Best small electric cars in the UK

Best for: Cool, comfy commuting

Volvo managed to distil its distinctive automotive flavour into a pretty special package with the EX30, creating a small EV that’s oozing with desirability. It’s one of the most stylish small cars on sale, with a crisp design just like its bigger siblings.

The small Volvo doesn’t even try to be cute, with its elegant headlights and tall proportions giving it a baby-SUV appearance. Funky wheel arches and a contrasting roof help it to stand out even more, but it’s inside where the EX30 really nails a sleek design.

In the front of the EX30 you’ll find a minimalist dashboard, much like bigger Volvos, but with a more tech-focused design. There are fewer sharp edges, with the lower edge of the dashboard flowing from one side of the car to the other in one clean sweep.

A large central display dominates the interior - much like a Tesla Model 3 - and it controls not only the infotainment but the climate control and driver’s readouts too. It can be a little annoying to get used to, especially trying to keep your eye on the speedometer as it forces you to take your eyes off the road.

There’s decent room inside with plenty of clever storage solutions including pop-out cupholders, though rear passengers might struggle for knee room - especially if they’re over six-foot tall. The boot is small too, but it is usefully square and there’s a tiny front boot to keep the EX30’s storage cables in.

The EX30's party piece is just how much range it manages to eke out of its two battery options. Entry level models manage a decent 214 miles between charges, but it’s the long range versions that really impress with a 298-mile range. A twin-motor, high performance version is available - and it’s the fastest accelerating Volvo ever.

And you’ll enjoy using that range too, as the EX30 is not only quiet and comfy around town but it’s also rather fun to drive on a twisty road. Motorway refinement isn’t class-leading, but as a city car the Volvo EX30 is a phenomenal choice.

Best for: budget EV motoring

EVs tend to be pricey things, with only a few that really stand out as exceptional value for money. The Citroen e-C3 is one of those few, and it really is a cracking little EV SUV with a distinct character.

Despite being small, Citroen has managed to design a high-riding mini-SUV with a lofty driving position. Some clever engineering has meant the e-C3 is rather affordable, and it costs about the same as a typical non-EV hatchback.

It’s even cheaper than some of its smaller alternatives, but don’t think there are some major issues or cost-savings to attribute a cheap price to. The e-C3 is a hugely comfortable car, with soft, supple suspension smoothing out the worst a city road can throw at it.

You’d be forgiven for thinking the e-C3 isn’t up to snuff on a winding road then, but you’d be wrong. It’s not very fun to drive, but it’s much more comfortable on a fast bend than you might expect. It’s also refined on the motorway, though it is a little wobbly at high speed due to the soft suspension.

As far as EV credentials go, the e-C3 isn’t as strong as some alternatives. Almost 200 miles on a single charge is more than enough for any inter-city commute, but it can make long-distance journeys stressful with multiple stops to recharge.

It’s a cute little thing, no matter how much cladding there is or how cross Citroen has made the C-shaped headlights look. With soft corners and a bubbly shape, the e-C3 is one of the few cars these days to buck the aggressive styling trend.

Inside is a funky affair, with clever design hiding the e-C3’s occasionally questionable material choices. There has to be some give to make a car this affordable after all, but Citroen has been clever with its use of fabric to disguise the hardest plastics.

Best for: retro-futuristic looks

Renault’s most popular hatchback in recent years may have been the Clio, but it’s dug deep into the archives for its electric revolution to create the Renault 5 E-Tech - and doesn’t it just look fantastic?

It’s got a proper 70’s charm about it, with square corners and a sloping tailgate much like its forebears of the same name. It’s covered in cool details, such as the battery level indicator on the bonnet and the square light features on the front end.

The interior is full of retro design cues too, such as the air vent trims which mirror the daytime running lights and the set-back dashboard, reminiscent of the very first Renault 5, as are the seats which are trimmed in bright fabric colour choices.

While space in the front is okay, rear passengers will struggle for legroom and headroom, though the boot is well-sized at 326 litres.

It’s not quite as dinky as its predecessors, but the Renault 5 is certainly small enough to squeeze into most parking spaces thanks to its square corners and tight turning circle. The small Renault feels peppy around town, and it’s well sized to dart around tight streets; the suspension does bounce you around on a broken road though.

Motorways aren’t the Renault 5’s forte. There’s a fair amount of wind and road noise at speed, but at least the suspension does seem to settle down at a cruise. You’ll get between 190 miles to 250 miles of range depending on which model you go for, so road trips do need to be well planned.

The benefit of the Renault 5’s stiff suspension is that it’s rather good fun on a twisty road. There’s plenty of grip from its tyres which inspires confidence, but it’s the brakes which impress the most, with none of that spongy nonsense which afflicts so many EVs these days.

Best for: cheap without feeling it

BYD isn’t a company that — yet — makes cars that are especially fun to drive, and nor is BYD a company that — yet — makes cars that are the most stylish to look at, but BYD is definitely a company that makes — right now — impressive electric cars that are actually affordable, and the Dolphin Surf is a perfect example of this.

