Cheapest electric cars 2024

Want to go electric without breaking the bank? Here are the 10 cheapest new electric cars on the market

By Craig Cheetham Jan 11, 2024

Traditionally, the biggest barrier to buying a new electric car has been the cost – but as new technology evolves, prices are coming down sharply. So the cheapest electric cars on sale are now a more realistic prospect for buyers.

Electric cars are also now more viable as day-to-day cars, with ever increasing ranges per charge and more and more fast-charging options. While small cars make sense with electric power, our list of the cheapest electric cars on sale isn't all tiny hatchbacks, there are electric estate cars and SUVs too.

The price gap between electric cars and petrol models is not nearly as large as it once was and while there may no longer be grants and incentives from the Government to buy a zero-emissions vehicle, the drop in list prices means the cheapest electric car on sale are starting to look reasonably priced, if not what we'd call cheap.

To help you decide, we've listed here are the 10 cheapest new electric cars on sale in the UK that you can buy today. We udpate this list regularly to make sure we're showing you the cheapest electric cars on sale today.

Citroen Ami

New from £7695
Best cheap electric car for trend-setters
Our pick: Citroen Ami
Read our Citroen Ami review

The Citroen Ami is the cheapest car on sale in the UK today by quite some margin. A further bonus is that it’s also electric. Just don’t expect to carry more than one passenger. 

It uses a tiny 5.5kWh battery, much smaller than that of the Fiat 500 Electric (24kWh), which cost more than twice as much, although the Fiat is a ‘proper’ car whereas the Citroen Ami is officially a quadricycle.

Its appeal is limited to city use only. The 8PS electric motor gives a top speed of 28mph and it’s tiny inside and out, with little more than a smartphone cradle and various storage compartments as standard. Although built to a price and only available in left-hand drive, it is undeniably cool.

MG4

New from £26,995
Best cheap electric car for value for money
Our pick: MG4 SE
Read our MG reviews

The resurgent MG brand has repositioned itself as a leader in the inexpensive electric car market, and since its launch in early 2023, the MG4 hatchback has been flying out of showrooms. Indeed, there’s even a waiting list.

But if you want a well-equipped, agile and fun-to-drive cheap electric car, with plenty of space and practicality and very good road manners, it’s hard to ignore.

Admittedly, there are a few cheap plastics inside and the infotainment system is a bit clunky. But the MG4’s combination of price, value, looks and equipment is hard to ignore, especially when you factor in its seven-year warranty. There are also very good finance deals available.

Fiat 500 Electric

New from £28,195
Best cheap electric car for retro charm
Our pick: Fiat 500 70kW
Read our Fiat 500 Electric review

The all-electric Fiat 500e is a car brimming with character and makes the perfect city runabout, with keen pricing thanks to a range of battery options. The smallest battery pack is a 37.7kWh unit and powers a 93PS electric motor, while the larger option is a 42.2kWh battery with the same motor.

That gives you a choice of 118 miles or 199 miles of official range, the latter being among the best on offer in a small car. The Fiat 500 Electric uses a regenerative braking system to restore some of the battery’s spent power, and it’s so effective that it can actually bring the car to a complete stop – ideal for efficient city driving. 

There’s also a Fiat 500e Cabriolet model, making it one of the few electric soft-tops on the market. Its cheeky retro styling and impressive packaging make it very desirable.

MINI Cooper E

New from £30,000
Best cheap electric car for timeless style
Our pick: MINI Cooper E Classic
Read our MINI Electric review

Replacing the MINI Electric, the new MINI Cooper Electric is on sale in the UK from Spring 2024. The cheapest model, the Cooper E, produces 184PS for 0-62mph performance in 7.3 seconds. The top speed is limited to 99mph while a 40.7kWh battery gives it an electric range of 190 miles - an improvement of 50 miles over the MINI Electric. The new model can also use 75kW rapid chargers. 

It's priced from £30,000 which seems pretty competitive compared to the competition here, although this does get the rather plain Classic trim finished in silver paint with small 16-inch alloys.

A three-door only, the MINI Cooper Electric may be a four-seater but with a 200-litre boot it isn't the most practical of small cars. There won't be a five-door model either. Instead, a larger SUV-style new five-door called the MINI Aceman will take on this role.

BYD Dolphin

New from £30,195
Best cheap electric car if you want to try a new brand
Our pick: BYD Dolphin Comfort
Read our reviews

It's the electric car you've probably never heard of but the BYD Dolphin is something of a gamechanger. Its list price is similar to that of most petrol-powered small cars, making it the cheapest full-sized electric hatchback currently available by quite some margin. It’s a full four-seater, too, with a lot more passenger space than many of the cars on this list. Even if you don't know the brand, the BYD Dolphin makes a lot of sense.

