Compare the best cheap electric cars
Browse cheap electric cars from rated and reviewed dealers
Last updated December 15, 2024 by
Darren Cassey
Best budget electric cars 2024: our favourite EVs that won’t break the bank
It used to be true that electric cars were typically much more expensive than combustion-engined models, but there has been a big increase in the number of more affordable electric cars on sale. As a result, there are now plenty of options if you’re looking for an EV that won’t make your bank card run for cover.
There’s also a decent mix of sizes and shapes to choose from. The list below compiles the best cheap electric cars, some of which are small and nimble to make inner-city driving a breeze, while others are spacious enough for family life and have good enough range that you won’t be sweating over a weekend road trip.
It’s worth taking a moment to consider whether electric cars suit your lifestyle, though. If you can charge at home on a cheap, EV-friendly tariff, or have access to free/subsided charging at work, they can be an incredibly affordable way to get around. However, if you have to rely on the public charging network and do big miles, it can get very expensive indeed.
Still, if you’ve decided an electric car is for you check out our list of affordable EVs below. Compiled by our team of motoring experts, every model has been put through its paces to check everything from how they drive to how practical they are, and how much range you can expect from the battery.
2025
Smart Spender Award
Highly Commended
Battery range up to 199 miles
What's good
What’s not so good
Best for: city dwellers
Electric cars are great for driving in the city because the silent, smooth motors make for quick yet relaxing progress. The Citroen e-C3 adds to this with its small dimensions and upright body style, which means it’s easy to nip about in tight traffic while benefitting from great visibility of what’s around you.
It might be one of the cheapest electric cars, but it certainly doesn’t look bargain basement. It has a chunky yet stylish baby-SUV aesthetic that could easily be mistaken for a more premium model. It’s a bit less posh inside, but a neat mix of materials help to elevate the ambience, and everything feels solidly built.
You get a 10.3-inch infotainment screen as standard, and while the built-in software is a bit more basic than you’ll find on Citroen’s pricier cars, it works well enough, and has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for all your navigation and music streaming needs.
The boxy shape means it’s reasonably practical for a small car too, with a spacious cabin and a 310-litre boot that’s about average among alternatives (more room than the Vauxhall Corsa Electric, less than the BYD Dolphin, for example).
Where you do have to make a sacrifice to affordability is the battery, because it’s fairly small and means the official range is just 199 miles. During our time with the car we saw reasonable efficiency that would equate to a real-world range of about 150-160 miles. There’s also no option to fit a heat pump, which can help efficiency in cold weather, so you can expect that range to drop further in winter months.
However, if you have easy access to regular charging and rarely travel long distances (or have another car better suited to the job), the Citroen e-C3 is a cheap electric car that doesn't make you feel like you’re penny pinching.
Electric cars are great for driving in the city because the silent, smooth motors make for quick yet relaxing progress. The Citroen e-C3 adds to this with its small dimensions and upright body style, which means it’s easy to nip about in tight traffic while benefitting from great visibility of what’s around you.
It might be one of the cheapest electric cars, but it certainly doesn’t look bargain basement. It has a chunky yet stylish baby-SUV aesthetic that could easily be mistaken for a more premium model. It’s a bit less posh inside, but a neat mix of materials help to elevate the ambience, and everything feels solidly built.
You get a 10.3-inch infotainment screen as standard, and while the built-in software is a bit more basic than you’ll find on Citroen’s pricier cars, it works well enough, and has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for all your navigation and music streaming needs.
The boxy shape means it’s reasonably practical for a small car too, with a spacious cabin and a 310-litre boot that’s about average among alternatives (more room than the Vauxhall Corsa Electric, less than the BYD Dolphin, for example).
Where you do have to make a sacrifice to affordability is the battery, because it’s fairly small and means the official range is just 199 miles. During our time with the car we saw reasonable efficiency that would equate to a real-world range of about 150-160 miles. There’s also no option to fit a heat pump, which can help efficiency in cold weather, so you can expect that range to drop further in winter months.
However, if you have easy access to regular charging and rarely travel long distances (or have another car better suited to the job), the Citroen e-C3 is a cheap electric car that doesn't make you feel like you’re penny pinching.
Best for: practicality
The Kia EV3 is a fantastic small electric car because it looks great, has plenty of room inside and is available with a massive range (if you’re willing to spend a bit more cash).
The design echoes that of the massive, imposing Kia EV9, but despite sharing the blocky design ethos, it has a more cutesy character that works really well. The expensive look continues inside, where you get an interestingly designed dashboard with the kind of triple-screen setup that you’d expect to see in much more expensive cars.
