Top 5 new electric cars for £30k

5. Vauxhall Corsa-e GS Line

List price £29,305 Target Price £27,806 PCP £401 0-62mph 8.1sec Official range 217 miles Real range (est) 140-170 miles Peak charging rate 100kW Minimum charging time (10-80%) 26min

Don’t buy a Corsa-e if you want to stand out from the crowd, because it’s the electric version of Britain’s most popular car. And other than some discreet badging, you’d struggle to tell the difference between it and a petrol model.

But if you’re happy to blend in (and what’s wrong with that?), there are some compelling reasons to consider a Corsa-e. For starters, it has a respectable range of around 170 miles in warmer weather, plus it can charge at a faster rate than most of the other cars here, with a 10-80% top-up potentially taking less than half an hour.

Acceleration is nippy, too – especially around town – and the Corsa-e benefits from a better driving position than the closely related Peugeot e-208, along with significantly cheaper monthly PCP repayments. Standard equipment in this entry-level GS Line trim is respectable, too, although you have to make do with a rather small (7.0in) touchscreen infotainment system. Ultimate trim gets you a 10.0in screen but also pushes the price up by more than £2500.

What Car? rating 3 stars out of 5

4. Mini Electric Level 2

List price £31,000 Target Price £30,544 PCP £425 0-62mph 7.3sec Official range 142 miles Real range (est) 85-120 miles Peak charging rate 50kW Minimum charging time (10-80%) 29min

Arguably the most desirable small car around powered by batteries instead of a petrol engine, and for a price that undercuts an equivalent Peugeot 208. What’s the catch? Well, there is one, but before we come to it, let’s run you through some of the many positives.

The Mini is the quickest car in our line-up and easily the most fun to drive, plus it has the most upmarket interior and there are plenty of personalisation options. You can choose from five exterior colours, five alloy wheel designs and various roof and mirror combinations without pushing
the price up by a penny.

In fact, the Mini Electric is a fine choice if you’re looking for a second or even third car for popping to the shops or taking
the kids to school (although if you have teenagers, it’s worth noting that rear head room is even worse than in the Mini hatchback). However, it makes little sense as an only car because of its paltry range; even trips of 100 miles are out of the question in the coldest months of the year.

What Car? rating 4 stars out of 5

3. MG ZS EV SE

List price £29,495 Target Price £28,986 PCP £363 0-62mph 8.0sec Official range 198 miles Real range (est) 140-170 miles Peak charging rate 75kW Minimum charging time (10-80%) 43min

The MG ZS is small by SUV standards, but it’s pretty big compared with most of the cars in this list. Indeed, it’s the best option for £30k if you regularly need to put tall people in the back and luggage in the boot. You might also want to consider the MG 5 estate, which is similarly practical and costs about the same; the only reason it isn’t here is because we haven’t yet had the chance to test the latest, facelifted version.

The ZS doesn’t only impress for space, though. Go for the entry-level model and you’ll get a 49kWh battery that delivers a real-world range of 140-170 miles, depending on the weather and how you drive. If your budget can stretch to £32k, there’s a Long Range version that boosts distances between charges by 60-70 miles and can charge up faster – although even this cheaper version can accept a respectable 75kW for a 10-80% top-up in less than 45 minutes.

And given its family car credentials, you’ll be pleased to know the ZS was awarded a full five stars for safety by Euro NCAP.

What Car? rating 4 stars out of 5

2. Fiat 500 42kWh Icon

List price £29,435 Target Price £28,934 PCP £379 0-62mph 9.0sec Official range 199 miles Real range (est) 115-140 miles Peak charging rate 85kW Minimum charging time (10-80%) 25min

For the same money as the MG ZS EV, you could have this tiny Fiat 500. That might not seem like a great deal, but for those who don’t need much space, it’s actually one of the best affordable electric cars.

We won’t bang on about the retro looks, because you’ll either love those or you won’t, but you will definitely like the way the 500 gets about town. Nippy acceleration, a tight turning circle and suspension that isn’t too badly upset by potholes and drain covers make this a great choice for urban environments, and thankfully the electric 500 has a much better driving position than the petrol version, which looks similar but is actually an entirely different car.

But unlike the equally retro Mini Electric, the 500 won’t leave you stricken with range anxiety the second you leave the city limits. True, its real-world range is a little disappointing, but trips of more than 100 miles should be comfortable enough even in the depths of winter, and relatively quick charging means you can go from 10-80% in around 25 minutes.

What Car? rating 4 stars out of 5

1. MG 4 SE Long Range

List price £28,495 Target Price £28,495 PCP £333 0-60mph 7.7sec Official range 281 miles Real range (est) 190-235 miles Peak charging rate 135kW Minimum charging time (10-80%) 34min

Believe it or not, MG is currently selling more cars than Land Rover, Volvo and even Skoda. Its value-focused line-up could have been tailor-made for the cost of living crisis and, with only a handful of models to choose from, the Chinese-owned brand is only just getting started.

Its latest offering is the MG 4, an electric hatchback that’s roughly the same size as a Volkswagen ID 3 but costs thousands less to buy. So, unlike the Fiat 500, Mini and even Vauxhall Corsa-e, this is a practical family car with plenty of space for four adults and a decent boot. Yet it also has a longer range then any car in its price bracket and can accept more charging power.

And here’s the thing: despite all that, the MG 4 is the cheapest car in this countdown even in its pricier Long Range form. Go for the entry-level SE model and the price drops to £25,995, you get the same amount of kit and the official range is still a respectable 218 miles. The best electric car you can buy with a budget of £30k? You bet.

What Car? rating 5 stars out of 5

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