So you’ve decided to take a gamble on an electric vehicle, but you’d like to keep the ante down for getting into the game. There are lots of good reasons not to spend the kids’ college fund on the fanciest, six-figure EV — namely, sending them to college at Here Are the 11 Cheapest Electric Vehicles You Can Buy.
Related: Electric Vehicles: Understanding the Terminology
If you’re in need of a practical second car for city driving or commuting in high occupancy vehicle lanes, there’s no need to spend a fortune on a car with a range of 400 miles. A 200-mile EV would be more than sufficient for your needs. Perhaps you have already realized (correctly) that by the time your new EV’s lease or loan is completed, there will be a broader range of EVs with significantly enhanced technology to choose from. Perhaps the cost of installing Level 2 home charging, which is almost essential for owning an EV, may have affected your budget for the car itself. Discover the 11 most affordable electric vehicles on the market.
Whatever your reasons, there are EVs available now that won’t break the bank, though they’re generally still more expensive than comparable gasoline vehicles. Note that availability can be relative for EVs. Some are sold only in certain states, while others may require a reservation for delivery weeks or months later.
Below are 11 of the cheapest EVs you can buy, listed by starting price (including destination). The list features all-electric cars only; plug-in hybrid and fuel-cell models are excluded. Prices do not include the federal government’s tax credit, nor any state or local subsidies. Of note, the federal subsidy has changed considerably as of Jan. 1, and additional guidelines for vehicle eligibility based on battery and materials sourcing were announced recently; read our latest coverage here. The IRS also provides a list of automakers and vehicles that are currently eligible for the credit at Here Are the 11 Cheapest Electric Vehicles You Can Buy.
Nissan Leaf
2023 Nissan Leaf | Manufacturer image
- Starting price:$29,280
- EPA-estimated range:149-212 miles
The 2024 Nissan Leaf is a small four-door hatchback and was one of the first full EVs available nationwide when it rolled out in the U.S. as a 2011 model. Over the years, it has improved with more range and added safety tech. It also got a longer-range sibling, the Leaf Plus, with a bigger battery. In 2023, the Leaf got some minor styling tweaks, and its lineup was simplified to a standard-range Leaf S and longer-range Leaf SV Plus. Little changes for 2024 at Here Are the 11 Cheapest Electric Vehicles You Can Buy.
The cheapest standard-range Leaf S has a 40-kilowatt-hour battery, a modest 147-horsepower electric motor and an EPA-rated 149 miles of range. The interior has few frills, but it does have a standard 8-inch touchscreen with navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Leaf SV Plus, meanwhile, has a 60-kWh battery, a significant range boost to 212 miles and a more livable 214-hp motor at Here Are the 11 Cheapest Electric Vehicles You Can Buy.
Mini Cooper SE Hardtop
2022 Mini Cooper SE Hardtop | Manufacturer image
- Starting price:$31,895
- EPA-estimated range:114 miles
Once the cheapest EV in America, the Mini Cooper SE Hardtop — a two-door, four-seat hatchback — has been undercut by the Leaf. The Mini has one of the shortest ranges on this list, but its 114 EPA-rated miles are still plenty for daily commuting use. With its sporty looks and driving manners, 181-hp electric motor (good for 0-60 mph in 6.9 seconds) and small size, the Cooper SE Hardtop could appeal to shoppers looking for a fun urban runabout or second car. While range is limited, Mini says the 32.6-kWh battery can be charged with 7.4 kilowatts of AC capacity in about four hours on a Level 2 home or public charger. For 2024, Mini has reintroduced the base Classic trim for the SE Hardtop with a more affordable starting price over the outgoing model. In addition to the Classic, the SE Hardtop offers two higher trim levels plus a range of personalization options at Here Are the 11 Cheapest Electric Vehicles You Can Buy.
If you like how this one looks in particular, though, you better grab one now — an all-new, all-electric version of the Mini Cooper is coming for 2025 (though it’s not official yet if or when it will make it stateside) with a modest bump in range and a performance-oriented John Cooper Works version.