It can be a little intimidating to get to grips with the countless menus and screens on offer, but it’s all fairly logically laid out. You get the instrument display with all your driving information ahead of you, while on the right is the infotainment screen. Between the two is a narrow climate control screen, though this is largely useless as it’s blocked by the steering wheel.
While storage for smaller items is a touch lacking, that’s about the only practicality complaint. There’s more space in every seat than you get in the Volvo EX30, and the boot is absolutely massive. At 460 litres it’s on par with bigger, more expensive cars.
Where the Kia EV3 also impresses is its battery technology and the range on offer. Even the entry level model offers 270 miles between charges, and you can even get the bigger battery option on the entry-level trim to keep costs down. The result is a range of up to 375 miles, which again, is what you’d expect from pricier cars.
Out on the road the Kia EV3 isn’t exactly thrilling, but what you do get is a safe and secure drive, with a planted and refined feel even at higher motorway speeds. It handles bumps well too, which means it’s a relaxing thing to plod about town in.
The Kia EV3 is a fantastic small electric car because it looks great, has plenty of room inside and is available with a massive range (if you’re willing to spend a bit more cash).
The design echoes that of the massive, imposing Kia EV9, but despite sharing the blocky design ethos, it has a more cutesy character that works really well. The expensive look continues inside, where you get an interestingly designed dashboard with the kind of triple-screen setup that you’d expect to see in much more expensive cars.
It can be a little intimidating to get to grips with the countless menus and screens on offer, but it’s all fairly logically laid out. You get the instrument display with all your driving information ahead of you, while on the right is the infotainment screen. Between the two is a narrow climate control screen, though this is largely useless as it’s blocked by the steering wheel.
While storage for smaller items is a touch lacking, that’s about the only practicality complaint. There’s more space in every seat than you get in the Volvo EX30, and the boot is absolutely massive. At 460 litres it’s on par with bigger, more expensive cars.
Where the Kia EV3 also impresses is its battery technology and the range on offer. Even the entry level model offers 270 miles between charges, and you can even get the bigger battery option on the entry-level trim to keep costs down. The result is a range of up to 375 miles, which again, is what you’d expect from pricier cars.
Out on the road the Kia EV3 isn’t exactly thrilling, but what you do get is a safe and secure drive, with a planted and refined feel even at higher motorway speeds. It handles bumps well too, which means it’s a relaxing thing to plod about town in.
Best for: posh on a budget
You might be surprised to see a Volvo SUV, and an electric Volvo SUV at that, on a list of cheap electric cars, but here it is. The EX30 represents fantastic value for money, winning the 2024 Carwow Car of the Year Award.
For a start, you get that premium badge appeal in a low cost car that has all the same upmarket design cues you expect from Volvo’s more expensive models. And while it doesn’t exactly feel posh inside, the design is cool and characterful so it feels anything but cheap.
In the middle of the dashboard is a 12.3-inch portrait-orientated touchscreen system, which is bright with crystal clear graphics. It also has Google built in, which means you get apps like Spotify to stream music right out of the box. Better still is integrated Google Maps, which can estimate how much charge your battery will have at your destination, helping you to plan any potential charging stops.
There is a downside to the minimalist design, which is the elimination of the vast majority of buttons. It means that while the central screen works well, you do have to manage pretty much everything through the display, which can be confusing and frustrating to do on the move.
Practicality isn’t one of the EX30’s strong points, either. It’s fine for those in the front seats, but the rear seats are cramped and the boot is small at 318 litres. You do get a tiny storage space under the front bonnet though, which can be useful for keeping charging cables out of the way.
You can choose from three battery and motor combinations. There’s an entry level model with up to 214 miles of range, but if your budget can stretch to the Extended Range model you get a bit more power along with a range of 295 miles. You can also get this bigger battery with a powerful dual-motor, all-wheel drive setup, which drops the range to 286 miles but ups the fun on a twisty road.
You might be surprised to see a Volvo SUV, and an electric Volvo SUV at that, on a list of cheap electric cars, but here it is. The EX30 represents fantastic value for money, winning the 2024 Carwow Car of the Year Award.
For a start, you get that premium badge appeal in a low cost car that has all the same upmarket design cues you expect from Volvo’s more expensive models. And while it doesn’t exactly feel posh inside, the design is cool and characterful so it feels anything but cheap.
In the middle of the dashboard is a 12.3-inch portrait-orientated touchscreen system, which is bright with crystal clear graphics. It also has Google built in, which means you get apps like Spotify to stream music right out of the box. Better still is integrated Google Maps, which can estimate how much charge your battery will have at your destination, helping you to plan any potential charging stops.
There is a downside to the minimalist design, which is the elimination of the vast majority of buttons. It means that while the central screen works well, you do have to manage pretty much everything through the display, which can be confusing and frustrating to do on the move.
