn’t turn your head in the way a Peugeot e-208 does.
The interior isn’t particularly eye-catching either. It looks dated compared to its alternatives, with the 10,0-inch touchscreen set into the dashboard and a lacklustre digital driver’s display in a chunky plastic surround. Everything is clearly laid out, though, and the physical climate controls are a breeze to use.
Rear-seat passengers will be cramped in the Corsa Electric, because while there’s plenty of room in the front, the back is a tight squeeze for anyone over the age of twelve. The boot is an adequate 267 litres, but there’s a tall load lip to lift items over.
It’s an easy car to drive, with peppy low-speed performance and soft suspension smoothing out harsh city roads. The Corsa Electric is quiet and comfortable on the motorway, and surprisingly good fun on a country lane too.
The Vauxhall Corsa Electric has avoided going down the retro styling-route that a lot of its counterparts have, and though it’s not quite as charming to look at, it’s still an efficient and capable small hatchback, offering up to 4.4mi/kWh and 246 miles of range.
You get a pointy, sporty front end on the Corsa, with a black strip joining up the headlights in what Vauxhall calls a ‘visor.’ It’s a good looking car, but it doesn’t turn your head in the way a Peugeot e-208 does.
The interior isn’t particularly eye-catching either. It looks dated compared to its alternatives, with the 10,0-inch touchscreen set into the dashboard and a lacklustre digital driver’s display in a chunky plastic surround. Everything is clearly laid out, though, and the physical climate controls are a breeze to use.
Rear-seat passengers will be cramped in the Corsa Electric, because while there’s plenty of room in the front, the back is a tight squeeze for anyone over the age of twelve. The boot is an adequate 267 litres, but there’s a tall load lip to lift items over.
It’s an easy car to drive, with peppy low-speed performance and soft suspension smoothing out harsh city roads. The Corsa Electric is quiet and comfortable on the motorway, and surprisingly good fun on a country lane too.
9. Hyundai Kona Electric - 4.2mi/kWh
Hyundai Kona Electric review
Battery range up to 319 miles
Best for: a sensible family runaround
The Hyundai Kona Electric might just be the most sensible car on this list, with a design that’s not too shouty and a high-tech interior that avoids being fussy to use. An impressive 4.2mi/kWh contributes to a useful range of up to 319 miles, too.
It looks rather funky, as far as mid-sized SUVs go. You can imagine seeing the Kona in the background of a Blade Runner film set with its slender light bars front and rear, and low-set headlights.
It’s a similar story inside, with a straight-laced but handsome dashboard and a pair of clear displays in a panel, perched on top. The chunky climate control and infotainment shortcut buttons do date the interior a touch though, when compared to its alternatives.
There’s buckets of room inside the Kona, both front and back, and one of the biggest boots in its class.
On the road, the Kona is equally as sensible. It’s hugely comfortable around town and near silent on the motorway, while the light steering makes navigating tight streets and parking a doddle. The flipside is that it’s not much fun on a twisty road, but as a family-hauler the Kona makes for a solid choice.
The Hyundai Kona Electric might just be the most sensible car on this list, with a design that’s not too shouty and a high-tech interior that avoids being fussy to use. An impressive 4.2mi/kWh contributes to a useful range of up to 319 miles, too.
It looks rather funky, as far as mid-sized SUVs go. You can imagine seeing the Kona in the background of a Blade Runner film set with its slender light bars front and rear, and low-set headlights.
It’s a similar story inside, with a straight-laced but handsome dashboard and a pair of clear displays in a panel, perched on top. The chunky climate control and infotainment shortcut buttons do date the interior a touch though, when compared to its alternatives.
There’s buckets of room inside the Kona, both front and back, and one of the biggest boots in its class.
On the road, the Kona is equally as sensible. It’s hugely comfortable around town and near silent on the motorway, while the light steering makes navigating tight streets and parking a doddle. The flipside is that it’s not much fun on a twisty road, but as a family-hauler the Kona makes for a solid choice.
Battery range up to 252 miles
Best for: retro styling
The Renault 5 ought to be on everyone’s radar, because it’s one of the best small cars you can buy at the moment - electric or not. It’s also a very efficient runaround, with 4.1mi/kWh meaning you can travel up to 252 miles of range with the big battery fitted.
And it looks absolutely fantastic, doesn’t it? Square corners, pumped-up wheel arches, retro lights and a funky battery level indicator on the bonnet all combine to make one of the most handsome cars on sale.
The retro-theme continues inside, with a two-tier dashboard, old-school-looking seats and the air vent trims which echo the headlight patterns. There are some cool upholstery options to choose from, including an excellent denim trim for the seats, door cars and dashboard.
You get a crisp and responsive infotainment display in the Renault 5, and while space in the front is plentiful, rear leg space in particular is poor - though you get a large 326-litre boot as a result.
It’s an easy car to drive around town thanks to its tight turning circle and pokey performance, plus the square corners make it easy to place in traffic. It is jiggly over rough roads, but the suspension seems to settle down at high speeds, and the stiff suspension means it’s good fun on a twisty road.
The Renault 5 ought to be on everyone’s radar, because it’s one of the best small cars you can buy at the moment - electric or not. It’s also a very efficient runaround, with 4.1mi/kWh meaning you can travel up to 252 miles of range with the big battery fitted.
And it looks absolutely fantastic, doesn’t it? Square corners, pumped-up wheel arches, retro lights and a funky battery level indicator on the bonnet all combine to make one of the most handsome cars on sale.
The retro-theme continues inside, with a two-tier dashboard, old-school-looking seats and the air vent trims which echo the headlight patterns. There are some cool upholstery options to choose from, including an excellent denim trim for the seats, door cars and dashboard.
You get a crisp and responsive infotainment display in the Renault 5, and while space in the front is plentiful, rear leg space in particular is poor - though you get a large 326-litre boot as a result.
It’s an easy car to drive around town thanks to its tight turning circle and pokey performance, plus the square corners make it easy to place in traffic. It is jiggly over rough roads, but the suspension seems to settle down at high speeds, and the stiff suspension means it’s good fun on a twisty road.
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