Vauxhall Corsa-e
The electric Fiat drives substantially better than any other 500. 117bhp makes it surprisingly zippy and, while the steering is quite light, plenty of grip and an absence of body roll make it more fun to drive than a city car has any right to be. While it’s not exactly at home on the motorway, it copes remarkably well.
The interior is also a massive improvement over previous 500s. It’s still quite plasticky, but it looks great, the seats are comfortable and the infotainment is logical and responsive. It’s not great for tall drivers, though, and it goes without saying that you shouldn’t plan on carrying adults in the rear very often.
Prices start at just over £20,000, which is a lot of money for a small city car, but very decent value for a fashionable and thoroughly usable EV.
Vauxhall Corsa-e
Vauxhall’s sibling to the Peugeot e-208 doesn’t quite have the style or claimed WLTP range of its French relation, doesn’t have the imaginatively configured interior and isn’t priced quite as keenly.
But don’t let that fool you into believing this Vauxhall isn’t worth a test drive. It might be a little plainer than the Peugeot but it still looks handsome enough. The car’s driving experience combines genuine 180-mile everyday battery range with keen and competent handling and a comfortable ride, while 100kW DC rapid charging compatibility as standard should also be a selling point. Vauxhall also has purchase incentives for a free home charger installation and access to a special home energy tariff.
Vauxhall’s large UK dealer network will likely make this car one of the UK’s better-selling EVs, ready to convert people who haven’t considered electric motoring thus far. It’s certainly good enough to leave the right kind of impression.
