Whether you live in a busy city or just don’t want or need a large electric car, choosing a small car doesn't mean a small amount of options. There are a number of great small electric vehicles (EVs) on the market today but in order to help narrow down your options, here’s a list of our top 10 recommendations for smaller electric cars.

Smart fortwo
Smart Fortwo

Smart Fortwo

This 2-seater roadster is a great compact city car, perfect for shorter commutes in very densely populated cities.The 0-62mph acceleration time of the ForTwo is 11.6 seconds, making it one of the slower options on this list but if fast acceleration isn’t something you feel is important in your daily life, this could be a great option.

The claimed range of the ForTwo is 81 miles, however depending on the conditions you’re driving in the real world range is likely to be closer to 60 miles. While this might seem modest, the average UK driver only travels 20 miles a day, so don’t let the shorter range dissuade you from considering the ForTwo. Where it might lack in range, it makes up for it in terms of fun, as it almost feels like you’re driving a go-kart, so it’s truly a fun car to drive. 

Despite its compact size, it doesn’t feel cramped inside, so both you and one passenger can travel in comfort. Also, the two doors can be opened pretty wide, so even though it’s small, it’s still very accessible. Additionally, the ForTwo has 260 litres of boot space, which for a smaller city car is very reasonable.

Mini electric
Mini Electric

Mini Electric

This cute and stylish, 3-door, 4-seater hatchback has a 0-62mph time of 7.3 seconds, making it one of the fastest cars on this list (sharing first place with the BMW i3) so it’s definitely a fun car to drive! Mini claims the range of this car is between 140-145 miles, however in real-world range terms it’s estimated to be closer to 115 miles, which should suit the average commuter nicely. 

It’s perhaps not the most practical choice on this list if you’re looking for a family car, as it doesn’t have back doors, however if you don’t often have passengers travelling in the back seats then this might not be a drawback. Still, the front seats feel spacious and comfortable and everything feels really nice quality.

The Mini has a boot space of 211 litres which is on the smaller side, but depending on your needs and lifestyle this might not put you off. While it might not be the ideal family car, it may still be a good option depending on your lifestyle and it will definitely be a fun option for your daily commute.

Honda E Black
Honda e

Honda E

This 4-seater hatchback is a great option if you want a car that you’ll enjoy driving, as it has the third fastest acceleration time on this list, with a 0-62mph time of 8.3 seconds. The claimed range of the Honda is 137 miles, although this may be closer to 105 miles in real world terms. 

This sporty city car is quite spacious in the front seats, but slightly cramped in the back, making it not the best option if you often find yourself with adult passengers in the back seats. Additionally, it doesn’t have a particularly large cargo volume, as you only have 171 litres in boot space in the Honda E. If you don’t often need to transport large items such as luggage or other cargo this might not be something to rule out the Honda E. 

If you’re after an all-rounder family car there are other options we’d recommend over this car, the Honda E is best suited for people who enjoy driving, but don’t need their car to be the most practical.

Fiat 500e
Fiat 500e

Fiat 500 Electric

This 4-seater hatchback is the all electric version of the cult-classic Fiat 500. With a 0-62mph time of 9.5 seconds, it definitely proves it will live up to its name by being just as fun to drive without sacrificing its iconic design and feel. The range of the 500e is 115 miles, however in real world range it’s estimated to be just under 90 miles, meaning it should work well for the average driver's daily commute. 

For being such a small car, it’s surprisingly spacious up front but the back seats are a little bit cramped for adults, so it may be better suited if you have small children in the back seats. However, another potential drawback is that there aren’t any back doors so it might not be the best choice if you’re after a family car but there are a number of more practical family cars on this list. 

It’s also somewhat limited in terms of boot space, with just 185 litres, again pointing to it not being the most practical choice in terms of working as a family car. If this isn’t a factor for you however, then this stylish EV could be a great choice for you!

Cupra Born in turquoise
Cupra Born

Cupra Born

  • 5 seats
  • Real-world range 215 miles
  • 0-62mph in 7.3s
  • Up to 60% off

Cupra is the premium sub-brand of Seat, the Spanish based automaker with a long lineage of popular, performance-orientated hatchbacks. The Cupra Born takes the brand’s extensive knowledge of what makes a great hatchback, utilises Volkswagen’s impressive MEB all-electric platform and future proofs the tried-and-tested formula.

The result is the first all-electric hot hatch. 

A practical supermini with plenty of poke, the Cupra Born can stretch its electrified legs up to 99mph, has enough seats for the whole family and a generous luggage capacity of 385 litres - the joint-largest capacity of any car on the list. 

Much like the Volkswagen ID.3 it shares its base with, the Cupra Born is stylish but understated. Electric cars have historically had a bit of an image problem, shouting loudly about their eco-credentials with subpar styling. With an aggressive nose, a premium interior and well proportioned exterior, the Cupra Born is a genuinely desirable car.

It’s similarly priced to the Volkswagen ID.3, so if you’re after a spacious, all-electric family car with the largest boot space - it’s simply down to preference.

Regardless of whether you opt for the Volkswagen or the Cupra, you can still get access to massive savings of up to 60% off with loveelectric.

