Cheapest electric cars: UK's most affordable EVs

Think all electric cars are expensive? Well, these models prove otherwise – especially after you've factored in the discounts available through our free New Car Deals service...

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by
George Hill
Published19 October 2024

It's a myth that all electric cars are expensive, because there are some models which won't cost you a lot to buy at all – and of course, if you can charge them up at home or at work, they will also slash your running costs compared with a traditional petrol or diesel-powered car.

There are now more electric cars to choose from than ever before, because car makers have expanded their line-ups to appeal to as many buyers as possible. They've been encouraged to do so, because the recently introduced ZEV mandate states that 22% of new cars sold in 2024 must be electric – and that number will only increase in coming years.

Citroen e-C3 side driving with Target Price logo

The need to sell more electric cars has lead to some tempting discounts, and not just on the smallest models – you'll see some electric SUVs on this list as well as electric cars.

So, which are the cheapest electric cars on sale? Here, we name the cheapest electric cars by list price, and show you how much you can save by using our free online New Car Deals service, which links you to dealers who have brand-new examples in stock now at heavily discounted prices.

If you want a quick answer, the cheapest electric vehicle (EV) is the Citroën Ami, but since it's technically classed as a quadricycle, the cheapest electric car is the Dacia Spring.

Driving
Interior
Practicality
Buying & Owning

Strengths

  • Surprisingly spacious for two
  • Low purchase and running costs
  • Zippy city acceleration

Weaknesses

  • Limited range
  • 28mph top speed
  • Safety concerns

Version Ami | List price £7695

The cheapest electric car you can buy isn't technically a car at all. You see, the Citroën Ami is technically classed as a quadricycle, which means you can drive it at the age of 16 in the UK, as long as you have a special licence.

It's not what you'd call fast, with its top speed limited to just 28mph – and nor will it get you far on a charge, because the official range is just 46 miles. That means the Ami is best suited to tight urban roads, and that's exactly where we suggest you keep it, because the tiny Citroën quickly feels out of its depth on country roads.

This low price is for the most basic version of the Ami, which comes with LED headlights, a USB charging socket, a heating and cooling fan, steel wheels and not much else. You can pay more for the Ami Pop, which adds extra colour details, while the Ami Tonic brings bespoke wheel trims and roof rails to make the Ami look a little more car-like.

Read our full Citroën Ami review

Our pick: 27kWh Extreme 65 48kW 5dr Auto

0-62mph: 13.7 sec
CO2 emissions: 0g/km
Seats: 4
Boot: 308 litres
Insurance group: 25A
Driving
Interior
Practicality
Buying & Owning

Strengths

  • Decent low-speed ride
  • It’s the cheapest EV currently on sale
  • Nippier than you’d expect

Weaknesses

  • Terrible safety rating
  • Limited real-world range
  • Slow charging rate

Version Expression | List price £14,995 | Available from £14,135

In the same way that the Dacia Sandero is one of the cheapest new cars you can buy that's powered by petrol, the Dacia Spring does the same job for electric cars. 

Just like the Sandero, there are some compromises to be made in the search for that low cost – so while the Spring's 26.8kWh battery offers an official range of 140 miles, most electric car rivals can go substantially further between charges. Likewise, even the most powerful 44bhp version of the Spring needs 14.0sec to get to motorway speeds, and even the Citroën e-C3 will beat it up to 62mph.

What the Spring is, though, is practical, with a decent boot which can easily hold your weekly shop, and a dedicated place to store your charging cables under the front bonnet.

As you might expect, equipment on the entry-level Expression models is a little basic, with cruise control, electric front windows and rear parking sensors. Our preferred Extreme trim comes with some useful extras, including a 10.0in infotainment screen and electric rear windows, among other luxuries.

