Silence S04 review

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Spanish firm uses its electric motorbike tech on a miniature 'car' built for city commuters

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The Silence S04 electric quadricycle has been making a quiet name for itself in Europe, having been sold in select markets for over a year now.

Now the Spanish electric mobility firm has given its quirky-looking EV a refresh and a new model line-up in a bid to fend off rivals like the Citroën Ami – and it will soon be making its way to the UK with help from Nissan.

The Japanese car maker partnered with Silence towards the end of last year and has been selling the S04, along with the firm’s range of electric scooters, through its dealer network in France, Germany and Italy. 

We drove an early version of the S04 last year when it was sold in the UK by a licensed importer. 

Nissan now has the exclusive distribution rights to the S04 and is set to roll out the new range of models – which includes a new entry-level option and a cargo version for last-mile deliveries – in the UK in early 2026. 

So how does the latest S04 stack up against its rivals from Citroën and Microlino and does it have enough big-car feel to appeal to those on the hunt for an electric supermini?

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DESIGN & STYLING

Silence S04 MY2025 Action 021

The S04 is 1.29m wide and 2.28m long and weighs just 450kg. Like the Ami, it has a spaceframe chassis that’s made from steel, over which a composite body is hung, but it feels like a much higher-quality item.

You can’t see the frame, for a start, because the interior is clad with panels - some soft to the touch, like in a car. Albeit a very small one.

And while it might lack the retro-appeal of the Isetta-inspired Microlino, the S04 is as distinctive as the Ami, with its sharp LED lights and subtly-curved edges. 

Key to the S04’s appeal is its removable battery technology. The 5.6kWh batteries sit underneath the seats and can either be charged via mains socket on the car, or they can be removed and charged indoors. The battery has a trolley handle and wheels built in, so after you’ve clicked to release the catch, you can slide them out and wheel them inside. 

In Europe, Silence has rolled out battery swap stations, which means you can replace your battery on the move for a fully-charged item through an app-based subscription service. Whether such stations will be available in the UK is yet to be confirmed. 

The revised S04 line-up opens with the L6e Unico, an entry-level model powered by one 5.6kWh battery for a 62-mile range. Like the Ami, it has a top speed of 28mph, and it's set to launch with a similar price to its French rival. 

The mid-rung L6e Vivo is also limited to 28mph, but has two batteries for a total capacity of 11.2kWh and offers a range of up to 100 miles.

Bookending the line-up is the twin-battery L7e Plus. It makes 18bhp and can travel at up to 52mph, while also covering 98 miles on a charge. 

You can also have the S04 Cargo in either L6 or L7 form, which goes without the passenger seat to create a cargo volume of more than 500 litres.

INTERIOR

Silence S04 interior

If we were to judge the Silence solely on interior quality and refinement, it would easily outshine the Ami. 

All versions are generously equipped, with air conditioning, electric windows, electric door mirrors, central locking, a 7.0in digital instrument cluster and smartphone wiring for its speakers all fitted as standard. The entry-level Unico gets a reversing camera, too. 

The instrument display is crisp and clear, and it's easy to change different settings via the multi-function steering wheel. 

Being slightly cheaper, L6 models are a little unembellished, but you get brighter, pale-coloured plastics inside, which helps lift the cabin ambience. It’s very plastic-heavy and feels cheap, but it trumps the Ami in terms of quality. 

The posher L7 version is more refined, with a nice squidgy, rubbery material across the dashboard and on the doors. And while L6 cars get a flat seat base, the L7’s chairs have more hip support to stop your legs from moving around. 

It is left-hand-drive only, but this isn’t a great hardship, because the car is so narrow. There’s only room for two passengers, but the seats are offset which means there’s just enough room for adults. There’s a good amount of adjustment in the seats, too, but the backrest is a bit short and narrow, which means there isn't much shoulder support. 

Behind the passenger seats is a very impressive 247-litre boot. That’s bigger than in a Fiat 500e and good enough for two carry-on suitcases. 

ENGINES & PERFORMANCE

The L6 S04 gets only 8bhp from its two hub motors. As such, it feels pretty staid and takes 15sec to hit its top speed of 28mph. 

There’s an ounce of extra pep if you put it in Sport mode, but you barely notice any difference; even if you jump on the accelerator, it takes its time to get up to speed. 

That being said, it had more than enough grunt for the busy streets of Madrid and was easy to drive. 

We would like more feel from the brakes, however. In the L6, they're far too grabby at slow speeds, while the pedal itself is too soft and mushy. And things aren't much better in the more powerful L7, the pedal, while firmer, still being a challenge to modulate. 

The L7 is certainly more brisk, though, with its 18bhp hub motors (one in each wheel) helping it along to 52mph. In City mode it doesn’t feel that much faster than the L6, but there’s a bit more zip to it in Sport mode – it can briefly peak at 30bhp. 

Performance is still pretty average by most car standards, with 0-30mph taking 7.0sec, but it keeps pace with town traffic easily and feels comfortable at its top speed of 52mph. 

RIDE & HANDLING

While the S04 is very easy to pilot in the city, much like the Ami and Micro Microlino, it’s a firm riding EV that struggles to iron out lumps, bumps or imperfections. 

You get thrown around in your seat over potholes and sharper imperfections, and there’s a consistent fuss and fidget to the ride, whether you’re pootling along at 20mph or doing closer to 40mph.

There’s plenty of noise and vibration, too, but it still feels more refined than the Ami. 

There is little to be said of the S04’s dynamic credentials, which are limited by its tall body and skinny tyres. The steering feels remote and nervy, and while it is accurate enough, it's lacking in feel.

Unusually, the L7 S04 has 14in wheels at the rear (they’re lifted directly from the S01 e-scooter) and 15in wheels at the front, for a wider track and better handling. Approach a corner with enough pace and there’s plenty of body roll, but it hangs on pretty well and there’s more than enough grip. 

For city-scything jaunts, the S04 really comes into its own, its tiny proportions allowing you to slot into the tightest of gaps, even in busy traffic. It’s still a bit too wide to drive up the middle of a traffic like you can on a motorcycle, but you’re staying warm and dry and have a stereo. 

VERDICT

Silence S04 MY2025 Action 018

In the right circumstances, the S04 is equally as usable as a car – maybe even more so. 

Its tiny dimensions, well-packaged and robust interior and easy controls make it a doddle to use around town. And the arrival of the cargo version will certainly draw attention from business fleets and last-mile delivery firms.

Of course, it's not totally free of imperfections: its firm ride will likely be a dealer-breaker for many, as will its modest performance. 

Price will also be a key factor to its suceess. We're told the entry-level version should allign with the Ami, but if the L7 comes in at closer to £15,000, it may struggle against proper electric cars like the Dacia Spring and Leapmotor T03.

Ride comfort and performance aside, it’s more composed and liveable than the Ami, and if you're after a small urban EV with just enough creature comforts and polish to feel like a car, the S04 shows genuine promise. 

Sam Phillips

Sam Phillips
Title: Staff Writer

Sam joined the Autocar team in summer 2024 and has been a contributor since 2021. He is tasked with writing used reviews and first drives as well as updating top 10s and evergreen content on the Autocar website. 

He previously led sister-title Move Electric, which covers the entire spectrum of electric vehicles, from cars to boats – and even trucks. He is an expert in new car news, used cars, electric cars, microbility, classic cars and motorsport. 

Sam graduated from Nottingham Trent University in 2021 with a BA in Journalism. In his final year he produced an in-depth feature on the automotive industry’s transition to electric cars and interviewed a number of leading experts to assess our readiness for the impending ban on the sale of petrol and diesel cars.