Asking the impossible - tall but narrow?

[BobToc]

We have an Ioniq 5 and are generally quite pleased. Eyeing up options for what comes next and my wife would like something that has a raised seating position, but which isn’t too big (we had a loan of an iX and it was a bit too wide and a bit too long). Are there any EV options out there? My wife was a fan of a mid-2000s RAV4…

[SteBrown91]

I don’t know if it’s an optical illusion but the VW ID3 seems fairly narrow compared to its rivals. However I do not think I could live with the dreary looks, dreadful interior quality and borderline criminal infortainment screen.

[Quattr04.]

You don’t say what range you want or how narrow but there’s loads of Small EV SUVs around

Peugeot 2008, Vauxhall Mokka, BMW iX1, Q4 isn’t massive , Skodas new elrouq, Kia EV3, fiat grande panda, Honda ENq1, Lexus UBX, Mercedes EQA, ford Puma E - or even the explorer isn’t massive (id4 sized)

[SDK]

Probably a bit too narrow

Carver One

[John87]

What about a Volvo ex30 or ex40? Depends on how tall and how narrow you want!

[Quattr04.]

[TheDrownedApe]

I can't think of anything stand out that's new but is an i3 tall but narrow enough?

[JonnyVTEC]

Cupra born and drives well too.

[hidetheelephants]

Try a Soul or an EV3, they're about the same size as the Rav4 and the softroaderish design means you're a bit higher than the average hatchback.

[ian_c_uk]

hidetheelephants said:

Try a Soul or an EV3, they're about the same size as the Rav4 and the softroaderish design means you're a bit higher than the average hatchback.

This. My wife finds my GV60 a bit “broad” (same platform as Ioniq 5), but loves her Soul. It has the height (and squared off bonnet with easy to see corners) but much easier to thread between parked cars etc.

[wyson]

BYD Dolphin?
Ford E Tourneo Courier (coming out mid 2025)?

[frisbee]

An Ioniq 5 is a deceptively huge car, most cars will be narrower.

[ChocolateFrog]

TheDrownedApe said:

I can't think of anything stand out that's new but is an i3 tall but narrow enough?

Probably the best bet.

[plfrench]

Agree with someone else above about Skoda’s new Elroq. Looks pretty bang on in terms of dimensions apart from having a significantly larger boot.

[rix]

ID Buzz?

[kambites]

The Kia Niro is pretty close in dimensions to the RAV4, just slightly lower.

ETA: OK quite a lot lower, I hadn't appreciated how tall the RAV4 is! I guess that shape is quite rare in an EV because it's inherently so unaerodynamic. The EC3 Aircross might be worth a look?

[newberry]

Audi Q4 e-tron? I assume you were talking about the BMW IX, I think they are very slightly bigger than the Q8 e-tron so the Q4 should be small enough?

[wyson]

plfrench said:

Agree with someone else above about Skoda’s new Elroq. Looks pretty bang on in terms of dimensions apart from having a significantly larger boot.

Building on the above, the OP is looking at C segment SUV’s. Skoda Elroq, Renault Scenic. Kia EV3 is a bit smaller. All these recently got 5 star ratings on a Whatcar group test, and are apparently are best of breed right now.

The Ioniq 5 is D segment and significantly larger.

Edited by wyson on Sunday 9th February 18:22

[Sheepshanks]

Gen 2 Hyundai Kona is fairly narrow these days at 1825mm wide.

Daughter got one as it was pretty well identical dimensions to the SEAT Ateca she had before, which suited her size-wise.

[TheDeuce]

Each new generation of car seems to get wider, especially EV's.

It does kinda make sense as the extra width is useful in terms of practicality and space 100% of the time, and only occasionally a problem when parking which is less than 1% of the time.

And many newer cars all park themselves with a high level of accuracy anyway.

Width seems an odd deciding factor for for car choice! I say that as someone who lives in a thousand year old market town, so I do understand that sometimes smaller is better...