Best Small Electric Cars for 2023

The Tesla Model 3 is widely regarded as the best electric sedan in the world. The Model 3 is also the top-selling EV in the US market by a wide margin. This compact/midsize sedan offers a thrilling driving experience and advanced technology.

Tesla’s Model 3 has become the benchmark in the EV car world. This sedan now outsells entire brands in America. Fans love the Model 3 because it brought an amazing electric vehicle to shoppers at a, relatively, attainable price point.  All Teslas have a large main central screen that operates almost every aspect of the vehicle. Once novel, that approach has gone farther than some shoppers like. There is no head-up display available and no driver information display offered directly ahead of the driver. Tesla also does not offer many traditional luxury features some buyers in the $50K range have come to expect. For example, there is no option for leather seating surfaces. Available in rear- or all-wheel drive, the Model 3 offers performance car driving dynamics in most trims. Its top trims are arguably the best bang for the buck in the performance car market.

Nissan’s four-door hatchback Leaf was the original battery-electric vehicle of the modern age. This ground-breaking EV has topped sales charts globally for affordable EVs for years. The Leaf offers many shoppers an attractive package that's hard to ignore.

Launched over a decade ago, the Nissan Leaf is one of the longest-running continuously-sold EVs in America. The Leaf has a large owner base, many of whom are passionate about their Leaf.  The first generation of the Nissan Leaf spanned 2011 through 2017. This vehicle put purpose ahead of passion and was a solid alternative for those seeking an affordable city commuter car. Early Leaf cars had just 73 miles of range. The driving experience was a hint of what was to come, but easy to call ho-hum. The second-generation Leaf improved in numerous ways. Starting with the 2018 model year, the new Leaf has a more modern infotainment system, better structural safety, and is a much better vehicle from the driver’s seat.

The Chevrolet Bolt is a compact four-door hatchback EV. Now heading into its fifth year of sales, the Bolt has just received a styling refresh, and an EUV version with added rear-seat legroom is joining the model line.

The Chevy Bolt launched to great fanfare and quickly stacked up awards when it launched in 2016. The Bolt was the first affordable battery-electric vehicle available in all states made by an American manufacturer, and it augmented the successful Volt EREV that pre-dated the Bolt. Drive a Bolt around the block and you will discover it is a responsive and fun vehicle, making it a joy to drive in the city. The Bolt is also a great highway car and is ideal for commuting short or long distances. Its fold-down rear seats increase functionality, and the Bolt’s hatchback design means it can haul large items despite its small size.  Because the Bolt has sold relatively well for many years, used Bolts are easy to find. However, shoppers need to be aware that Chevrolet dealers have been discounting new Bolts by as much as $17,500 for several months. In Massachusetts, where iSeeCars is based, consumers can own a new Bolt LT for under $20K, while top trim Bolts retail for around $26K after federal and local incentives. Shoppers considering a new Bolt should also know a refreshed Bolt with updated styling, a new EUV (electric utility vehicle) body style, and additional features arrives in summer of 2021 as a 2022 model year vehicle.

The BMW i3 is a compact electric car and was the first European EV to market in the US. BMW broke the mold when it created this fresh approach to motoring.

When BMW set out to create its first battery-electric car it started with a clean sheet of paper. The result was an EV that didn’t just consume less energy than conventional cars when driving but was made using green materials, methods, and energy.  The BMW i3 will appeal to conservationists trying to leave the smallest possible carbon footprint in their wake. BMW went so far as to put its frame manufacturing plant next to a source of hydroelectricity. The dashboard is made using plant fiber. The low rolling resistance tires resemble bicycle tires more than typical car tires. Despite all these unique, some may say odd, qualities, the i3 is fun to drive. It has great outward visibility and feels light on its feet.  A new BMW i3 ranges in price from about $46K to nearly $60K. Used BMW i3s are widely available now, despite being sold in relatively low numbers when new. Shoppers should remember there is more than one generation of battery packs for the i3, and that some i3 cars have an onboard gasoline-powered range extender.

