Listed: The cheapest electric cars available in the UK

Price: £14,995

Best for: Quick trips

For many, the Dacia Spring will be all the car they ever need, and it will raise a smile or two as well.

Jack Warrick, Staff Writer

The Dacia Spring is officially the UK's cheapest electric (proper) car. It almost comes close to being the UK’s cheapest new car overall, with just the Dacia Sandero and Citroën C3 pipping it. 

The small EV, which initially went on sale in mainland Europe, has had a big overhaul inside and out, gaining a new face and significant improvements to interior quality and connectivity.

With a 26.8kWh battery and tipping the scales at just 984kg, the Spring offers a range of around 137 miles on a single charge. 

Price: £15,995

Best for: Interior feel

The truly affordable small car format needs both saving and electrifying, and the Dacia Spring no longer stands alone as its best hope, thanks to the T03.

Jonathan Bryce, Social Media Executive

You probably haven’t heard of Leapmotor. As you might have imagined, it is a Chinese car brand, but one with a difference.

Leapmotors sold outside of China are sold by Leapmotor international, a joint venture with Stellantis. This means the marque is sold within Stellantis showrooms, giving drivers the ability to try a new car within the parameters of a parent company that they know.

There’s only one powertrain option available, a front-mounted 94bhp motor, but you do at least get a selection of paint colours plus a 37.3kWh battery with up to 165 miles of range.

As standard, the T03 has an 8.0in digital instrument display, a multifunction steering wheel and a 10in infotainment touchscreen with sat-nav and a DAB radio, but no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

Price: £17,990

Best for: Style

Frankly, as everything around it becomes increasingly amorphous or aggressive, the Microlino should be applauded just for being a fun little thing.

Felix Page, Deputy editor

The Microlino’s stylistic influence from the era-defining 'bubble car' is very obvious and even extends to a side-hinged front door.

Swing open that front end and you’re met by a bench seat that can happily host two adults… and not much else.

It is not fast by any stretch of the imagination, but its circa-5.0sec 0-30mph time means it works fine in cities and on slow roads.

The standard Microlino comes with a 10.5kWh battery with a claimed 110 miles of range, but there’s also a Lite version with a 58-mile range, courtesy of a smaller battery that brings the overall weight below 425kg, putting it into the quadricycle class.

Neither version is capable of fast charging, but Micro reckons it needs only four hours on a three-pin to go from empty to full. 

Price: £20,975

Best for: Space

There are some really creative design touches in the car that make it a joy to be in. Considering it's not actually the most fun car to drive, it's still a remarkably fun car.

Mark Tisshaw, Editor

Fiat’s utilitarian Panda is back, now named the Grande Panda (because it’s larger than the old model).

The electric version shares a great deal mechanically with the Citroën ë-C3 but undercuts it by £1000.

As standard, it comes with a 44kWh battery serving up a WLTP range of 199 miles. It can charge at up to 100kW and it lays down a 0-62mph time of 11.0sec.

The cheapest models are called Red and come equipped with 16in white steel wheels, LED headlights, a 60/40-split folding rear bench, a 10.25in touchscreen with smartphone mirroring, cruise control and rear parking sensors.

Price: £21,990

Best for: Comfort

If the C3 wants to be the most or the best at anything, then it is comfort and ride quality.

Mark Tisshaw, Editor

Citroën parent company Stellantis, as you’ll soon discover, is really bossing this list. The ë-C3 is the latest entrant and promises something that is both utilitarian and chic.

All models come with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, plus 'comfort' seats and safety aids.

It has a 199-mile range and can rapidly charge at rates of up to 100kW, enabling a 20-80% charge in 26 minutes.

On the road, its hydraulic bump-stops do a good job of filtering out abrasions and you feel pretty well isolated from big bumps. In other words, it’s comfortable and easy-going.

An even cheaper version, costing £17,250, will join Europe in 2025. But Citroën has yet to confirm whether this version is coming to the UK.

Price: £22,995

Best for: Handling

It outclasses all of its rivals with the kind of ride and handling balance that’s rarely seen at this end of the market.

Illya Verpraet, Road Tester

When Renault said it would aim for a price tag of less than £23,000 with the 5, many were sceptical - but the French firm came good on its promise.

The Renault 5 is one of the cheapest EVs on sale in the UK today, on sale for just £22,995. That's just £1600 more than the hybrid Renault Clio. 

For that price, you get the entry-level 118bhp electric motor with a 40kWh battery for 190 miles of range.

If you want more range, you will pay closer to £30,000, which is still cheaper than the entry-level Mini Cooper E. 

Best for: Interior versatility 

Price: £23,505

It feels mature at higher speeds while lacking the character you would expect at lower speeds.

Mark Tisshaw, Editor

Hyundai has dipped its toe into the world of affordable EVs with the Inster, a small city car with a rugged and characteristic appearance. 

Measuring somewhere inbetween the Hyundai i10 and i20, the Inster is genuinely small and appears similar in stature to the Suzuki Ignis.

Power comes from a single front-mounted electric motor. Power ranges from 96bhp to 113bhp with a 42kWh battery included as standard.

A larger, 49kWh battery is also available, giving the Inster a maximum range of 229 miles.

Standard kit includes a heat pump, two 10.25in dashboard screens and lots of safety software.

It's fairly practical too, with a boot measuring 238 litres with the seats up or 351 litres with them slid forwards. 

Price: £26,170

Best for: Dealer network

The Corsa Electric is also very easy to operate and drive, with little extra quirkiness or complication than any EV really needs, and having good performance and good drivability.

Matt Saunders, Road test editor

The Corsa's cheapest model is called the #Yes. Really. It gets a 50kWh battery with 221 miles of range, while a front-mounted electric motor supplies 134bhp and 191lb ft of torque.

The equipment you get is decent too. The Corsa #Yes is equipped with 16in alloy wheels, a 10in digital touch screen, wireless smartphone connectivity, automatic LED headlights and wipers, climate control, keyless entry and rear parking sensors.