The cheapest electric cars on sale 2023
Electric cars are often dismissed for being too expensive, so we've put together a list of the ten cheapest electric cars money can buy...
Electric cars have come a long way over the past ten years or so. The original Nissan Leaf arrived in the UK car market in 2010 and was £10,000 more than a similarly-specced Ford Focus. Now, although electric car prices are still high, they are slowly edging closer to their more traditional combustion engined cousins.
The cheapest electric cars are now within the grasp of most new car buyers, with plenty of options sitting below the £30k threshold. The arrival of the quirky Citroen Ami in mid-2022 shook up the market once again, with its starting price of less than £8k.
Electric cars are more popular than ever and there are models to suit all motoring needs. From the practical Citroen e-Dispatch, luxurious Tesla Model S or the affordable Smart EQ fortwo, there’s an electric vehicle to suit almost any driver. And thanks to government incentives and the continuing development in EV infrastructure, the world is starting to see electric as a genuine alternative to petrol and diesel. The electric revolution is lighting up, so here are the cheapest electric cars for you to consider...
Cheapest electric cars: the top 10
Below are the top 10 cheapest electric cars on sale. While the cars at the bottom of our list offer drivers the smallest outlay, the models further up demonstrate that even larger cars are now embracing affordable electric power - which can only lead to more choice, improving quality and more of us getting behind the wheel of a capable and cost-effective electric vehicle.
10. Mazda MX-30
- Price: from £31,250
The MX-30 small SUV has unusual rear-hinged doors that you may remember from Mazda's RX-8 coupe. This approach helps to create a pillarless cabin which, with the car's sloping roofline, serves up quite a funky design. It's the same inside the cabin, with Mazda utilising unusual eco-friendly materials to generate a stylish, sporty feel.
Power is relatively modest at 143bhp, but a healthy torque figure of 271Nm helps shift the rather heavy (1,645kg) crossover from 0-62mph in 9.7 seconds. The MX-30 uses a small 35.5kWh lithium-ion battery, which offers a range of just 124 miles, so you'll have to weigh up if the MX-30 will suit your everyday motoring needs; don't forget that colder weather or journeys that incorporate lots of motorway miles will eat into overall range.
Safety kit is excellent, however, and reliability should be equally impressive – Mazda finished fourth out of 29 manufacturers in our Driver Power customer satisfaction survey.
9. MG5 EV
- Price: from £30,995
The MG5 offers great value for buyers looking for a practical, all-electric family car. The MG5 only went on sale in the UK in 2020, but MG has already introduced a new, longer-range version. The latest model offers a WLTP-certified 250-mile range (up from 217 miles), 100kW charging capability and will replenish to 80 per cent charge from flat in as little as 40 minutes.
Entry-level Excite models come with alloy wheels, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto operated through a eight-inch screen, keyless entry, push-button start and rear parking sensors. For around a further £2,500, Exclusive models add leather-effect trim, heated front seats, six-way electric adjustment for the driver’s seat, auto wipers and sat-nav.
8. MG ZS EV
- Price: from £30,495
The ZS EV offers tremendous practicality and low running costs, and it provides family buyers with a real value-for-money alternative to a fossil-fuelled SUV.
A facelift in 2021 brought an increase in battery size, with 51kWh and 72.6kWh units now available. That means a much more competitive range, with the flagship model now offering up to 273 miles on a single charge. However, the cheapest model features the smaller battery, but that’s still good for a 198-mile range.
The battery powers a single electric motor, producing 174bhp in the entry-level version – enough to propel the ZS from 0-62mph in 8.0 seconds. It's practical, too, with 470 litres of boot space on offer with the rear seats in place and 1,100 litres with them folded down.
7. Renault Zoe
- Price: from £29,995
The Renault Zoe has been around for a while, but constant updates have kept it relatively fresh in the face of newer opposition. And despite the arrival of the likes of the Vauxhall Corsa Electric, Peugeot e-208 and Ora Funky Cat, it remains one of the more affordable options in the small EV market.
Range is a strong point, with the 52kWh battery promising 239 miles of pure electric driving. This means many city car drivers could even go weeks before needing to recharge, which is handy considering the Zoe’s lack of rapid charging capabilities.
Prices have crept up in recent years, though, and it now only sits in seventh place on our list. Even more concerning is the zero-star safety rating from Euro NCAP.
6. MINI Electric
- Price: from £29,000
There’s only one power option for the MINI Electric - a 32.6kWh battery powers a single electric motor, producing a total of 181bhp and a 0-62mph time of 7.3 seconds. The all-electric three-door model offers the usual smart and sophisticated MINI image, although overall range is around 145 miles.
