BYD Dolphin review - our favourite new car
Top 10 best small electric cars 2024
Looking for a compact, zero-emissions car? These are the best small electric cars on sale
There was once a time in recent history when electric cars were reserved as some of the most expensive on the market. However, this is quickly beginning to change. Now, as well as high-end models such as the Tesla Model S and Jaguar I-Pace, mainstream manufacturers such as MINI, Peugeot and Vauxhall have brought out electric versions of their pre-existing offerings. Plus, new models such as the Volkswagen ID.3 and the Nissan Leaf, and new names to the UK market such as the BYD Dolphin, have made emission-free motoring more approachable and attainable than ever.
So, the prices of electric cars are slowly coming down and there are big savings to be made by running one. Tax is free, for a start, and recharging the battery costs much less than refilling a car with petrol or diesel. Additional costs such as the London Congestion Charge and Ultra-Low Emission Zones (ULEZ) are also not a worry as electric cars are entirely exempt. However, something to bear in mind is that insurance is often higher than on an equivalent petrol model.
Top 10 best small cars and superminis 2024
Besides their lower running costs, electric cars have several other benefits too: they’re whisper-quiet and often very quick from a standstill, thanks to electric motors’ instant torque. Of course, they also produce no local emissions, making the purchase of an EV the best choice for the environment.
If you live in a town or city, an electric supermini may be the most economic and logical choice. Their small dimensions make them cheaper to buy and easy to navigate around tight streets. Despite their size, most of these cars have enough room for passengers and some luggage. Read on for our run-down of the best small electric cars on sale, or read our guides to the cheapest electric cars and best small hybrid cars.
Not only did the BYD Dolphin win our Carbuyer Best Small Electric Car award for 2024, it actually won our Car of the Year award overall! It epitomises everything car buyers are after right now, being affordable, electric, surprisingly well-built, and generously equipped. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, the Dolphin isn’t just good because it’s a cheap car – it’s a great-value car.
You get a respectable range for the price, with the Dolphin getting up to 211 miles with the 45kWh battery. Moving up to Comfort or Design spec brings a larger 60kWh battery, which BYD says can do up to 265 miles to a charge. While it might not be to all tastes in terms of design, textured interior materials do a good job of disguising the car’s cheaper trim. Even entry-level models get a large infotainment screen that can rotate from landscape to portrait, and the system is fast and responsive. If you’d rather stick to Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, you’re also catered for. It’s quite astounding how much you get for your money with the Dolphin, and while BYD isn’t yet a household name in the UK, this small electric car should definitely be at the top of your shopping list.
Eye-catching styling and great everyday usability makes the Hyundai Konda Electric a great option. Hyundai listened to the feedback on the old version, so the latest Kona is more practical than its predecessor, and there’s a choice between a 48kWh battery with 234 miles of range and a 154bhp motor, or a 65kWh battery version with a 215bhp front motor, providing a range of up to 305 miles.
The Kona’s interior won’t exactly excite, but it’s still a lovely place to be thanks to a superbly comfortable ride and lots of high-quality materials. All cars get a set of modern digital dials as well as LED headlights, a reversing camera, air conditioning, and a central 10.25-inch screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.
The Cupra Born is arguably the first-ever electric hot hatch and offers sportier styling and a more engaging drive than the mechanically-similar Volkswagen ID.3. Top-of-the-range e-Boost cars produce up to 228bhp – similar to that of a Golf GTI – and sprint from 0-62mph in just 6.6 seconds. Thanks to a low centre of gravity and rear-wheel drive, the relatively heavy Born is also sharp through the corners, and handles much better than most EVs at this price point.
Despite being nearly 70mm shorter than Cupra’s own Leon hatchback, the Born offers comparative interior space thanks to clever packaging. A flat interior floor means three passengers can sit abreast in the rear in relative comfort, plus the Born’s 385-litre boot narrowly beats out the petrol-powered Leon’s offering. The only real issues we have with the Born are its plethora of fiddly controls, but these are easy to overlook as everything else is so impressive.
It seems like a bit of a stretch to categorise a car that starts from £26k as ‘good value’, but considering most of its rivals start from over the £30k mark, the MG 4 offers unparalleled bang for your buck. The British-Chinese brand’s latest electric car is the first to sit on its new dedicated EV platform and is available in two battery configurations: 51kWh and 64kWh. The former will provide a range of over 200 miles, whereas the latter will enable the ‘4’ to travel up to 280 miles on a single charge.
Unlike the majority of MG’s models over the last few years which focused on comfort above all else, the MG 4’s sporty rear-wheel-drive setup makes it the brand’s most engaging car to drive in years. While interior quality isn’t quite on par with rivals, one must remember how much cheaper the MG is. Regardless, the overall design of the cabin is stylishly minimalist and all models come fitted with a high level of standard kit.
