Skoda Citigoᵉ iV (2019-2020) review

* SE with optional fast charging or SE L models only

The Skoda Citigoᵉ iV completed the trio of Volkswagen Group city cars that went electric, joining the Volkswagen e-up! and SEAT Mii electric. However, it was only on sale for a short time in late 2019 and early 2020, with the entire UK allocation of 400 cars selling out quickly. Skoda has since confirmed that the Citigo has been discontinued entirely as it focuses on larger electric cars like its Enyaq SUV, but you may still be able to buy one secondhand.

Rather than being at the cutting edge like the Volkswagen ID.3 and SEAT el-Born, which both use a dedicated platform designed specifically for electric vehicles, the Citigo and its siblings use underpinnings originally developed for petrol-engined models.

The Citigoᵉ is notable for being the only one of the trio that was available to buy in the UK without fast-charging capability. If you have a wallbox (or get one installed), this option makes a lot of sense, particularly if you intend the Citigoᵉ to be your household's second car.

Skoda claims an official driving range of 140 to 170 miles; the combined range of 161 miles is actually pretty respectable and more than what many people need on a daily basis, so simply charging up in a few hours overnight will suffice.

With the same electric motor as its e-up! and Mii electric cousins, the Citigoᵉ will get from 0-62mph in 12.3 seconds and go on to a top speed of 81mph. It's not as fast in the real world as a Renault ZOE or Kia e-Niro, but like most electric cars, it offers plenty of pace around town, enabling you to dart into gaps and nip away from traffic lights with ease.

There are four levels of regenerative braking to work with and the strongest allows for one-pedal driving around 90% of the time, with a significant deceleration effect when you lift off. Our time in the car so far suggests you should be able to get pretty close to that claimed 162-mile range figure, especially if you stick to urban and suburban roads, where the car is most at home.

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Ride quality and refinement are good in this environment, as they were in the now-defunct petrol Citigo. The car handles potholes, speed bumps and broken road surfaces well, transmitting few harsh crashes or jolts inside. It's also quiet on the move, especially with the near-silent electric motor in place of the petrol Citigo's three-cylinder engine.

There's no change in interior space compared to the petrol Citigo, so it's pleasingly roomy for occupants when you consider the car's compact external dimensions. The boot is a useful size at 250 litres (one litre down on the old petrol car's), but some way off the 338 litres you get in the ZOE. There's a dedicated area to store the charging cables, though it's only really big enough for one – so if you plan to carry the three-pin plug as well as the fast charge lead – you'll have to sacrifice some boot space.

Climate control, a leather steering wheel and DAB digital radio are standard across the range, with the SE L adding 16-inch alloy wheels, ambient lighting, body-coloured mirrors and heated seats. Whatever trim level you go for, infotainment is a notable omission: instead, you get a bracket for mounting your smartphone on the dashboard, with the expectation that you'll use your own apps for navigation and music playing.

Combine that with interior fit and finish that's average rather than inspiring and you end up with a car that feels a little lacklustre next to the much more modern and high-tech ZOE. But the French car costs considerably more, so if all you're looking for is a no-frills, zero-emissions, A-to-B runabout, the Skoda Citigoᵉ – especially in its cheapest form – is well worth a look. Hence why you'll find it featured on our best small electric cars and best electric cars 2020 lists.

For more on the Skoda Citigoᵉ, read on for the rest of our in-depth review.