Electric cars are now a regular sight on the UK’s roads but, with more options than ever before, choosing the right model can be tricky.
This is especially true if you live in a city where tight parking spaces and narrow gaps in traffic are your bread and butter. If you’re looking for a battery-powered car to zip through dense urban areas, here are our picks for the best small electric cars.
Here are our favourite small electric cars you can buy in 2024:
1. Renault Zoe
- Range – up to 239 miles
The stylish Renault Zoe could well be our favourite small EV. This compact city car might be small enough to squeeze into tight parking spots but it packs a seriously impressive 239-mile range under the floor. Inside, you get just enough room for four adults and a standard touchscreen infotainment system that includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also comes in purple which, naturally, sends it to the top of our list.
Shop used Renault Zoe cars for sale or read about the Zoe’s stylish replacement, the new Renault 5
2. Peugeot e-208
- Range – up to 217 miles
The e-208 is Peugeot’s first EV and shares much of its design with its fuel-powered siblings. However, it gains a 100kW electric motor and 50kWh battery for an electric range of more than 200 miles. A new 51kWh battery increases the range to almost 250 miles. The e-208 marks itself out from other cars on this list by looking fairly conventional without shouting about its EV underpinnings, so might suit you if you want to stay understated.
Shop used Peugeot e-208 cars for sale or read our Peugeot 208 review
3. Vauxhall Corsa Electric
- Range – up to 221 miles
The Corsa is now available with an electric option, and it’s the non-identical twin of the e-208. The looks and name might be different but both cars share DNA – the 50kWh battery is identical, and you can also choose the 51kWh battery in brand-new Corsas. Often, the Corsa is a little cheaper than an equivalent e-208, and a used Corsa-e is roughly the same price as a petrol one at the moment.
Shop used Vauxhall Corsa cars for sale or read our Vauxhall Corsa review
4. Mini Cooper E/ SE
- Range – up to 250 miles
The previous-generation Mini Cooper SE is one of the most fun electric cars, but its 143-mile official range limited its usability. Behind this new car’s clean, pared-back looks, there are two battery options – the Cooper E gets close to 200 miles between charges, and the Cooper SE increases that to around 250 miles. Much more like it. Both versions get from 0-62mph in around seven seconds, give or take, so it feels pretty quick off the line.
Shop used Mini hatchback cars for sale or read our review of the 2017-2024 Mini hatchback
5. Fiat 500e
- Range – up to 199 miles
This is the second generation of Fiat’s ‘new’ 500 and, this time, the only choice under the bonnet is an electric motor. The new model offers a similar package to its predecessor – super-stylish bodywork with city-friendly proportions, paired with a surprisingly upmarket retro-inspired cabin. Most have an infotainment system with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, while basic cars give you a phone holder – you’ve got all the apps you could want in your pocket and it reduces the cost.
Shop used Fiat 500e cars for sale
6. Jeep Avenger
- Range – up to 248 miles
Jeep’s first electric car is a car that won’t be sold in its native America. We’re glad it’s sold on this side of the pond, because the Avenger’s 4x4-at-80-percent-scale styling will cheer you up and cheer other drivers up – especially if you get it in yellow. The interior – from the body-coloured dash panel to the iPad cover on the centre console and even the drum’n’bass indicators – is characterful and charming, and using the same underpinnings as the Peugeots and Vauxhalls on this list makes for strong range and performance figures.
7. Peugeot e-2008
- Range – up to 226 miles
Like its hatchback sibling covered above, the Peugeot e-2008 is the battery-powered version of the regular 2008 crossover. That means you get the same 200-mile range and 100kW motor for smooth, silent acceleration. Inside, you get a little more passenger space and 122 litres more boot space than the e-208, making this electric crossover a slightly better choice for families.
Shop used Peugeot 2008 cars for sale or read our Peugeot 2008 review
8. BMW i3
- Range – up to 189 miles
It might look futuristic, but the BMW i3 is actually one of the older cars on this list. Don’t let its age fool you, however, because its carbon-fibre-reinforced chassis, airy cabin made from recycled materials and funky rear-hinged back doors help the i3 feel bang up to date. A mid-life update brought range up to a usable 189 miles to complement its hot-hatch-like acceleration.
Shop used BMW i3 cars for sale or read our BMW i3 review
9. Smart #1
- Range – up to 273 miles
Behind the marshmallowy styling, the cute but distracting fox on the touchscreen and over-keen safety assistance, the Smart #1 is a great little urban EV. It doesn’t take up a lot of space on the road but the interior space is positively generous, making the Jeep Avenger feel like you’re crammed in a phone box by comparison. The interior is cool and airy, performance is nifty and even the entry-level 49kWh model can manage 193 miles on a charge – so it’s efficient, too. If you want to make your passengers terrified and/or violently sick, go for the Brabus one – its 3.8-second 0-62mph time matches the Lamborghini Urus.
10. Nissan Leaf
- Range – up to 238 miles
The Nissan Leaf was one of the first mass-produced EVs and this second-generation model is better than ever. Its 168-mile range can’t match the longest-legged cars on this list, but few options can offer this much space for the money. Every model features a touchscreen infotainment system with a sat-nav system that can show you nearby charging locations. The (disappointingly rare) e+ model packs a bigger battery and a more usable 238-mile range.
Shop used Nissan Leaf cars for sale
Not sure what to pick?
If you’re more worried about the size of your monthly bills than your car, check out our list of the best cheap EVs. If you’re not sure whether an electric car is for you, take a look at our handy guide to hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles.