Read our full Dacia Spring review

Driving
Interior
Practicality
Buying & Owning

Strengths

  • A cheap electric SUV…
  • ...but doesn't feel cheap
  • Spacious interior considering its compact dimensions

Weaknesses

  • The real-world range might put you off
  • Charging speed is modest
  • Boot would benefit from a false floor

Version Plus | List price £21,990

What's especially surprising about the Citroën e-C3 is that for  its cheap-as-chips price tag, it doesn't feel especially cheap. Indeed, with an official range of up to 199 miles coming from its 43.7kWh battery, the small Citroën can travel further on a charge than the rival Dacia Spring.

It'll be comfortable for that distance, too, thanks to the French brand's 'Advanced Comfort Suspension' which helps to take the sting out of battered British roads. And in terms of smoothness, it's easier to modulate the e-C3's acceleration and braking than it is in the rival BYD Dolphin.

While the interior of the e-C3 isn't what you'd call plush, with plenty of hard plastics on display, it is spacious and thoughtfully designed. Indeed, a couple of taller passengers should be fine on the rear bench, and you can fit more into its boot than you can in some other electric cars. 

Read our full Citroën e-C3 review

Our pick: 87kW 42kWh 3dr Auto

0-62mph: 9 sec
CO2 emissions: 0g/km
Seats: 4
Boot: 185 litres
Insurance group: 17D
Driving
Interior
Practicality
Buying & Owning

Strengths

  • Decent range between charges
  • Fun to drive around town
  • Stacks up well financially

Weaknesses

  • Tiny rear seats
  • Noisy on the motorway
  • Rivals have longer electric ranges

Version 24kWh 500e | List price £24,995

The Fiat 500 is a funky little electric car, and it's also one of the cheapest if you go for this entry-level 24kWh version. That value does come at a price: a short official range of just 115 miles. However, if you live in an urban area that shouldn't be a problem. In fact, the 500 is arguably most at home in the city, because its small dimensions and tidy handling make it very easy to manoeuvre.

While the 94bhp version isn't our favourite, it's quick and responsive enough for stop-start traffic, with 0-62mph officially taking 9.5sec. It does run out of puff as you build up speed, though.

Read our full Fiat 500 Electric review

Driving
Interior
Practicality
Buying & Owning

Strengths

  • Good straightline performance
  • Comfortable ride around town
  • Plenty of interior space

Weaknesses

  • Slower charging than rivals
  • Wobblier than rivals on undulating roads
  • Brake feel takes getting used to at low speeds

Version Active | List price £26,195 | Available from £21,990

The Dolphin is BYD's smallest electric car. Despite being well priced and spacious, it isn't as comfortable or composed in the corners as the MG4 or Peugeot e-208. On the plus side, it is well equipped; this entry-level Active model comes with a 360-degree parking camera, vehicle-to-load charging (so you can run appliances with the car’s battery) and electrically-adjustable front seats.

Being the entry-level version, the Active is powered by a 44.9kWh (usable) battery that delivers an official range of 211 miles. For context, the MG4 SE should go slightly further, officially managing 218 miles, but it does have a larger battery.

Read our full BYD Dolphin review

Driving
Interior
Practicality
Buying & Owning

Strengths

  • Relatively well priced
  • Respectable charging speeds
  • Plenty of standard kit

Weaknesses

  • Disappointing Euro NCAP safety rating
  • Rivals are nicer to drive
  • Reliability could be better

Version 50kWh Yes | List price £26,895 | Available from £28,145

Vauxhall has added a new entry-level trim to the Corsa Electric range, which has cut the list price significantly. Called Yes trim, it offers a good amount of standard equipment for the money, including a 10.0in touchscreen (with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto phone mirroring), lane departure warning and rear parking sensors.

Vauxhall has kept the old 50kWh (total) battery version from the pre-facelift car to help keep the cost down. This means it can manage 221 miles officially between charges, which is slightly more than the Citroën e-C3 (199 miles) and MG4 SE (218 miles). If you want more range, the new, larger 51kWh battery version can manage 248 miles officially between charges, but it is more expensive.