Practicality isn’t one of the EX30’s strong points, either. It’s fine for those in the front seats, but the rear seats are cramped and the boot is small at 318 litres. You do get a tiny storage space under the front bonnet though, which can be useful for keeping charging cables out of the way.
You can choose from three battery and motor combinations. There’s an entry level model with up to 214 miles of range, but if your budget can stretch to the Extended Range model you get a bit more power along with a range of 295 miles. You can also get this bigger battery with a powerful dual-motor, all-wheel drive setup, which drops the range to 286 miles but ups the fun on a twisty road.
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Best for: twisty road lovers
The MG4 EV was the original cheap electric car, which helped make it the 2023 Carwow Car of the Year. Even in the face of dozens of alternatives entering the market over the past couple of years, it’s still one of the best.
Bold styling and some punchy colour options certainly make it stand out from the crowd. Step inside and it lacks the character of some newer options in this list, but it’s simple, well-made and usefully spacious.
There’s no getting away from the fact that the infotainment system is a bit rubbish, sometimes infuriatingly so, but with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto you can at least bypass some of the frustration.
At least it’s practical, with plenty of cubby holes to store things and loads of space in the back. At 363 litres the boot’s a good size compared to alternatives, meaning it’s more than capable of carrying the weekly shop or a few bags for a weekend away.
There’s loads of choice when it comes to batteries and motors. If you want maximum value and don’t do big miles, the entry-level version gets a respectable enough 218-mile range, but the best all-rounder is the SE Long Range model, which gets a bigger battery and 281 miles of range. If you’re willing to spend quite a bit more, the top-spec, longest-range version is the Trophy Extended Range model, which gets up to 323 miles between top ups. There’s also a performance-focused XPower model with a range of 248 miles.
Get behind the wheel and the MG4 EV is one of the more enjoyable electric cars to drive on a twisty road, though it’s not particularly refined at higher speeds.
The MG4 EV was the original cheap electric car, which helped make it the 2023 Carwow Car of the Year. Even in the face of dozens of alternatives entering the market over the past couple of years, it’s still one of the best.
Bold styling and some punchy colour options certainly make it stand out from the crowd. Step inside and it lacks the character of some newer options in this list, but it’s simple, well-made and usefully spacious.
There’s no getting away from the fact that the infotainment system is a bit rubbish, sometimes infuriatingly so, but with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto you can at least bypass some of the frustration.
At least it’s practical, with plenty of cubby holes to store things and loads of space in the back. At 363 litres the boot’s a good size compared to alternatives, meaning it’s more than capable of carrying the weekly shop or a few bags for a weekend away.
There’s loads of choice when it comes to batteries and motors. If you want maximum value and don’t do big miles, the entry-level version gets a respectable enough 218-mile range, but the best all-rounder is the SE Long Range model, which gets a bigger battery and 281 miles of range. If you’re willing to spend quite a bit more, the top-spec, longest-range version is the Trophy Extended Range model, which gets up to 323 miles between top ups. There’s also a performance-focused XPower model with a range of 248 miles.
Get behind the wheel and the MG4 EV is one of the more enjoyable electric cars to drive on a twisty road, though it’s not particularly refined at higher speeds.
2025
Urban Living Award
Highly Commended
Battery range up to 229 miles
What's good
What’s not so good
Best for: clever cabin
If you can forgive the slightly ridiculous name, the Hyundai Inster is a fantastic small EV. It’s so good that it was highly commended in the 2025 Carwow Car of the Year Awards for being a great city car.
Hyundai is a South Korean company, but the Inster’s styling is reminiscent of quirky Japanese kei cars (tiny city-focused vehicles that are cheap to tax). The boxy shape isn’t just for looks either, because Hyundai has been really clever with the space inside.
The party piece is the rear seats, which can recline but also slide. This allows you to choose between a bigger boot, or limo-like rear legroom. You can also fold the front seats forward to use one as a footrest, or both as the base for an airbed, turning the Inster into a tiny camper.
Fixtures and fittings also impress, thanks to the fact the Inster shares some parts with more expensive Hyundais. This includes the screens, with two 10.3-inch displays standard across the trims.
Range isn’t fantastic, with the entry-level model getting 203 miles between charges, putting it on par with the Citroen e-C3. You can get a bigger battery to push the range to 229 miles, though our testing indicated about 200 miles is more realistic. It’s also worth noting that the Inster’s DC charging isn’t particularly rapid, which means it’ll take a bit longer to top up at a public charger than most alternatives.
If you can forgive the slightly ridiculous name, the Hyundai Inster is a fantastic small EV. It’s so good that it was highly commended in the 2025 Carwow Car of the Year Awards for being a great city car.
