Driving honed for titchness

Are you bored of giant SUVs? These 10 compact cruisers redefine what to expect from a small and affordable electric car in 2025...

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Hyundai Inster

A five-door hatchback that's way bigger on the inside than you'd expect, the Inster is yet more evidence that Hyundai's design team is absolutely knocking it out of the park lately. Boxy arches and optional skid plates give it a mean stance, and the dot-matrix lighting is pure cyberpunk.

I'd call it a city car, but the range of well over 200 miles and the fun potential (once it's taken out into the sticks and thrown around a bit) say otherwise. Performance stats aren't exactly blistering, but having a good amount of torque on tap makes up for it. This car is also surprisingly stable, and once it gets going it moves along very nicely. It can also weave in and out of tight parking spots with the best of 'em.

Space levels are excellent in the front and not bad in the back either, topped off with generous headroom. There are great little storage nooks all over the place. The boot isn't the biggest, but the rear seats can be moved to suit your needs.

Hyundai has diluted the cabin layout from its other models to great effect here, with an array of buttons in easy reach and a high-mounted infotainment screen that manages not to be distracting.

Few cars as compact as the Inster can match its sense of playfulness - or its ability to go far on a single charge. With very little to figure out or set up and not an awful lot to explore either inside or out, you just get in the Leapmotor T03, press the accelerator and go.

This car is ideal for tight around-town situations, with nimble steering and a tight turning circle. You'll fit two in the back, and the boot can just about swallow a weekly shop.

Weedy acceleration means it struggles outside of urban centres, though, and dinky looks that seem designed to appeal to the Honda Jazz crowd have a way of riling other drivers. It makes most sense if you rarely escape 30mph limits.

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