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Hybrids Beat Petrol on Running Costs Across Most Popular Models, Review Finds
UK's cheapest new car is now an EV as sub-£30,000 electric market expands
A fast-growing choice of electric vehicles is now available for under £30,000 in the UK, with the cheapest new car on sale being an EV for the first time. Government grants and intensifying competition are bringing prices closer to petrol equivalents.
By George Kensington · 5 min read
The UK's cheapest new car is now an electric vehicle, marking a significant milestone for a technology that has traditionally carried a price premium. A rapidly expanding market of electric cars priced below £30,000 means buyers switching to electric power now have more choice than ever, and not all of them are short-range city cars.
At the very bottom of the price ladder sits the Dacia Spring, which starts from £11,990 and offers a range of 139 miles. The Leapmotor T03, priced from £12,995, comes in a single trim level but includes a panoramic roof, satellite navigation and adaptive cruise control as standard, with a range of 165 miles. The BYD Dolphin Surf, from £18,675, provides between 137 and 193 miles of range, while the Citroën ë-C3 starts at £18,495 with the Electric Car Grant and delivers 132 to 200 miles.
Several models combine affordability with longer range. The Hyundai Ioniq 3, from £18,495, offers between 213 and 308 miles, making it one of the longest-range options under £30,000. The Cupra Raval, newly launched from £25,495 with the grant, provides 203 to 276 miles in entry-level V1 form. The MG 4 EV, priced from £29,995, just edges under the price cap with 280 miles of range, the second longest on the list. The Kia EV2, designed and engineered in Europe, starts at £24,245 with the full £3,750 government grant and offers 195 to 275 miles.
Family-focused buyers are also well served. The Ford Puma Gen-E, which received the full government grant, starts at £25,245 and retains the petrol Puma's deceptively large boot with underfloor storage, offering 251 to 259 miles. The Fiat 600e, from £25,495 with the grant, provides 247 to 251 miles. The Peugeot e-2008 comes in under £30,000 in Allure and Envy trims, with 247 to 248 miles of range. The Renault 4, inspired by the 1960s hatchback, qualifies for the £3,750 grant, meaning even canvas-roofed Plein Sud models are within budget, with 241 to 250 miles.
City car options include the Fiat 500e, from £20,245 with the grant, offering 118 to 202 miles depending on battery choice, and its sporty sibling the Abarth 500e, from £24,245 with the grant, which packs 152bhp and an optional folding roof with 158 to 164 miles of range. The Mini Cooper Electric comes in under £30,000 in Cooper E and SE forms, with 186 to 247 miles, while the larger Mini Aceman starts at £29,060 with 189 to 192 miles. The Nissan Micra, mechanically identical to the Renault 5, starts at £21,495 with the grant and offers 196 to 257 miles.
The Citroën ë-C3 Aircross, a surprisingly spacious crossover, starts at £23,615 with the grant and provides 189 to 248 miles, though it lacks the seven-seat option available on fuel-burning versions. The Citroën ë-C4 fastback is limited to its smaller battery option under the price cap, starting at £27,215 with the grant and offering 219 miles. The Fiat Grande Panda Electric, a city-focused crossover inspired by the boxy 1980s hatchback, starts at £20,995 with 199 miles of range. The Geely EX2, from £20,990, offers 156 to 214 miles across two battery options and three generously specced trims.
Other notable entries include the Hyundai Inster, from £22,995, with a versatile interior where all seats fold flat, offering 188 to 229 miles. The Jaecoo E5, from £27,505, provides 248 miles with premium styling at a supermini price. The MG4 EV Urban, a Volkswagen Golf-sized hatchback, starts at £23,495 with 201 to 258 miles and class-leading luggage space. The MG S5, limited to entry-level SE trim and a smaller battery under the price cap, starts at £28,995 with 211 miles. The Peugeot e-208, from £23,495 with the grant, offers 226 to 268 miles with its newer, more efficient 156bhp powertrain. The Aion UT, a spacious supermini with hot hatch performance, starts at £28,950 with 268 miles of range.
The breadth of choice reflects intensifying competition among manufacturers and the impact of government incentives, which have brought several models close to the price of their petrol equivalents. For buyers considering the switch, the market now offers everything from sub-£12,000 city cars to family SUVs with more than 250 miles of range, all within the £30,000 threshold.
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