EV vs ICE Car Sizes: Are Electric Cars Really Bigger? We Compared the Data
Are electric cars actually bigger than petrol cars, or do they just look bigger?You’ve probably noticed it already: EVs often seem wider, heavier, and longer… but sometimes they’re exactly the same size.
Here’s the truth: EVs aren’t automatically bigger.
But the way EVs are engineered, where the battery goes, whether they share a platform with an ICE (petrol/diesel) model, and how designers package the cabin, can dramatically change their proportions.
To prove both points, we’re using two comparison pairs:
1. When EVs Are Not Bigger: Hyundai Kona vs Kona Electric
These two cars share the same platform and same main exterior dimensions (width, height, length), which you can see using our overlay tool:
- Length: 435 cm (171.3 in)
- Width: 182.5 cm (71.9 in)
- Height: 158.5 cm (62.4 in)
- Wheelbase: 266 cm (104.7 in)
- Boot space: 466 L VDA (16.4 cu ft)
- Ground clearance: 15 cm (5.9 in)
The only major difference is weight:
Kona ICE → 1,295 kg (2,855 lb) vs Kona Electric → 1,725 kg (3,803 lb)
That’s a +430 kg (+948 lb) increase purely from the added weight of the EV battery and hardware.
What this shows
EVs aren’t automatically bigger than their petrol equivalents. When the EV is built on the same body as the petrol model, everything stays the same except weight.
2. When EVs Are Bigger: Chevrolet Equinox vs Equinox EV
This pair is the opposite to the Kona’s. The Equinox EV doesn’t share a platform, shape or proportions with the latest petrol Equinox, despite the shared name. See for yourself.
Here’s what changes (spoiler… it’s everything):
Length:
- ICE: 465.1 cm (183.1 in) vs EV: 483.9 cm (190.4 in)
- → EV is 18.8 cm (7.4 in) longer
Body width:
- ICE: 184.4 cm (72.6 in) vs EV: 189 cm (74.4 in)
- → EV is 4.6 cm (1.8 in) wider.
Wheelbase:
- ICE: 272.5 cm (107.3 in) vs EV: 295.4 cm (116.3 in)
- → EV gains 22.9 cm (9 in) between the axles.
Boot volume (seats up - SAE/EPA):
- ICE: 846 L (29.9 cu ft) vs EV: 748 L (26.4 cu ft)
- → EV has less usable boot space.
Weight:
- ICE: 1,485 kg (3,274 lb) vs EV: 2,186 kg (4,819 lb)
- → EV is +700+ kg heavier.
Why this is
The Equinox EV isn’t based on the petrol Equinox at all. It uses GM’s dedicated Ultium EV platform, which lets designers stretch the wheelbase, widen the body, and reshape the cabin for battery placement and electric motors.
In other words, the EV grew because Chevy chose to design a new vehicle around the EV hardware, not because an electric car must be bigger.
So… Are EVs Really Bigger? Here’s the real answers.
EVs aren’t always larger
The Hyundai Kona Electric proves it perfectly: Same height, width and length as the petrol version.
EVs often get bigger when built on EV-only platforms
The Equinox EV is the best example: Manufacturers stretch wheelbases, widen stances and extend bodies to take advantage of dedicated EV architecture.
EVs are always heavier
Every EV version is heavier than its ICE equivalent, this is due to the additional weight of the EV battery.
Boot space doesn’t always benefit, here’s three different variations
Hyundai Kona and Kona EV→ same book space across ICE and EV versions
Ford F-150 and F-150 Lightning → the Lightning gains a frunk
Equinox and Equinox EV → The EV loses boot space
Final Verdict
EVs can be bigger, but not because they’re electric... because manufacturers design them differently.
Electric cars only get larger when a manufacturer chooses to redesign the EV on a new platform. When the EV and ICE share the same body — like the Hyundai Kona and Kona Electric — they’re identical in size. The EV just weighs more.
But when the EV sits on a dedicated platform — like the Equinox EV — it can be longer, wider, roomier and shaped very differently from the petrol model.
Quick FAQs
Are electric cars bigger than petrol cars?
Not inherently. If an EV reuses the same body as its petrol equivalent (like the Kona), the size stays the same. EVs only get bigger when a manufacturer redesigns them on a dedicated EV platform.
Why are some EVs wider or longer?
Because platforms like GM Ultium or Tesla’s in-house EV architectures give designers more freedom. They’re not constrained by engines or exhaust systems, so they often stretch the cabin or wheelbase.
Do EVs always weigh more?
Yes. Batteries are heavy, so even when the body is identical, the EV is usually 200–600 kg (440–1,300 lb) heavier than the ICE version.
Are EV boots bigger?
Often yes. Without engines or fuel tanks, EVs can offer:
- A frunk
- A flatter floor
- More underfloor storage
But this depends on the platform and packaging.
Is an EV harder to park?
Only if it’s physically wider or longer. Some EVs (like Equinox EV) are much bigger. Others (like Kona Electric) are identical to their petrol versions.
Do EV platforms always make cars bigger?
No — they allow it, but don’t require it. Some EV-only cars are compact; others grow because the manufacturer wants more interior space or SUV stance.
Do EVs need more room because of batteries?
Not in the exterior footprint. Batteries are usually in the floor. The increase in size comes from design choice, not necessity.
