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Electric
The UK's cheapest electric cars: 33 new EVs to check out right now
Going electric doesn’t need to empty your wallet, so here are some affordable options
Dogood Zero – from £5,500
The Dogood Zero is officially the cheapest new car on sale in the UK. Think of it more as a fancier scooter or a covered e-bike rather than a compromised car – it makes the limited range, crazy looks and sluggish performance easier to deal with. It's super cheap to fill up with electricity though, with a tiny 4.8kWh battery that's good for an official range of 50.3 miles. Crunch time: it's this or the bus.
Advertisement - Page continues belowCitroen Ami – from £7,695
Like the Zero, the Ami is technically a quadricycle but an entirely loveable one. It’s not fun to drive, but it is fun to use. In a city, at least. There’s a joy in its simplicity; in the way that it’s been designed; in the way that Citroen is embracing quirkiness. It’s not sophisticated or groundbreaking, but it is fun and interesting, and if it’s convinced a few Londoners to commute in one rather than mostly idling a big SUV, then that’s a good thing.
Dacia Spring – from £14,995
For many people the Dacia Spring is the perfect introduction to the electric car. It requires minimal financial outlay and minimal confusion because it’s so straightforward to drive and operate. It’s simple, it’s affordable and it’s fun to be in and around. And it’s left many of its competitors playing catchup. What a time to be alive.
Advertisement - Page continues belowLeapmotor T03 – from £15,995
You might not be familiar with Leapmotor, but you surely will over the coming years. The Chinese brand has teamed up with megacorp Stellantis as it attempts to conquer the European market, and its smallest car is this, the T03. Based on our first impressions it’s not a bad effort either: well built, adequate to drive, a comfortable ride and roomy interior.
Fiat Grande Panda – from £21,035
Here’s one name you'll surely be familiar with. The Fiat Panda was launched way back in 1980, and since then it’s gained more than a fair few fans along the way, none more so than us here at TG. The fourth generation, which sits on Stellantis’ shared STLA-Smart platform, introduces electric power for the first time (a hybrid version will be available too), retains the boxy look of the original, and starts at a very appealing price. Nicely done.
Citroen e-C3 – from £22,095
We were big fans of the old C3 and the new one is arguably an even more enticing prospect. Comfort is the keyword, with every e-C3 getting Citroen’s fancy advanced comfort suspension and seats as standard. And there’s an even cheaper, smaller batteried version on the way. Looks good, too, with a design inspired by the funky Oli concept.
Renault 5 – from £22,995
Renault has seemingly struck gold with the reborn 5, an electric supermini with charming retro looks, impressive driving dynamics and a cheap price. Little wonder it walked away with our Car of the Year Award 2024, and our long-termer is proving a big hit too. And if you’re after a version with hot hatch credentials, there’s always the Alpine A290 to consider. J'adore.
Advertisement - Page continues belowNissan Micra – from £22,995
Hot on the heels of the Renault 5 is this, the Nissan Micra, which shares the same proportions, powertrains, platform and price tag. Base versions get a 121bhp, 40kWh battery and up to 195 miles of range, while a couple of grand extra gets you 148bhp, 52kWh and up to 253 miles of range. Given the Renault 5’s form to date, we’ve got high hopes.
Hyundai Inster – from £23,505
Yes, it's a city car, despite the looks and what Hyundai tells you. And also yes, it lives up to the South Korean carmaker's run of good form. Designed with charm, generously kitted out and surprisingly versatile, you could do a lot worse.
Advertisement - Page continues belowVauxhall Frontera – from £23,995
The new Vauxhall Frontera is available in both full electric or mild hybrid guise, but the big talking point here is they're both priced exactly the same. A big part of that is its 'Smart Car' platform which it shares with the Citroen C3, plus Citroen e-C3 Aircross and Fiat Grande Panda. If electric works for you, it’s the Frontera to buy.