It retains most of the famed ‘go-kart’ handling and we think, despite its extra weight, the heavier Electric model is still as much fun behind the wheel as any other fast MINI. It’s also far cheaper to run, and makes the MINI an ideal car for businesses thanks to its rock bottom company-car tax band.
5. Nissan Leaf
- Price: from £28,995
The Nissan Leaf was launched in 2010 as a relatively affordable, all-electric hatchback for drivers looking to break away from combustion-engined family cars. It's an impressive package; easy to drive and comfortable, especially around town, with an impressive amount of tech and enough space for all the family.
Under the latest WLTP economy tests, Nissan claims a range of 168 miles for the standard Leaf, although cold weather will limit EV range, so you might be looking at around 100 miles from a full charge when it's really chilly. The Nissan Leaf e+, offers increased range, with a bigger battery delivering up to 239 miles. It also has more power, with 214bhp compared to the standard car's 148bhp.
4. Fiat 500
- Price: from £28,195
Fiat scored a hit when it reinvented the classic 500 back in 2007, and since then it's become one of the best city cars you can buy. Time moves on, however, and Fiat has now delivered the all-electric third-generation 500.
Keenly priced from £28,195, the new 500 starts with the low-range model that’s capable of driving up to 115 miles on a single charge. There is a longer-range option, capable of up to 199 miles, which uses a 42kWh battery, a more powerful 117bhp motor and faster 85kW recharging, but that inevitably costs a little more to buy.
The iconic urban car is 61mm longer and 29mm taller than before, but it's still unmistakably a 500 and of course comes in hatchback and stylish convertible forms. What's not to like?
3. MG4 EV
- Price: from £26,995
What’s not to like about the MG4 EV? Not only is it one of the cheapest electric cars on sale in the UK right now, but it offers the perfect blend of practicality, driving dynamics and tech.
There are two batteries available, with the cheapest 51kWh unit promising a respectable range of 218 miles. The base model’s single rear-mounted motor provides 168bhp, meaning a 0-62mph sprint of 7.5 seconds, while 150kW rapid charging should reduce waiting times on longer journeys.
Standard kit is where the MG4 really excels at this price point, though, with a 10.25-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control and automatic LED headlights all available at no extra cost.
2. Smart EQ fortwo
- Price: from £22,225
The tiny Smart EQ fortwo comes with 80bhp, and a top speed of 81mph. The EQ fortwo also has a surprising turn of pace, 0-62mph is dispatched in 11.6 seconds, while to charge it from 10-80 per cent takes just over 3 hours from a home wallbox.
A more sophisticated suspension set up over the previous generation makes the EQ fortwo far more compliant and comfortable for longer journeys, so long as the trip isn’t farther than its 80-mile range.
For around a £5,000 premium over the EQ fortwo hatchback, there’s even a convertible EQ fortwo for those who are fans of open-air motoring.
1. Citroen Ami
- Price: from £7,695
The Ami isn’t just the UK’s cheapest EV, it’s now the cheapest car on sale full-stop, thanks to its sub-£8,000 starting price. If you want to be picky, the Ami is technically a heavy quadricycle, so it can be driven by holders of a full AM motorcycle licence (which lets you pilot a two or three-wheel vehicle that has a top speed of no more than 28mph and a maximum unladen weight of 350kg).
For most potential buyers this shouldn’t be too much of an issue; you can order an Ami online or at a Citroen dealership just like any of the brand’s other models. Originally the Ami was never destined for these shores, but interest was so high Citroen has decided to import it – albeit in left-hand drive only. Sitting on the left isn’t a major problem as the Ami is both tiny and very easy to see out of.
Designed to be an ultra-affordable urban commuter, the Ami has an 8bhp electric motor and 5.5kWh battery, giving it a range of up to 46 miles and a top speed of 28mph. It weighs under 500kg and a sharp 7.2 metre turning circle for go-anywhere city manoeuvrability.
Cheapest electric cars
- Citroen Ami - £7,695
- Smart EQ fortwo - £22,225
- MG4 EV - £26,995
- Fiat 500 - £28.195
- Nissan Leaf - £28,995
- MINI Electric - £29,000
- Renault Zoe - £29,995
- MG ZS EV - £30,495
- MG5 EV - £30,995
- Mazda MX-30 - £31,250
If you're looking to buy a great value all-electric car, why not visit our sister site buyacar.co.uk for the latest deals...
