The best electric cars for every budget
March 06, 2025 by Darren Cassey
There are loads of benefits to owning an electric car, from the punchy yet silent motors to the mega-cheap home charging costs. However, with so many models flooding the market it’s tough to know which cars are worthy of consideration.
That’s why our expert car reviews team has put together this list of the best EVs for every budget. Whether you’re looking for something cheap or have cash to splash on the latest, greatest machinery, there are excellent EVs of all shapes and sizes.
Up to £30,000
Our recommendation: Citroen e-C3
Gone are the days when cheap electric cars were glorified milk floats. You can still get a Citroen Ami, and it’s great fun to drive, but it’s not particularly practical. The Citroen e-C3, on the other hand, is a proper car with a funky interior, a useful boot, and decent space inside for four adults.
While it doesn’t look and feel like a bargain basement car for the most part, the one concession required to keep the price down is range. You get 199 miles between charges, according to official figures, and there’s no option of a heat pump, so expect that to drop considerably in winter.
You could also take a look at the Hyundai Inster, which offers a similar baby SUV vibe but has a bit more range. However, if your budget can stretch a bit further the MG4 EV is the best affordable EV for road trips.
Alternatives: Hyundai Inster, MG4 EV, BYD Dolphin, Vauxhall Corsa Electric
£30,000-£40,000
Our recommendation: Kia EV3
The Kia EV3 is our favourite electric car right now, regardless of price. You get the ultra-modern exterior styling now synonymous with Kia’s EVs, a spacious and practical interior and the potential for massive range if you get the biggest battery – which you can do and stay under the £40k budget.
It’s not exactly fun to drive – you might consider the Tesla Model 3 if that’s what you’re after – but it is comfortable, quiet and refined, making the EV3 ideal for driving around the city or cruising along the motorway.
At this price there’s a wild array of alternatives that might suit your needs. For example, the Volvo EX30 isn’t as practical but has a posher image, while the Skoda Enyaq has a huge boot.
Alternatives: Volvo EX30, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Skoda Enyaq, Tesla Model 3
£40,000-£60,000
Our recommendation: Volkswagen ID7 Tourer
SUVs are incredibly popular because of the commanding driving position and practical body shape, but the Volkswagen ID7 Tourer proves you don’t need a pretend off-roader to tick most of the same boxes.
Sure, you sit lower to the road than you would in an SUV, but the ID7 Tourer has a massive boot and is incredibly comfortable to drive – useful, because the long-range version can go up to 424 miles between charges.
The interior can be frustrating to use, though, because it’s overly reliant on using the touchscreen for everything. You could consider the Kia EV6 if you want something a touch more conventional, or the Peugeot E-5008 if you need a seven-seater.
Alternatives: Peugeot E-5008, Tesla Model Y, VW ID Buzz, Kia EV6
£60,000-£80,000
Our recommendation: Kia EV9
If badge snobbery is a factor, spending over £60,000 on a Kia might seem ridiculous – but hold your horses, because the Kia EV9 is absolutely worth the money. For a start, it looks fantastic, but beyond that it’s also incredibly practical, with loads of space and storage inside, and seating for six or seven, depending on the model.
Being a big, heavy slab of an SUV means it’s not particularly efficient, so you’ll be lucky to hit the 300-plus-mile range, but on the plus side you get super-fast charging.
At this price, though, there are electric SUVs from posher brands you might consider – the BMW iX and Polestar 3 don’t seat seven, but they are more luxurious. The BMW i5 and Audi A6 e-tron Avant are also comfy EVs worth looking at if you don’t fancy an SUV.
Alternatives: BMW iX, BMW i5, Audi A6 e-tron Avant, Polestar 3
£80,000-plus
Our recommendation: Porsche Taycan
You’re starting to look at the money-no-object corner of the market, and if that’s the case it’s difficult to look beyond the Porsche Taycan. It’s a futuristic-looking four-door sports car that’s as good to drive as any Porsche, electric or not.
The back seats aren’t the roomiest, and the boot’s not the biggest, but there’s an estate-shaped Sport Turismo model to tempt you if that’s a problem. Whichever Taycan you go for you get a high quality cabin and the potential for huge range and monumental performance.
If you’re not so worried about your luxury electric car being capable on a twisty road, the Rolls-Royce Spectre, BMW i7 and Volvo EX90 all do the quiet, refined waft thing suitably well. Meanwhile, the Audi e-tron GT shares tech with the Taycan, wrapped up in a different design.
Alternatives: Rolls-Royce Spectre, BMW i7, Volvo EX90, Audi e-tron GT
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