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Electric
The UK's cheapest electric cars: 50 new EVs to check out right now
Going electric doesn’t need to empty your wallet, so here are some affordable options
Nissan Ariya – from £33,500
You remember that carmaker that came up with the Leaf all those years ago? Well, this is its second attempt at an electric car. The Nissan Ariya is an electric family SUV with useable range, a lounge-like interior and lots of useful tech. It’s far from cheap mind – and for heavens sake, avoid the Nismo, which is nothing more than glorified trim level.
Advertisement - Page continues belowAlpine A290 – from £33,500
Alpine’s hot version of the Renault 5 supermini just about covers it. You want more? Okay, you’re looking at a 52kWh battery, 174bhp and 236 miles of range for this version, or £5k more for the 52kWh/215bhp/226-mile range even hotter version. It’s far from a RenaultSport of old… but there’s fun to be had on a British B-road if you go looking for it.
Hyundai Kona Electric – from £33,500
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?
Advertisement - Page continues belowPeugeot e-308 – from £33,460
The Peugeot e-308 is a regular hatchback that’s effectively had its ICE powertrain stripped out and replaced by electric. There’s no leap of faith needed here, and driving it is a soothing experience. Back in its homeland these things are everywhere. Not cheap, mind.
Omoda E5 – from £33,065
Another small-to-mid-size electric crossover that doesn’t try especially hard to be different from the rest. Omoda claims to give you loads of equipment for moderate – not especially cheap – prices. As usual when that's the claim, this is a Chinese brand, part of the giant Chery group. It's not rubbish. For the money it's decently equipped and spacious and looks OK. But there are better options.
Mini Countryman – from £33,005
Mini in size, mini price tag, right? Admittedly, the big boy Countryman isn’t quite so mini in price compared to the Aceman and Cooper (both of which we'll get to), 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 EV9. And given the South Korean 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.
Advertisement - Page continues belowVauxhall Astra Electric – from £32,630
There aren’t many more recognisable names in the heartland of British motoring these days than the Vauxhall Astra, and you can now have it with petrol, plug-in hybrid or electric power. Whatever version you go for it’ll get the same looks, though the cabin is a little dour and the electric variant is considerably more expensive than the petrol.
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.
Advertisement - Page continues belowRenault Megane E-Tech – from £31,295
Renault's nailed the electric family hatch brief with 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.
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), and improved the overall cabin quality. A solid all-rounder then, but you may be swayed by some of its more exciting rivals.
Peugeot e-Rifter – from £30,850
The Peugeot e-Rifter, Vauxhall Combo Life Electric, and Citroen e-Berlingo are all essentially the same vehicle – they all sit within the Stellantis megacorp – but arguably the pick of the bunch is this, because it gets the same stylish iCockpit that you find in Peugeot’s more regular car range. If you can get on board with it, it’s a compelling USP.
BYD Atto 2 – £30,850
Another small electric crossover, only they don’t come much blander than this. It’s completely forgettable to look at, lacking in dynamic flair and thoroughly uninspiring to anyone who has even the slightest interest in cars. It saves some grace thanks to its spacious cabin and generous kit list, but you only need to look higher up this list to realise there are better, cheaper options.
Vauxhall Combo Life Electric – from £30,690
Another van turned five or seven-seat people carrier. Like its Stellantis siblings it gets a 136bhp electric motor mated to a 52Wh battery for around 200 miles of range, though there’s seemingly little reason to go for this one unless you’re exceptionally loyal to Vauxhall or you’ve found a banging lease deal.
Toyota Proace City Verso EV – from £30,495
As similar as can be to the Peugeot and Vauxhall family movers (Toyota uses the Stellantis underpinnings), but you might be tempted by the Proace City Verso EV because every Toyota comes with a three-year manufacturer warranty, with an additional year added with every qualifying service up to 10 years or 100,000 miles as standard.
Skoda Elroq – £30,210
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.
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.
Vauxhall Mokka Electric – from £30,180
The Vauxhall Mokka sells itself on its looks… and not much else. Because while it was the first car from the brand to wear the ‘vizor’ front end and sharply creased flanks that we now see all over Vauxhall’s range of Peugeot-ified cars, it’s otherwise feeling a little tired compared to its rivals on this list. Though, there’s now the go-faster GSE to consider…
Fiat 600e – from £30,035
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 all the boxes as a decently equipped supermini/crossover that’s both comfortable and spacious, if only average to drive.
