Another Auto Express award winner, the Renault 5 feels very sophisticated and well rounded for a small electric car. It offers impressive handling abilities, refinement and real-world range, plus class-leading Google-powered technology. The retro looks and charm sprinkled throughout are the cherry on top. What more could you want?
If your answer to that question was space, there’s the slightly larger and boxier Renault 4, our Small SUV of the Year. As well as a bigger boot and more rear-seat space, the R4 also offers one-pedal driving – something its sibling doesn’t right now – which is great for driving around town.
The Ford Puma Gen-E deserves a mention too, not just because it gets the full £3,750 discount, but the Puma Gen-E is an efficient, entertaining and well-equipped small SUV. During our testing, we found the onboard tech very easy to use and there’s a simply vast amount of boot space.
For family buyers who need a bit more space than the Elroq offers, our recommendations are the Renault Scenic and Skoda Enyaq. As well as being incredibly roomy, both cars can deliver more than 350 miles of range and are comfortable, refined, full of tech and features designed to help make everyday life easier.
The EV grant cars to avoid
While there are lots of excellent, hugely capable electric cars available with the EV grant, we’d recommend buyers avoid the Peugeot E-208 and E-2008, as well as the DS 3 E-Tense and Vauxhall Mokka.
All four are certainly stylish EVs, but they’re all several years old at this point, yet considerably more expensive than their rivals.
The DS 3 E-Tense is the worst by far, costing about £35,500 after the EV grant has been applied. That’s the same price as the Renault Scenic – a much newer family SUV with more range and better tech – and about £10k more than its much closer rival, the Renault 4.
It’s the same story with the E-208, as an entry-level model costs about the same as the top-of-the-range version of the Renault 5, yet offers less range and features rather dated technology.
We should also point out that updated versions of the Peugeot E-308 and E-308 SW have been unveiled but aren’t available to order until November. If you’re considering the E-308 or E-308 SW, we suggest you hold off for now as the updated car will offer more range, better cabin materials and sharper new looks.
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