12 electric cars that put a smile on your face

We know it. The case for EVs has been repeated almost to the point of boredom: they’re cheaper to maintain, cheaper to run and, when bought through a company, they can even be cheaper to purchase in the first place. Blah, blah, blah… Today, we’re putting the rational side to one side.

Just as with internal-combustion cars - especially internal-combustion cars… - there are models that punch straight through logic and land squarely in the realm of desire. With some electric cars, exactly the same thing happens.

So we picked 12 models that, on top of whatever sensible arguments they may have (and in some cases, they really do), bring an extra dose of magic. They’re not merely vehicles to get from A to B. They’ll do that too… but they’ll also leave you smiling. And that sort of experience comes at a price.

In alphabetical order, these are our choices - from the €19,500 Renault Twingo, via the €38,000 KGM Musso EV, and up to almost €150,000 for the Mercedes-Benz G-Class (as long as you don’t look at the options list). There’s something here for almost every budget.

Abarth 600e

The Abarth 600e is larger and heavier than the small Abarths that built the Italian brand’s reputation. Even so, it tries to make up for its XXL footprint with more than just extra power: a mechanical limited-slip differential, bespoke Michelin tyres, Alcon brakes and Sabelt seats. As for the extra room, there’s not much to say - it’s obvious.

The Turismo version makes 240 hp and offers roughly 350 km of range, while the Competizione pushes to 280 hp and does 0–100 km/h in under six seconds.

List price sits around €45,000, although promotions can bring it down to friendlier figures. It’s over the top, loud and anything but subtle. In other words: exactly what an Abarth should be.

Alpine A290

The Alpine A290 starts from the Renault 5, but it doesn’t stop at adding power and a few badges. It gets wider tracks, stronger brakes, a dedicated chassis tune and a far more driving-focused attitude.

Prices begin at €39,000, and you can choose 180 hp or 220 hp. The battery is 52 kWh, enabling a claimed range of up to around 380 km. It isn’t cheap for a car of this size, but it’s one of the most convincing heirs to the small French hot hatches. Try driving one.

FIAT Grande Panda electric

FIAT has managed something that’s becoming increasingly rare: designing a small, affordable car that you recognise instantly.

The Grande Panda borrows cues from the original Panda without relying solely on nostalgia. It has usable space, enough kit and plenty of style. Our favourite version? The cheapest one - on steel wheels.

There’s also a turbo petrol sibling, but the electric version starts at about €25,000, with 113 hp, a 44 kWh battery and up to 320 km of range.

It doesn’t win you over with statistics, but with its design, its straightforward solutions and its relaxed cabin vibe. In a market full of anonymous small crossovers, the Grande Panda is a real statement. And if you’ve never wanted a car like this, cast the first stone.

Hyundai IONIQ 5 N

The Hyundai IONIQ 5 N is probably the clearest proof that an EV can deliver far more than brutal acceleration. It features simulated gear shifts, artificial sound, track-focused modes and handling developed to properly involve the driver. And despite all these tricks, the experience feels anything but fake.

Its twin motors produce up to 650 hp and 770 Nm, enough for 0–100 km/h in 3.4 seconds. The 84 kWh battery is rated for up to 448 km of range. In Portugal, pricing starts at €79,900, but very few EVs get this close to the feel of a true performance car as this Hyundai does.

If you’re in the passenger seat with N mode switched on, bring a sick bag. João Delfim Tomé can tell you a thing or two about that. Sorry, João!

KGM Musso EV

An electric pick-up is still a rarity - especially one that doesn’t cost as much as a luxury car. The KGM Musso EV is available from €30,800 plus VAT - approximately €37,900 with tax - and uses an 80.6 kWh battery to offer up to 420 km of range.

The front-wheel-drive version has 207 hp, while the 4×4 adds a second motor and climbs to 413 hp, though range drops to 379 km.

It may not be the most hardcore work tool on the market, but it is an electric pick-up with five seats, 500 kg payload and a presence that’s hard to ignore. It’s so tempting that Guilherme Costa wants one - and he doesn’t even need a pick-up. Someone talk some sense into him.