Hyundai is a South Korean company, but the Inster’s styling is reminiscent of quirky Japanese kei cars (tiny city-focused vehicles that are cheap to tax). The boxy shape isn’t just for looks either, because Hyundai has been really clever with the space inside.
The party piece is the rear seats, which can recline but also slide. This allows you to choose between a bigger boot, or limo-like rear legroom. You can also fold the front seats forward to use one as a footrest, or both as the base for an airbed, turning the Inster into a tiny camper.
Fixtures and fittings also impress, thanks to the fact the Inster shares some parts with more expensive Hyundais. This includes the screens, with two 10.3-inch displays standard across the trims.
Range isn’t fantastic, with the entry-level model getting 203 miles between charges, putting it on par with the Citroen e-C3. You can get a bigger battery to push the range to 229 miles, though our testing indicated about 200 miles is more realistic. It’s also worth noting that the Inster’s DC charging isn’t particularly rapid, which means it’ll take a bit longer to top up at a public charger than most alternatives.
Best for: low cost, big space
You could be forgiven for raising an eyebrow at the BYD Dolphin, because it’s an electric car from a new-to-the-UK Chinese brand and has a curious name. Don’t let that put you off though, because there’s a lot to like about it.
For a start, it’s an affordable electric car that’s not compromised on space, despite having a relatively small footprint. There’s plenty of room in the back, and the boot is a good size, even if the Cupra Born offers a bit more capacity.
And while the exterior is rather dull to look at (unless you get the intriguing blue and silver two-tone paint job), the interior is anything but. There are swooping lines and multiple layers with various contrasting materials – it’s bordering on fussy but is certainly more interesting than the plain, black dashboards you get in most cars.
The party piece is the massive infotainment display, which can rotate between landscape and portrait depending on your preference. It’s a bit of a gimmick, but the screen is at least sharp and flicks between menus quickly, even if it can be confusing to find your way around.
You have a choice of two battery sizes, and the smaller one with the lower-powered motor is the most efficient, so if you don’t need big range it will cost you a bit less to run. Go for the bigger battery and you get up to 265 miles between charges.
You could be forgiven for raising an eyebrow at the BYD Dolphin, because it’s an electric car from a new-to-the-UK Chinese brand and has a curious name. Don’t let that put you off though, because there’s a lot to like about it.
For a start, it’s an affordable electric car that’s not compromised on space, despite having a relatively small footprint. There’s plenty of room in the back, and the boot is a good size, even if the Cupra Born offers a bit more capacity.
And while the exterior is rather dull to look at (unless you get the intriguing blue and silver two-tone paint job), the interior is anything but. There are swooping lines and multiple layers with various contrasting materials – it’s bordering on fussy but is certainly more interesting than the plain, black dashboards you get in most cars.
The party piece is the massive infotainment display, which can rotate between landscape and portrait depending on your preference. It’s a bit of a gimmick, but the screen is at least sharp and flicks between menus quickly, even if it can be confusing to find your way around.
You have a choice of two battery sizes, and the smaller one with the lower-powered motor is the most efficient, so if you don’t need big range it will cost you a bit less to run. Go for the bigger battery and you get up to 265 miles between charges.
Best for: chic style
Just because a car is cheap doesn’t mean it can’t be stylish, as proved by the Peugeot E-208. This good-looking little car has a stand out design inside as well as outside, and also proves you don’t have to sacrifice range for a small EV.
The E-208 looks about as posh as a small car can look, with the LED daytime running lights that are meant to look like a lion’s claw has slashed the bumper a particular highlight. Inside it’s sophisticated and quirky in equal measure, with lots of angles and a nice mix of materials.
The infotainment tech is a bit dated now, with sluggish switching between menus, but all models get a 10.0-inch display that at least looks fairly modern and high-tech.
Space and practicality aren’t the Peugeot E-208’s strong point. Space in the front is pretty good, but it’s really tight for rear passengers, and the 311-litre boot is beaten by most alternatives, such as the MG4 EV and Cupra Born.
There are two battery options, with the larger of the two offering up to 248 miles of range. The Peugeot’s selling point here is the fact that its motors are really efficient, which means your running costs will be a bit lower, and you get reasonably fast DC charging for a small, affordable EV, too.
Just because a car is cheap doesn’t mean it can’t be stylish, as proved by the Peugeot E-208. This good-looking little car has a stand out design inside as well as outside, and also proves you don’t have to sacrifice range for a small EV.
The E-208 looks about as posh as a small car can look, with the LED daytime running lights that are meant to look like a lion’s claw has slashed the bumper a particular highlight. Inside it’s sophisticated and quirky in equal measure, with lots of angles and a nice mix of materials.
The infotainment tech is a bit dated now, with sluggish switching between menus, but all models get a 10.0-inch display that at least looks fairly modern and high-tech.
