Soldato
I agree TBH. A cheap city car with a realistic 50 mile max range which isn't lethal if you do take it on a motorway (ie. can do 70 and doesn't drop to a crawl going up a hill!).
This is actually one of the things I like most about an EV - instant torque, and always in the right "gear". I've never had a problem with hills in the Zoe - there isn't a noticeable difference in acceleration between flat/up hill.
Are they actually happy with it, though, or do many just see it as their only option, and how much of that is down to the market forcing it on them?
Clearly they are, otherwise they wouldn't do it . Obviously they would be happier if the cost was lower (who wouldn't), but I don't see how "the market (is) forcing it on them"? There are plenty of other options; using a different type of finance, e.g. personal loan, not being a badge snob and buying a cheaper car, having a used car and running it for longer instead of "buying" a new car every couple of years etc. Unfortunately "keeping up with the Joneses" (or rather showing off to your mates, it's just another aspect of the facebook generation "constantly show off how great your life is" attitude) has it's price.