Best Cheap Electric Cars

Though it looks just like its petrol-powered siblings, the Peugeot e-208 is a fully electric small family hatchback. It offers the same boot space (medium size) as the fossil-fuel models, and comes in all the same trim options, plus an extra-swanky flagship level. The e-208 boasts an impressive 217-mile official range and is speedier than the average small electric car. Inside, it’s comfortable and classy, with good legroom, though rear-seat headroom is best-suited to kids. It comes with touchscreen infotainment and smartphone integration, as well as an optional sunroof.

The Volkswagen e-Up is the fully-electric model of VW’s popular city car. Small and technologically impressive, it boasts good range: newer models are rated to 160 miles, while older ones claim 118 miles (though this may not be realistic on well-used batteries). It can reach a full charge in just four hours on a home wall box, and even manages to offer good boot space for its size. The e-Up is a little slower getting up to speed than its petrol siblings, but it’s sure-footed on bends and quick enough for town driving. Plus, the interior is comfortable and practical, even if a little dated on older models. If you’re looking for an allrounder, the e-Up is one of the best cheap electric cars on the market.

The smallest EV on the road, the Smart ForTwo EQ is also one of the cheapest electric cars available in the UK. It’s practical and perfectly sized to thread through tight streets. However, it struggles a bit on the open road and its short (84 mile) range drops off quickly at higher speeds. Really, this one’s made for staying in the city. It’s incredibly easy to park, with a fun and manoeuvrable feel on the road. Interior-wise, it only has seats for two, but it’s spacious enough and the carrying capacity is surprisingly large. The ForTwo EQ’s price tag belies its small size, but it’s very cheap to run and charges fully in four hours from a home wall box – perfect if you suddenly have to nip out on errands.

One of the first fully electric cars on UK roads, the Renault Zoe is a reasonably priced hatchback with a distinctive appearance. You can grab a very good deal on older models, but they’re likely to have a shorter range than the 245 miles of the new Zoes. One feature that sets this apart from others: Renault offers the option to lease the battery. Overall, the Zoe is a good urban runaround, with a nippy driving feel and a smooth ride, though it struggles a little on faster roads. Although not super high-tech when it comes to standard features, the Zoe has a good offering, including touchscreen infotainment and cruise control.

The Skoda Citigo e is the VW e-Up’s slightly cheaper sibling. It’s an electric version of the popular Citigo, with an official range of 162 miles. Not the most powerful electric car out there, it has a top speed of 81 mph, which limits its ability to overtake on the motorway. That said, it still has fairly good acceleration at high speed for such a small electric vehicle. CCS charging is optional, so be sure to check this if you’re likely to rely on public chargers. The inside is practical and well laid out, with comfortable backseats and large boot space for a car of its size. All in all, it’s a nifty runaround that’s well worth a look – and it’s one of the cheapest electric cars on the market.

While it may be Mini’s first EV, the Mini Electric definitely still has that charming retro appearance. Fast and agile, it’s attractively priced for a premium electric car. The regenerative braking can be quite aggressive but it’s actually easier to use than in many competing models, which is a huge plus. Inside, the Mini Electric is upmarket but petite. It only seats four, and there’s not much headroom in the backseat, but it’s not uncomfortable on short trips. Longer trips are on the cards too, but nothing too adventurous – while the range isn’t bad, the Mini Electric often falls short of the official figure of 145 miles. The boot space is small, but the rear seats fold flat, making it easy to transport luggage.

This list isn’t all city cars and hatches: the MG ZS EV is a great value electric SUV. It has plenty of passenger and boot space, and a surprisingly classy interior for its price. The engine gets a tad loud for an electric vehicle, and the ride can be a little bouncy, but other than that this is a solid all-rounder. With an official range of 163 miles, it’s great for daily commutes or the school run, but might struggle on longer trips. Tech-heads will be pleased with the ZS EV’s attractive suite of useful features, including smartphone mirroring and Bluetooth connectivity. If your family needs more space than the smaller models on this list, give this MG a look.

Volkswagen’s first purpose-built electric car, the ID.3 is a five-door family hatch with a distinctive boxy exterior. It’s sensible and competent, and small enough for city driving but big enough to be an everyday family car. The range is rated as 200 miles for the entry-level trim, and slightly longer for fancier specs – impressive. It’s not incredibly fast, but can hold its own at the traffic lights or on a dual carriageway. Inside, the ID.3 is minimalist and glassy. The features carry on this futuristic feel, including an LED driver alert system that tracks battery status and tells the driver if emergency braking is required. Overall, the ID.3 brings a little bit more luxury and performance without getting too pricey.

One of the smallest cheap electric cars on the road, the Smart ForFour EQ has an equally tiny driving range at just 81 miles. It’s quick off the mark, but best-suited to city driving as this range drops off rapidly at higher speeds. Climbing inside, you’ll find a well-made and attractive interior, plus easily accessible backseats thanks to the five-door design. Just keep in mind that it’s tight on headroom and legroom, and passengers may have a bumpy ride. Features include touchscreen infotainment and inbuilt satellite navigation, as well as Bluetooth connectivity and Android Auto. For a manoeuvrable city runaround, you can’t go wrong here.

The SEAT eMii is the third almost-identical triplet of the VW e-Up and the Skoda Citigo e. It’s a compact four-seater city car with good space in the front, and a reasonably large backseat. The boot space isn’t great, but there’s lots of storage in the cabin for smaller items. A big draw of the eMii is it’s very budget-friendly; this low price is partly due to swapping the infotainment system for an app to integrate your smartphone with its speakers and hardware. Inside, it’s solid but plasticky and unexciting, and there are no parking sensors. Feature-sets and luxury aren’t the focus here though, and the eMii offers plenty of down-to-earth bang for the buck, including the solid 161-mile range. The battery even comes with an 8-year warranty.

If you’re considering a new model with an attractive price tag, there are plenty of great cheap electric cars on the road – especially for city driving. For more details on individual models, check out our detailed reviews. If you’ve already found your ideal match, head to our listings to find the right deal.