The third-generation Fiat 500 marks an important milestone for the model – as this new car ditches combustion engines in favour of all-electric power. It’s available alongside the regular 500, and is powered by an electric motor producing 92bhp, or 117bhp in the flagship model. Two battery sizes are available, too, with the 23.9 kWh version capable of up to 118 miles of range, while the larger 42kWh capacity offers up to 199 miles – around 50 miles more than rivals like the Honda e and MINI Electric. It also features 85kW fast-charging, making topping up the battery a quick and easy task.
In contrast to the funky retro-themed styling, its interior boasts a new 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen and attractive digital instrument cluster. There are three trim levels to pick from, which can take the 500 from affordable and modestly equipped to luxurious but rather pricey. The electric version of the 500 has grown, too, meaning it has a slightly more spacious interior than the old car, and while the boot is still fairly compact at 185 litres, it’s still big enough for a weekend away.
The Kia Niro is one of the most versatile car on sale, as it’s available in self-charging hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully electric form. All versions of the Kia Niro EV (previously called the Kia e-Niro) are fitted with a 64.8kWh battery, paired with a 201bhp electric motor. This provides a respectable range of up to 285 miles on a single charge, and can be charged from 10-80% in 40 minutes thanks to 77kW fast charging capability.
On the inside, the Niro shares the same hi-tech dashboard design as its larger sibling, the Kia Sportage. This comprises two 10.25-inch screens and comes as standard on mid-spec ‘3’ trim and above – entry-level ‘2’ cars get a smaller eight-inch touchscreen. Regardless, standard equipment is strong across the range, while a spacious 475-litre boot makes the Niro one of the most practical small EVs.
The latest 208 is excellent and was available with a choice of petrol, diesel or electric power from launch. All models get incredibly distinctive styling, which means the 208 stands out in a sea of Fiestas and Polos. However, the styling differences for the electric version amount to just a few new badges and subtle blue elements - perfect for anyone that wants to look stylish, without screaming that they own an EV. The e-208 manages an impressive 211 miles between charges, and can recharge using 100kW chargers, meaning 100 miles of range can be added in just 20 minutes.
It’s a rival to the Renault ZOE but the e-208 is faster and better to drive than the ZOE. We also like the e-208’s interior, which comes as standard with Peugeot’s 3D digital instrument cluster and plenty of other standard equipment.
The MINI Electric is likely to be the Honda e’s closest rival; both have appealing retro styling, are good to drive and have high-quality interiors. However, the two cars also share the same drawbacks: a high price, a small boot and reasonably limited range. MINI promises up to 145 miles between charges and says that most customers will buy one as a second car. The range should be enough for a week’s worth of commuting for many buyers in any case. On the rare longer journey, plugging into a 50kW fast charger gives 80% charge in 35 minutes.
We expect you’ll want to drive it as much as possible, mainly due to the fact the MINI Electric is almost as speedy and as fun to drive as the Cooper S, making it one of the first all-electric hot hatchbacks available. As with other MINIs, the interior is a great place to spend time, and all MINI Electric versions get sat nav, cruise control and dual-zone climate control.
One of the UK’s best-selling cars can now be had as a fully electric model. Formerly known as the Corsa-e, Vauxhall recently changed its name to ‘Corsa Electric’. The Corsa Electric uses the same 50kWh powertrain from the Peugeot e-208, while a 2023 facelift brought a new front end design and a larger 54kWh battery in alongside the older one. An official figure of 222 miles of range should be possible in perfect conditions in the 50kWh model, with the 54kWh version capable of up to 255 miles on a charge. The 50kWh Corsa Electric produces 134bhp from its electric motor, while the 54kWh version ups the power output to 154bhp.
Despite the newer version’s extra power, we reckon the deals on the older 222-mile 134bhp powertrain could prove to be better value. Vauxhall’s huge dealership network should translate into more electric car sales but the mechanically identical E-208 does feel a bit more special. The conventional look of the electric Corsa will appeal to buyers who are looking for something a bit more familiar, and the car’s range is more impressive than the style-focused Honda e and MINI Electric.
During this hugely transitional period in the automotive world, the Abarth 500e could go down in history as one of the first proper electric hot hatches. Building on the platform of the standard Fiat 500 EV, the Abarth 500e gets 152bhp sent to the front wheels, propelling the feisty city car from 0-62mph in seven seconds – that’s around two seconds quicker than the electric Fiat.
The Abarth 500e is much more playful than the Fiat 500, and one of its biggest unique selling points is its sound generator, which pumps rorty engine noises from a speaker on the outside to add to the car’s driving thrills. While the Abarth is a fun little city car, the Fiat 500 takes a higher spot in this list thanks to its affordability and the 199-mile range of the higher spec 42kWh model. The Abarth 500e, however, is only capable of 164 miles. If it’s fun you’re after, though, that might be a price you’re willing to pay, and it’s worth noting that’s also a slightly better figure than that of the 500e’s closest rival, the MINI Electric, which currently manages just 145 miles on a charge.
Top 10 best small electric cars 2024
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