Called the Seagull in the Chinese market, the Dolphin Surf started out life as an ultra-cheap electric city runaround that sells in China for less than the Yuan equivalent of £10,000. Landed here in the UK though, it’s been through a lot of changes — both physically and in its software and battery — to enable it to pass safety regs and give it a bit more range, so the Dolphin Surf isn’t as cheap here as it is at ‘home.’

Still, it’s certainly not expensive with a starting price of less than £19,000, which gets you a range of up to 200 miles and a spacious cabin that’s well put together. There are lots of cheap plastics on the inside, of course, and the Dolphin Surf doesn’t subjectively feel as nice inside as, say, a Fiat Grande Panda, but it’s not bad and there’s an interesting wet-suit style material (inspired by the name, perhaps?) for some of the interior surfaces.

As with all BYDs, there’s a big touchscreen that (slightly pointlessly) rotates between upright and landscape layouts, but it can’t do that if you’re using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. The screen’s software has become easier to use than in earlier UK models, but it’s still a bit too fiddly and you’ll spend ages every time you start up turning things like the (frequently wrong) speed warning and the (intrusive) driver monitoring system off.

Still, the battery is good. It’s BYD’s own ‘Blade’ design, which uses lithium-iron phosphate chemistry (LFP) – all you need to know is that it makes the battery more long-lived and more able to take lots of fast-charging without wearing out.

Around town, the Surf is in its element, with good visibility and quick steering, and it’s more fun on twisty roads than you’d think, but main roads aren’t its happy place and it jiggles too much over bumps.

Best for: small car, big space

MG pulled a blinder when it brought the MG4 to the UK, because it immediately shot up towards the top of our list of favourite small electric cars, and has stayed there ever since. It’s a classic case of not judging a book by its cover.

As one of the most affordable cars on this list, the MG4 might lead you to believe that it’s not got much to offer in the way of performance or quality - but that’s far from the truth. The MG4 stands out at first glance with a sporty design; sharp angles and swoopy lines aplenty.

It looks like nothing else on the road, especially in bright orange paint, and whilst the interior isn’t quite as outrageous as the exterior it’s still rather fetching. Silver trim spans the width of the minimalist dashboard, where a 10.3-inch infotainment screen takes centre-space.

The driver gets a 7.0-inch display, but both screens aren’t the easiest to get accustomed to. Interior quality is rather high though, and there’s plenty of space for both front and rear passengers. Boot space is typical for a car of its size.

It’s not just the MG4’s interior that impresses, it has genuinely usable electric range too. Base models offer a fairly unimpressive 218 miles on a charge, but the Extended Range trim has a much more impressive 323 miles.

If you don’t venture out of the city then the base model should still have plenty of range, and it’s where the MG4 shines the brightest. Well-judged steering feel, good visibility and compliant suspension make the MG4 a doddle to drive around town - and it’s rather comfy on a motorway run too.

You’ll have a little road noise to put up with, but you can forgive the transgression because the MG4 manages to be a proper laugh on a twisty road.

Best for: sporty looks

Cupra’s entire brand is based on being sporty, whereas its Seat and VW siblings are the sensible picks of the bunch. The Born is Cupra’s edgy take on the VW ID3, and the resemblance is clear to see.

Not that that’s a bad thing, because the Born’s futuristic shape looks fun - especially with its pointy headlights and funky full-width light bar at the back. There are contrasting trims all around the Born, and the interior follows suit. It’s spacious both front and back, and the boot capacity is a decent 385 litres.

A 12.0-inch infotainment screen steals the show, but unlike some alternatives there are still interesting materials and colours to help elevate the interior. The driver gets a dedicated display too, though the infotainment system can be infuriating as it has a habit of lagging and even crashing at times.

The Born can be had with a range of batteries, taking range from 254-352 miles on a charge - and every battery should be able to reach a full charge at home overnight.

On the road, the Born is quite a fun performer. It’s got plenty of performance to get up to motorway speeds with ease, and it can even manage a solid overtake on a country lane. It doesn’t feel as sporty as it looks, but it’s a comfortable cruiser with only the odd disturbance on a bumpy road.

Best for: an alternative choice

Much like the MG4, the Dolphin took everyone by surprise when it was launched in the UK. It wasn’t BYD’s first electric car, but the Dolphin’s combination of affordable price, plentiful standard equipment and interior space mark it out as the company’s strongest offering.

It may have a quirky name, but the truth is the Dolphin isn’t quirky to look at. It’s borderline bland in its design, with only the optional two-tone colour schemes adding any real distinction worth noting. It’s not a bad looking car by any means, but that’s about as descriptive as you can get with it.

Inside the Dolphin is a different story entirely, with a design that’s unlike any of its alternatives. The dashboard rises and falls around you, whilst the lower edge swoops out towards the rear of the car in the middle - with the physical controls close to the steering wheel.

The 12.8-inch touchscreen even rotates - yes, really - so you can choose whether your display is portrait or landscape depending on what you’re using it for.