Space and practicality aren’t the Peugeot E-208’s strong point. Space in the front is pretty good, but it’s really tight for rear passengers, and the 311-litre boot is beaten by most alternatives, such as the MG4 EV and Cupra Born.
There are two battery options, with the larger of the two offering up to 248 miles of range. The Peugeot’s selling point here is the fact that its motors are really efficient, which means your running costs will be a bit lower, and you get reasonably fast DC charging for a small, affordable EV, too.
Battery range up to 280 miles
What's good
What’s not so good
Best for: classy looks
The Renault Megane E-Tech might be pushing the budget-friendliness of this list, but it’s worthy of inclusion because you get a lot for the cash. Not space, admittedly, but lots of other things.
Let’s get the bad stuff out of the way: the stylish looks do come at the expense of cabin roominess somewhat. It’s not too bad up front, but the rear seats are fairly cramped, and that low roofline means headroom is tight. The Megane is smaller than it looks in pictures. Regardless, there is a pay off for the back seats being a squeeze, and that’s the fact that you get a big boot. At 440 litres it’s bigger than pretty much everything at this price.
It might not be hugely spacious, but the interior design is lovely, with a nice mix of materials including fabric on the dashboard. The infotainment screen isn’t particularly big, but it works well thanks to being developed by Google. The other advantage of this is that Google Maps and Google Assistant voice tech are included in the native software.
It’s easy to pick your motor and battery, because there’s no choice… all models come with a 60kWh battery that returns up to 281 miles on a charge. That’s pretty good for the price, but the fact you get 22kW AC charging as standard is impressive. (Most cars get up to 7.4kW, or 11kW at a push.)
The Renault Megane E-Tech might be pushing the budget-friendliness of this list, but it’s worthy of inclusion because you get a lot for the cash. Not space, admittedly, but lots of other things.
Let’s get the bad stuff out of the way: the stylish looks do come at the expense of cabin roominess somewhat. It’s not too bad up front, but the rear seats are fairly cramped, and that low roofline means headroom is tight. The Megane is smaller than it looks in pictures. Regardless, there is a pay off for the back seats being a squeeze, and that’s the fact that you get a big boot. At 440 litres it’s bigger than pretty much everything at this price.
It might not be hugely spacious, but the interior design is lovely, with a nice mix of materials including fabric on the dashboard. The infotainment screen isn’t particularly big, but it works well thanks to being developed by Google. The other advantage of this is that Google Maps and Google Assistant voice tech are included in the native software.
It’s easy to pick your motor and battery, because there’s no choice… all models come with a 60kWh battery that returns up to 281 miles on a charge. That’s pretty good for the price, but the fact you get 22kW AC charging as standard is impressive. (Most cars get up to 7.4kW, or 11kW at a push.)
Battery range up to 319 miles
What's good
What’s not so good
Best for: big boot
If you’re looking for big space for your budget, the Hyundai Kona Electric is a great choice. There’s loads of room inside, wherever you sit, and it has a massive boot as well as another small space under the bonnet.
It’s not just practical either, because the Kona Electric is also really comfortable to drive. That does mean it’s not the most thrilling thing to point down a twisty road, but if you spend most of your time driving in town or on the motorway, it’s a refined thing to cruise around in.
The cabin isn’t exactly posh, but it has a cool blocky design that’s refreshing in its simplicity, with chunky buttons that are easy to use on the move. The infotainment system is easy enough to use and gets Apple CarPlay and Android Auto so you can use your maps and stream your music from your phone.
Complaints? There are plenty of assistance systems to help keep you safe on the road, but they’re so intrusive you’ll probably turn them off. Unless you can put up with the constant bings and bongs, that is.
Top-spec, big battery models aren’t really affordable, admittedly, but entry-level versions get a respectable 234 miles from their smaller battery. That said, if you can stretch your budget, there’s a 319-mile version that’s great if you do lots of longer trips.
If you’re looking for big space for your budget, the Hyundai Kona Electric is a great choice. There’s loads of room inside, wherever you sit, and it has a massive boot as well as another small space under the bonnet.
It’s not just practical either, because the Kona Electric is also really comfortable to drive. That does mean it’s not the most thrilling thing to point down a twisty road, but if you spend most of your time driving in town or on the motorway, it’s a refined thing to cruise around in.
The cabin isn’t exactly posh, but it has a cool blocky design that’s refreshing in its simplicity, with chunky buttons that are easy to use on the move. The infotainment system is easy enough to use and gets Apple CarPlay and Android Auto so you can use your maps and stream your music from your phone.
Complaints? There are plenty of assistance systems to help keep you safe on the road, but they’re so intrusive you’ll probably turn them off. Unless you can put up with the constant bings and bongs, that is.
