Cheapest Electric Cars 2025

It’s hard to believe how rapidly the modern electric car era has progressed since the weird and not-so-wonderful Mitsubishi i-MiEV went on sale in 2009, a year before the first Nissan Leaf. But such quick progress means that EV development costs have been high, which is why electric cars can still look expensive compared to their petrol and diesel equivalents. Prices are levelling out, though, and we are starting to see more and more EVs which are dramatically changing the pricing landscape. Loads of great EVs offer genuinely good value, especially considering how cheap they are to run, and the new Electric Car Grant is helping to make some models more affordable still.
Here are the cheapest new electric cars on sale today.

The cheapest new electric car on sale isn’t even a car. It’s a quadricycle, technically. But it looks like a car, right? Okay, maybe not. Still, its weirdness is a big part of the appeal. It’s a quadricycle because any vehicle that weighs less than 450kg and has less than 20 horsepower is one, by definition. The Ami only has eight horsepower, which means it can be driven legally by a 16-year-old with a moped licence. At less than £8,000 it’s cheap for a new ‘car’, but you’ll have to live with its tiny two-seat interior and a 28mph top speed. Hilarious to drive, though. Genuinely.
Find out more about the Citroën Ami here

If you are after an actual car then the Leapmotor T03 is one of the cheapest electric cars on offer. The tiny T03 is packed with big car tech including a digital driver display, 10-inch touch-screen, parking sensors and blind spot monitoring. Plus, its dinky proportions make it perfect for squeezing into tight spaces. Everything comes as standard so all you need to do is take your pick of the five paint colours available. It may lack a bit of finesse, but the T03 is one of the most affordable ways to get behind the wheel of an electric car and it will even cover up to 165 miles on a single charge if you stick to urban driving.
Find out more about the Leapmotor T03 here

At just under £15,000 the Dacia Spring has all the basics covered making it the definition of cheap and cheerful. Entry-level Expression cars come with rear parking sensors, air conditioning and assistance features such as lane keeping assist and traffic sign recognition. You also have the choice of 45 of 65 horsepower. Meanwhile top of the range Extreme models are all 65 horsepower and get front and rear parking sensors, a reversing camera, and a central infotainment screen. It’s Dacia to a T with rugged styling, functional interior, and a range of around 140 miles. However, to keep costs to a minimum the Spring lacks refinement at higher speeds so is best kept within city limits.
Find out more about the Dacia Spring here

The Dolphin Surf is everything we’ve come to know about BYD packed into a miniature city car. The signature BYD rotating central screen, the ocean themed interior design and the array of standard kit are all present and correct. The Dolphin Surf is a car built to a budget so it's a little less plush than its larger siblings, but it does offer more space than you might expect for a small car, and it is perfectly happy around town. Good visibility and soft suspension will help to alleviate the stress of busy city driving and the default lime green paintwork will add a welcome pop of colour on a grey day.
Find out more about the BYD Dolphin Surf here

The Citroën ë-C3 is a step up from smaller models like the Dacia Spring in all respects. Yes it does cost more, but it is larger and represents impressive value for money with a usable range of nearly 200 miles. Citroën believes the ë-C3 will help making electric more motoring accessible and we think it would easily slot into most people’s daily routine. It comes with a decent amount of kit as standard and it’s very comfortable thanks to Citroën’s advanced comfort seats and suspension. With quirky looks and customisable colour clips it’s a fun, compact and affordable electric car which is well worth a look, particularly now qualifies for a £1,500 government grant.
Find out more about the Citroën ë-C3 here

The electric Fiat Grande Panda is the Citroën ë-C3’s flamboyant Italian cousin with both cars sharing the same foundations. The Grande Panda is a fun and characterful small car filled with retro motifs and pops of colour. With a range of around 200 miles and thoughtful touches like a storage ‘bambox’ made using real bamboo, the Grande Panda is a jolly little car which is bound to make you smile and should fit seamlessly into most lifestyles.
Find out more about the Fiat Grande Panda here

The Renault 5 is one of our favourite electric cars and the deserving winner of the Erin Baker Award at the Autotrader Drivers’ Choice Awards this year. The Renault 5 is now eligible for the £1,500 government electric car grant which makes this great value EV even more affordable. With its perfect blend of retro styling and modern tech we’ve loved living with the Renault 5 on long-term test and think it would be a great option for anyone looking for their first electric car.
Find out more about the Renault 5 here

The Hyundai Inster is as cute as a Tamagotchi, as versatile as a Swiss Army knife and it features the kind of tech you’d expect to find in a much larger car. Here at Autotrader we’re such big fans we awarded it a perfect five-star rating. The Inster packs a lot into a small car, and the long-range version has an official range of around 230 miles which should be plenty for most people. We particularly like the paddles behind the steering wheel which make adjusting the regenerative braking to maximise efficiency a breeze.
Find out more about the Hyundai Inster here

The Frontera is another close relation to the Citroën ë-C3 adding Vauxhall’s spin on top of shared foundations. The Frontera is a practical family-friendly car which takes a no-nonsense approach to going electric. It doesn’t have the character of other compact crossovers like the Renault 4 or Jeep Avenger, but it is comfortable, spacious and offers good value for money – particularly now it is eligible for the government’s £1,500 grant.
Find out more about the Vauxhall Frontera Electric here

By fixing everything that was fundamentally below par about the outgoing Fiat 500 – mainly the poor driver ergonomics and patchy interior quality – the latest 500 is already a massive improvement. The fact that it’s electric makes it even better. Two battery choices mean you can opt for a cheaper version if you don’t need big range (the smaller battery will give you about 100 miles), but whichever you choose, the latest 500 is just great. A tall adult can now get comfy in the driver’s seat, and electric power means it’s really refined and feels proper quick.
Find out more about the Fiat 500e here