Hyundai Kona Electric
2024 Hyundai Kona Electric | Cars.com photo by Christian Lantry
- Starting price:$34,070
- EPA-estimated range:200-261 miles
This four-door subcompact SUV is mostly similar in styling and interior layout to the gasoline Hyundai Kona: It’s comfortable up front, but tight in the backseat and cargo area. Hyundai redesigned the Kona Electric for 2024, making it longer, wider and taller. The base SE trim gets a 48.6-kWh battery pack and 133-hp electric motor, while the SEL and Limited pack a 64.8-kWh battery and 201-hp motor. The Kona Electric’s cheapest SE Standard Range variant comes with an EPA-estimated range of 200 miles, while an upgrade to its long-range battery is good for an EPA-rated range of 261 miles. While sales of the Kona Electric were previously limited to certain states with required zero-emission vehicle targets, its availability was recently expanded to every state except Wyoming and South Dakota at Here Are the 11 Cheapest Electric Vehicles You Can Buy.
Hyundai Ioniq 6
2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6 SE | Manufacturer image
- Starting price:$38,650
- EPA-estimated range: 240-361 miles
The Hyundai Ioniq 6 is a futuristic, streamlined sedan that’s also a great bang for your buck — and was named Cars.com’s Best Value EV pick for 2024 accordingly. It rides on state-of-the-art 800-volt battery architecture, and Hyundai claims it can go from a 10% state of charge to 80% in just 18 minutes on a 350-kW charger. To get the lowest possible price, you’ll need to select the SE Standard Range trim with single-motor RWD, which features a 240-mile range. It comes with a long list of standard equipment, ranging from driver-assist features like adaptive cruise control to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a heated, power-adjustable driver’s seat. Aside from the SE Standard Range, each trim offers dual-motor AWD as an option for an extra $3,500, though adding that does sacrifice some range at Here Are the 11 Cheapest Electric Vehicles You Can Buy.
Tesla Model 3
2024 Tesla Model 3 | Manufacturer image
- Starting price:$40,380
- EPA-estimated range: 272-342 miles
Tesla’s entry-level sedan, the Model 3, finally got a subtle styling refresh for 2024 with a more angular appearance outside and zero stalks on the steering column inside. Its blinkers are now capacitive-touch buttons on the steering wheel, and you put the car in Reverse, Park or Drive on the single large touchscreen in the center of the dashboard or via a touch-sensitive strip on the ceiling by the rearview mirror. While those might be polarizing choices, it’s undeniable that the Model 3 is one of the most affordable options for an EV at Here Are the 11 Cheapest Electric Vehicles You Can Buy.
The base single-motor, rear-wheel-drive Model 3 achieves up to 272 miles of range, and the dual-motor AWD Long Range variant nets up to 342 miles of range, per the EPA. While other automakers are transitioning to the North American Charging Standard plug for access to Tesla’s Supercharger network, the Model 3 already has the charge port built in — no extra converter needed.
Kia Niro EV
2024 Kia Niro EV | Manufacturer image
- Starting price:$40,975
- EPA-estimated range:253 miles
The Kia Niro EV is part of a line of electrified-only hatchbacks that also includes hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions, all of which received a full redesign for the 2023 model year. The 2024 Niro EV uses the same architecture as its predecessor, with standard FWD, a 64.8-kWh battery pack and a 201-hp motor to achieve an estimated maximum range of 253 miles. To get the price listed above, buyers should look for the base Niro Wind; the loaded trim is the Wave at Here Are the 11 Cheapest Electric Vehicles You Can Buy.
Nissan Ariya
2023 Nissan Ariya | Cars.com photo by Christian Lantry
- Starting price:$40,980
- EPA-estimated range:205-304 miles
Nissan’s newest model adds yet another affordable but likeable EV to its lineup, this time in compact SUV form. We were impressed with the Ariya’s tech and driving manners but were somewhat perplexed by its lack of a one-pedal driving mode. Recent price cuts put it firmly on this list and addressed our main complaint with the Ariya — namely that its debut price wasn’t competitive in an increasingly crowded segment of EVs. The cheapest Ariya, priced at $40,980, is the Engage FWD trim with the smaller 63-kWh battery. While that trim only gets you 216 miles of range, it’s only a little bit more to upgrade to the $42,580 FWD Venture+ trim, which packs the larger 87-kWh battery and the maximum range of 304 miles at Here Are the 11 Cheapest Electric Vehicles You Can Buy.