Top-spec, big battery models aren’t really affordable, admittedly, but entry-level versions get a respectable 234 miles from their smaller battery. That said, if you can stretch your budget, there’s a 319-mile version that’s great if you do lots of longer trips.
Best for: Limo-like legroom
The Smart #1 – yes, it’s really pronounced ‘hashtag one’ – is a small electric SUV, but you get loads of space inside, even if that does mean the boot is tiny.
When you jump inside the #1, it feels much roomier than you’d expect, particularly if you’re in the back seats. You can slide them forward to open up a bit of extra boot space, but even then there’s a decent amount of legroom. And even in this configuration, boot space is wholly unimpressive at just 273 litres (which is over 100 litres down on a Volkswagen ID3).
Still, the cabin is light, airy and has a futuristic design. There’s a lot of shiny plastic, but it all feels well-made for the most part. The large infotainment display has sharp graphics, and even an animated fox that acts as your voice assistant. Because why not?
All versions get the same 62kWh battery, and if you can stretch to the higher-spec Premium model you get a heat pump, which improves the official range to 273 miles, compared with 260 miles in the entry-level model. There’s also a high-performance Brabus version, which sacrifices range for a more exciting power output.
The Smart #1 – yes, it’s really pronounced ‘hashtag one’ – is a small electric SUV, but you get loads of space inside, even if that does mean the boot is tiny.
When you jump inside the #1, it feels much roomier than you’d expect, particularly if you’re in the back seats. You can slide them forward to open up a bit of extra boot space, but even then there’s a decent amount of legroom. And even in this configuration, boot space is wholly unimpressive at just 273 litres (which is over 100 litres down on a Volkswagen ID3).
Still, the cabin is light, airy and has a futuristic design. There’s a lot of shiny plastic, but it all feels well-made for the most part. The large infotainment display has sharp graphics, and even an animated fox that acts as your voice assistant. Because why not?
All versions get the same 62kWh battery, and if you can stretch to the higher-spec Premium model you get a heat pump, which improves the official range to 273 miles, compared with 260 miles in the entry-level model. There’s also a high-performance Brabus version, which sacrifices range for a more exciting power output.
Best for: comfort
If comfort is high on your list of car buying priorities, then the Citroen e-C4 is a fantastic place to start.
Citroen has fitted some clever suspension tech, which basically means the e-C4 soaks up bumps so well you could be forgiven for thinking you’re driving around on your sofa. It’s particularly impressive because most electric cars have firm suspension to deal with the extra weight of the batteries. However, drive the e-C4 in town, on the motorway or down a bumpy British B-road and it smooths out even the worst imperfections.
The downside is that you’ll probably run out of charge before you get a numb bum. The smaller (and more affordable) battery model only gets 219 miles of range between charges, though this does increase to 257 miles if you can stretch to the bigger battery.
Inside it’s all a bit plain, but the materials aren’t offensively cheap and the infotainment works well enough, if a little more sluggish than more up-to-date alternatives. Back seat space is fine, if not quite as roomy as, say, the Cupra Born, while the 380-litre boot is average among similarly sized cars.
Average kind of sums up the Citroen e-C4. It does everything well enough; it doesn’t necessarily excel in any area beyond its comfortable drive, but it’s not really terrible in any way either, making it a decent all-rounder.
If comfort is high on your list of car buying priorities, then the Citroen e-C4 is a fantastic place to start.
Citroen has fitted some clever suspension tech, which basically means the e-C4 soaks up bumps so well you could be forgiven for thinking you’re driving around on your sofa. It’s particularly impressive because most electric cars have firm suspension to deal with the extra weight of the batteries. However, drive the e-C4 in town, on the motorway or down a bumpy British B-road and it smooths out even the worst imperfections.
The downside is that you’ll probably run out of charge before you get a numb bum. The smaller (and more affordable) battery model only gets 219 miles of range between charges, though this does increase to 257 miles if you can stretch to the bigger battery.
Inside it’s all a bit plain, but the materials aren’t offensively cheap and the infotainment works well enough, if a little more sluggish than more up-to-date alternatives. Back seat space is fine, if not quite as roomy as, say, the Cupra Born, while the 380-litre boot is average among similarly sized cars.
Average kind of sums up the Citroen e-C4. It does everything well enough; it doesn’t necessarily excel in any area beyond its comfortable drive, but it’s not really terrible in any way either, making it a decent all-rounder.
Battery range up to 249 miles
What's good
What’s not so good
Best for: inner-city fun
When it comes to small, affordable electric cars that don’t make you feel like you’re working to a budget, the Mini Cooper Electric is one of the best.
It’s easy to joke about Minis not really being mini anymore, but the Cooper Electric is a small car by modern standards, and with its punchy electric motor feels like the perfect choice when nipping about in heavy traffic. It’s good fun on a twisty road, too, though the suspension does make the car rather jiggle about over bumps.
