8 Best Small Electric Cars
The rapidly-developing market for electric vehicles (EVs) means there is now a model to suit every market sector – from small city cars to family SUVs and luxury exec cars – but with battery size, charging speeds and performance all improving fast, perhaps the segment becoming more popular more quickly is the supermini. Smaller batteries mean less weight, and a faster, nippier vehicle, but with a smaller driving range from one charge. However, to the typical supermini enthusiast, that’s less important.
Here we take a look at 8 of the best small electric cars available in 2022.
The e-Up actually pre-dates VW’s more popular EV model the ID, but it carries all the hallmarks you expect from a VW, that being all-round efficiency. There is everything here that you need in a small city car, and nothing that you don’t. With a 160-mile range this is easy to drive and has the trademark refinement you expect, but is also affordable and good value for the VW badge.
New and improved the I3 is as high-end as you would expect from a BMW in terms of tech, construction and performance, and with a 188-mile range you get plenty of local driving for your charging time. And even though this has EV-tech that is boundary-pushing, there is still plenty of old school BMW DNA to keep the legions of loyal followers happy.
Vauxhall admit they are still developing their EV technology, but as a work-in-progress the Corsa still looks pretty state-of-the-art to us. It shares the same tech as many other EVs, but the Vauxhall name alone makes it more available and more popular. And with a 180-mile range and borrowing the PSA Group technology, this is one of the elite band of credible EVs on today’s market.
With a 0-60mph of 9 seconds, a 199-mile driving range and a good rapid charging time, the Fiat 500 is making great strides in the supermini EV market. Light steering and plenty of road grip make this a joy to drive, which certainly helps, and while the classic look of the external build is unmistakably retro and as charming as the Fiat 500 always was, the in-car tech is anything but old school.
The 208 shares the same engineering as the Corsa and the DS3 Crossback E-TENSE, but the great safety systems and rapid speed from a standing start make this model stand out on its own. The 225-mile range is superb for a supermini and more than enough for a family’s needs and expectations.
You would expect the original and definitive mini brand to excel in this sector, and it does. All the classic Mini integrity is retained, and while it took a while for the Mini Electric to come to market, it was worth waiting for. 0-62mph in just 7.3 seconds is the speed about town you would be looking for and while the overall range is not top of this sector, it does little to detract from the overall quality the Mini Electric offers.
Honda has always been forward-thinking in design and technology and you would expect them to come up with something challenging in the EV stakes, and they have. The E is as compact as it gets, and with the tightest-ever turning circle brings a new dimension to a city runaround, but with little touches of class internally and a not insignificant power output, this delivers on many fronts.
The Renault Zoe was always a ground-breaking EV in that it made electric car-driving fun and delivered great value for money. This new version takes that a step further by offering an amazing 242-mile driving range, along with a smooth drive and almost silent acceleration, while still retaining a feel-good vibe of the most likeable EV on the market.
For great advice and the best available electric car lease deals, contact Pink Car Leasing today.
