"Best" means different things to different people, so rather than picking favourites, we've simply ranked the three cheapest electric cars on sale in the UK within each price band, using each model's entry-level trim — its base, no-options starting price. If a car has a cheaper trim than the one you've seen advertised, that's the figure used here.
Under £25,000
The budget end of the market has grown fast over the last year or two — several of these would have been unthinkable at this price even in 2024.
| Model | Starting price | Why it's here |
|---|---|---|
| Leapmotor T03 | £14,495 | Currently the cheapest new EV on sale in the UK — a small city car built for short, local journeys. |
| Dacia Spring | £15,990 | A no-frills city runabout — modest range, but hard to beat on price for a second car or first EV. |
| Citroën ë-C3 | £18,495 | A proper small hatchback rather than a city-car compromise, with comfort-focused suspension Citroën is known for. |
£25,000 – £35,000
This band is where small-to-medium hatchbacks and crossovers start to feel like a normal family's only car, not just a city second car.
| Model | Starting price | Why it's here |
|---|---|---|
| Renault 4 | £27,195 | A retro-styled small SUV with genuine kerb appeal and a usefully roomy cabin for its size. |
| Ford Puma Gen-E | £29,995 | An electric version of Britain's best-selling small SUV, with Ford's clever "MegaBox" underfloor storage. |
| Škoda Elroq | £32,500 | A practical family SUV with class-leading boot space for the money. |
£35,000 – £50,000
The mainstream family-car band, and the one with the most genuine choice — this is where most private buyers end up looking.
| Model | Starting price | Why it's here |
|---|---|---|
| Hyundai Kona Electric | £35,000 | A well-equipped compact SUV with one of the more spacious cabins in its class. |
| Tesla Model 3 | £37,990 | The rear-wheel-drive saloon — still one of the most efficient EVs you can buy, with access to the Supercharger network. |
| Mercedes CLA | £39,000 | A premium-badged saloon that undercuts most of its German rivals while still feeling properly upmarket inside. |
£50,000 – £70,000
Premium SUVs and saloons dominate this band — badge, build quality, and tech take over as the main selling points.
| Model | Starting price | Why it's here |
|---|---|---|
| BMW iX3 | £53,250 | BMW's "Neue Klasse" electric SUV, with 800-volt charging for fast top-ups on a motorway trip. |
| Volvo EX60 | £56,860 | A rear-wheel-drive SUV built on Volvo's newest EV platform, with the UK's longest claimed range when it launched. |
| Mercedes GLC Electric | £60,350 | An electric version of one of the UK's most popular premium SUVs, roughly 10% more than the equivalent petrol model. |
£70,000+
At this point you're paying for driving dynamics, flagship tech, and brand prestige as much as the running costs.
| Model | Starting price | Why it's here |
|---|---|---|
| Volvo EX90 | £73,160 | Volvo's flagship electric SUV — three rows of seats and a safety-first approach throughout. |
| Polestar 3 | £76,540 | A sportier, more driver-focused large SUV sharing its underpinnings with the EX90. |
| Porsche Taycan | £88,265 | The entry point into genuine sports-car handling with an EV drivetrain — this is where the badge premium really kicks in. |
Don't forget the Electric Car Grant
Several cheaper EVs qualify for the government's Electric Car Grant, introduced in 2025 — a point-of-sale discount applied automatically by the dealer, not something you claim afterwards. It comes in two tiers, £1,500 or £3,750 off, depending on how the car was manufactured, and only applies to cars with a list price up to £37,000 (or up to £42,000 for a higher trim that shares its battery and motor with a qualifying sub-£37,000 version). As of now, no Chinese-built cars qualify.
- Citroën ë-C3: £19,995 → £18,495 after the grant.
- Renault 4: £27,195 → £23,445 after the grant.
- Ford Puma Gen-E: £29,995 → £26,245 after the grant.
- Hyundai Kona Electric: £35,000 → £33,500 after the grant.
Which cars qualify — and at which tier — can change as manufacturers apply, so always check a car's eligibility on gov.uk before you buy rather than assuming last month's list still applies.
Prices shown are UK on-the-road starting prices for the entry-level trim, correct as of October 2026, before the Electric Car Grant where applicable. Manufacturers change prices and specs often, and dealer or lease deals can undercut the official list price — always check the current figure before you buy. Before committing to any of these, it's worth reading our real-world range guide — the official range figure rarely matches what you'll actually get.