Electric cars are getting cheaper, which is great news for those who want to make the switch. The reasons why are varied, but growing demand for the technology in the fleet market, an influx of cheap EV manufacturers from China and the government’s ZEV mandate are forcing car makers to drag their prices down.
This change in attitude doesn’t come a moment too soon, because the UK is gearing up to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars in 2030. There is hope, though. Vauxhall has managed to get the price of its entry-level electric cars down to the same price of their petrol-engine equivalents – and a fresh market of £20,000-ish EVs has started to hit its stride.
We’ve organised the list of Britain’s cheapest electric cars by each model’s cash price, as finance tends to blur the lines of affordability. However we’ve also included links to leasing deals further down the page to give you an idea of the monthly cost, if you’d prefer to pay for your car in chunks.
The cheapest electric cars on sale now
- £14,995: Dacia Spring
- £15,995: Leapmotor T03
- £20,995: Fiat Grande Panda
- £21,990: Citroen e-C3
- £22,990: Citroen e-C3 Aircross
- £22,995: Renault 5 E-Tech
- £23,495: Hyundai Inster
- £23,495: Vauxhall Frontera Electric
- £24,995: GWM Ora 03
- £27,005: MG4 EV
Best for: it's the cheapest electric car on sale today
We certainly wouldn't spend our money on it. We'd much rather spend an extra £1,000 on the far safer Leapmotor T03. Alternatively, head down to your local Vauxhall garage and screw the dealer down on a cut-price Corsa Electric. They're piling up on forecourts, so dealers are being forced to give them away to clear space for newer stock. Just don't buy the Spring – and if you do, don't put your children in it.
To find out more, read our full Dacia Spring review
Pros
- It's very, very cheap
- Seven-year warranty
- Simple interior layout
Cons
- Very flawed to drive
- One-star safety rating
Unparalled value for an EV
It's far from perfect, but that's to be expected for the money. Some of the cabin materials are quite harsh and the weedy 94hp motor barely has enough waft to motivate the T03 out of its own way. The seats aren't very comfortable, either. Compared to the Spring, though, it's in a different league.
To find out more, read our full Leapmotor T03 review
Pros
- Easy to steer around town
- Well equipped for the price
- Decent driving dynamics
Cons
- Not that comfortable
- Only one weak motor
Exciting design and exceptional value
That aside, the new Grande Panda's pricing will grab your attention. Starting at just £20,975 it undercuts the Renault 5 E-Tech and Hyundai Inster as well as the closely-related Citroen e-C3 and Vauxhall Frontera. Just because it's cheap and cheerful don't think it isn't useable – it offers 199 miles of WLTP driving range and has all of the equipment today's driver's expect.
To find out more, read our full Fiat Grande Panda review
Pros
- Exceptional value for money
- Funky, yet practical, design
- Comfortable and easy to drive
Cons
- Rear seats are a little cramped
- Driving range isn somewhat optimistic
Comfy, spacious and good value for money
Priced from £21,990, you get a lot of car for your money, and it retains many of Citroen's core strengths. These include exceptional ride comfort (especially for a small car), plenty of interior space and also a funky design to help it stand out.
To find out more, read our full Citroen e-C3 review
Pros
- Very comfortable
- Spacious rear seats
- Good value for money
Cons
- Vague steering
- Boot isn't a very useful shape
The cheapest electric SUV on sale today...
You can’t have a seven-seater version, which the non-electric C3 Aircross offers, and the driving range is limited to 188 miles WLTP, with an associated drop in performance compared with the smaller car. But the e-C3 Aircross is great value, comfortable and not bad to drive. Intriguing to this area of the market developing so quickly, and a larger battery pack is being promised for the future.
To find out more read our full Citroen e-C3 Aircross review
Pros
- Terrific value for money
- Comfortable ride
- Generous interior space
Cons
- Rather slow performance
- Driving range could be longer
Super-cool, super-desirable, if you don't mind a bit of a wait...
