With EV prices under increasing scrutiny, we have put together a list of the cheapest electric cars you can actually order in the UK in 2026.
The 10 Cheapest Electric Cars You Can Buy New in the UK (2026)
1. Leapmotor T03 — £14,495
- Battery: 36.0 kWh
- Range: 135 miles
- Efficiency: 267 Wh/mi
- Rapid charging: 30 kW
- 0–62 mph: 12.7 seconds
- Boot space: 210 litres
2. Dacia Spring Electric 70 — £15,990
- Battery: 24.0 kWh
- Range: 100 miles
- Efficiency: 240 Wh/mi
- Rapid charging: 35 kW
- 0–62 mph: 12.3 seconds
- Boot space: 342 litres
3. Dacia Spring Electric 100 — £16,990
- Battery: 24.0 kWh
- Range: 95 miles
- Efficiency: 253 Wh/mi
- Rapid charging: 35 kW
- 0–62 mph: 9.6 seconds
- Boot space: 342 litres
4. Renault Twingo E-Tech (27.5 kWh) — £18,000
- Battery: 27.5 kWh
- Range: 110 miles
- Efficiency: 250 Wh/mi
- Rapid charging: 40 kW
- 0–62 mph: 12.1 seconds
- Boot space: 360 litres
5. Citroën ë-C3 Urban Range (30 kWh) — £18,495
- Battery: 29.8 kWh
- Range: 105 miles
- Efficiency: 284 Wh/mi
- Rapid charging: 30 kW
- 0–62 mph: 11.6 seconds
- Boot space: 310 litres
6. BYD Dolphin Surf (30 kWh) — £18,650
- Battery: 30.0 kWh
- Range: 115 miles
- Efficiency: 261 Wh/mi
- Rapid charging: 45 kW
- 0–62 mph: 11.1 seconds
- Boot space: 308 litres
7. Renault 4 E-Tech (40 kWh, 120 hp) — £20,250
- Battery: 40.0 kWh
- Range: 150 miles
- Efficiency: 267 Wh/mi
- Rapid charging: 55 kW
- 0–62 mph: 9.2 seconds
- Boot space: 420 litres
8. Renault 5 E-Tech (40 kWh, 95 hp) — £20,500
- Battery: 40.0 kWh
- Range: 160 miles
- Efficiency: 250 Wh/mi
- Rapid charging: not listed
- 0–62 mph: 12.0 seconds
- Boot space: 326 litres
9. Fiat Grande Panda Electric — £20,995
- Battery: 43.8 kWh
- Range: 160 miles
- Efficiency: 274 Wh/mi
- Rapid charging: 60 kW
- 0–62 mph: 11.0 seconds
- Boot space: 361 litres
10. Fiat 500e Hatchback (24 kWh) — £20,995
- Battery: 21.3 kWh
- Range: 80 miles
- Efficiency: 266 Wh/mi
- Rapid charging: 40 kW
- 0–62 mph: 9.0 seconds
- Boot space: 185 litres
Why so many cheap EVs are discontinued
You’ll notice many of the lowest-priced EVs are no longer sold new.
That’s because early-generation electric cars were built when batteries were expensive and ranges were modest. As technology improved, manufacturers moved upmarket leaving budget buyers to rely on either:
- ultra-basic new models, or
- used and discontinued car
What the data shows us about cheap EVs
Looking purely at the numbers, a few patterns are clear:
- Sub-£18,000 EVs are tightly clustered around 95–135 miles of range
- Battery sizes below 30 kWh dominate the lowest price bracket
- Rapid charging speeds are generally capped at 30–45 kW for the cheapest cars
- More modern platforms (Renault 4, Renault 5, Fiat Grande Panda) sit closer to £20,000 but bring larger batteries and longer range
John is the Editor and Spokesperson for Electric Car Guide.
With over 20 years of writing experience, he has written for titles such as City AM, FE News and NerdWallet.com, covering various automotive and personal finance topics.
John’s market commentary has been covered by the likes of The Express, The Independent, Yahoo Finance and The Evening Standard.
