ELECTRIC CAR AWARDS 2023

Looking to buy an electrified car? Well, there's now a wide variety to suit all needs and budgets. To help you choose, we name the year's best options, both new and used

Fiat 500 42kWh

When a popular TV series is rebooted with a completely different cast, the prospect can have viewers up in arms. Likewise, reinventing a combustion-engined car to have electric power instead risks upsetting diehard fans.

In the cast of the Fiat 500, though, the petrol engine only had a supporting role. What defines it is the set dressing; the way it looks, inside and out, and the way it makes you feel. Here, the electric 500 follows the original script as faithfully as any devotee could ask for. Its exterior design includes all the original's retro cues yet somehow seems utterly up to date, and the interior remains charming yet offers all the essential kit you need, such as sat-nav, DAB radio and smartphone connectivity, all accessed via a 10.3in touchscreen.

When it comes to driving, the electric 500 is frankly much more entertaining than the old petrol-engined car (which remains available for those who refuse to be convinced). Even the cheapest version, with its 95bhp motor and 24kWh battery, is a lot nippier, and our preferred 42kWh, 116bhp version feels even quicker than its 9.0sec 0-62mph time suggests. And crucially, it retains the original's tight, city-friendly turning circle and nimble feel. True, the rival Peugeot e-208 has a comfier ride on urban roads and motorways alike, but the 500 is far from being a boneshaker.