Cheapest electric cars: UK's most affordable EVs
Tempted by an electric car, but worried about the price? Well, here we reveal the cheapest EVs on sale, and some of them are more affordable than you might think...
Electric cars are not known for their low purchase cost yet, because they're still relatively new to our roads. However, as more cars are launched and the years go by, this is slowly starting to change.
Manufacturers are beginning to expand their horizons by producing body styles to suit the needs (and wallets) of a wider variety of buyers. This means there are now many more cars to choose from, including different sizes of electric car and electric SUV.
Some models have been on the market for several years now too, which means that there are some great discounts available.
So, which are the cheapest electric cars on sale? Here, we name the 16 cheapest cars and show you how much you can save on each of them by using our Target Price deals and our free What Car? New Car Buying service.
You can follow the links below to read our full review of each model and see our latest deals.
About the author
George Hill is the staff writer at What Car? and joined the team in 2021. He writes and creates content of all forms, including news, features and reviews. In particular, George looks after the deals content at What Car?. This means that he keeps a close eye on the automotive industry and new car discounts across the UK, and uses What Car?'s Target Price data to create content for buyers who are looking for the best possible new car deals.
Citroën Ami
Version Ami | List price £8095 | Target Price £8095
The cheapest electric car you can currently buy is the Citroën Ami. And while the Ami is technically more of a quadricycle than a full-blown car, it's a vehicle that you could use everyday for a short urban commute. Indeed, that's the only scenario where we would recommend you use the Ami, because its top speed is limited to 28mph and the official range is 46 miles. In any other situation, it can feel unsafe to drive.
Read our full Citroën Ami review >>
Pros
- Surprisingly spacious for two
- Low purchase and running costs
- Zippy city acceleration
Cons
- Limited range
- 28mph top speed
- Safety concerns
BYD Dolphin
Version Active | List price £26,195 | Target Price £26,195
Chinese car company BYD has recently launched the Dolphin small electric car. Despite being well priced and spacious, it isn't especially good to drive, with wallowy handling and a firm ride. 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.
Read our full BYD Dolphin review >>
Pros
- Pleasant interior with showroom appeal
- Comfortable ride around town
- Plenty of interior space
Cons
- Slower charging than rivals
- Wobblier than rivals on undulating roads
- Brake feel takes some getting used to
MG4
Version Standard Range SE | List price £26,995 | Target Price £26,330
The MG4 was a bit of a game-changer in the electric car world when it was first launched, and that's because it undercut nearly all of its rivals on price. This entry-level version, for example, undercuts the equivalent Volkswagen ID 3 by almost £10,000. For the money, you're also getting a car that's decent to drive and comfortable. However, it does feel cheap in places.
Read our full MG4 review >>
Pros
- Incredibly well priced
- Competitive range between charges
- Long warranty
Cons
- Some interior materials disappoint
- Slightly unsettled ride
- Infotainment system is fiddly
Fiat 500 Electric
Version 24kWh 500 | List price £28,195 | Target Price £24,169
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, pokey performance and tidy handling make it brilliant for nipping in and out of traffic.
Read our full Fiat 500 review >>
Pros
- Decent range between charges
- Fun to drive around town
- Stacks up well financially
Cons
- Tiny rear seats
- Noisy on the motorway
- Rivals have longer electric ranges
Nissan Leaf
Version 40kWh Shiro | List price £28,495 | Target Price £24,970
The Nissan Leaf is reasonable to drive, well equipped and pretty easy to live with – but is falling 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 40kWh Leaf still makes some sense.
Read our full Nissan Leaf review >>
Pros
- 39kWh model is quite comfy
- Lots of standard kit
- Big boot
Cons
- Rear headroom is tight
- Flawed driving position
- Risk of injuries in a crash
Renault Zoe
Version R135 Techno | List price £29,995 | Target Price £27,291
The Renault Zoe is great value, fairly practical and has a competitive official range of 239 miles with the R135 version. Its flawed driving position, terrible safety rating and less comfortable ride make the Peugeot e-208 a better overall buy, though – but that's assuming you can live with the e-208's shorter range.
Read our full Renault Zoe review >>
Pros
- Longer range than most rivals
- Smart interior
- Relatively big boot
Cons
- Rear head room could be better
- Terrible safety rating
- CCS charging costs extra on some versions
MG ZS EV
Version SE EV | List price £30,495 | Target Price £28,517
Like the idea of an electric car with a high-driving position? Well, the MG ZS EV could be a good option if you're on a budget, because it's the cheapest electric SUV you can currently buy. Despite it's keen pricing, the ZS EV is a commendable offering; the interior is smart for the money and you get a good amount of kit as standard with SE trim. The official range of 198 miles with this entry-level car could be better, though.