GWM Ora 03 – from £24,995
The car formerly known as the Funky Cat, the Ora 03’s cutesy retro design will no doubt win it some fans and it’s certainly more interesting to look at than rival electric hatches like the ID.3 and e-208. Though, Ora will have to hope those same folk who love the pumped-up Mini aesthetic aren’t too bothered about the clunky, disconnected driving experience.
Fiat 500 – from £25,035
The new Fiat 500 looks like the old Fiat 500, except that it's bigger, uses a new interior, chassis, body and platform. Most obviously and significantly, it’s electric only. And because the new Fiat 500 looks like the old Fiat 500, it's got a stylish, recognisable design. For that, read: aww, it's cute.
Citroen e-C3 Aircross – from £25,095
Y’know the Citroen e-C3? Yeah, like that. Only slightly bigger. Not that much bigger though: it still only measures 4.4m long, 1.85m wide and 1.66m tall. The £3k uplift in price is partly down to the fact that it’s only available in electric guise in the upper ‘Max’ trim, and all the goodies that entails.
Vauxhall Corsa Electric – from £25,280
The artist formerly known as the Vauxhall Corsa-e has had a thorough overhaul courtesy of a mid-life facelift, and looks all the better for it. Where it was deservedly criticised for its £32k+ starting price when it first arrived, a new budget trim brings the price down to a more palatable figure. Just beware the rather uninspiring cabin, which feels leagues behind its Peugeot e-208 sibling.
Mini Cooper Electric – from £26,905
The new Mini Cooper (formerly known as the Mini Hatch) arrived in 2024, and it’s mostly good news. Particularly the interior, which though occasionally infuriating, is clever and well judged. It sits on an entirely new platform in electric guise, and while the ride is still slightly firm, it’s otherwise a great little car that’s overflowing with personality.
MG4 – from £27,245
The 4 has been a huge success story for SAIC-owned MG courtesy of its unique looks (post facelift at least), generous amount of kit, decent driving dynamics, and affordability. Its rivals have undoubtedly caught up since, particularly in the price war, but the MG4 is still an extremely impressive all-rounder and one of the easiest cars to recommend on this list.
Citroen e-C4 – from £27,650
A hatchback with the styling of a crossover, the Citroen e-C4 is a comfortable, practical, reasonably priced car. It's also easy-to-drive and offers pretty good efficiency where range is concerned, while the cabin is well built and majors on comfort. Mention to the e-C4 X too, which is identical other than the slightly elongated rear end and slightly elongated prices (it starts from £28,715).
MG S5 EV – from £28,745
Granted this is not a car that lives in the very heart of Top Gear's mental terrain. But it has some compelling aspects, the biggest of all that price tag, which makes it the cheapest crossover on this list. So it'll fit a family. It's got heaps of equipment. It comes from a mainstream brand. And it’s guaranteed for seven years or 80k miles. Plenty of sensibility there.
Mini Aceman – £28,905
The Aceman arrives to fill the gap between the Cooper and the Countryman. It uses the same bits as the Cooper Electric, but where you can only have the Cooper as a three door, the Aceman offers five and 90 litres more boot space. Decisions, decisions.
Smart #1 – from £29,960
Smart is now joint owned by Mercedes-Benz and Chinese firm Geely, and its #1 (and yes, it is pronounced “hashtag one”) is yet another competent, inoffensive but slightly limited crossover entering into a very congested market. The styling is rounded and playful, it feels well made and bright inside, and the shared underpinnings offer decent range and road manners. It’s just a shame there’s nothing particularly distinctive, interesting or different about it.
Abarth 500e – from £29,975
Abarth’s take on the latest 500 is the hot hatch for the modern age. It’s nicely at home on B-roads or suburbs, using its small size and nifty responses to great advantage. And when you're not driving it like your backside's on fire, it's quiet and pretty civilised. Even if it's not for you, we can celebrate it because it shows the new age of electricity doesn't mean the end of its ilk.