Space is your biggest problem, though. In the front it’s fine, but rear seat space is so limited it’s a struggle to even get a child seat in, while boot space is just 210 litres, compared with 311 litres in a Peugeot E-208.
Still, the interior design more than makes up for that. You get fabric covering most of the dashboard, which gives a uniquely upmarket feel, as well as toggle switches that are satisfying to use. The circular infotainment display is another cool feature, and the graphics are sharp, but it can be quite clunky to use.
Entry-level ‘E’ models are temptingly affordable, but do come with a range of just 190 miles. It’s worth spending a bit more if you can to get the ‘SE’ as the bigger battery offers 249 miles between charges.
When it comes to small, affordable electric cars that don’t make you feel like you’re working to a budget, the Mini Cooper Electric is one of the best.
It’s easy to joke about Minis not really being mini anymore, but the Cooper Electric is a small car by modern standards, and with its punchy electric motor feels like the perfect choice when nipping about in heavy traffic. It’s good fun on a twisty road, too, though the suspension does make the car rather jiggle about over bumps.
Space is your biggest problem, though. In the front it’s fine, but rear seat space is so limited it’s a struggle to even get a child seat in, while boot space is just 210 litres, compared with 311 litres in a Peugeot E-208.
Still, the interior design more than makes up for that. You get fabric covering most of the dashboard, which gives a uniquely upmarket feel, as well as toggle switches that are satisfying to use. The circular infotainment display is another cool feature, and the graphics are sharp, but it can be quite clunky to use.
Entry-level ‘E’ models are temptingly affordable, but do come with a range of just 190 miles. It’s worth spending a bit more if you can to get the ‘SE’ as the bigger battery offers 249 miles between charges.
Best for: retro style
The Fiat 500e takes all of the cool retro design features we’ve loved about the petrol model, and brings it up to date with a modern twist and zero-emission power.
It’s one of the few truly small cars still on sale today, which has its pros and cons. The upside is the fact that it’s perfect for driving in the city, with light controls and a tight turning circle making squeezing in small gaps a breeze. You can also put it in one-pedal mode, which means you don’t need to press the brake to stop, it just uses regenerative braking to slow the car and save some energy.
Practicality is actually surprisingly good in the front, with some useful storage options and door bins that can swallow a decent-sized bottle. However, the back seats are borderline unusable for adults and you’ll struggle to fit a child seat. The boot is tiny, too, at just 185 litres.
If you don’t need loads of space though, there’s a lot to love about the Fiat 500e. The cabin isn’t exactly posh, but you get a fun design with a cool old-school two-spoke steering wheel.
Range isn’t fantastic, with a maximum distance of 199 miles, though the small battery does at least mean a 15-80% charge only takes around 30 minutes, on par with more expensive models with bigger batteries and faster charging.
The Fiat 500e takes all of the cool retro design features we’ve loved about the petrol model, and brings it up to date with a modern twist and zero-emission power.
It’s one of the few truly small cars still on sale today, which has its pros and cons. The upside is the fact that it’s perfect for driving in the city, with light controls and a tight turning circle making squeezing in small gaps a breeze. You can also put it in one-pedal mode, which means you don’t need to press the brake to stop, it just uses regenerative braking to slow the car and save some energy.
Practicality is actually surprisingly good in the front, with some useful storage options and door bins that can swallow a decent-sized bottle. However, the back seats are borderline unusable for adults and you’ll struggle to fit a child seat. The boot is tiny, too, at just 185 litres.
If you don’t need loads of space though, there’s a lot to love about the Fiat 500e. The cabin isn’t exactly posh, but you get a fun design with a cool old-school two-spoke steering wheel.
Range isn’t fantastic, with a maximum distance of 199 miles, though the small battery does at least mean a 15-80% charge only takes around 30 minutes, on par with more expensive models with bigger batteries and faster charging.
Best for: budget family car
The MG ZS EV hasn’t quite kept up with the times, but it’s still a solid electric SUV that’s worthy of consideration.
When it first went on sale, there was nothing else really like it for the price, but as more alternatives have become available, it’s a bit trickier to recommend. Still, it’s one of the most affordable electric SUVs you can buy.
As such, you get a decent amount of space, making it a viable family car, because the boot is big enough for all the kids’ things – bigger than most alternatives offer, actually. The rear seats are acceptably spacious, so teenagers and child seats fit without too much fuss.
The interior doesn’t feel particularly special, but top-spec models get natty contrast stitching. The infotainment system is a bit clunky, but you get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, so you can get by with those just fine.
