Smallest Electric Cars In The USA For 2026

By William Banks

Electric cars are growing in popularity here in the United States, but they are doing so slowly. Part of the reason for this is, perhaps, their size. The majority of EVs on sale in the states come in sizes ranging from moderately large to ginormous, and even a midsize electric car can weigh significantly more than its gas-powered equivalent, like the BMW i4 outweighs the BMW 4 Series by up to 700 lbs. For those looking for a more compact runabout that doesn’t need to venture outside the city limits or across state lines, it might not feel like there are a lot of options amongst the pure electric cars.

After reading through this list of the smallest electric cars in the USA, however, you should come away with at least some options for a battery-powered car that can fit in even the smallest of garages. While small on the outside, many of them make clever use of the packaging opportunities provided by electric powertrains to offer capacious interiors. Even if you do decide to take a road trip, several cars also have a surprising amount of range. Without further ado, here are all the most compact electric cars currently available to choose from.

Note

All 10 cars have been ranked by their overall length in inches to denote size, starting with the longest and ending with the shortest. All specifications are sourced from the manufacturer, as is pricing, which excludes any destination charges or handling fees. However, automakers may update their prices for any reason without notice.

2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5

182.5 Inches

The largest of the smallest electric cars on sale in America is one of our favorite electric cars. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 has now been in production for nearly five years, but it still looks just as fresh as it did when it was first revealed, with its unique retro-futuristic looks. It is the size of an SUV but has the proportions of a hatchback, and makes impressive use of the space on the inside. It has a wheelbase longer than that of the Hyundai Palisade, so rear-seat passengers get almost 40 inches of legroom and there is also 26.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind that second row of seats when upright.

Range and charging are also state of the art. The Ioniq 5 now has a NACS port, giving it access to Tesla’s supercharger network, and thanks to 800V architecture, it can potentially get from 10–80% charge in as little as 20 minutes. Range is also class-leading at 318 miles, provided you go for the SE or the SEL trims. These trims also stand out as the ones with the most pulling power - 328 hp to the standard range’s 128 hp. With performance and driving characteristics that can be smooth and comfortable or more aggressive when you want them to be, the only real issue with it here is just that it is bigger than everything else on this list.

2026 Volkswagen ID.4

180.5 inches

The Volkswagen ID.4 is shorter in length than the Hyundai Ioniq 5, but the two cars are overall the same size, and both are competing to be the best everyman's compact SUV money can buy. The ID.4 does a brilliant job at this with its styling that has fewer frills overall than the Hyundai and interior, which is comfortable and well-equipped no matter which trim you use. Moving up the trims gets you more leather in the cabin. Meanwhile, the power and torque available is determined by whether you choose the RWD single-motor setup or the AWD dual-motor setup.

The former produces 28 hp and can do 291 miles on a charge and the latter produces 335hp and does 263 miles according to EPA estimates. Which one you choose will depend on what your priorities are, like whether you need the all-weather grip or the extra performance the AWD version gives. We recommend the less powerful, single-motor variant due to its more acceptable range and because, even with more grunt, the ID.4 is never particularly inspiring to drive. The Hyundai is cheaper and goes further, but the ID.4 has as much if not more cargo space and is a worthy rival to the Ioniq 5.

"It's clear that Volkswagen's goal with the ID.4 is to make the transition to all-electric power as easy as possible, and the goal has been reached. It doesn't feel like there's extra weight being carried around; it's an easy and pleasant vehicle to drive and spend time in; and it's as practical, if not more so, as any other offering in the segment."

- Ian Wright, Senior Road Tester, CarBuzz

2026 Genesis GV60

178.8 Inches

The first electric car from Hyundai’s own luxury sub-brand, the Genesis GV60 proves that luxury really can come in small packages. Based on the same brilliant E-GMP platform as the Hyundai Ioniq 5, the GV60 incorporates its own, entirely Genesis design language. With split front and rear lights and pebble-smooth lines on the outside, and high-quality metals and a crystal ball on the inside, this car separates itself not only from the Hyundai but also its German rivals as Genesis seeks to carve out its own identity in the luxury space.

The range and charging are impressive, too, with 306 miles for the less power-hungry rear-wheel-drive version, and an ability to charge from 10–80% in under 20 minutes. The GV60 also proves itself as a luxury vehicle in the way it drives with impeccable smoothness, and its compact size means it manages to be a car you enjoy driving.

That size does, however, make it a little less spacious than its Hyundai sibling and, of course, the Ioniq 5 is far less expensive, with the GV60 starting at over $50k. But to focus on these things would be missing the point, as the Ioniq 5 is a family car and the GV60 is a premium SUV that still undercuts its German rivals on price.

2026 Volvo EX40

174.8 Inches

While at first you might think this is a brand-new model like the EX30 was, the EX40 is, in fact, a rebadged version of the XC40 recharge that has been in production since 2019. It was renamed two years ago and serves the important role of filling the gap between the EX60 and the EX30, which we will come to. If you are concerned that a car first launched nearly seven years ago might struggle to keep up with newer models, particularly in terms of range, worry not, because thanks to a new battery, the EX40 can do 296 miles if you opt for the Single Motor Extended Range. The now-familiar trade-off between more e-motors and power and less range is also present here, with the Twin Motor doing a still respectable 260 miles.

The benefit of choosing the 402-hp Twin Motor version, however, is some pretty alarming acceleration, as it can scamper to 60 mph in just 4.1 seconds. Though the acceleration is sprightly, the same cannot, unfortunately, be said of its handling, as this Swedish SUV favors calm and doesn’t like being driven aggressively. The design of the interior incorporates the same Scandinavian minimalism as the exterior, with the large portrait touchscreen we've seen before, and its Google-based software is easy to operate. The EX40 might not provide any surprises in this group of small electric cars, but it has shown that it has a lot of life in it yet.

2026 Kia Niro EV

174.0 Inches

Like the Volvo, the Kia Niro EV is an electric version of a car also available as a gasoline model, and it has become one of the most well-established electric SUVs in the United States. It remains a solid choice in 2026, despite growing competition from the smaller and newer cars further down the list. This is thanks to a refresh for this model year, which will keep the styling up to date with Kia’s bespoke ‘EV’ models, plenty of standard equipment and pricing that makes it only $100 more expensive than last year.

The Niro EV can, therefore, still be had for under $40k and that standard equipment includes projection headlights, LED daytime running lights, smartphone mirroring and a whole host of Advanced Driver Assistance (ADAS) systems. Upgrading from the standard Wind to the Wave adds more assists and remote start, but no matter what trim you go for, you will get a single 201-hp electric motor driving the front wheels. This helps the Niro feel nippy enough, and range is decent at 253 miles. Overall, though, we recommend looking at the cars that are coming next on this list as they might be smaller, but they have a better range and are on sale for less money.

Sources: Hyundai, Volkswagen, Genesis, Volvo, Kia, Nissan, Chevrolet, Fiat

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This article originally appeared on CarBuzz and is republished here with permission.