It's comfortable and perky to drive, surprisingly roomy inside, has some neat features including V2L, V2G, a standard heat pump and the ability to tow a 500kg trailer. If estimated prices are to be believed, it’s will also offer fantastic value, despite being one of the coolest-looking cars out there. Renault traditionally offers excellent PCP finance, and the new 5 E-Tech is no exception, with competitive leasing deals also available.
To find out more, read our full Renault 5 E-Tech review
Pros
- Striking looks inside and out
- Excellent ride and handling
- Brilliant finance deals
Cons
- You'll have to wait until 2025
- Not particularly fast charging
EV cool for the Insta generation
If you’re looking for an affordable and stylish runabout that doesn’t feel compromised in every area, then the Inster should be near at the top of your must-drive list. We'll know for sure when we drive the definitive production version, but the models we've driven so far have enjoyed an impressive combination of efficiency and fun with a surprisingly retro interior.
To find out more, read our full Hyundai Inster review
Pros
- Incredibly spacious interior
- Attractive retro design
- Quite fun to drive
Cons
- Occassionally crashy ride
- Only has four seats
Far better than its price tag would lead you to believe
There's enough space for four adults to sit in (reasonable) comfort, you get a massive 460 litres of boot space and the huge windows mean the inside feels rather airy. Yes, some of the interior plastics feel a bit cheap, but that's to be expected in a car that's £7,000 cheaper than than its nearest rival. Crucially, though, it doesn't feel £7,000 worse. Well done, Vauxhall.
To find out more, read our full Vauxhall Frontera Electric review
Pros
- Outstanding value for money
- Loads of space inside
- Comfortable ride
Cons
- Electric range trails rivals'
- Noticeable amount of road noise
Interesting alternative for mainstream EV
Still, you get an awful lot of car for your money. You get loads of standard equipment, including a pair of 10.25-inch screens, a 360-degree camera, keyless entry and enough safety tech to score it a five-star Euro NCAP rating. Boot space isn't fantastic at 228 litres and visibility is a little restricted. It's a worthwhile option if you're looking for something different.
To find out more, read our full GMW Ora 03 review
Pros
- Loads of equipment for the money
- Plush, bright and airy interior
- Spacious for passengers
Cons
- Tiny boot
- Poor infotainment
Incredible value and good to drive
But there’s more to it than just the low price, the MG4 EV is a genuinely good car. It has a spacious interior, comes well equipped, it’s comfortable and great to drive. Every model has a usefully long WLTP range of well over 200 miles and you get the reassurance of a seven-year warranty. It's so good, we named it our 2024 Car of the Year, and it remains one of the front-running EVs you can buy.
To find out more, read our full MG4 EV review
Pros
- Long range
- Good to drive
- Undercuts all rivals on price
Cons
- Touchscreen is fiddly
- Interior feels low rent in places
Verdict
The Renault 5 E-Tech stands out as a convincingly the best choice in this selection, seamlessly blending nostalgic design with modern technology. Its retro-inspired aesthetics pay homage to the original 1970s model, while the interior is super-stylish, well made and functional, including a very user-friendly infotainment system. This fusion of past and present creates a vehicle that appeals to both classic car enthusiasts and tech-savvy drivers.
Affordability is another key strength of the Renault 5 E-Tech. It undercuts many competitors in the small electric car segment without compromising on quality or features. This competitive pricing, combined with its stylish design and commendable performance, solidifies the Renault 5 E-Tech as a standout choice for those seeking an economical yet desirable electric vehicle – and that’s why right now, it’s the best of the cheapest electric cars in the UK right now – if not one of the best, full stop.
FAQ: cheapest electric car buying guide
How long until electric cars are as cheap as petrol cars?
Electric cars are getting cheaper, especially as more affordable models like the Dacia Spring, Leapmotor T03 and Citroen e-C3 arrive. But in general, EVs still cost a bit more than petrol cars to buy new, mainly because batteries are expensive to make.
