Listed: The cheapest electric cars available in the UK

Electric cars come in all shapes and sizes, and the focus on battery-powered models is sharper than ever. For many drivers looking to make the switch from petrol, price is paramount. If you're one of them, this list of the cheapest electric cars should be your bible.

Many drivers consider electric cars to be expensive because some manufacturers initially spied an opportunity to target well-heeled early adopters.

These intrigued early buyers were willing to pay a premium (and a large slice of profit to the car maker) to have the latest all-singing, all-dancing digitally dense EV on their drive.

Now, EVs are becoming more commonplace and prices are gradually lowering, with brands introducing more affordable options on a far more frequent basis. 

That means several options on the market aren’t going to break the bank, with brands including Dacia, Citroën, Mazda and MG all leaving their mark.

Some electric cars dropped below £30,000 a few years ago (which is still pretty expensive), but prices are improving further. Some new options now cost under £25,000, and a few are below £20,000.

Today, the cheapest electric car in the UK is the Citroen Ami, priced at £7695.

But before just choosing the cheapest, it’s important to do your research. The main criticism of battery-powered cars has previously been their range, with very few offering the sort of stamina that would make them a true replacement for a combustion-engined counterpart.

That said, the charging infrastructure is constantly improving and customer expectations have shifted. And there are now plenty of lower-priced models to choose from.

1. Citroën Ami

Price: £7695

Best for: City drivers

The cheapest car on this list technically isn’t a car, but a quadricycle. Designed to be inexpensive, effective transport for packed cities, the Citroën Ami’s 8bhp motor, 28mph top speed and 45-mile range mean it's hopelessly out of its depth on the open road.

That said, its tight turning circle and dinky dimensions make it a doddle to drive around town, and the presence of a roof – something you don’t get on a motorcycle – keeps you warm and dry when the heavens open.

2. Dacia Spring

Price: £14,995

Best for: People after a proper car, rather than a quadricycle

The Dacia Spring is officially the UK's cheapest electric (proper) car. It almost comes close to being the UK’s cheapest new car overall, with just the Dacia Sandero and Citroen C3 pipping it.

The small EV, which initially went on sale in mainland Europe, has had a big overhaul inside and out, gaining a new face and significant improvements to interior quality and connectivity.

With a 26.8kWh battery and tipping the scales at just 984kg, the Spring offers a range of around 137 miles on a single charge.

3. Leapmotor T03

Price: £15,995

Best for: People who want something cheap with a good range

You probably haven’t heard of Leapmotor. As you might have imagined, it is a Chinese car brand, but one with a difference.

Leapmotors sold outside of China are sold by Leapmotor international, a joint venture with Stellantis. This means the marque is sold within Stellantis showrooms, giving drivers the ability to try a new car, within the parameters of a parent company that they know.

There’s only one powertrain option available, a front-mounted 94bhp motor, but you do at least get a selection of paint colours.

As standard, the T03 has an 8.0in digital instrument display, a multifunction steering wheel and a 10in infotainment touchscreen with sat-nav and a DAB radio, but no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

4. Micro Microlino

Price: £17,995

Best for: Style

The Microlino’s stylistic influence from the era-defining 'bubble car' is very obvious and even extends to a side-hinged front door.

Swing open that front end and you’re met by a bench seat that can happily host two adults…and not much else.

It is not fast by any stretch of the imagination, but its circa-5.0sec 0-30mph time means it works fine in cities and on slow roads

The standard Microlino comes with a 10.5kWh battery with a claimed 110 miles of range, but there’s also a Lite version with a 58-mile range, courtesy of a smaller battery that brings weight below 425kg, putting it into the quadricycle class.

Neither version is capable of fast charging, but Micro reckons it needs only four hours on a three-pin to go from empty to full.

5. Citroen e-C3

Price: £21,990

Best for: Comfort

Stellantis, as you’ll soon discover, is really bossing this list. The e-C3 is the latest entrant from the company, with the promise of something that is both utilitarian and chic.

All models come with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, plus comfort seats and safety aids.

It has a 199-mile range and can rapidly charge at rates of up to 100kW, enabling a 20-80% charge in 26 minutes.

On the road, its hydraulic bump-stops do a good job of filtering out abrasions and you feel pretty well isolated from big bumps. In other words - it’s comfortable and easy-going.

An even cheaper version costing £17,250 will join Europe in 2025. But Citroen is yet to confirm whether this is coming to the UK yet.

6. Fiat 500e

Price: £24,995

Best for: Retro charm

If any manufacturer has the city car formula nailed, it’s Fiat. The latest version of the iconic 500 oozes desirability inside and out and its combination of a tight turning circle and diminutive sizing make it a cinch to drive around town.

Even better, this electric city car doesn’t feel terribly out of depth once you hit the open road, although the entry-level car’s 118-mile range does significantly limit the 500e’s usefulness.

It’s available with either a 24kWh battery or larger 42kWh unit, which costs around £3000 more and is good for a range of 199 miles. It works with a 118bhp electric motor. All cars come with a 10.25in infotainment touchscreen and smartphone mirroring.

7. BYD Dolphin

Price: £26,195

Best for: Range

You might not have heard of BYD, but it’s making a splash on its UK market entry. Its first model, the BYD Atto 3, might not have impressed at £37,695, but the follow-up – the smaller Dolphin – may be more palatable because it's the cheapest full-sized electric hatchback currently available.

You do have to accept some concessions when buying one in entry-level Active trim, though. Its suspension set-up uses unsophisticated trailing arms, and its 94bhp motor feels notably short of oomph. It has yet to be seen whether those are acceptable compromises for the majority of UK buyers: watch this space.

8. Vauxhall Corsa Electric

Price: £26,895

Best for: Dealer network

The Corsa's cheapest model is called the #Yes. Really. It gets a 50kWh battery with 221 miles of range, while a front-mounted electric motor supplies 134bhp and 191lb ft of torque.

The equipment you get is decent too. The Corsa #Yes is equipped with 16in alloy wheels, a 10in digital touch screen, wireless smartphone connectivity, automatic LED headlights and wipers, climate control, keyless entry and rear parking sensors.

9. MG 4

Price: £26,995

Best for: People who want something cheap and fun

The value champion for the better part of the past year has now been undercut by its compatriot, the BYD Dolphin, but the MG 4 is still well worth considering.

It’s genuinely good fun to drive thanks to its rear-wheel-drive set-up and compliant suspension. Moreover, the 218-mile official range of the entry-level SE car puts it on a par with more costly alternatives.

If you’re looking for an EV with a bit more punch, why not consider the MG 4 XPower? It’s significantly more expensive, at £36,495, but its dual motors output a whopping 429bhp, allowing it to out-accelerate many supercars at lower speeds.

10. Mazda MX-30

Price: £27,995

Best for: Upmarket feeling materials

Where Western manufacturers zig, Mazda zags. The Japanese firm famed for the rotary engine now makes a point of its first-ever electric car having a relatively short, 124-mile range – enough for the average commute, in its estimation.

The quirkiness continues inside the MX-30, where it feels surprisingly upmarket for a car priced at the lower end of the EV spectrum.

Mazda also offers a range-extender version called the Mazda MX-30 R-EV. Its battery is good for 53 miles on a single charge but the range can be swelled to more than 400 miles by using the rotary engine as a generator, with the added benefit of being able to quickly fill up with petrol and make good progress on longer journeys.

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