Best small electric carsBest small electric carsThe UK car buying public's appetite for high-riding crossovers and bigger cars has meant that the majority of new electric offerings have arrived with an SUV-shaped silhouette. But in the last few years, and in 2025 in particular, the pendulum has swung back in the favour of smaller models, with the likes of the Renault 5 and Hyundai Inster sparking a small car renaissance. AdvertisementAdvertisementEngineers have now cracked the code for the small electric car class. Once this was a segment full of heavy, inefficient, poorly packaged EVs that were much dearer than their piston-powered counterparts, but the current crop of diminutive EVs couldn't be more different.Thanks to advancement in battery technology, manufacturers are now able to fit smaller, energy-dense packs into supermini-sized EVs. Small electric cars of yore could barely touch 150 miles on a charge; today many now offer a range of up to 250 miles. Factor in their lighter construction, greater agility and improved efficiency and a small EV offers a sense of character that a two-tonne crossover simply can't match. If you're in the market for a small EV, we think the best option is the Renault 5. It neatly blends retro-inspired style with engaging dynamics and a premium interior. But which other models should you add to your shortlist? Check below for the models we think are the best small electric cars on sale in the UK today.1. Renault 5Best for: Driving dynamicsAdvertisementAdvertisementThe best small electric car money can buy today is the reborn Renault 5. Its talents range from its fluid, dynamic handling to its supple ride quality, which trumps the Mini Cooper E for comfort while remaining fun to drive. With 148bhp on tap, there's more than enough oomph for urban jaunts, as well as longer schleps along the motorway. The interior is also top-notch, with cues from the original 1970s 5, strong material quality and a generally intuitive layout. If there is anything to complain about with the 5, it's its efficiency. It's not awful, but its touring range isn't as good as we would like it to be for motorway journeys.AdvertisementAdvertisementOpt for the 52kWh battery and it has a claimed range of up to 250 miles – and all versions are eligible for the UK government's £3750 EV grant. 2. Mini Cooper EMini Cooper E Electric front trackingBest for: StyleWhile the old Mini Electric hatchback was fun, it was let down by poor packaging and a limited range. The sleek new Cooper E is more powerful, has a broad choice of batteries and is packed full of usable digital technology from parent company BMW. The Cooper E is powered by a 181bhp electric motor and uses a 40.7kWh battery that offers up to 190 miles of range, while the Cooper SE gets a 215bhp motor and a 54.2kWh battery for up to 250 miles of range. AdvertisementAdvertisementIt's heavier than before, which means it has lost a bit of driver appeal. That said, it has a better range, a premium feeling interior and it's well priced.The infotainment touchscreen is a bit fiddly but, despite the odd minor qualm, the Cooper E is up there with the best in the segment. 3. MG 4 EVMG 4 EV front corneringBest for: Long rangeSince the brand's relaunch under Chinese giant SAIC, MG has been the value champion of the electric car sphere – and the 4 is no exception. Prices for the Volkswagen Golf-sized hatchback start from around £27,000, but we would stretch our budget to just under £30,000 for the Long Range SE, which will do 288 miles on a charge. There's even a bonkers-fast 429bhp XPower model, if you're after all-out performance. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe 4's rear-wheel-drive layout serves up some real handling thrills, while its soft but controlled ride means it's well suited to rough British roads.Low-grade interior materials and slightly haphazard infotainment and ADAS suggest where the savings might have been made, but none of it is egregious enough to detract from how much value for money the 4 offers. 4. Citroën ë-C3Best for: Compact proportionsComfortable, well-equipped and practical, the Citroën ë-C3 is another affordable option helping to bring price parity with petrol cars. Priced from less than £22,000, the electric version of the C3 is one of the cheapest EVs on sale in the UK. AdvertisementAdvertisementEnergy comes from a 44kWh battery, which offers a claimed range of 199 miles. It powers a front-mounted 111bhp electric motor that allows the ë-C3 to hit 0-62mph in around 11.0sec and a top speed of 84mph. The ë-C3 could hardly be easier to drive and is packed full of usable standard kit.Downsides? Its range of 199 miles might not be quite enough for some drivers and, while it's fairly comfortable, it's not the most dynamic car to drive, having numb steering.5. Cupra BornBest for: Driver engagement For the keener drivers among us who want their small EV to come with dextrous handling and an engaging, rear-wheel-drive chassis, the Cupra Born is an excellent choice.AdvertisementAdvertisementWith prices starting from around £35,000 (or £34,000 with the UK government grant applied), the Born is a great-all round EV that offers enough driver appeal to keep you interested without sacrificing on range or efficiency. There are several trims and two batteries to choose from. With the larger 79kWh pack fitted, the Born should achieve between 270-330 miles on a charge, which is more than enough for short hops into town and longer stints along the motorway. Does its focus on range and driver engagement dent its usability as a family car? Not in the slightest: with four usable seats and a decent boot, the Born is a very complete package. 