Read our full Vauxhall Corsa Electric review

Our pick: 125kW SE EV 51kWh 5dr Auto

0-62mph: 7.7 sec
CO2 emissions: 0g/km
Seats: 5
Boot: 289 litres
Insurance group: 27D
Driving
Interior
Practicality
Buying & Owning

Strengths

  • Incredibly well priced
  • Competitive range between charges
  • Long warranty

Weaknesses

  • Some interior materials disappoint
  • Slightly unsettled ride
  • Infotainment system is fiddly

Version Standard Range SE | List price £26,995 | Available from £19,944

The MG4 was a bit of a game-changer in the electric car world when it was first launched in 2022, and that's because it undercut nearly all of its rivals on price, including the Volkswagen ID 3 by almost £10,000. However, more rivals have arrived since then, including the Citroën e-C3 and Dacia Spring, which are both significantly cheaper.

Despite that, the MG4 is still brilliant value, while being spacious, decent to drive and comfortable. This entry-level SE version comes with a good amount of standard kit, too, including adaptive cruise control, rear parking sensors and vehicle-to-load charging.

Read our full MG4 review

Our pick: 125kW R-EV Prime Line 5dr Auto

0-62mph: 9.1 sec
MPG/range: 282.5mpg
CO2 emissions: 21g/km
Seats: 5
Boot: 350 litres
Insurance group: 22E
Driving
Interior
Practicality
Buying & Owning

Strengths

  • Good ride and handling balance
  • Smart interior with great infotainment system
  • Well equipped

Weaknesses

  • Pathetic range
  • Loses its value quickly
  • Poor rear-seat space

Version Prime Line | List price £28,665 | Available from £17,995

The Mazda MX-30 EV is a relatively affordable and well-equipped electric SUV with a smart interior. Even the entry-level Prime Line comes with a head-up display, power-folding door mirrors and automatic wipers, for example. It's also good to drive, with a reasonably comfy ride, tidy handling and light, but direct steering. 

The issue with the MX-30 EV, however, is its range, because officially it can manage just 124 miles between charges, which is significantly less than most of its rivals. So, for that reason, we'd steer you towards the MX-30 R-EV plug-in hybrid instead, because it offers many of the same benefits of the electric model but adds a small petrol engine to boost the range. 

Read our full Mazda MX-30 review

Our pick: 110kW Acenta 39kWh 5dr Auto

0-62mph: 7.9 sec
CO2 emissions: 0g/km
Seats: 5
Boot: 435 litres
Insurance group: 24E
Reliability
Safety
Costs
Quality
Performance

Strengths

  • 39kWh model is quite comfy
  • Lots of standard kit
  • Big boot

Weaknesses

  • Rear headroom is tight
  • Flawed driving position
  • Risk of injuries in a crash

Version 39kWh Shiro | List price £28,790 | Available from £17,490

The Nissan Leaf is decent to drive, well equipped and pretty easy to live with – but falls behind much newer rivals. Many can go farther on a full charge and are plusher and better to drive. But if you're on a budget, the standard 39kWh Leaf still makes some sense.

The Shiro version is well equipped, and includes an 8.0in touchscreen (with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto phone mirroring), a 360-degree reversing camera and heated front and rear seats as standard. It's also reasonably spacious, with a big boot that beats its closest rivals for luggage space, including the MG4 and Mini Cooper Electric.

Read our full Nissan Leaf review

Driving
Interior
Practicality
Buying & Owning

Strengths

  • Smart interior
  • Decent to drive
  • Well equipped

Weaknesses

  • Expensive
  • Cramped in the back
  • Driving position won’t suit everyone

Version 50kWh Allure | List price £29,895

The Peugeot e-208 is stylish, smart inside and decent to drive. It's also the cheapest electric car Peugeot offers (it's a fair bit cheaper than its slightly larger e-2008 sibling, plus it has a longer range). The entry-level Active comes with LED headlights, a digital driver's display and a 10.0in infotainment screen.