Electric range varies depending on which of the two battery sizes you’ve opted for - from 196 to 265 miles. An overnight charge should be able to top the car up at home, whilst on the move the Dolphin manages to be a calming drive. It’s neither too sporty nor too comfortable, but it’s a hassle free car to potter about in.

Best for: French flair

Even though it’s almost identical to its combustion-engine sibling, the Peugeot E-208 is one of the quirkiest and most stylish small electric cars on sale in the UK. It may be a cliché, but there’s a definite French chic-ness to the E-208’s styling - both inside and out.

Peugeot has managed to work big, pointy headlights - and an even bigger grille - into the small hatchback’s design without looking ungainly at all. Its latest refresh includes striking ‘triple claw’ motifs in the LED running lights straddling the grille, whilst the same theme can be seen in the cute taillights.

The interior is the E-208’s piece-de-resistance though, having one of the best designs of any small car on sale. Sharply designed, with an interesting dashboard and cleverly designed buttons underneath the infotainment screen go some way to excusing the E-208’s tight cockpit.

As do the soft, premium materials all over the cabin and the now-typical small steering wheel. That being said, you might struggle to find a driving position that allows you to see the driver’s display clearly.

The bigger battery version of the E-208 is definitely the one to go for, with 245 miles of range and a smidge more power - but don’t expect the small Peugeot to keep up with something like the Cupra Born or MG4. Keep it around town and the E-208 shines as a posh city car.

Best for: passenger space

Gone are the days of Smarts being tiny little city-dwellers, tucking front-on into parking spaces on the high street and getting funny looks from passers by. The current crop of Smarts may be less iconic than their predecessors, but cars such as the #1 are much more accomplished as a result.

Even with a lot of under-the-skin similarities to the Volvo EX30, the #1 manages to feel distinct from its Scandinavian cousin. It’s a very curvy car, with Mercedes-inspired design in the shape of its LED headlights and taillights.

The #1’s interior is just as stylish as the outside, rivalling the E-208 with (generally) premium materials and a genuinely interesting design. The dashboard loops over itself and curves down to join the centre console, while a 12.8-inch infotainment screen sits proud in the centre.

All ‘normal’ versions of the Smart #1 come equipped with the same sized battery, with a range of 260-273 miles depending on the trim level. The sportier Brabus model, however, has a reduced claimed range of 248 miles thanks to its twin-motor setup. A 0-60mph time of 3.9 seconds is rather quick too.

Even the non-performance models are good to drive though, with comfortable, well-judged suspension soaking up the worst the UK’s road network has to offer. It may not be exciting on a fun road, but for city driving and motorway runs the Smart #1 is a great choice.

Best for: maximising space

The Inster is a bit of an oddity on this list, because it’s by far-and-away the most utilitarian in its design. It’s very cute and quirky, and there’s no denying that the Inster resembles a life-sized toy car.

But the quirky design is part of the Inster’s appeal, and it’s part of the reason why it was highly commended in the Urban Living category of Carwow’s 2025 Car of the Year awards. Big, friendly, round headlights and cool ‘pixelated’ running lights and taillights give the micro-SUV some real character.

Inside is less interesting, but the twin high-quality 10.3-inch screens from Hyundai’s more expensive models sit atop its fairly simple dashboard. Light colour options help to lift the cabin ambience, and more part-sharing with the rest of the Hyundai range means there are some rather nice materials dotted around. Just don’t look around too much, because the harder, scratchier plastics aren’t hard to find.

The biggest benefit of the Inster’s design is a funky, foldable interior that can become a space for an airbed, a pair of reclined rear lounge seats with footrests or a tight four-seater with a 351-litre boot.

A pair of battery options mean the Inter can travel either 203 or 229 miles on a charge, which isn’t great, but with its huge visibility and light steering the Inster is very much at home in an urban environment.

Best for: budget refinement

The petrol-powered Vauxhall Corsa is one of the most popular cars on sale in the UK, so it makes sense that Vauxhall should offer an electric version too. It’s an affordable route into electric car ownership, so long as you keep an eye on the options.

On the outside, Vauxhall has done a great job with the Corsa’s styling. Chunky black detailing and slim headlights and taillights give the Corsa a sporty, dynamic look - as does the contrasting roof.

Inside is admittedly less stylish than the exterior, but small touches like a small gear selector and interesting upholstery designs help lift the ambience. A 10.0-inch infotainment screen sits within the dashboard, though it’s not as slick as in some of the Corsa’s alternatives.

Front space is decent, but passengers in the back will feel a little cramped - especially those with long legs - and there isn’t much in the way of useful interior storage. Boot space isn’t up to scratch with some of the Corsa’s alternatives either.

Electric range varies from 222 miles with the entry-level battery to 246 miles in the higher-spec model, but we found that the larger battery model travelled around 200 miles further per charge in the real world compared to 140 miles for its less-powerful sibling.

The Corsa Electric’s calling card is in the way it drives though, with a superbly refined ride ironing out rough city roads and making the Corsa a comfy cruiser on the motorway. Wind and road noise is well insulated, and whilst the steering may be a little light it’s still pleasant to drive on a twisty road.