These are the best small EVs you can buy right now
Lucas Cochrane
24 Mar 2026
It can feel like car makers are out to make ever larger cars, however, we don’t all need to drive a big SUV or crossover. Thankfully, there’s been an explosion of brilliant, affordable, compact electric cars in the last year or so, including the Renault 5, Vauxhall Frontera, BYD Dolphin Surf, Dacia Spring and more - to name a few that aren't on our list.
There are practical benefits to driving a small EV, too, as any city dweller will tell you. Easier parking, a narrow car for squeezing down those awkward roads, and cheaper running costs have been enough to convert many.
With recent news that the government is toying with the idea of imposing extra costs on drivers of larger SUVs and passenger cars, and with more choice than ever before when it comes to small electric cars, there’s never been a better time to downsize.
Read on to find which are our favourite EVs of a more manageable magnitude.
We can’t talk about what the Twingo is like to drive yet, but it’s slated to be one of the cheapest EVs we’ve ever seen with a base price of below £20,000. There will, of course, be compromises in order to reach such a low price. Chiefly, the new Twingo is billed as a city EV and has a range of 163 miles. That range is extracted from a tiny 27.5kWhLFP battery which makes it one of the most efficient EVs on sale as it achieves a claimed 5.9 miles/kWh.
That efficiency is in no doubt helped by its feather-like 1,200kg weight and simple design. What a design it is, though, harking back to Twingos of old. Its happy little face is almost impossible not to love. It also features an adaptable interior with moveable, reclining rear seats granting up to 360 litres of boot space in the upright position.
So, as long as you’re not planning any long road trips in it, the Renault Twingo e-Tech is set to be pretty tough to beat. Stay tuned for our upcoming full review, to find out all about the new Twingo including what it’s like to drive! And if that range is a bit worrying, then there’s always the Renault 5 - an Electrifying.com award winner, and one of our favourite EVs of any. It’s brilliant, and it’s only 4.0-metres long, so it’s still a great shout if you want a compact, affordable electric car that’s as good to look at as it is to live with.
As with the Twingo, we can’t say much about the way the EV2 drives just yet! But we can say that it’s set up to be one of the longest-range small EVs you can buy. It extracts an estimated 275 miles of range from its larger 61kWh battery option and with a predicted 120kW rapid charging speed, it will be able to charge from 10-80% in a mere 30 minutes.
It’s the biggest car here, at just over 4.0-metres long, but the expertly packaged interior makes the most of that. Like its smaller brother, the Hyundai Inster, the rear seats can be slid back and forth to prioritise boot space or rear leg room. Those adjustable seats will get you up to 403 litres of boot space and 362 litres with the seats in their most passenger-friendly position.
The real kicker is the price, we predict that the EV2 will cost from as little as £24,000 with the smaller, 42kWh LFP battery option. But higher specs will feature 22kW AC charging, vehicle-to-load and vehicle-to-grid support. We can’t wait! Come back in a few weeks for our full drive review.
We are absolutely smitten with the little Inster. With its sliding, fold-flat seats and surprisingly airy interior, the Inster seems to do away with many of the trade-offs traditionally associated with compact motoring.
A £24,000 starting price gets you a standard heat pump and an unlimited range 5-year warranty on the vehicle, while the battery is covered for 100,000 miles or 8 years. The more rugged Inster Cross starts at £29,000 but even the highest possible spec still comes in at a hair under £28,000 after the electric car grant is applied.
The Inster also touts great tech features with dual 10.25-inch screens, Android Auto/Apple Carplay support, and over-the-air update capability. Higher trim models get further premium touches including heated seats, vehicle-to-load support, and wireless charging. Despite its diminutive size, the Inster boasts up to 229 miles of range, making it genuinely usable on trips venturing out of the city limits.
The e-C3 is another bargain, starting at just £21,990 without the government’s electric car grant. That low price is down in part to its 44kWh LFP battery which is both cheap to produce and offers great longevity for long-term owners and second-hand buyers alike. It also offers charging speeds of 100kW for rapid charging, getting you from 10-80% in just 26 minutes. It also matches the 500e’s WLTP-rated range of 199 miles on a single charge, making it great for urban travel.
Where it edges out the slightly cheaper 500e is in practicality. The e-C3 comes with four doors to boot, meaning access to the rear seats is a straightforward affair as well as a solid 310-litre boot. It also features a more rugged, SUV-inspired design with a more upright stance which will appeal to those who enjoy a more elevated view of the road around them.
Standard on the e-C3 is Citroen’s “Advanced Comfort” suspension which adds hydraulic cushions to the suspension and makes the pot hole-ridden streets of many cities much more tolerable.
If you’re after some Italian style and great efficiency, the Fiat 500e could well be the answer. Starting at just £21,000, it’s one of the more affordable options on this list but still manages to pack some impressive specs. The larger 42kWh battery gets you up to 199 miles of range and it will rapid charge that battery at a rate of up to 85kW. That means you can charge from 10-80% in just 30 minutes.
The 500e positions itself as a great city EV with its compact size and excellent turning circle. That does, however, come at the cost of some practicality as the rear seats are only barely spacious enough for adult use and the 500e is only available with two doors so clambering into said rear seats can be a little tricky for some.
In lieu of practicality though, the 500e packs style in spades with its iconic retro design and optional convertible roof. It also has an improved interior, featuring sustainable materials, better tech with a 10-inch touch screen and an improved driving position over the previous generation of 500.
At a base price of £28,600, the Peugeot E-208 is the most expensive car on this list to buy with cash. but there are increasingly attractive lease deals on the table, so it can prove to be surprisingly good value for money if you’re paying monthly. Its 51kWh battery gives it up to 248 miles of range and and it has great efficiency of 5.19 miles/kWh. It will charge quickly, too, with up to 100kW fast charging capacity.
Four-door access and proper rear seats mean that the E-208 will comfortably seat four adults, and with 154hp on offer it’s no slouch. Although, using that ‘Sport’ driving mode won’t do you any favours when it comes to range.
We love the way the E-208 looks, too, both inside and out. There are a few funky colours to choose from as well as your standard black, white, silver and grey but they all look great on its sabre-toothed front end. Inside, the funk continues with a 3D digital display and a classy finish throughout.
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