Being closely related to the Vauxhall Corsa Electric, the e-208 is available with the same entry-level 50kWh (total) battery option and 134bhp electric motor. Performance is decent, with 0-62mph taking 8.1 seconds, but the official range is rated at 224 miles. For a better range between charges, the larger (and more expensive) 51kWh battery version can manage 248 miles officially.

Read our full Peugeot e-208 review

Our pick: 1.5 C Classic 3dr Auto

0-62mph: 7.7 sec
MPG/range: 47.9mpg
CO2 emissions: 133g/km
Seats: 4
Boot: 210 litres
Insurance group: 21E
Driving
Interior
Practicality
Buying & Owning

Strengths

  • Nippy acceleration
  • Grippy handling
  • Relatively slow predicted depreciation

Weaknesses

  • Range of Cooper E variant isn't great
  • Not very practical
  • So-so charging speeds

Version E Classic | List price £30,000

The latest fully electric version of the Mini Cooper is good to drive, with even the entry-level Cooper E model getting a 181bhp electric motor which allows the car to get to motorway speeds in a nippy 7.3sec. And while the battery is on the small size, with a usable capacity of 36.6kWh, it still offers up to 190 miles of official range – enough for most commuters, especially if you can charge at home.

It's not very big inside, though, and you'll fit more luggage into the boot of the MG4 or Peugeot e-208. But there's no knocking the Cooper E's price – even though you might want to have a look at the options list to get some of the luxuries which come with the more expensive Exclusive and sport models. We'd recommend choosing the Level 1 package, for example, which brings keyless entry, wireless phone charging and heated front seats.

Read our full Mini Cooper review

Our pick: 1.5 VTi-TECH Excite 5dr

0-62mph: 10.9 sec
MPG/range: 42.7mpg
CO2 emissions: 149g/km
Seats: 5
Boot: 448 litres
Insurance group: 15E
Driving
Interior
Practicality
Buying & Owning

Strengths

  • More practical than similarly priced electric cars
  • Long Range version has an impressive range
  • Cheaper than rival electric SUVs

Weaknesses

  • Mediocre to drive
  • Not the quietest cruiser
  • Many electric cars can charge up quicker

Version SE EV | List price £30,495 

Previously, the MG ZS EV was the cheapest electric SUV you could buy new. However, the Mazda MX-30 EV and Vauxhall Mokka Electric have both had a big price cut, so those cars are now significantly cheaper. 

Despite that, the ZS EV is still very well priced, plus it has a smart interior and you get a good amount of kit as standard with SE trim, including keyless entry, adaptive cruise control and automatic LED lights. The official range of 198 miles with the SE version isn't great, but there is a more expensive Long Range version that can manage 273 miles officially.

Read our full MG ZS EV review

Our pick: 87kW 42kWh 3dr Auto

0-62mph: 9 sec
CO2 emissions: 0g/km
Seats: 4
Boot: 185 litres
Insurance group: 17D
Driving
Interior
Practicality
Buying & Owning

Strengths

  • Decent range between charges
  • Fun to drive around town
  • Stacks up well financially

Weaknesses

  • Tiny rear seats
  • Noisy on the motorway
  • Rivals have longer electric ranges

Version 42kWh 500 | List price £30,995  

Electric convertibles are very rare at the moment. However, the Fiat 500 Cabrio is one of the few you can buy, other than the MG Cyberster

Based on the regular Fiat 500 Electric, the Cabrio offers many of the same benefits as that car, including nippy performance, stylish looks and tidy handling. However, you do have to pay a bit more for the convertible version, not just for the folding roof, but because it's only available with the larger 42kWh battery. This means it can travel up to 199 miles officially between charges.

