Welcome to Electric Road’s ‘Top 5 Small Electric Cars’ Summer 2022.
At Electric Road, our key objective is to be as useful as we possibly can be for those considering their first/next electric car and related products & services. Finding the right electric car is clearly the most important part of the process! In an ever-growing market there are many considerations (budget-aside) such as should you buy new or used and how you are actually going to use the car.
Owner Ratings
Based on the 5-bolt rating system from over 1,800 Owner Reviews received up to and including 30th June, Electric Road (ER) has extracted the top 5 highest-rated small electric cars. Within the review forms, all owners have to provide a bolt rating out of 5 on their current car. We’ve then worked out the average rating for each make & model.
We hope this summary of EV owners’ opinions will help you make the right decision when the time comes to purchase your first or next electric car. Given how quickly the electric vehicle market is growing, the Top 5 Small Electric Cars will be updated each quarter ensuring you have the latest trends from the ER audience.
Top 5 Small Electric Cars
1. MINI Electric
The MINI Electric is our most highly-rated small electric car for Summer 2022 with owners loving the driving dynamics and overall value, in particular.
Here’s what some of our owners think about their MINI Electric:
‘It is a MINI and feels like it i.e. sporty, solid, well built and a total hoot to drive. Feels far faster and more fun than the 228bhp MINI JCW Clubman we swapped it for! And it’s saving us a fortune in comparison, cheaper insurance and 190 mpg at our current electricity price.’
Level 1 2020, RickB. Read the full Owner Review here
‘Always wanted a MINI, decided to go electric and it was the only choice as it’s one of the cheapest and best looking electric cars. Bought during Covid without a test drive or seeing it first.’
MINI Electric 2020, ElectricKD. Read the full Owner Review here
‘Its driving dynamics, all its ‘toys’ and the familiarity after previously owning an i3 (which the MINI shares its drivetrain with).’
Level 3 2020, Steven. Read the full Owner Review here
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2. BMW i3
The iconoclastic i3 is adored by many of it’s owners for its overall quality, use of ethical materials and performance.
Here’s what some of our owners think about their BMW i3:
‘I’m very brand loyal and this is my 8th BMW. I wanted to change to an EV so they lent me one for the day and I was sold. Love the futuristic looks, the individuality, the quality and the performance.’
120Ah 2021, Neil. Read the full Owner Review here
‘Because it feels and looks classy, like a performance car. It has excellent acceleration and the regeneration provides an extraordinary and unexpected safety feature: remove your foot from the accelerator and the car brakes. It’s easy to charge at home and as we only undertake one long trip annually of 250 miles, it suits our daily needs. The BMW i3S is great fun to drive and it feels safe.’
i3S 2022, Julia Cotto. Read the full Owner Review here
‘It’s a ‘small on the outside, big on the inside’ hatchback. I particularly like the build quality and eco materials used. Very economical to run despite it being quick off the mark. The BMW app is fantastic and easy to use. I can’t charge at home but have had no issues keeping it topped up, many times free of charge. I will never go back to a petrol or diesel car. Go and test drive an electric car, you will not look back.’
i3S 42kWh 2020, Gary. Read the full Owner Review here
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3. Vauxhall Corsa-e
The Vauxhall Corsa-e surprises many of its owners for its size, ease of use and how it drives.
Here’s what some of our owners think about their Corsa-e:
‘Based on availability, we got it within 4 weeks of ordering as it was a cancellation. The price was good, book price was £30k but we got a £1,500 Government grant and a £2,750 deposit contribution from Vauxhall. The sales team at the dealership were by far the best we’ve ever dealt with. They also gave us a very good price for our car compared to other dealers, this meant we had £5,800 equity in the car.’
Corsa-e 2022, Nick. Read the full Owner Review here
‘We had recently been given a lift in a Tesla and the driver demonstrated the acceleration. Well that certainly got my attention! We had a Kia Sportage that was gutless and were already thinking about swapping it so we went down to our local Vauxhall dealer to test drive the Corsa-e. As I pulled away from the garage I was impressed with how effortless it was to drive, so smooth and quiet. Then I got to try the Sport button! With that, I was ready to sign the paperwork!’
Corsa-e 2022, LisaHF. Read the full Owner Review here
‘Unlike most EVs, the Corsa-e is amorphic – the petrol, diesel & EV versions are virtually identical. I had a Smart ForTwo for 8 years & the attention it drew wore very thin so I enjoy surprising people, especially when pulling away at the lights. The size, range, build quality & running costs exceed all expectations after a year of mixed driving. It is the best car I have ever driven.’
Corsa-e 2021, Wilverine. Read the full Owner Review here
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4. Renault Zoe
Range, spec and the driving experience are common themes with Zoe owners.
Here’s what some of our owners think about their Renault Zoe:
‘My wife and I both have GT Line Zoes. We picked them after looking at the cheapest to run versus the cheapest to lease versus best range. We both had new ICE cars before and actually replaced both of them within 2 months of getting the first Zoe. I don’t think we would’ve gone down the EV route if we hadn’t been able to charge at home and on Octopus Go. The savings for us so far have been substantial. We live in Aberdeen and I work in the Cairngorms and the range at this time of year hasn’t been too bad, lowest I’ve had has been around 180 miles at – 10 c.’
ZE50 GT Line 2021, Giles. Read the full Owner Review here
‘I’ve had a lot of Renault cars over the years including a Twizy, the dealership send me special offers, I took a test drive and fell in love with the feel of the car.’
Zoe 2016, Simon Upton-Millard. Read the full Owner Review here
‘Value for the specification and useful real range.’
R135 GT Line 2021, Jeff. Read the full Owner Review here
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5. Peugeot e-208
The technology and style for a competitive price appeals to many e-208 owners.
Here’s what some of our owners think about their Peugeot e-208:
‘Style and technology. Price played a part also. Was considering Tesla but the cost and lack of quality put me off. Wasn’t keen on any of the Citroen offerings or anything else on the market.’
GT Premium, Will James. Read the full Owner Review here
‘Loved the look of the Peugeot e-208 GT, nice looking car outside and very nice interior. Price was good for the technology and nice styling, felt a bit more premium.’
GT 2021, Shawn Williams. Read the full Owner Review here
‘I chose this model based on a few things. Obviously, it’s an affordable model and test driving both the e-208 and the Corsa-e, I decided on the e-208 GT based on looks and performance. Although they’re both technically the same shell, the Peugeot, both inside and out, wins hands down on looks and technology.’
GT 2021, Luke Carey. Read the full Owner Review here
