Supporting the transition to more sustainable mobility, Arval Romania is the main partner of Best Electric City Car, a competition dedicated to urban electric vehicles in Romania, organized by FloteAuto in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Water and Forests.
KIA EV2 is the winner of the 2026 edition of Best Electric City Car, the competition that evaluates the most relevant urban electric vehicles on the Romanian market. The model won the mini class after the urban and charging tests, at the end of a judging by specialized automotive journalists.
For the micro category (16 years), the winner was Linktour Alumi, while Renault 4 and ALLVIEW 4City were the public choices for the Popularity Awards.
This year’s edition brought together 10 urban electric models from the mini (vehicles less than 4 meters in length) and micro (quadricycles of the L6e and L7e categories) classes, currently available on the local market. The evaluation involved urban and charging test sessions on a 30 km round trip route, followed by judging and an official press conference at the Ministry of Environment, Water and Forests to announce the winners and awards.
In the competition were models from the mini class such as the BYD Dolphin Surf, Dacia Spring 2026, Renault 4, Kia EV2, Jeep Avenger, MINI Aceman and VW ID. Polo, while the micro category, of quadricycles in the L6e and L7e classes, was represented by the AllView 4City, Linktour Alumi and Nieve Q-eN (in two variants). The public, in turn, voted for their favorite models for the Popularity Awards.
The complete list of winners for Best Electric City Car 2026
Main title
Best Electric City Car 2026: KIA EV22nd place, tied: BYD Dolphin / VW PoloBest Electric City Car 2026, 16 (micro / quadricycle category): LINKTOUR ALUMI
Popularity Award
Popularity: RENAULT 4Popularity 16: ALLVIEW 4CITY
Special awards
Consumption: DACIA SPRINGAccessibility: NIEVE Q-ENComfort: VW ID PoloPersonality: BYD DOLPHIN
The competition takes place at a time when interest in electric mobility is also strengthening in the business environment. Arval Mobility Observatory data for 2026 shows that the electrification of fleets has moved from ambition to implementation: 24% of the companies in Romania participating in the survey already operate electrified technologies, and 38% intend to introduce them in the next three years. The interest is there, and the pace now depends on the infrastructure. 80% of companies point to the charging network as the main obstacle for cars.
“With each edition we see more mature models: better range, richer features, more accessible prices. This progress has a side effect: for the public it becomes harder and harder to choose, and the results show it, with two models tied for second place and a close fight for popularity. This is where the jury comes in. The specialists don’t vote on sympathy, but on measurable criteria, tested in real city conditions, and they give the public an objective benchmark when the cars are difficult to separate.” said Florin Micu, project coordinator and CEO of FloteAuto.
Arval Romania, a market leader in operational leasing and fleet management, supports the competition as part of its commitment to sustainable mobility.
“The interest in urban electric vehicles is visibly growing, and our data confirms it in the business area as well: 24% of companies already operate electrified technologies and another 38% have them planned for the next three years. The offer for the city is advancing, with dimensions adapted to the urban space, reduced usage costs and sufficient autonomy for daily travel. There is only one condition left for the intention to become a real fleet: a charging network to meet demand. As employers look for efficient and sustainable mobility benefits, we see a concrete potential as the urban segment in operational leasing.” said Roxana Lupescu, General Manager of Arval Romania.
Best Electric City Car proposes a structured evaluation of urban electric vehicles and brings them closer to the public through direct interaction. The mini and micro models bring concrete benefits in the context of urban mobility: low operating costs, zero driving emissions and a driving experience adapted to everyday traffic. Their compact dimensions and simplified maintenance recommend them for individual use and integration into fleets, especially in companies that use in-house car-sharing solutions.
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