Read our full MG ZS EV review >>
Pros
- More practical than similarly priced electric cars
- Long Range version has an impressive range
- Cheaper than rival electric SUVs
Cons
- Mediocre to drive
- Not the quietest cruiser
- Many electric cars can charge up quicker
MG5
Version SE | List price £30,995 | Target Price £30,077
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 certainly much cheaper than the Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo and Sport Turismo (the only other electric estate cars you can buy). 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.
Read our full MG5 review >>
Pros
- Relatively good electric range
- Low cash price
- Sprightly performance and comfy
Cons
- Infotainment system could be easier to use
- Rivals can charge up a little quicker
- Not much fun to drive
Mazda MX-30
Version Prime Line | List price £31,250 | Target Price £29,846
The Mazda MX-30 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. However, its official range of just 124 miles trails a long way behind many rivals, and it isn't all that practical.
Read our full Mazda MX-30 review >>
Pros
- Good ride and handling balance
- Smart interior with great infotainment system
- Well equipped
Cons
- Pathetic pure electric range
- EV loses its value very quickly
- Poor rear-seat space
Peugeot e-208
Version Active | List price £31,200 | Target Price £31,200
The Peugeot e-208 looks the part, has a great interior and is 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 and has a longer range). The entry-level Active comes with LED headlights, a digital driver's display and a 10in infotainment screen.
Read our full Peugeot e-208 review >>
Pros
- Classy interior
- Decent to drive
- Well equipped
Cons
- Expensive
- Cramped in the back
- Driving position won’t suit everyone
Ora Funky Cat
Version First Edition | List price £31,995 | Target Price £31,995
It may be competitively priced and well equipped, but the Ora Funky Cat is flawed in areas such as range, practicality and driving manners. If you're looking for a well-rounded but affordable electric car, we'd recommend you look at the MG4 or Peugeot e-208 instead.
Read our full Ora Funky Cat review >>
Pros
- Great level of safety
- Good rear seat space
- Long warranty
Cons
- Tiny boot
- Poor infotainment system
- Many rivals ride and handle better
Citroën e-C4
Version You | List price £32,195 | Target Price £30,733
If you're in the market for a stylish-looking coupé SUV – and also quite fancy an electric car – the Citroën e-C4 could be an ideal option. It’s practical (despite its swooping roofline), smart inside and comfortable. The entry-level Sense comes well equipped with dual-zone climate control, keyless entry and plenty of safety equipment.
Read our full Citroën e-C4 review >>
Pros
- Mainly cushy ride
- Good quality interior
- Hushed at motorway speeds
Cons
- Relatively slow acceleration
- Not as roomy as some rivals
- Competent handling but not particularly fun to drive
Citroën e-Berlingo
Version Feel | List price £32,225 | Target Price £30,733
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 that the interior isn't exactly plush with its hard, scratchy materials. Feel trim does at least come with a decent amount of kit, including automatic lights and wipers, an 8.0in infotainment system and rear parking sensors.
Read our full Citroën e-Berlingo review >>
Pros
- Great practicality
- Performance rivals the regular petrol Berlingo
- Lots of standard safety kit
Cons
- Fiddly infotainment system
- Some storage solutions are optional
- Could use some more range
Vauxhall Corsa Electric
Version Design | List price £32,445 | Target Price £30,634
The Corsa Electric is Vauxhall's cheapest electric car and it's a fine offering. The entry-level Design comes with a good level of standard equipment, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto phone mirroring, lane departure warning and rear parking sensors.
Read our full Vauxhall Corsa Electric review >>
Pros
- Relatively well priced
- Respectable charging speeds
- Plenty of standard kit
Cons
- Disappointing Euro NCAP safety rating
- Rivals are nicer to drive
- Reliability could be better
Mini Electric
Version Level 2 | List price £32,550 | Target Price £30,761
The Mini Electric is a compelling package; it's great to drive and has a smart interior. However, if range is a top priority, you'll want to look elsewhere, because officially it can cover only 145 miles between top-ups. Or, if you're happy to wait, there's a new version of the Mini Electric just around the corner (called the Mini Cooper E) with an official range of 188 miles.
Read our full Mini Electric review >>
Pros
- Nippy acceleration
- High quality interior
- Surprisingly well priced
Cons
- Limited range between charges
- Firm ride
- Tight on rear and boot space
Peugeot e-Rifter
Version Allure | List price £33,270 | Target Price £31,897
You may think you're seeing double, because the Peugeot e-Rifter looks very similar to the Citroën e-Berlingo. Like that car, it's peaceful to drive and very practical, plus it has an official range of 172 miles. It also comes with a similar amount of kit as its Citroën sibling, but you do have to pay marginally more for the e-Rifter.
Read our full Peugeot e-Rifter review >>
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Pros
- Great practicality
- No performance penalty compared with the petrol Rifter
- Lots of standard safety kit
Cons
- Fiddly infotainment system
- Could use some more range
- Small steering wheel may not be to all tastes
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