Volkswagen ID.4
2024 Volkswagen ID.4 | Manufacturer image
- Starting price:$41,160
- EPA-estimated range:206-291 miles
Volkswagen rolled out a few notable updates to the ID.4 for 2024, and while most of them are on higher trims, there’s one important change rolling out for every variant. The ID.4 now has a more intuitive user interface with a new, slightly larger 12.9-inch touchscreen and backlit sliders that you can now see at night. Its shifter has been relocated to a more traditional stalk behind the steering wheel, and the steering wheel controls have been revised. While that doesn’t fix every issue we’ve had with the ID.4’s confusing overreliance on touch-sensitive controls, it certainly helps this otherwise comfortable, peppy EV become a bit more practical at Here Are the 11 Cheapest Electric Vehicles You Can Buy.
The least expensive option is still the base RWD Standard variant, which features a 62-kWh battery and a single 201-hp rear motor. Higher trims with the 82-kWh battery get a sizable performance bump for 2024, with new rear motors that increase output to 282 hp in RWD versions and 335 hp on AWD ID.4s.
Ford Mustang Mach-E
2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E | Manufacturer image
- Starting price:$41,990
- EPA-estimated range:230-320 miles
Pricing of the Ford Mustang Mach-E SUV went up and down throughout 2023 as Ford and Tesla had a bit of a price war going on, and thankfully, that’s translated into a relatively low base price for the Mach-E for 2024. The 2024 model features a lighter rear motor that’s good for 264 hp and 387 pounds-feet of torque in its least expensive Select trim — a full 70 pounds-feet more than the 2023 model. Battery controls also received an upgrade for faster charging speeds. While the Mach-E can get pricey fast (the new off-road-oriented Rally trim starts at $60,990), the base Select RWD Standard Range clocks in at a far more frugal $41,990 and offers a not-too-shabby 250 miles of range at Here Are the 11 Cheapest Electric Vehicles You Can Buy.
Hyundai Ioniq 5
2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 | Manufacturer image
- Starting price:$43,195
- EPA-estimated range:220-303 miles
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 has specs similar to the Kia EV6 (Kia and Hyundai are affiliated automakers). That includes a similar choice of standard- or long-range battery packs and either RWD or AWD, though the Ioniq 5 has both slightly higher range estimates and a lower price than the EV6. Both models can use 350-kW DC fast charging and include vehicle-to-load capabilities. For 2023, the SUV got a new battery preconditioning feature, higher towing capacities for most models (up to 2,300 pounds) and increased range on its AWD models. The Ioniq 5 remains largely unchanged for 2024, adding a standard Wi-Fi hot spot and more standard safety equipment, including rear side airbags and steering-wheel haptic feedback for driver-assistance features like lane departure steering assist and blind spot monitoring at Here Are the 11 Cheapest Electric Vehicles You Can Buy.
Chevrolet Equinox EV
2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV | Cars.com photo by Christian Lantry
- Starting price:$43,295
- EPA-estimated range:285-319 miles
If you’re looking for an excellent bang for your buck, it’s hard not to like the new Equinox EV. Its cheapest front-wheel-drive version is one of the longest-range electric SUVs on the road, offering 319 miles on a full charge, and Chevy says its 150-kilowatt charging capabilities can get you 77 miles of range in 10 minutes on a DC fast charger. To get the least expensive Equinox EV, look for the well-optioned base 2LT trim, which comes with a suite of popular safety features, a 17.7-inch touchscreen, heated front seats and a power liftgate. The options list may be worth a look, too, as GM’s much-lauded Super Cruise hands-free driving system is available with the $2,700 Active Safety Package 3 at Here Are the 11 Cheapest Electric Vehicles You Can Buy.