The smart fortwo electric drive was a two-door hatchback microcar originally developed for markets outside of the United States. Like the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, this car is smaller than a subcompact.

The smart fortwo electric drive hatchback and convertible were derived from a microcar created by Mercedes-Benz for markets in Asia and Europe, where city vehicles exist alongside full-purpose vehicles. The Fortwo was originally a conversion from a gasoline-powered car. Smart imported the smart fortwo electric drive hatchback and convertible from 2013 until 2019 in various forms. Sales included multiple lease programs and were limited to a handful of US metropolitan areas, leaving total sales volume below even the lowest of EV standards. Shoppers should carefully consider how they will support this vehicle with parts and service if they happen upon one for sale. The smart brand is no longer sold in the United States.

The smart fortwo electric drive was a two-door hatchback microcar originally developed for markets outside of the United States. Like the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, this car is smaller than a subcompact.

The smart fortwo electric drive hatchback and convertible were derived from a microcar created by Mercedes-Benz for markets in Asia and Europe, where city vehicles exist alongside full-purpose vehicles. The Fortwo was originally a conversion from a gasoline-powered car. Smart imported the smart fortwo electric drive hatchback and convertible from 2013 until 2019 in various forms. Sales included multiple lease programs and were limited to a handful of US metropolitan areas, leaving total sales volume below even the lowest of EV standards. Shoppers should carefully consider how they will support this vehicle with parts and service if they happen upon one for sale. The smart brand is no longer sold in the United States.

The VW e-Golf was a four-door compact hatchback. The electric version was a derivative of VW's legendary Golf which has been a staple car for commuters worldwide for decades.

The e-Golf was a stop-gap product for VW as it developed a new line of EVs called the ID (See ID.4). VW benefitted from the e-Golf product line by hashing out concepts and learning the marketplace. About 20,000 e-Golfs were sold in America before it was canceled. Shoppers looking for a used e-Golf will find it is enjoyable to drive and feels much like any other Golf, which is a high compliment. We would advise potential buyers to speak to their local VW dealer about support prior to purchasing a used e-Golf.

The Kia Soul EV is a five-door hatchback/crossover that brings a green drivetrain to one of Kia’s most popular small vehicles. If you like the Soul but want a green powertrain and don’t mind a much lower range, you’ll love the Soul EV.

The Kia Soul EV is a fun and practical runabout with a very large, square cargo area with 49.5 cu ft of capacity. More importantly, it was fun to drive, particularly in the city. It was available as a new EV from about 2016 to about 2019. Unfortunately, the Soul EV was limited to a handful of US markets, and very few were sold, so used Soul EVs are hard to locate. And with a 111-mile driving range, its practical capabilities are limited to relatively short journeys. The Soul was Kia’s first US EV, and sort of a test platform for things to come. We encourage any shopper looking for a Soul EV to consider the Niro EV as well.

The Fiat 500e was a smaller than subcompact city car made for the American market from 2013 to 2019 in low volumes and in sold select US states. Not only has the Fiat 500e been discontinued, but the entire Fiat 500 line is also now discontinued, leaving Fiat as a one-model company with very few dealers in the US.

The Fiat 500e is a vehicle with a unique legacy. The parent company has changed twice since it was first built, the brand no longer sells the model, and the company’s leader was openly hostile to the idea of electric vehicles. Yet, owners find the 500e fun to drive and affordable. The 500e is similar to the Chevy Spark in that it was a conversion of a conventional car to an electric vehicle. Intended as a city car, it was not sold in all US locations, and Fiat already has the smallest footprint of all US brands. You might say the 500e is a sort of unicorn. One interesting twist in the Fiat 500e’s past is that original buyers were given what was called an ePass that allowed them to rent conventional cars periodically. The idea was that Fiat recognized the 500e didn’t satisfy the typical requirement of a US buyer, so it threw in a rental car to help when a family needed a vacation vehicle or a long-distance vehicle for other reasons.  Those shoppers who find a remaining 500e in the used market should expect (demand) a very low price point. With a suspect supplier network and a disappearing Fiat dealer network, the 500e should be considered a short-term vehicle.