When reviewing small electric cars, we don’t just assess how a car performs in its natural habitat. We drive cars across all environments to test their agility, efficiency, drivability, ease of use, and how much “big car” technology has been packed into a compact footprint.
Here’s what we assessed:
Urban agility
Small cars need to be easy to live with. We tested the turning circles of every car on this list to ensure they could handle tight mini-roundabouts and multi-storey car parks. We also evaluated visibility and the effectiveness of parking sensors and cameras in real-world urban environments.
Real-world efficiency (mpkWh)
In a small EV, every kilowatt-hour counts. We didn’t just look at the official WLTP range; we measured real-world efficiency (miles per kWh) across various environments to assess each car’s everyday, average and touring economy.
Ride quality
Small cars often have shorter wheelbases, which can make them feel less pliant over potholes and speed bumps. We tested these cars on broken urban surfaces and expansion joints to find the ones that offered the most comfort and rolling refinement.
Practicality and packaging
We measured how easily four adults can fit inside, the ease of access to the rear seats, and whether the boot could actually handle a weekly shop or a set of charging cables. We also looked for smart storage solutions like ‘frunks’ and sliding rear benches.
Charging versatility
Since small car owners are less likely to have a dedicated driveway, we assessed how well these cars handle public charging. We looked for fast AC charging (for street lamp or kerbside chargers) as well as the DC rapid-charging speeds needed for the occasional longer journey.