Electric cars are more popular today than they have ever been. And why wouldn’t they be? An electric vehicle (EV) lets you travel in silence and produces zero emissions. You don't have to pay road tax, London dwellers don’t need to worry about the Congestion Charge, and the government will even give you a grant to buy one.
As the range between top-ups increases and the charging infrastructure improves, an EV is already a viable alternative to petrol- or diesel-fuelled models for a significant portion of British drivers. However, the EV market is still very much in its infancy, and choice is proving slow to grow.
Having first appeared around ten years ago, the market’s first EVs were cars with around 80 miles of usable range, priced at a 50 per cent premium over their petrol-fuelled counterparts. Today, in many cases, real-world range has more than doubled and that price premium has almost disappeared.
This is a list of our top ten affordable electric cars compiled considering factors such as range and usability, driving dynamics and value for money. Some are still subject to relatively high prices compared to combustion-engined cars, but their premiums can be offset against lower running costs.
Best Affordable Electric Cars 2019
1. Kia e-Niro
Along with its sister car, the Hyundai Kona Electric, the Kia e-Niro redefines how much real-world range we should now be expecting from an electric vehicle towards the more affordable end of the price spectrum. For around £35,000, the 64kWh battery pack common to both enables them to comfortably travel 230 miles on a single charge. A few years ago, that would be the sort of range you’d be expecting from something far pricier, and probably with a Tesla badge on its nose.
That genre-challenging relationship between range and affordability isn’t the sole reason why the e-Niro now crowns this list. Indeed if it was, the Hyundai Kona would be right up there, too. Where e-Niro pulls ahead, though, is that it also remains a thoroughly useable, pleasant-to-drive electric vehicle. It’s roomier than that of its relative, and it rides and handles with a greater level of sophistication and commitment. It may lack some of the accelerative potency of the Kona off the line, but as a well-rounded, truly usable affordable electric vehicle, the e-Niro is going to take some beating.
Join the debate
Korky
Ev
Very little or indeed no mention of resale residue values of Electric vehicles,I would assume very poor due to battery degredadation and battery lease arrangements,am I correct?
Mewmew
Residual value
Who wants to buy an electric car with 80 or 100 usable miles when you can get cars with 50% better range that are arguably better looking (taking the leaf as an example).
denmolibden
Electric car comparison website – EV Compare
You forgot to mention Kia Niro. It is a bit more expensive than Hyundai Kona, but more practical thanks to bigger luggage capacity. All in all, a nice family EV.
Also I would like to share my electric car comparison website — EV Compare.It is an international electric car database, marketplace and community.I've created it to debunk EV myths and accelerate transition to electric vehicles.Please, give it a look.
Thank you.
SmileItsFun
Where's the plug...
I looked at an electric car (the Kia Niro and Hyundai Kona). Nice they were too with a reasonable turn of speed. What did I buy?
Petrol Ateca.
Why?
There really aren't any recharging points where I live (relatively rural but still a decent sized town) and none at my workplace.
To have an electric charging point fitted would cost me BIG due to the layout of my house and to be completely honest, I think the technology needs to mature more (and come down in price).
Then the Government need to commit to improving the infrastructure for charging (which is more than simply adding more plugs about the place and probably includes building more power stations).
I really wanted to go electric, but there is too much compromise for me and many people in my situation for it to be a viable choice for now.
Krisp
Reading articles well
It would be good if people read the article before critising it. Plugging the own website is a poor idea. I personally would not trust it from the above comment.
Jeremy
On sale now?
The article says this is a list of the top 10 EVs 'on sale in Britain today' but includes the VW ID3 and Kia Soul, both of which are 'yet to have their price confirmed'. So, not on sale then!
Theley
Fact check
A correction for the Zoe entry. The new 50kwh version will not have a battery lease option. Renault say because residual values are now good enough not to need this option (improved PCP deals / less worry about battery degradation).
2020 will be a very interesting year because of a lot of new EVs and also improved versions of existing models will be interesting to see what this competition does to the cost of ownership, which for some is certainly a legitimate barrier. IF a manufacturer is really serious about moving to EVs they will no doubt be creative if not they are still just playing the compliance game. This time though new EU emissions regulations will play its part .
Vertigo
There's the UK automotive media being weird about Tesla again
...Whereas there's a £22k gap between the base Model 3 and the cheapest luxury EVs, such as the I-Pace. Even the Performance Model 3 is priced below that end of the market. The Tesla clearly belongs on this list rather than that one.
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Also find it continually irritating that the mention of the BMW i3's relatively great handling is only described in the context of city driving. You don't need to stay in the city with 160 miles of range, it's perfectly capable on twisty country roads.
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