Cheapest electric cars UK: The 10 most affordable EVs of 2026
Join us as we run down the cheapest electric cars on sale in Britain in 2026 – from Renault and Citroen to BYD and Vauxhall
2026 is set to be the year of the affordable EV, with more cheaper options than ever hitting showrooms.
That means it’s going to be tough keeping up with the UK’s cheapest electric cars – a task made even trickier by the application of two different levels of discount under the Electric Car Grant, plus a variety of manufacturers’ own offers.
However, we here at EV Powered like a challenge, so we’ve compiled our list of the 10 cheapest electric cars on sale right now, factoring in any ECG or in-house discounts currently being offered.
We’ll update this list throughout the year but, for now, these are the most affordable EVs on the market.
Dacia Spring. Price from £12,240
The Dacia Spring was already the UK’s cheapest electric car but for 2026, the Romanian brand is going all-out to retain its crown. To do so, it is having to offer its own in-house version of the ECG, which knocks £3,750 from the official £15,990 list price. As well as a lower price for customers, the 2026 Spring brings a range of technical updates to this simple city runaround. New motors offer 68bhp or 99bhp and there’s faster charging for its 24.3kWh battery, plus chassis upgrades to improve handling. Entry-level cars are a little bare compared to the Leapmotor T03, but even top-spec versions come in at under £14,000 with the savings applied.
Leapmotor T03. Price from £14,495
The first model from a joint project between European/US behemoth Stellantis and China’s Leapmotor, the T03 is a tiny A-segment hatchback that won’t win any beauty pageants but does offer a pretty generous spec for the money. Priced from less than £14,500, thanks to an in-house discount scheme, the T03 gets a 37.3kWh battery good for up to 165 miles, and a 94bhp motor. A 10.1-inch touchscreen, panoramic sunroof, adaptive cruise control and air conditioning are also among standard features.
BYD Dolphin Surf. Price from £18,650
BYD entered the UK market with larger family-focused models such as the Atto 3 and Seal, but is looking to compete at the affordable end too with the Dolphin Surf. Predictably, it’s a compact city car but one that’s positioned to compete with everything from the Spring and T03 to the Renault 5 and Citroen E-C3. Beneath the awkward design is a relatively spacious (for the segment) and well-equipped four-seat cabin and the choice of three powertrains. The budget-friendly Active trim uses a smaller battery and motor for a Spring-like 137-mile range, while the most efficient Boost offers up to 200 miles. Top-spec cars can’t compete with the Renault 5, but at the lower end, there’s a lot to like about the Dolphin Surf.
Citroen E-C3. Price from £19,995 (Incl £1,500 ECG)
Unlike Citroen’s cheapest EV, the Ami, the E-C3 is a proper car, powered by a 111bhp motor and equipped with a 44kWh battery. That means you can safely venture out of the city in the E-C3 and you’ll get almost 200 miles away before you need to charge. All versions of the E-C3 come with touches such as alloy wheels and two-tone paint and even the well-equipped Max version with heated seats and a parking camera comes in under £24,000 after the ECG, meaning even the higher-spec car would make it onto our list of the cheapest electric cars.
Fiat 500e. Price from £20,995
Fiat’s electric reinvention of its retro-chic city car blends the styling cues of the earlier models with a sleeker finish and high-tech interior, and what it lacks in space it more than makes up for in charm. Fiat has just slashed prices again to make it one of the cheapest electric cars available as competition mounts. Entry level versions come with a less powerful drivetrain featuring a 93bhp motor and 24kWh battery that’s good for around 118 miles of range. If you can find an extra £3,000, higher-spec versions offer an extra 25bhp and, more importantly, a range of almost 200 miles, plus faster charging.
Fiat Grande Panda. Price from £20,995
Delayed from last year, the Fiat Grande Panda is finally available to order and is set to cause problems for Fiat’s other small EV. It’s a brand-new model inspired by the beloved Panda of the 1980s and ‘90s, with retro yet modern boxy styling and a funky high-tech interior with space for four. This Italian rival to the E-C3 and Renault 5 uses the same underpinnings as the Citroen, which means 111bhp and 199 miles of range from its 44kWh battery. There are three trim levels to choose from, with even top-spec La Prima prices from just over £24,000.
Renault 5. Price from £21,495 (Incl £1,500 ECG)
Renault really seems to have got a handle on the whole EV thing. The Scenic and Megane have won awards all over the place and the Renault 5 is following suit. As well as looking fantastic, the stylish five-door supermini offers a competitive 118bhp motor and 40kWh battery good for 190 miles of range, plus packs high-end kit such as 18-inch alloys, twin digital screens and keyless entry/start for less than £21,500. If your pockets are a little deeper, there’s a more powerful, longer range version too, that starts at just £23,945 thanks to a more generous £3,750 EGC allowance.
Citroen E-C3 Aircross. Price from £23,095 (Incl £1,500 ECG)
The C3 Aircross name has been around for a while, offering a bigger, more rugged SUV companion to the regular C3 hatch. LIke the E-C3, this latest version uses the Stellantis Smart Car platform and, like its predecessors, is a compact yet practical crossover that offers more family space in a relatively small footprint. Its bigger, less aerodynamic body means a drop in range to 188 miles but like the hatch it offers Citroen’s Advanced Comfort ride and an impressive specification for the money.
Hyundai Inster. Price from £23,755
Hyundai is finally bringing its extensive EV know-how from its bigger, more expensive models to the affordable compact sector. Looking like a Land Rover but with the footprint of a Mini, this ruggedly styled city car is going head-to-head with the Citroen and Vauxhall. And it’s bringing plenty of tech to the fight. Entry level cars get a 42kWh battery with 203 miles of range, plus a heat pump as standard along with twin 10.25-inch screens, adaptive cruise control, rear parking camera and keyless entry.
Vauxhall Frontera. Price from £23,995 (Incl £1,500 ECG)
Under the boxy SUV skin, the Frontera shares the same ‘Smart Car’ platform as the Citroen E-C3 and its Aircross sibling. That means it gets the same 111bhp motor and 44kWh battery, which in this larger vehicle means a range of 186 miles. There’s also a more expensive 54kWh version with 246 miles of range. On top of that, the Frontera is a practical compact SUV designed for family life, with twin 10.25-inch digital screens, sat nav, reversing camera and cruise control as standard.
