Cheapest electric cars for 2024: tried and tested by our experts

Although they can be cheaper to fuel, electric cars often cost more to buy than their petrol or hybrid counterparts, thanks in part to their large, expensive batteries.

However, if you're on a tight budget, there are plenty of older electric cars available to buy used, and with new brands entering the market we could start to see the price of new electric cars dropping.

Whether you're looking to buy new or used, our unique lab tests and reliability survey data helps you to make an informed decision when buying a cheap electric car.

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Cheapest new electric cars

These are the cheapest electric cars we've tested that are available to buy new.

NOTE: This list is ordered by price, not Which? score. We've removed Don't Buys, but click through to our reviews to see how each one performed in our lab tests.

Cheapest used electric cars

Simply looking for the cheapest electric car? These are the electric cars that cost the least to buy used, according to our pricing data. As with all used cars, the you pay will depend on factors such its age and overall condition.

NOTE: This list is ordered by price, not Which? score. We've removed Don't Buys, but click through to our reviews to see how each one performed in our lab tests.

Discover everything you need to know about charging an electric car from home

Cheapest Best Buy electric cars

The models below are the cheapest electric cars to have achieved Which? Best Buy status, ordered by price (low to high). This means they scored highly on everything from performance and practicality, to safety and reliability. Most models in this category will be available used only.

Best cheap electric cars under £15,000

Although no small amount, a budget of £15k will let you pick up a decent used electric vehicle (EV). Here are the models that shone in our tests. We've included models that aren't Best Buys as many early EVs were never tested by Euro NCAP (a car can’t be a Which? Best Buy if it’s been on sale for four years or more and doesn’t have an NCAP rating). 

Cheap electric cars to shortlist

If you're looking for more inspiration, these relatively cheap electric cars all scored well in our tests. They all have their own pros and cons, though, so be sure to click through to our reviews to get our full verdict and test score. Below, we’ve suggested some affordable models that are easy to find.

BMW i3 (2013-2022)

• Typical price: £9,302
• Maximum claimed range: 223 miles

The distinctive i3 was the brand's first volume EV, although it's been developing electric cars since the 1970s. On sale for a relatively long nine-year period, earlier models are still common, even though the vast majority of UK i3 cars are later, more expensive, long-range models.

But how far can an i3 travel on a single charge? Find out by reading our full BMW i3 (2013-2022) review.

Nissan Leaf (2011-17)

• Typical price: £4,826
• Maximum claimed range: 153 miles

The Leaf was a trailblazer when it first went on sale in 2011, and gradually became a very popular choice in the UK. Some models were also built at the Nissan factory in Sunderland.

Unlike many other early EVs, the Leaf is a medium-sized car, which should make it more practical for families.

But is this really the case? Our Nissan Leaf (2011-2017) review tells all.

Volkswagen e-Golf (2014-2020)

• Typical price: £10,396
• Maximum claimed range: 186 miles

Based on the hugely popular 2013-2020 Golf, the e-Golf is, as the name suggests, merely an electric version of this car.

Like the standard Golf, it's spacious and has a good-sized boot.

Is the e-Golf a Best Buy? Find out by reading our full Volkswagen e-Golf (2014-2020) review.

Not found the model you're interested in? View all of our electric car reviews to find the car you want.

Should you buy a used electric car?

With the potential for much lower running costs compared to a petrol or diesel, and a supremely smooth driving experience, used electric cars have a lot going for them. However, there are some important potential drawbacks to consider.

As with all cars, the price of a used electric car will vary depending on factors such as the make and model, its age and overall condition. And although our data shows electric car batteries typically don't lose much of their original charge (even for models over five years), it's still something worth checking before you buy.

The main issue is that of driving range. In recent years, larger batteries and improved efficiency have seen the latest electric cars manage more than 300 miles between charges. However, many older used models struggle to manage 200 miles – some can't even reach half that figure. Depending on the car you choose, you may find yourself looking for a charge point nearly every time you set off.

As always, manufacturer-claimed mileage is often wide of the mark. We test every electric car under the same, real-world conditions, so by reading our electric car reviews you'll know exactly how far you'll be able to travel in your chosen car.

Along with reduced mileage, older electric cars probably won't include the latest charging technology. This means it's unlikely you'll be able to benefit from the ultra-rapid charging stations, so you’ll be waiting a tad longer to recharge.

That said, the majority of used older models do offer some form of rapid-charge compatibility, so you won’t necessarily be reliant on far slower 7kWh ‘fast’ chargers. For more on charging, read our guide on charging electric cars.

Is electric car battery degradation really a problem?

One thing that puts some people off buying a used electric car is the fear that the lithium-ion battery will have degraded, reducing the range. It's an understandable concern – after all, anyone who’s owned a laptop or phone for a few years will attest to the limited usable life span of their batteries. However, the fact is it's not something you need to be overly concerned about.

Data from our annual car survey shows that reduced battery capacity (and therefore driving range) is far less of a problem for electric car owners than you might imagine. In fact, our data shows that, on average, drivers reported only a minimal reduction in capacity (around 9% over seven years) as their car ages. As the chart shows, electric cars purchased in 2016 still have, on average, 91% of their original charge capacity.

If you're unlucky enough to suffer a greater drop in capacity, the manufacturer's warranty should have you covered. Most warranties cover the battery pack and will provide for a repair of replacement should it drop below a certain percentage capacity.

Kia for instance, will cover the battery for seven years or 100,000 miles (whichever comes first) and will take action should the battery drop below 70% of its original full charge.

We reveal how much it costs to charge an EV, and the costs you should be aware of in our guide.

What to check when buying a used electric car

If you’re still concerned about the state of the battery and are buying from a dealer, ask them to provide a health report. This should show the battery's remaining capacity.

If you're buying privately or via an online car-buying service, you probably won't be able to get a battery report. However, you should still treat buying a used electric car just like you would any other used car.

Most important of all, ensure the car has a full service history. You should also use the free tool on Gov.uk to check whether the car is subject to any recalls and to see its MOT history – simply enter the registration number to find out (and be very suspicious of owners who won't tell you the registration of the car they're trying to sell you).

For a small fee, services such as HPI will tell you if the car's been reported as stolen, written off or saddled with outstanding finance. Buying through a manufacturer approved-used scheme should ensure all these checks have been carried out and you’ll typically get a year’s warranty thrown in if the original one has expired.

Find out more on how to thoroughly check a used car, and how to negotiate the best deal, in our guide on how to buy the best used car.

Where to buy a used electric car

Although dealer-approved used electric cars offer peace of mind and the process of buying one is usually simple and quick, you’re likely to pay a premium – even if you manage to secure a discount.

Of course, there are other ways of buying a used car to consider, especially if saving money is high on your agenda. We reveal the pros and cons of each (from online brokers to car supermarkets) in our in-depth guide on where to buy a car.

We test cars more thoroughly than anyone else

Our tests go further than those carried out by other organisations, and because Which? is independent, you can trust our reviews to give you the full, honest and impartial truth about every car we test.

To find out more, head to our guide on how we test cars.

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