- As economies of scale and improved production methods continue to bring down the cost of EVs, and manufacturer’s original investments finally pay off, the market for the cheapest electric cars is growing at rapid pace.
- Many new budget models now achieve price parity with comparable ICE-powered options, but bring with them dramatically lower costs of ownership, particularly for those able to charge at home.
- These are the cheapest electric cars available in 2025 at several price points, as well as some cheap EVs on the horizon that we’re looking forward to.
The best cheap electric cars to buy in 2025
For drivers looking for an even better deal, the market for used electric cars is also particularly enticing, with used electric cars such as the commendable Tesla Model 3 now widely available for under £15,000.
For the purposes of this article, prices are listed in British pound sterling.
Renault 5
Ever since the original concept was revealed, the fully-electric iteration of the Renault 5 has been a viral hit, also being awarded the Car of the Year 2025 title, and order books are now open. Whilst it’s not the cheapest car on this list, it’s undeniably one of the most stylish EVs you can get for the money.
In the UK, the Renault 5 recently qualified for the governmental Electric Car Grant, allowing the addition of a £1,500 discount to bring the retail price down from £22,995 to £21,495.
Ford Puma Gen-E
The Ford Puma Gen-E is currently the cheapest EV offered by Ford in Europe, slotting below the Explorer, Capri, and Mustang Mach-E in terms of price. This compact electric crossover offers a combined range of around 233 miles, and offers a number of benefits over its very similar-looking petrol equivalent – such as a bigger boot due to the lack of fuel tank, fast acceleration, and lower running costs.
In the UK at least, the base Puma Gen-E is now more affordable than its petrol counterpart. That’s thanks to the Puma Gen-E being one of the only EVs to qualify for the higher tier £3,750 Electric Car Grant, bringing its base price down to a formidable £26,245. The recent inclusion of the Puma Gen-E into this grant scheme is the key reason for its recent entry onto this list.
Leapmotor T03
As we reviewed earlier this year, the Leapmotor T03 is one of the best value electric cars on sale, with a starting price of £15,995. That’s £1,000 more than the starting price of the entry-level Dacia Spring, but the T03 offers a longer range, improved acceleration, and more on-board technology.
Despite its small size and price, the T03 is still a capable machine – with a range of up to 165 miles and an 81mph, this city car can still take on the task of longer journeys. It also comes with premium equipment such as adaptive cruise control, and an all-digital instrument cluster and ten-inch touchscreen infotainment as standard.
Citroen e-C3
Another newcomer to the list is the Citroen e-C3, one of the cheapest EVs so far from the wider Stellantis conglomerate. Starting at £21,990 in ‘Plus’ trim level, you can benefit from a range of 199 miles, and standard equipment such as wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto. The e-C3 is another EV eligible for the UK’s Electric Car Grant, with a £1,500 discount now bringing the base price down to £20,595.
Citroen Ami
While not technically an electric car, instead being a quadricycle, Citroen’s standout Ami is one of the cheapest four-wheeled EVs you can buy new in the UK right now, starting at £7,695. With its ultra-compact form and top speed of 28mph, it’s ideal for driving through urban areas, but for carrying passengers or venturing outside the city you’ll want to look elsewhere. Its quadricycle classification also means it can be driven on a moped license, allowing 16 year olds to get behind the wheel too.
Vauxhall Corsa Electric and Opel Corsa Electric
The all-electric Vauxhall Corsa also offers great value compared to EVs like the BYD Dolphin and Volkswagen ID.3, with a starting price of £26,170 in the entry level ‘#YES’ trim. For this, you get a 50kWh battery with an estimated range of 220 miles. It’s got a fair amount of acceleration for a cheap EV too, with a 134 horsepower motor delivering 0-62mph in 8.7 seconds – faster than some of Vauxhall’s hot hatchbacks from the 1990s.
The Corsa Electric is another entry on this list that qualifies for a £1,500 discount through the UK’s Electric Car Grant – bringing its entry price down to £25,280.
Standard equipment includes a ten-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, LED headlights, and cruise control.If you’re happy with a slightly older model, used prices of the electric Corsa are also a great buy.
Volvo EX30
Whilst not as cheap as the other cars on this list, Volvo’s recent price drop on the EX30 means the compact electric SUV now starts at £32,850, for the Single Motor version, which offers tremendous value for what is a premium car.
In this spec, the EX30 still offers a range of 209 miles, along with 272 horsepower. This still comes loaded with tech, including adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera, automatic LED headlights, and a Google-based 12.3-inch touchscreen.
Affordable EVs we’re looking forward to
Volkswagen ID. EVERY1
Volkswagen is set to bring a range of more affordable EVs to market over the next few years, the most affordable being the ID. EVERY1. A spiritual successor to the Volkswagen e-Up!, the ID. EVERY1 is proving that cheap EVs can still be stylish and desirable.
This new EV is predicted to start at under €20,000 (£17,300), which will make it the cheapest EV sold by Volkswagen – and put it firmly in the eyes of competition such as the BYD Dolphin Surf.
Renault Twingo
Following the design hit that is the Renault 5, Renault will bring back the Twingo name in all-electric form, targeting an even lower starting price than the 5. Set to enter the market in 2026, the Twingo is expected to be priced in line with the ID. EVERY1 above – somewhere around the €20,000 (£17,300) mark.