It’s town driving where the MG ZS EV is at its best, soaking up bumps nicely. The controls are nice and light too, so it’s pretty relaxing to pootle around at 30mph. Things get a bit noisy and unrefined at motorway speeds, though.
Basic models only get 198 miles of range, but you can get a bigger battery and increase that to 273 miles. We’ve seen reasonable efficiency of 3.4 miles per kWh during testing, indicating a respectable 232 miles in the real world.
The MG ZS EV hasn’t quite kept up with the times, but it’s still a solid electric SUV that’s worthy of consideration.
When it first went on sale, there was nothing else really like it for the price, but as more alternatives have become available, it’s a bit trickier to recommend. Still, it’s one of the most affordable electric SUVs you can buy.
As such, you get a decent amount of space, making it a viable family car, because the boot is big enough for all the kids’ things – bigger than most alternatives offer, actually. The rear seats are acceptably spacious, so teenagers and child seats fit without too much fuss.
The interior doesn’t feel particularly special, but top-spec models get natty contrast stitching. The infotainment system is a bit clunky, but you get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, so you can get by with those just fine.
It’s town driving where the MG ZS EV is at its best, soaking up bumps nicely. The controls are nice and light too, so it’s pretty relaxing to pootle around at 30mph. Things get a bit noisy and unrefined at motorway speeds, though.
Basic models only get 198 miles of range, but you can get a bigger battery and increase that to 273 miles. We’ve seen reasonable efficiency of 3.4 miles per kWh during testing, indicating a respectable 232 miles in the real world.
Battery range up to 252 miles
What's good
What’s not so good
Best for: simple electric transition
The Vauxhall Corsa has long been one of the UK’s favourite cars, and the electric version retains all of the ingredients that have made it so popular.
For a start, it’s decent value for money, if you go for the entry-level models at least. Things get unnecessarily expensive when you get to higher trims, putting the price on par with posher, more practical alternatives.
Entry-level ‘Yes’ models only have a range of 219 miles, but are much cheaper than the rest of the line-up and feel like a great option if you don’t do big miles. Step up to the Design trim with the (slightly) bigger battery and you get a more palatable 252 miles of range and some extra luxuries. Useful, but quite a bit more expensive, so you have to think about what’s important to you.
Behind the wheel the Vauxhall Corsa Electric is a lovely thing to get around in. It feels more safe and secure than most cars this size, and it deals really well with bumps, too. It’s quiet and refined at higher speeds, which makes it good for motorway driving.
Inside it’s rather plain, with the likes of the Peugeot E-208 having a far more stylish cabin. Rear seat space and boot capacity aren’t as good as alternatives either, but it’s nice and roomy in the front.
The Vauxhall Corsa has long been one of the UK’s favourite cars, and the electric version retains all of the ingredients that have made it so popular.
For a start, it’s decent value for money, if you go for the entry-level models at least. Things get unnecessarily expensive when you get to higher trims, putting the price on par with posher, more practical alternatives.
Entry-level ‘Yes’ models only have a range of 219 miles, but are much cheaper than the rest of the line-up and feel like a great option if you don’t do big miles. Step up to the Design trim with the (slightly) bigger battery and you get a more palatable 252 miles of range and some extra luxuries. Useful, but quite a bit more expensive, so you have to think about what’s important to you.
Behind the wheel the Vauxhall Corsa Electric is a lovely thing to get around in. It feels more safe and secure than most cars this size, and it deals really well with bumps, too. It’s quiet and refined at higher speeds, which makes it good for motorway driving.
Inside it’s rather plain, with the likes of the Peugeot E-208 having a far more stylish cabin. Rear seat space and boot capacity aren’t as good as alternatives either, but it’s nice and roomy in the front.
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How to choose the best cheap electric car for you
Your budget
The first thing to think about is how much money you have to spend, because that will help eliminate any models that are out of your budget. It’s also worth considering things like insurance and running costs that could bite you further down the line. Reliability can be key, too, so consider what warranties are available.
Your needs
When it comes to buying any car, you should think about what you want it for, but that’s particularly true when looking at a cheap electric car. The reason being that there are often compromises made to keep costs low. For example, most of these cars are small, with some prioritising boot space over room in the cabin or vice versa. Others keep costs low by fitting a small battery with a low range, which could be a problem if you can’t charge at home or have a long commute.
Charging
If you’re making the switch to an electric car for the first time, it’s important to consider the financial costs involved in charging. EVs are usually only cheaper if you can charge at home, or perhaps have access to subsidised charging at work. If you’re relying on public fast chargers they can end up costing you more in the long run than petrol or diesel, and you’ll spend evenings waiting around in car parks to top up when you could be relaxing at home.
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Electric cars can offer real value for money, even if they’re not necessarily cheap to buy. If you want to know more, our FAQs should help you decide if now is the time to switch...
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