Experts think that by around 2027 to 2030, electric cars could cost the same or even less than petrol cars, though. As battery prices drop and more models go on sale, competition should bring prices down, and we’re already seeing that thanks to competition from China.
How can I check electric car prices in the UK?
The Parkers specs pages list the recommended retail prices for every make and model of car sold today – and it’s updated automatically, so you can browse different EVs and see how much they cost.
All Parkers reviews also contain full pricing details of all models within a range, and also link through to leasing deals specific to those cars.
Which cheap electric cars should I avoid?
Right now the Dacia Spring, might look tempting on price alone, but you do get what you pay for. In the Parkers review, the Dacia Spring is described as ‘shockingly poor’ – with criticisms of its safety, slow performance, poor ride quality, and outdated tech.
It lacks features that are now standard on many small cars, and it only scored one star in Euro NCAP safety testing, which raises big concerns. We’d avoid the Citroen Ami, too, which we’ve excluded from this list, as it’s not really a car at all, but a quadricycle. Yes, it looks cool, but it’s also nigh on unusable outside of a city centre, and is limited to just 28mph.
What’s the cheapest electric car I can buy new in the UK?
Right now, the cheapest new EV you can buy in the UK is the Dacia Spring, starting at a cash price of around £14,995 – as well as some eyecatching finance deals. It’s a small, simple car, ideal for short trips or city driving. But for the reasons above, we’d steer clear.
Other budget options include the Leapmotor T03 and Citroen e-C3, which are priced below £20,000. These offer more space and range than earlier cheap EVs.
Are cheap electric cars actually any good?
Yes, many are! Modern affordable electric cars are often well-equipped, safe, and quiet to drive. Models like the MG4 EV and BYD Dolphin are decent family cars in their own right, while the Renault 5 E-Tech is a cracking drive if you don’t need space for four.
However, you do sometimes give up a bit of range or interior space compared with mid-range EVs. So it depends on what you need. If you mostly drive around town, a cheaper EV could suit you just fine.
How much does it cost to run a cheap electric car?
Electric cars are usually cheaper to run than petrol cars, especially if you have your own wallbox. Charging at home can cost around 7-15p per kWh overnight, while petrol costs a lot more in terms of miles per pound.
You’ll also save money on things like car tax/Vehicle Excise Duty, servicing, and some city driving charges. Just make sure you know where you’ll charge it before buying.
Is it better to buy or lease a cheap electric car?
PCH Leasing is popular for EVs because it gives you a fixed monthly cost and the chance to upgrade in a few years as technology improves. It’s also useful if you’re worried about resale values or battery wear.
Buying outright might be cheaper in the long run, especially if you keep the car for several years. It depends on your budget, how long you plan to keep the car, and how much you drive.
Do cheap electric cars have good range?
Some do, but not all. The cheapest EVs, like the Dacia Spring or Fiat 500e, have a range between 120 and 180 miles, which is fine for short trips but not ideal for long journeys.
Step up to cars like the MG4 EV or BYD Dolphin, and you can get more than 250 miles of range for less than £30,000. Even entry-level versions should be around 200 miles. Always check the real-world range before you buy, as official figures can be optimistic.
Are there any hidden costs with electric cars?
Not many, but there are a few things to watch for. Charging cables might not be included with every model, and installing a home charger costs around £800-£1,000 depending on how complex your living conditions are.
Insurance can be higher for some EVs, especially new models. Also, public charging can be pricier than home charging, especially rapid chargers on motorways. It’s worth checking before you buy.
What should I check before buying a cheap electric car?
Check the range, charging speed, battery warranty, and whether it suits your driving habits. Make sure you have a good charging plan – either at home, work or nearby public chargers.
Also check what safety kit and tech features you’re getting, especially on the cheapest models. Some may not have things like Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, so it’s worth comparing trim levels.
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