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…
Leapmotor B10 – from £29,995
Another generic looking crossover from China, which is just as bang average to drive. But next time you find yourself in a Stellantis dealership – with whom it’s teamed up with as it attempts to conquer Europe – you might just find your head turned by the generous price tag for the high levels of equipment, respectable range and impressive size for the money.
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 was initially 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.
Abarth 500e – from £29,985
Abarth’s take on the latest 500 is the hot hatch for the modern age. It’s nicely at home on B-roads or in the 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.
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.
Ford E-Tourneo Courier – from £29,940
Ford describes the E-Tourneo Courier as a “multi-activity vehicle” with “SUV-inspired styling”, but we’re just pleased that it looks very much like a return to the proper boxy MPVs of old. OK, if we’re being unkind it’s simply a people-carrying version of the Transit Courier van, but it shares the same platform as the Puma and demonstrates plenty of its dynamic ability too. You can do a lot worse.
Citroen e-Berlingo – from £29,740
The Citroen e-Berlingo has been about for yonks, with this electrified version arriving in 2021. It offers much the same as Berlingos of old – boxy looks, a hugely versatile interior, and acres of space. All good things if you’re in need of a family runabout. A facelift in 2023 brought with it some nice design quirks, an improved interior and crucially, more range too.
Peugeot e-208 – from £29,400
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, personality, value and desirability make it a proper contender.
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.
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 is that price tag, which makes it the cheapest medium-sized 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.
MG4 – from £27,245
The 4 has been a huge success story for SAIC-owned MG thanks to 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 on this list to recommend.
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.
Vauxhall Corsa Electric – from £26,780
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.
Citroen e-C4 – from £26,150
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, while the cabin is well put together and majors on comfort. Mention to the e-C4 X too, which is identical other than the slightly elongated rear end and slightly enlarged prices (it starts from £27,215).
Renault 4 – from £25,495
Renault’s hit a blinding streak of form in its new electric era, and the 4 is a retro comeback done right – so right, in fact, we named it our 2025 EV of the Year. It looks great, offers plenty of dynamic talent, has a spacious cabin, rides well, and is priced superbly. In a world where there are more small electric crossovers we can count, the R4 is the pick of the bunch.
Fiat 500 – from £25,035
The new Fiat 500 looks like the old Fiat 500, except that it's bigger, gets a new interior, chassis, body and platform. Most obviously and significantly, it’s electric only for now. 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.
Ford Puma Gen-E – from £24,745
The ICE Puma has been the bestseller on our shores for the past two years on the bounce – and it looks set to make it a hattrick come the end of the this year too. Unsurprisingly then, Ford kept it simple when it introduced the Gen-E – and while it’s not as complete as a purpose-built EV, it’s a pretty strong all round effort and an easy stepping stone for any electric newcomers.
Vauxhall 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.
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.
Citroen e-C3 Aircross – from £21,595
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. Like its smaller namesake it majors on ride comfort instead of trying to be overly sporty, and the extra cabin space is very welcome. And for only £1.5k more than the equivalent C3 hatchback, it’s a bit of a no-brainer…
Nissan Micra – from £21,495
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.
Renault 5 – from £21,495
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.
GWM Ora 03 – from £21,245
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 Grande Panda – from £20,995
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 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 is available too), retains the boxy look of the original, and starts at a very appealing price point. Nicely done.
Citroen e-C3 – from £20,095
We were big fans of the old C3 and the new one is an even more enticing prospect. Comfort is the keyword, with every e-C3 getting Citroen’s fancy advanced comfort suspension and soft 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.
BYD Dolphin Surf – from £18,650
Another Chinese newcomer, but back home and in South America, BYD has already sold over a million of these things. Need to knows? It’s a small supermini, it gets plenty of cabin space and tech, but it’s limited on range, the ride isn’t brilliant and the driver assist systems are as bad as we’ve tried. But if you’re thinking with your wallet…
Microlino Lite – from £16,990
The reborn all-electric bubble car comes in two versions – the base ‘Lite’ which is limited to 28mph and manages up to 62 miles of range from its 5.5kWh battery, or the regular Microlino, which costs a grand extra but tops out at 56mph and offers 142 miles of e-range courtesy of its bigger 11kWh battery. Whatever version you go for, you’ll get the ability to park nose-on to the kerb though.
Leapmotor T03 – from £15,995
You might not be familiar with Leapmotor now, but just you wait a couple of 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.
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. It has also left many of its competitors playing catch up. What a time to be alive.
Citroen Ami – from £7,695
OK, so 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.
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.
