Best cheap electric cars in 2025

Electric cars are now no longer an just expensive luxury but an affordable option for the everyday driver.

The price of a new EV has consistently fallen in recent years as newer, cheaper models have hit the market.

And now there are over 33 battery-powered models below £30,000 on sale and even electric vehicles some that break the £20,000 price barrier.

You’ll find cars from popular brands such as Vauxhall and Renault, as well as a new breed of Chinese companies, with everything from city cars to family SUVs.

The government has also just announced a new Electric Car Grant (ECG) that will help bring the price electric cars down even further for those cars under £37,000.

Cars will be put into bands based on manufacturer sustainability, with the most eco-friendly receiving a discount of £3,750 and those in the lower band eligible for £1,500 off the list price.

Here’s our rundown of some of the best and most budget-friendly electric cars on sale today.

Dacia Spring

Aside for dinky little EVs like the Citroen Ami, the Dacia Spring is the cheapest, full-size electric car on sale today. The compact SUV is big enough for a small family around town and if you’re willing to spend a little more than the base price, the top spec model has most of the in-car technology you need. It’s an absolute bargain.

Leapmotor T03

The T03 comes from Leapmotor – a new Chinese brand that’s working in partnership with the Stellantis auto giant (that’s Peugeot, Vauxhall and Citroen among others to you and me). It’s a tiny little city car and looks won’t be to all tastes but it’s extremely good value for money with a generous tech list, solid range and reasonable rapid charging capability

BYD Dolphin Surf

The BYD Dolphin has been around for a while but the new ‘Surf’ trim is the cheapest variation yet. The interior is comfier than the Leapmotor or Dacia and that extra few thousand gets you loads of gadgets as standard. Although designed for city living, it’s more than capable of life on the faster roads and it looks the part too.

Fiat Grande Panda

The Fiat Panda name is a bit of a cult classic and it’s now gone bigger in the electric era as a compact SUV. The electric Grande Panda is spacious, offers great range at this price and looks cool. What’s not to love?

Citroen e-C3

By comparison to some of the newer names on the list, the Citroen e-C3 is something of an old-timer. That’s no bad thing, though, as it’s a tried and tested formula. The supermini is comfortable, practical and more than happy in and out of town thanks to decent rapid charging capability.

Renault 5

Few cars at this price can match the Renault 5 when it comes to style and desirability. The original was an icon and that made the electric version one of the most hotly anticipated new cars of 2025. It hasn’t disappointed, either. It looks fantastic, is fun to drive and has plenty of kit… all for less than £25,000. Va va voom. 

Hyundai Inster

The Inster might lacks some of the style and performance of the more luxury Hyundai IONIQ electric models. But that’s not to say it should be ignored. It’s packed with technology, has impressive range and charging speeds and that boxy design gives it plenty of space inside. All at a budget price.

Vauxhall Frontera

The Frontera is another name brought back from the dead and relaunched with electric power. It might not win any awards in the beauty stakes but you can’t argue with getting a family SUV at this price. The boot is big, the interior equipped with all the essentials and importantly the price is on par with its petrol equivalent.

Fiat 500 Electric

The rebirth of Fiat 500 in the 21^st century has been a massive success story for the Italian brand and the retro chic model looks even better in the electric era. It’ll never be the most practical car but it’s perfect for nipping around town and finding a parking space on packed streets.