It doesn’t feel cheap though. Its styling is sharp and neat plus while there are a few cheaper plastics inside, the cabin quality is more than passable. It shows just how far Chinese brands have come in recent times. 

Handling is predictable – there’s no sophisticated multi-link suspension or advanced chassis settings, while the 94PS electric motor is less powerful than some more expensive rivals. If that’s no big deal, then as a functional day-to-day car that’s inexpensive to own and pleasant to drive, it has an awful lot going for it.

MG ZS EV

New from £30,495
Best cheap electric car for high mileage on a budget
Our pick: MG ZS SE
Read our MG ZS EV review

The MG ZS EV was one of the best-value electric cars on the market from the moment it made its debut in 2019, but with a range of around 170 miles its appeal was limited. That all changed in 2021 thanks to the introduction of a new long-range model, with an increased range of up to 273 miles.

Build quality took a massive upswing with the facelift, transforming the MG ZS from an also-ran to a genuinely appealing contender. Now those facelifted cars are available on the used market and they’re extremely competitively priced.

Buyers are getting a compact SUV for the price of a small car and one that comes with a generous level of standard equipment to boot. Don’t get caught out by the limited range of early cars, though – the post-2021 models are not only better suited to long-range driving, they’re also far better made.

MG5

New from £30,995
Best cheap electric car for estate practicality
Our pick: MG5 SE Long Range
Read our MG5 review

The reborn MG brand now offers three electric cars and a plug-in hybrid with all focused on being better value than their competitors. Its electric cars – the MG4, MG5 estate and the MG ZS EV – offer plenty of equipment for not a lot of money (compared with their rivals, at least).

The MG5 is based on a Chinese car called the Roewe Ei5 and was the first electric estate on sale in the UK. It offers over 200 miles in Long Range form, plus a practical interior and nippy acceleration.

Two versions of the MG5 are available, with one getting key features and the other adding luxury kit such as keyless entry and heated seats. It’s a functional and practical package, popular with private hire operators, but also makes an ideal family car.

Renault Zoe

New from £31,195
Best cheap electric car for French flair
Our pick: Renault Zoe Techno R135
Read our Renault Zoe review

Don’t mistake the new Renault Zoe for its predecessor, which required you to lease the battery separate from the car itself. Continual improvements mean the latest Renault Zoe is brimming with new tech and performance improvements, while the battery is included in the more premium pricing.

The Renault Zoe really scores in this company when it comes to range – its 52kWh battery pack gives it a 245-mile claimed range, while fast charging options make it possible to charge it up in as little as three hours. In addition, although it’s notably more expensive than the old Zoe, the new one still measures up very well to its rivals in terms of value-for-money. 

The entry-level Renaulr Zoe Techno model tips the scales at below £30,000 and yet has excellent levels of safety kit and decent comfort and luxury. It’s a bit cramped in the rear, though while the boot isn’t huge either.

Mazda MX-30

New from £31,250
Best cheap electric car for enjoyable handling
Our pick: Mazda MX-30 Prime Line
Read our full Mazda MX-30 review

Mazda’s smallest electric car brings SUV looks and a higher ride height into a small car package. Its chunky black bumpers and side skirts making it ideal for supermarket car parks.

Its electric range is fairly modest - just 124 miles in pure electric form, from a 35.5kWh battery pack powering a 145PS electric motor - but there is a plug-in hybrid model (the R-EV) if you require a greater range. 

If the pure electric range is enough then it represents great value, with excellent levels of standard equipment including radar cruise control, climate control, 18-inch alloys, a head-up display and an 8.8-inch touchscreen compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto even on the entry-level Mazda MX-30 Prime Line. Move up the range and the still modestly priced Exclusive Line adds privacy glass, a smart frameless interior mirror and electrically adjustable heated seats.

Vauxhall Corsa Electric

New from £33,730
Best cheap electric car for familiarity
Our pick: Vauxhall Corsa Electric GS
Read our full Vauxhall Corsa review

Vauxhall has recently given the Vauxhall Corsa a revamp with a new, smoother nose and revised cabin features, but the big news for electric car buyers is that the Vauxhall Corsa Electric model gets a new, bigger battery pack. 

The 51kWh unit gives comparable range to class leaders such as the Renault Zoe, with a quoted 246 miles on the WLTP cycle and a lively 156PS motor. It’s a lively and fun car to drive and is refined and comfortable inside, too. 

The entry-level Vauxhall Corsa Electric Design model is fairly well-equipped, but the sportier GS model is worth the extra – its larger alloys and tinted glass give it a more purposeful exterior appearance, while it also gets sports seats and LED headlights with high beam assist.