Tempted by an electric car, but worried about the price? Well, here we reveal the cheapest EVs on sale, and some of them are more affordable than you might think…
Electric cars are not known for their low purchase cost yet, because they’re still relatively new to our roads. However, as more cars are launched and the years go by, this is slowly starting to change.
Manufacturers are beginning to expand their horizons by producing body styles to suit the needs (and wallets) of a wider variety of buyers. This means there are now many more cars to choose from, including different sizes of electric car and electric SUV.
Some models have been on the market for several years now too, which means that there are some great discounts available.
Citroen Ami (Source: uk-mediacitroen.com)
So, which are the cheapest electric cars on sale? Here, we name the 16 cheapest cars and show you how much you can save on each of them by using our Target Price deals and our free What Car? New Car Buying service.
You can follow the links below to read our full review of each model and see our latest deals.
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But drivers still have a lot of misconceptions about going electric.
From range to charging challenges, here are some of the biggest EV myths, debunked.
Electric cars are gaining traction, bolstered by efforts from the federal government, billions of dollars of investment from the auto industry, and momentum from sustainability advocates all over the globe.
But the US’ transition to electric has been slower than other parts of the world, hitting just about 6% EV adoption in 2022.
Some of that can be attributed to real hurdles, with infrastructure, cost, and more. But more people than might think can probably go electric, so long as some major myths are demystified and their questions answered.
Here are 8 of the biggest myths about EVs, debunked:
Myth 1. All EVs are expensive.
Most consumers who aren’t very familiar with electric vehicles or weren’t early adopters have the perception that all of them are costly.
Honda E 2021 (Image: honda.co.uk)
It’s true that the average price paid for a new EV hit $55,089 in April — higher than the average for a new gas-powered vehicle of $48,275, per Kelley Blue Book. Most US consumers have indicated they don’t want to spend more than $50,000 on one if they opt to electrify. It’s also true that EVs haven’t yet hit scale (at least in the US), and EV batteries are generally a really costly component. Plus, most of the EVs that have hit the market so far have been luxury products and bigger vehicles.
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From the MX-30’s unique interior to its futuristic exterior, Mazda’s first entry into the EV world is definitely something different…
When I see the letters MX, I usually experience a frisson of excitement. They immediately make me think of the MX-5, hands down the greatest roadster ever made. And yes, I’m happy to argue that out with anyone. Because I’m right.
So when I saw that Mazda’s first electric car was called the MX-30, that little frisson of excitement hit me once again. Surely Mazda wouldn’t use those two letters lightly? After all, they belong to the best-selling two-seater convertible of all time. A car that is an absolute joy to drive.
Mazda MX-30 EV (Image: Mazda)
So, does the MX-30 live up to its moniker? Well, kind of. Because just as the MX-5 was revolutionary in its day, Mazda’s first electric car is doing it differently too.
There’s plenty of innovative design in Mazda’s MX-30. But there is one element that sticks in our memory: the cork interior. Rather than use the conventional plastic, metal or wood to trim parts of the dashboard, Mazda’s designers chose the material that plugs wine bottles, holds pinned notes to boards and hides damp patches in bathrooms decorated in the 1970s.
There’s some reasoning for it of course. It turns out Mazda was founded a century ago as a cork manufacturer. It developed some machines to help the processing and then somehow evolved into a carmaker. It’s a nice historical nod, but the cork’s use inside the MX-30 is also an indication that this is a company who likes to do things a little differently.
While its Japanese rivals, Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Mitsubishi, have been building hybrids and electric cars for more than a decade, Mazda has resisted the current flow. It argued that there are still ways to make the internal combustion engine more efficient, as shown by its Skyactiv petrol engines. The combination of light weight and engine technology means even a car like the MX-5 will squeeze 55 miles out of a gallon without even trying.
But now, with the forced end of internal combustion engines looming and the imposition of heavy emissions taxes, Mazda is bowing to the trend. But it’s not going to go the usual way. It wants to make its EV lighter and more efficient, while still being fun to drive. More like a BMW i3 than a Tesla. More, in fact, like the MX-5.
The MX-30, which can now be ordered at prices starting at £27,495, doesn’t have any direct rivals. The most obvious are the Mini Electric and the Honda e, both of which are thoroughly modern but have cutesy retro styling. But the MX-30 instead has a futuristic SUV-like look and pillarless doors, just like a BMW i3 or Mazda’s own deceased sports coupe, the RX-8.
They may not share an aesthetic but what the MX-30 does have in common with the Mini and Honda is a surprisingly small battery. At 35.5kWh it is noticeably smaller than rivals such as the Kia e-Niro’s 64kWh. For comparison, the newer VW ID.3 will start at 45kWh and offer up to 77kWh in the top version. And the bigger the battery, the bigger the range.
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CEO Masamichi Kogai said the company would introduce zero-emission vehicles as standards tighten in the U.S.
Masamichi Kogai, president and chief executive officer of Mazda Motor Corp., at the wheel of the company’s Roadster RF in Tokyo last week. Mazda said it would introduce an electric car by 2019. (Image: Bloomberg)
TOKYO—The chief executive of Mazda Motor Corp. said the company plans to start selling electric vehicles in 2019, joining rivals at home that face tightening emission standards abroad.
“We’ve set the goal at 2019 to accommodate the ZEV regulations in North America,”
Mazda CEO Masamichi Kogai said in a group interview, referring to rules in California and some other states that mandate rising sales of zero-emission vehicles.
Nissan Motor Co. has sold its Leaf electric vehicle since 2010 and Toyota Motor Corp. said this month it wanted to get itself ready for commercializing electric cars.
Mr. Kogai said Mazda would add original features to its electric cars to differentiate itself. He said engineers were looking at ways to keep the cars running longer when the battery was nearly dead.
Mazda and Toyota last year said they would build a long-term partnership on car technology. Representatives from the two companies said collaboration on electric vehicles was an option but nothing was decided. Mr. Kogai said they weren’t considering a capital tie-up.