Read our full Fiat 500 review

14

MG5

Our pick: 115kW SE EV Long Range 61kWh 5dr Auto

0-62mph: 8.3 sec
CO2 emissions: 0g/km
Seats: 5
Boot: 479 litres
Insurance group: 30A
Driving
Interior
Practicality
Buying & Owning

Strengths

  • Relatively good electric range
  • Low cash price
  • Sprightly performance and comfy

Weaknesses

  • Infotainment system could be easier to use
  • Rivals can charge up more quickly
  • Not much fun to drive

Version SE | List price £30,995 | Available from £19,495

If you're looking for an electric estate car, you aren't exactly spoilt for choice. However, the MG5 is one of the few, and it's much cheaper than the Peugeot e-308 SW, Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo and Taycan Sport Turismo. Even at the lower end of the spectrum, the MG5 is comfortable, quiet and spacious, and a good choice if you're looking for a practical electric family car.

In terms of range, all versions of the MG5 are powered by a 57kWh (usable) battery that delivers an official range of 250 miles. That's slightly less than the e-308 SW's figure of 254 miles, but performance is much better; the electric motor produces 154bhp, which means it can blast from 0-62mph in 7.7 seconds. That's much quicker than the e-308 SW, which can cover the same sprint in 9.8 seconds.

Read our full MG5 review

Driving
Interior
Practicality
Buying & Owning

Strengths

  • Great practicality
  • Competitive pricing
  • Lots of standard safety kit

Weaknesses

  • Upper trim gets more flexible seating
  • Could do with more range
  • Brake pedal feel is inconsistent around town

Version 52kWh Plus | List price £31,135

The Citroën e-Berlingo's van origins brings more benefits than you might think. Being electric, it’s more peaceful to drive than the petrol and diesel versions, plus few cars can beat it for practicality. However, it's worth noting the interior isn't exactly plush, with plenty of hard, scratchy materials. Plus trim does at least come with a good amount of standard kit, including automatic lights and wipers, an 10.0in infotainment system and rear parking sensors.

The version quoted here comes with a 52kWh (total) battery, which means the e-Berlingo can travel up to 212 miles between charges, according to official tests. That's more than the MG ZS EV SE (198 miles) and the Vauxhall Mokka Electric (211 miles), but only just.

Read our full Citroën e-Berlingo review

Our pick: 200kW Premium 66kWh 5dr Auto

0-62mph: 6.7 sec
CO2 emissions: 0g/km
Seats: 5
Boot: 313 litres
Insurance group: 32E
Driving
Interior
Practicality
Buying & Owning

Strengths

  • Great to drive
  • Plush, high-quality interior
  • Great safety rating

Weaknesses

  • Small boot
  • Slightly choppy low-speed ride
  • Efficiency could be better

Version Pro | List price £31,950

The #1 is one of our favourite electric SUVs. It's nippy, smart inside and surprisingly spacious in the back, plus it can charge more quickly than a Hyundai Kona Electric and Kia Niro EV. Unless you need a big boot, it's a great buy. 

The version quoted here is the entry-level Pro version. It produces 268bhp from a single electric motor, which means it can go from 0-62mph in 6.7 seconds. However, it's powered by a 47kWh (usable capacity) battery, which means it can travel 193 miles between charges – that's less a MG ZS EV SE and Vauxhall Mokka Electric. For a longer range, we'd recommend going for the Premium version, which can travel up to 273 miles officially.

Read our full Smart #1 review

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FAQs

Why are second-hand electric cars cheap?

The price of second-hand electric cars saw a sudden drop in 2023. While there were many factors that contributed to this, the main reason was largely supply and demand. In the previous two years, demand for new electric cars outstripped supply (fuelled by the semi-conductor shortage), which meant that prices of second-hand models remained strong. However, supply eventually caught up with demand, which meant the prices of second-hand examples dropped. Other factors, such as rising electricity prices (sparked by Russia's invasion of Ukraine) and Tesla slashing the prices of its new cars had an impact, too.

Is it worth switching to an electric car?

There are many benefits of driving an electric car, including zero-emission driving, low maintenance costs and nippy performance. If you have a home charger, it can also be very cost-effective.

Are electric cars still cheaper than petrol?

Our petrol vs electric car test in 2022 concluded that electric cars were more expensive to run than petrol equivalents, but only when using public charging points. If you charge an electric car at home, the running costs are significantly cheaper than public charging.

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