The 10 Best First Electric Cars for New Drivers

This first true mass-market EV offers terrific value and is one of the best first electric cars. The Leaf has been around in various iterations since 2010, and recent editions get great reviews for their comfort, efficiency and ease of driving. A superb city car, the Leaf handles speed bumps and traffic well, is easy to park and simple to maintain.

With an impressive range of 239 miles (in optimal conditions), the Leaf can handle most trips you’d want to do on a single charge. And it’s got plenty of decent technology inside, with contemporary styling and a decent infotainment system. 

This electric hatchback is affordable, compact and a great choice for drivers new to the road. Despite being one of the smallest EVs on the market, the Zoe still packs a punch, with a range of up to 239 miles on some of the latest editions (less so on older ones). That smaller size makes them great for city driving, parking and manoeuvring – you’ll have no trouble showing off your parallel parking in these 4-metre-long cars!

Zoes have been around a while too, which means they’ve been tried and tested and are regarded as reliable and nice to drive. All in all, they’re a great electric car for teens and younger drivers looking for something affordable, without sacrificing on quality. 

This funky electric car is ideal for around town, and is a really good first electric car, thanks to its ease of use, compact size and tech. The drawback is that it doesn’t come cheap.  

Despite being fairly pricey, the Honda e should still make your list – it handles very well as a car for urban driving, helping you cruise through city streets with ease. It’s also got tons of tech inside, from parking assist to multiple screens, charging points and lots of other bells and whistles. And while the range might be a little less than other models (topping out at 137 miles), it’s more than enough for most people’s commute to work, college or uni. It’s also got a cute, fun design – making it a great electric car for teens who want an EV with personality. 

This fun city car offers great value and a respectable EV range. The e-Up! is VW’s electric version of their popular Up! petrol car. And it offers the same great driveability, easy manoeuvring and compact size and shape, which makes it great for bombing around town, nipping to the shops and short commutes. 

Some of the more recent iterations give you a decent range of up to 159 miles too, which is plenty for short trips (and is competitive with other more expensive compact EVs). It doesn’t come with huge amounts of tech or modern stylings – but you might not need all those extras on your first car anyway. 

The BMW i3 is easily one of the best first electric cars out there. In fact, it’s one of the best EVs full stop. Highly regarded since its first arrival in 2014, the i3 gives you a very respectable range for such a small car (up to 188 miles on newer versions), it’s quick off the mark, and comfortably fits four adults.

As you’d expect from BMW, the i3 is a very smooth drive, and it just feels good to be behind the wheel. While the futuristic design divides opinion, it’s definitely a striking first car.

This funky electric crossover is ideal for new drivers wanting a compact SUV. There’s a lot to love about the Soul EV – it handles incredibly well, on both city streets and motorways, which will help with your confidence as you drive more widely.

The car also comes with some of the longest range in this list – up to 280 miles on newer versions – making it a great first car if you need to commute longer distances or your job requires car travel. And as an SUV (‘sports utility vehicle’ – basically more spacious cars that are higher off the ground), you get more internal storage too.

The Fiat 500 is an iconic compact city car (Fiat have been producing this line since the 1950s) and with this electrified version, the Italian brand has brought the car into the modern age. Its small footprint and ‘cute’ look make it a great electric car for teens and indeed, anyone after a retro look. But despite its diminutive proportions, it still has impressive range (up to 199 miles) and quick charging. 

The Fiat 500 Electric also handles very well – it’s especially impressive driving around town but is comfortable on motorways too. And with comfortable seating and a decent Sat Nav and infotainment system, it’s got everything a new driver needs. Cost, however, could be an issue – the car was only launched in 2021, so there isn’t a big used market just yet. 

Smart cars are the ultimate city car – and this electric version is fantastic for new drivers who won’t be doing many miles. While the official range is 84 miles – and it will do less than that under most conditions – long drives are not what the EQ ForTwo is all about. This car is designed for city driving where you won’t be covering enormous distances. That is, in fact, how most people drive in the UK – a study by data firm NimbleFins shows most people cover less than 20 miles per day. If you need your first car for short drives to college, uni or your weekend job, then it’s pretty much perfect. Leave it to charge overnight, and you won’t have a problem. 

And this dinky car is also incredibly agile, easy to drive in busy city streets and is famous for letting you park in the tightest of spots. All of this makes it a great electric car for teens, new drivers, and indeed anyone living in a city. 

The iconic British brand has long been a popular first car, and this EV version which was launched in 2020, has a lot going for it. The Mini Electric is a great all rounder. It’s smooth and easy to drive, charges up quickly, and is fast too. Despite being a Mini, the driver and main passenger have plenty of room, although if you’re carrying your friends to college in the back seats, they’ll be cramped. The car has decent boot space, and EV has lots of nifty technology, and an eye-catching circular infotainment dashboard. 

The Mini Electric doesn’t have an enormous range – 145 miles max. But like the EQ ForTwo, this is mainly designed as a city car – it’s not intended for long road trips (but its small battery means it charges up faster if you are travelling further afield). All in all, it’s one of the best first electric cars out there. 

Volkswagen’s Golf has long been one of the German brand’s best-sellers, and its electric version ticks all the same boxes as the original. Around since 2014, this electric hatchback has been tried and tested, and the technology on more recent versions keeps improving – as does the range (144 miles on the newest ones).

Golfs are loved for their great handling and reliability – these qualities have been successfully transferred to the battery-powered version of the car too. Inside, you get loads of space, a decent-sized boot, and handy tech such as parking sensors, Sat Nav, easy maintenance and fast charging. All of which makes the e-Golf one of the best first electric cars.