Mercedes-Benz G-Class electric

Electrifying the G-Class can feel close to heresy - and we understand anyone who thinks that. Even so, the G 580 with EQ Technology keeps the construction, silhouette and off-road ability that made the G an icon.

It delivers 587 hp, 1164 Nm and up to 476 km of range. It covers 0–100 km/h in 4.7 seconds and can perform the famous G-Turn, spinning almost on the spot. In Portugal, the launch price is around €147,450, so it remains for the very few.

Even so, it’s the cheapest G-Class money can buy. But rationality has never been the G-Class’s main selling point, has it? Diogo Teixeira has his eye on one.

MG Cyberster

For decades, MG was associated with small British roadsters. The Cyberster revives that link, but swaps a front-mounted petrol engine for an electric platform, scissor doors and concept-car styling.

In Portugal, pricing starts at roughly €66,400. The rear-wheel-drive version makes 340 hp and can claim up to 507 km of range, while the dual-motor option rises to 510 hp and does 0–100 km/h in about 3.2 seconds.

It isn’t a spiritual successor to the MGB in terms of weight or simplicity, but it’s one of the very few electric convertibles you can buy. Think of it as a GT, not as a sports car. So drop the roof and enjoy it.

MINI Cooper electric

The MINI Cooper electric doesn’t try to reinvent what has always worked. It keeps the three doors, the compact proportions, the wheels pushed out to the corners and a cabin packed with character.

The Cooper E is available from around €33,490, with 184 hp and up to 305 km of range. The Cooper SE increases output to 218 hp and can reach 400 km.

It’s not the EV with the best space-to-price ratio, but it remains one of the few city cars bought as much for the way it drives as for the way it looks. It’s a MINI. Few brands can sum up their position in so few words.

Renault 4 E-Tech

The Renault 4 follows the recipe of its smaller “sibling”, but adds space, flexibility and a slightly higher driving position. It’s a modern take on a car that was always simple, useful and ready for almost anything.

Prices start at €29,740 for the 120 hp version, with a 40 kWh battery and 308 km of range. The 150 hp variants get a 52 kWh battery and can travel up to 409 km.

It’s less cheeky than the Renault 5, but far better suited to anyone who needs one car to do everything. The canvas-roof version is dangerous. Leave your wallet at home if you test-drive one: there’s a strong chance you’ll want to buy it.

Renault 5 E-Tech

Few electric cars have sparked as much agreement - and as much passion - as the Renault 5. The French brand has brought back one of its best-known models without falling into a literal copy of the past. It’s retro, yet it doesn’t look old. Quite the opposite.

The range starts at €24,900 with 95 hp, and includes 120 hp and 150 hp versions. There are 40 kWh and 52 kWh batteries, with ranges that can reach 410 km.

It’s compact, easy to live with day to day and distinctive enough to keep turning heads long after the novelty wears off. It isn’t the roomiest in its class, but just look at it… With styling like that, you forgive almost everything.

Renault Twingo E-Tech

The new Renault Twingo proves that an affordable EV doesn’t have to look like an appliance. It brings back the proportions, charm and several visual ideas from the original 1993 model, but it’s now a five-door electric city car.

It costs from €19,490, has 80 hp, a 27.5 kWh battery and claims up to 263 km of range. It wasn’t designed to cross the country without stopping, but to make urban trips easier - and a lot less dull.

We’re currently testing a Twingo in this exact spec: the cheapest of them all. There was an internal fight over who got to keep it. That usually only happens when we’re testing sports cars. That says almost everything, doesn’t it?

Volkswagen ID. Buzz

It’s hard to find a family vehicle with more presence than the Volkswagen ID. Buzz. The inspiration from the historic “Loaf of Bread” is obvious, but its proportions, sliding side doors and vast interior make it much more than a nostalgia exercise.

The range currently starts at around €47,400, although well-equipped passenger versions can easily exceed €60,000. It can offer up to seven seats, 286 hp and approximately 470 km of range.

It’s expensive and it’s huge, but very few vehicles can turn a family journey into an event. The ID. Buzz does that - and more. On top of that, it’s impossible to go unnoticed.