Fashionable electric vehicles backed (5)
I believe the answer is:
smart
'fashionable' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'electric vehicles backed' is the wordplay.
'electric vehicles' becomes 'trams' (trams are electrical vehicles).
'backed' says the letters should be written in reverse.
'trams' in reverse letter order is 'SMART'.
(Other definitions for smart that I've seen before include "Quick; tidy; sting" , "Rankle; trim" , "fly" , "Clean, tidy; clever" , "Elegant and stylish" .)