Best small electric SUV revealed and it's not a Ford, Renault, or Toyota

The renaissance of the electric cars in the 2010s means that, as we approach the 2030s, there is a glut of new cars to choose from. This glut is great news for consumers, who now have more choices than ever before when it comes to driving fossil free.

With so much choice, it can be difficult to know which is the best electric car for your needs, especially if you have a family but don’t want a large vehicle. With this in mind, the experts at WhatCar? have put together a list of the best small electric SUVs on sale in the UK.

Coming in first on their list was the Kia EV5 that, according to the publication, has a best price of £29,675 and 270 miles of range.

The car was praised for having an “attractive entry price”, a long range, soft ride, lots of equipment, and a high driving position.

However, the car lost marks because it wasn’t “all that agile”, while the reviewers said that other cars had “more versatile rear seats”.

Nevertheless, the publication gave the EV5 five stars out of five and placed it ahead of the car in second place, the Renault 4 that had a best price of £22,945.

The Renault 4’s interior, handling, and pricing were highlighted as positives by the journalists, but on the other hand they said its “rear seats are tight for adults”. They also said its low-speed ride “could be better”. It was also given five stars out of five.

Coming in third behind both the Renault and the Kia was the Nissan Leaf. Recently re-released as an SUV, the reviewers were impressed with its range, price, interior, and “slick infotainment”.

However, where it was let down was with the “tight rear head room”, the fact some of its rivals were better to drive, and the fact that it had an “ordinary warranty”. In contrast to the cars in the top two, it scored four stars out of five.

The reviews for these cars come as going electric has become more advantageous since the start of America’s war with Iran , which has sent the price of fuel skyrocketing.

Prices have soared a long way from their pandemic lows, to the point where, in some places, diesel is now costing 200p a litre as the price of petrol flies above 150p a litre.

Speaking about the situation, Zapmap’s Melanie Shufflebotham said the cost saving for electric car drivers compared to petrol and diesel car drivers was at its highest for nearly two years.

She said: “For electric drivers with a typical 80-20 split between home and public charging, the cost saving compared with running a petrol or diesel car is at the highest level since May 2024."