Silver DS 3 E-Tense
DS Automobiles DS3

DS Automobiles DS 3

  • 5 seats
  • Range of 270 miles
  • 0-62mph in 8.7s
  • Up to 60% off

Beginning life as the premium subdivision of Citroën, DS Automobiles now produce a range of models to suit every requirement. 

The most notable model in the lineup though, is the all-electric DS 3.

A five-door crossover hatchback may be stretching the definition of ‘small electric car’, but a compact-SUV like the DS 3 is too good a vehicle to miss off the list.

With an ample top speed of 93 mph and a sizeable luggage capacity of 350 litres (1050 litres with the seats folded down), the DS 3 combines practicality with supreme French styling and a premium-feel interior.

Futuristic touch-sensitive buttons are intuitively placed throughout, with a tessellating diamond theme throughout the cabin. Depending on your choice of trim, the centre of the dash is either adorned with a 7” or 10” infotainment screen which handles all in-car entertainment duties: Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and the DAB radio for example. The digital instrument cluster serves up critical driver information in a compact but clear display.

If you’d like the raised ride-height of an SUV, without the hassle of driving and parking a huge car - then the DS 3 offers more than enough in terms of practicality, range and driving experience. It may not be as small as a Smart Fortwo, but for a small SUV it fits the bill.

Fancy a slice of premium French engineering? Get up to 60% off with loveelectric.

Renault Zoe white

Renault Zoe

This 5-seater, 5-door hatchback has been incredibly popular across Europe in recent years and for good reason, as it’s a great all-rounder family car. While the Zoe might not have the fastest 0-62mph acceleration time at 11.4 seconds, it makes up for it in range. Renault claims the Zoe has a range of  239 miles, although the real-world range is on average more like 195 miles, this is still the second best range on this list. 

It’s also pretty spacious inside, so you won’t feel cramped in when driving. The back seats are also pretty comfortable, although it’s not the most spacious back seat area, most adults will fit comfortably at the back but it might not be the best choice if you often have passengers in the back seats on longer journeys.

The boot space is just below 340 litres, which is the third largest cargo volume on this list, perfect for families on the go or if you often need to transport large items. The Renault Zoe offers a great mileage at an affordable price point and is a really good option for families who are always on the go. 

Vauxhall Corsa e black

Vauxhall Corsa E

The Corsa E is the electric version of the extremely popular Vauxhall Corsa. In fact, the Corsa was the best selling car of 2021 in the UK, so it makes sense why Vauxhall would create an electric version of this model. 

This hatchback has a 0-62mph acceleration time of 8.1 seconds, meaning it has the joint second fastest acceleration time on this list. Vauxhall claims the range of the Corsa E is 209 miles but in real world terms it's likely to be closer to ​​175 miles, although keep in mind that this is just an estimate and range is affected by a number of factors.

One interesting thing to note is that the Corsa E is very similar to the Peugeot e-208, as both brands are owned by PSA Group and both of these cars are based on the same platform. The key differences between the two are that the Corsa E is just that bit cheaper and it also has 309 litres of boot space which is than the Peugeot e-208 has to offer, so if you’re looking to get the best value for money, the Corsa E might be your best bet. 

This 5-seater is a good option if you have a young family, as it’s pretty spacious upfront so it’s very comfortable to drive but there’s slightly less space in the back seats, but adults over 6ft tall will fit, although it might not be the most comfortable option for longer journeys.

peugeot e208

Peugeot e-208

This hatchback is the electric version of the Peugeot 208, so it might be a good option to ease yourself into the world of electric cars if you’ve previously driven the petrol or diesel version of this model. Peugeot states the range of the e-208 is 225 miles but in real world terms it may be closer to 175 miles

It has the joint second fastest 0-62mph acceleration time on this list, at 8.1 seconds, tied with the Vauxhall Corsa E. In fact, as mentioned above, the Peugeot e-208 is very similar to the Vauxhall Corsa E as both brands have the same parent company. Just like the Vauxhall, this is a really fun car to drive, with perhaps the biggest difference being the boot space, as while the Peugeot has 265 litres and the Vauxhall has 309 litres, so the Peugeot doesn’t win any practicality points.  

Overall, the Peugeot feels a bit sleeker and more stylish than the Corsa E, so if you’re more concerned about aesthetics and feel, the Peugeot will be the better option for you. Again, it’s a good choice if you’re after a good all-round family car. 

VW id3

Volkswagen ID.3

This 5-seater family car is the perfect choice if you have a longer commute or just don’t want to charge as frequently. The claimed range of the ID3 is 338 miles but the real world range is closer to 280 miles, which is not only the best range on this list but is an excellent range in general in the EV market. It also has a 0-60mph acceleration time of 9.62 seconds, and while it’s not the fastest car on this list, depending on your lifestyle that might not be a reason to disregard the ID3 as a potential option. 

The ID.3 feels pretty roomy inside, it is pretty comfortable with a good amount of legroom and headroom and adults will fit comfortably in the backseats, provided they’re not extremely tall.It also boasts 385 litres in boot space which is the largest cargo volume on this list, so if you need a practical family car, this could be a great option for you. The ID.3 is a great all-rounder option if you need a practical family car or if you just want the best range possible in a small vehicle.