Fiat 600e – from £29,975
Fiat 500 not quite big enough for your family needs? Try the Fiat 600, which sits somewhere between the supermini and SUV in terms of size. It unsurprisingly riffs off the smaller 500 when it comes to the looks, but otherwise ticks off all the EV rational boxes as a decently equipped supermini/crossover that’s both comfortable and spacious, if only average to drive.
Seres 3 – from £29,995
Another day, another Chinese brand hoping to conquer Europe and beyond. While it won’t win any awards for the bland looks, it’s notable for being the UK’s cheapest new electric SUV. For those that don’t care much (or possibly at all) about cars, that’s all the selling point it really needs.
Jeep Avenger – from £29,999
Yep, even Jeep’s getting in on the city car action now – in fact the only Jeep smaller than the Avenger was the original Willys. And it’s cheerily capable around urban landscapes too, small and manoeuvrable with a bash-resistant exterior. For anyone who’s got their sights set on heading off the beaten track, there’s also the 4xe…
Peugeot e-208 – from £30,150
The Peugeot e-208 is one of the most conventional cars on this list, because it looks just like a... Peugeot 208, whether you choose the hybrid or electric one. The tiny, low-set steering wheel might not be for everyone, but its combination of strong range, easy personality, value and desirability make it a strong contender.
BYD Dolphin – from £30,205
The BYD Dolphin is a cheap, small electric hatch. Sadly, it will not swim very well... or drive well either. Yes, there's some impressive tech in the batteries and the cabin, but that's matched to shonky brakes and inconsistent dynamics. Sometimes, you get what you pay for. Or not.
Volkswagen ID.3 – £30,860
Volkswagen's mainstream electric family hatch is still going strong, having been given a much needed facelift back in 2023. It addressed the too-radical-for-some exterior, infuriating infotainment system (which is now merely frustrating as opposed to infuriating), and improved the overall cabin quality. A solid all-rounder then, but you may be swayed by some of its more exciting rivals.
Skoda Elroq – £31,510
Skoda’s compact electric SUV, the Elroq follows in the footsteps of the excellent Enyaq. It debuts the Czech firm’s eye-catching new ‘Modern Solid’ design language but otherwise feels very familiar, in a good way. If it's still out of your budget, you might be tempted to wait for the Epiq, which is set to start under £25k.
Volvo EX30 - from £31,560
Volvo’s entry-level EX30 might sit on the same platform as the Smart #1 (it’s also now Geely owned), but it feels a world apart. We’re talking chic Scandi looks, a properly premium feeling cabin and tidy driving dynamics. It’s not perfect, courtesy of its all-encompassing touchscreen and cramped space (particularly in the rear), but for the price tag, there’s a lot to like.
Hyundai Kona Electric – from £32,400
Cars don’t come much more sensible than the Hyundai Kona Electric, which is distinctive looking without being overkill, drives as well as it needs to and is now more practical than ever before. Little surprise that since its launch in 2017, Hyundai has sold over a quarter of a million worldwide. All those people can’t be wrong, can they?
Renault Megane E-Tech – from £32,495
Renault's nailed the electric family hatch brief superbly in the Megane E-Tech. It's fun to drive, has a quality cabin and looks the part. A mild update for the 2025 model year introduced a standard heat pump for better efficiency, making it even better yet. Long story short, there’s very little wrong with it.
Mini Countryman – from £33,005
We’ve already seen two Minis on this list, now here’s a third. Mini in size, mini price tag, right? Admittedly, the big boy Countryman isn’t quite so mini in price compared to the Cooper and Aceman, but if you’re after the Mini look and you’ve a family to fit in…
Kia EV3 – from £33,005
Kia’s most compact electric car yet, the EV3 sits below the mid-size EV6 and ginormous EV6. And given the South Korean’s carmaker's form with those two, it comes as no surprise that the EV3 is an extremely impressive effort indeed. It drives well, the cabin has a properly premium feel, it’s highly efficient and the standard kit list is as long as your arm.