6. Ford Puma Gen-EBest for: Boot spaceAdvertisementAdvertisementWhile it's not quite at the top of our list, the Ford Puma Gen-E might just be the most important, not least because it brings some genuine driver engagement to the class.This is an electric version of the UK's best-selling car, and it's Ford's second crack at an EV that has been developed fully in-house, following the Mustang Mach-E (the Explorer and Capri were co-developed with Volkswagen). Energy comes from a 43.6kWh battery, which drives a 166bhp, front-mounted electric motor. According to Ford, you will get around 233 miles of range on a charge. 7. Hyundai InsterBest for: Interior versatilityThe funky-looking, segment-blending Inster has the dimensions of a smaller A-segment offering, but inside it's far bigger and more versatile than rivals like the Fiat 500e. AdvertisementAdvertisementIndeed, the chunky little Inster is roomy, with its sliding and folding rear bench enhancing cabin flexibility. It's a very easy car to operate, too, with plenty of physical secondary controls. Around town it's pliant and easy to drive, while at higher speeds it has the maturity and road manners of a larger car. When it was first introduced, the Inster's ambition pricing made it harder to recommend over European competitors, but Hyundai has since introduced its own 'EV grant' to cut its list price down by £3750. Prices now start from £20,005 for the entry-level 01 trim, but we would stretch to £23,255 for 02 trim, which gets a larger battery for an impressive 229-mile range. 8. Volkswagen ID 3Volkswagen ID 3 front quarter dynamicBest for: RefinementWhile the ID 3 managed to secure plenty of sales from the off, it was plagued by issues that dented its progress in becoming a true Golf successor. Early cars were afflicted by a poor infotainment touchscreen and a complex model line-up, not to mention the cabin that lacked material richness. Volkswagen sought to assuage these faults by treating the ID 3 to a much-needed facelift, with the hatchback gaining a more eye-catching front end, a simpler model line-up and an uplift in material quality inside.The touchscreen was also given a big overhaul, and it's far easier to use than the one fitted to its predecessor – although the heating controls that sit below it are still touch-sensitive, as are those on the steering wheel. The ID 3 range now comprises the 52kWh Pure, 58kWh Pro and 77kWh Pro S, with the last of those promising up to 345 miles of range.Prices start from around £30,000, with the most expensive model being the sporty 322bhp GTX. As for the drive, there's little to dislike. It doesn't engage you like the technically related Cupra Born, but the steering is agile enough and it's very easy to pilot in town and manoeuvre around car parks. And much like in the Golf, ride quality remains intact, even for a heavy compact car with big wheels.9. BYD Dolphin SurfBest for: Equipment levelsPrice parity with petrol counterparts has long been an issue for small electric cars, but that's no longer the case, as proven by the BYD Dolphin Surf. At £18,675, it's not only one of the cheapest electric superminis but one of the most affordable EVs full stop, undercutting many European rivals like the Citroën ë-C3 and Renault 5. And yet a low price isn't the Dolphin Surf's only calling card. Inside it's spacious, well-equipped and has a sense of quality that surpasses its prices.To drive it's pleasant and easy-going, but don't expect much engagement or excitement. It can't match the 5 for kerb appeal and character, but it has a good range of up to 200 miles in Boost form and will return close to 5.6mpkWh during everyday use. 10. Dacia SpringDacia Spring front corneringBest for: ValueThe little Dacia Spring is the UK's cheapest full-size electric car, with prices starting from under £15,000.It also comes close to being the UK's cheapest car overall, the Dacia Sandero and Kia Picanto being the only cars that undercut it. The entry-level model is powered by a puny-sounding 69bhp electric motor, hitting 0-62mph in a leisurely 12.3sec.The slightly pricier 99bhp variant reduces that to 9.6sec. Again, that might not sound all that quick, but it's notably quicker than a 1.0-litre petrol Volkswagen Up. Both models are equipped with a 24.3kWh battery, which is good for a claimed 139 miles of range overall or about 50 miles more than that with some careful city driving. Equipment levels are good too, including a 7.0in infotainment touchscreen, electric windows, cruise control and rear parking sensors as standard.]]>