Smallest electric cars
The smallest electric cars are fun to drive and cheap to run, and they’re becoming ever more affordable to purchase, too
If you want a zero-emission car that is great fun to drive and cheap to run, then the smallest electric cars are likely to tick those boxes. Electric cars accelerate quickly at town speeds, and because they’re not big or heavy they’re also often very agile. It can also be a lot cheaper to run an electric car than it can be a petrol equivalent.
While it’s true that the smallest electric cars aren’t blessed with range (their smaller batteries are designed for city dwellers and short-distance drivers), the best small electric cars are perfect for trips to the shops and for doing the school run - and an increasing number offer a claimed range of more than 200 miles per charge.
That means that an electric car already might work fine as the only car for many drivers - even if you occasionally head out on a long journey. Meanwhile, many two-car families use an electric car to get from A to B, and then leave the longer journeys to a hybrid car, or something more conventional.
So if a small electric car sounds like the perfect runabout, but you’re not blessed with a huge garage or driveway space, these are the smallest in order of length.
1. Citroen Ami
Dimensions 2,410mm long
Used deals Limited stock
Technically, the Ami isn't a car. It's a quadricycle that's just 2.4m long, which makes it 10% shorter than the deliberately short Smart ForTwo. Like the Smart, there's only room for two seats, or one seat and some luggage space in the Cargo version which is marketed at city-centre delivery drivers.
It has a 46-mile range, but because of the slow charging tech, it'll still take a few hours to fully charge just like any of the other cars on this list. As well as being the smallest electric car, it's Britain's cheapest car at £7,695.
2. Smart EQ ForTwo
Dimensions 2,695mm long
Used deals from £6,597
Monthly finance from £0.00*
The Smart EQ ForTwo is the smallest electric car (emphasis on the word car) available right now, with a 260-litre boot in both Coupe and Cabrio models. That said, if you need two extra seats and can accommodate a car that’s about 80cm longer, the Smart ForFour is worth considering - although the extra seats do rob space from the boot.
It’ll do 0-62mph in 11.9 seconds, and while this is nothing to write home about, the thing to remember about electric cars is that they’re usually very quick over the first 0-30mph, tailing off thereafter. Expect a range of 80 miles in the best conditions, and much less in the winter and/or at higher speeds.
3. Seat Mii Electric
Dimensions 3,557mm long
Used deals Limited stock
The Seat Mii electric is one of three small electric cars, built by Volkswagen and its sister companies Seat and Skoda, that sit on the same platform. The Seat is the smallest at 3,557mm long, while the Skoda Citigo e iV and Volkswagen e-Up each measure 3,597mm.
Because they’re all the same car underneath, they all have similar stats, achieving around 160 miles of range from their 36.8kWh batteries and hitting 0-62mph in around 11 seconds. Whichever model you go for, the driving experience is a noticeable step up from Smart’s electric cars, with twice as much range making life far easier, with longer journeys becoming more practical.
4. Mini Electric
Dimensions 3,845mm long
Used deals Limited stock
This Mini won’t win any awards for practicality, as the 211-litre boot is quite small and the three-door-only configuration means getting into the back seats can be tricky. But what the Mini Electric lacks in this area, it more than makes up for in terms of enjoyment; sharp handling makes it fun through corners, and the acceleration feels rapid from behind the wheel too, with a quick 0-62mph time of 7.3 seconds.
Official tests promise up to 145 miles of range per charge, although in the real world you’re likely to see closer to 100, especially in colder weather. This is because electric cars are much less efficient when the temperature drops, so you won’t be able to travel quite as far in winter. This is worth keeping in mind when considering any electric car.
5. Honda e
Dimensions 3,894mm long
Used deals from £14,982
Monthly finance from £228.00*
The Honda e is a rival to the Mini Electric, although the Honda should appeal more to lifestyle-conscious drivers who value its unique style over the sporty feel of the Mini above. There’s little else on the road that looks like it, while the technology inside is far more adventurous than you’ll see on most other cars of this size, but it is slightly let down by its claimed range at just 136 miles.
The dashboard features an almost full-width screen, which is split into sections so both driver and passenger can use the touchscreen media system. There are also two further screens flanking the main one: these relay footage from slim exterior cameras that act as mirrors, in theory reducing wind resistance - as there's no need to have large wing mirrors - which boosts range without compromising visibility.
6. BMW i3
Dimensions 4,006mm long
Used deals Limited stock
While most of the electric cars on this list are relatively new, the BMW i3 has been around since 2013. There’s only been one generation of i3, but significant upgrades over the course of its life have made the latest examples far more capable than earlier models. Like the Mini Electric and the Honda e, the i3 is great fun to drive, while the interior has a minimalist design that feels very different to most cars. But if practicality is your main concern, there are more affordable options out there.
Other than age, the main reason to go for a newer model, therefore, is the vastly increased range; the i3 started out offering around 120 miles from a single charge, although the latest '120Ah' editions can achieve around 190 miles. You should always check the claimed range and battery size of any electric car to make sure you’re getting the version of the vehicle you want.
7. Peugeot e-208
Dimensions 4,055mm long
Used deals from £5,750
Monthly finance from £171.30*
The Peugeot e-208 is another car that shares the platform it's built on. The Vauxhall Corsa-e is identical underneath and is just a fraction longer at 4,060mm. Both cars use a 50kWh battery and offer over 200 miles of range.
At this end of the spectrum you’re looking at hatchback practicality, with five doors for easy access and over 300 litres of boot space - that's similar to most petrol and diesel cars of this size. You can seat five in both the e-208 and the Corsa-e, and although they aren’t exactly limousines, rear passengers won’t feel as squashed as they would in the smaller cars on this list.
8. Renault Zoe
Dimensions 4,087mm long
Used deals Limited stock
The Renault Zoe is quite possibly the best affordable electric car, with the latest model offering up to 245 miles of range from a full charge and levels of practicality that smaller vehicles can only dream of.
At a shade over four metres long, the Zoe is still manoeuvrable and easy to park in a tight space, although it’s noticeably less sporty to drive than the likes of the Mini Electric. This isn't a negative trait, though, as the Zoe is pleasantly comfortable and relaxed to drive. Be aware that it has been around for a long time like the BMW i3, so aim for a newer model for a longer range.
*Representative PCP finance - Ford Fiesta:
48 monthly payments of £192
Deposit: £0
Mileage limit: 8,000 per year
Optional final payment to buy car: £2,923
Total amount payable to buy car: £11,926
Total cost of credit: £2,426
Amount borrowed: £9,500
APR: 9.9%
BuyaCar is a credit broker, not a lender. Our rates start from 6.9% APR. The rate you are offered will depend on your individual circumstances.