In an era of cost of living crises, we’re all on the lookout for ways to save money. Add to that the UK government’s incoming eVED pay-per-mile scheme and it’s important we find ways to keep other running costs down too.
With that in mind, we came up with a list of our go-to EVs that are both cheap to buy and cheap to run. And just to show you how cheap it can be to go electric, we’ve calculated the cost of a full battery when charging as cheaply as possible, at home, off peak, on the cheapest available EV tariff.
Geely EX2
Price: from £20,990
Efficiency: 4.6m/kWh
Cost per full charge: £3.52
We only drove the Geely EX2 a few weeks ago but Nicola very quickly fell in love with the Renault 5 challenger’s adorable exterior. Despite its cute face and rounded body, it still looks rather smart.
We reckon it’s ideally suited for first time drivers and those who need something small to nip around town in or take for the odd trip to the garden centre. Why? Its 214-mile WLTP range means you won’t be going very far on the motorway without stopping to charge, its impressive 125,000-mile, eight-year warranty suggests running costs will be low and there’s plenty of space for a university move or a couple of mates in the back.
It’s not perfect; speed is not on its side with the entry-level Pro trim making the run to 62mph in a somewhat beleaguered 14.2 seconds. But, if you spring for the Max or Ultra trims, there are very few downsides to point out.
Renault Twingo
Price: from £19,000 (est)
Efficiency: 5.9m/kWh
Cost per full charge: £1.69
We expect the Renault Twingo to be one of the bestselling cars of the year when it eventually hits UK shores. It’s adorable, affordable, and just seems to make sense if it’s to keep to its promised sub-£20,000 price point.
The Twingo’s 163-mile maximum WLTP range won’t often take it beyond city limits but its sub-3.8m length will make it a doddle both to drive and park around town. Despite its diminutive dimensions, the Twingo can comfortably seat four grown adults. It does so by employing a trick rear bench that can slide forward and back to prioritise passenger legroom or luggage space.
It’s also incredibly efficient, the one we took for a long drive at the launch in Ibiza managed almost 5.0m/kWh on fairly fast roads. The Twingo shows us that cheap motoring can still be fun and full of personality.
Dacia Spring
Price: from £11,990
Efficiency: 5.2m/kWh
Cost per full charge: £2.03
Not much beats the cheapest car currently on sale in the UK for affordability. The Dacia Spring isn’t just the cheapest electric car on sale here but the cheapest car overall. The Spring doesn’t even qualify for the UK government’s electric car grant but still pips others to the post!
The Spring’s low, low price does of course come with some compromises to consider. It’s not great if you’re expecting to go very far or do so very fast. Range comes in at a city-centric 140 miles on the WLTP cycle and the 65hp base model hits 62mph in 12.3 seconds. You may as well get out and run at that point.
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Laugh as we may at the Spring’s thrifty build materials and glacial acceleration, it’s still undeniably the cheapest new thing on four wheels outside of a quadricycle like the Citroen Ami or Fiat Topolino. It doesn’t get any more wallet-friendly than that.
Leapmotor T03
Price: £12,995
Efficiency: 4.4m/kWh
Cost per full charge: £2.80
When Tom tested the T03 back in February 2025, he thought it was the best affordable EV we’d ever tested up until that point. Of course, the affordable space has heated up quite a bit in the time since, but the T03 still holds its own as a real option for those in search of a bargain.
Unlike the Twingo, the T03 doesn’t have sliding rear seats. So Leapmotor chose to prioritise rear passenger space. It’s worked and there’s a surprisingly impressive amount of seating space in there. However, it has resulted in the boot measuring in at a mere 210 litres, that space is also accessed through an unfortunately narrow hatch.
Reaching a maximum range of 165 miles means that, like many others on this list, the T03 won’t exit cities with much enthusiasm. But, falling just £1,000 short of the cheapest Dacia Spring in price with only one trim means there isn’t much room for complaints.
Fiat Grande Panda
Price: from £20,995
Efficiency: 4.52m/kWh
Cost per full charge: £3.30
If you’re in search of personality in a car, you can usually rely on the Italians to provide you with it. Enter the Fiat Grande Panda, an Easter egg-stuffed, 8-bit box of brilliance. From its retro-inspired exterior to its telephone wire retractable charging cable, it’s a tough one not to love.
It’s neck and neck with the Geely EX2 on price so it too undercuts the Renault 5. It doesn’t quite drive as nicely as the Renault and it won’t reach as far with its 199-mile WLTP range but it’s just as cool to look at and is definitely more spacious inside.
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Spacious, stylish, and only slightly slow, with a 0–62mph time of 11 seconds. But still, great value for money and a much cooler option than either of its mechanically identical Stellantis siblings in the Citroen e-C3 and Vauxhall Frontera.
BYD Dolphin Surf
Price: from £18,675
Efficiency: 4.6m/kWh
Cost per full charge: £3.24
The Dolphin Surf has been the de facto answer to the cheap EV question for some time now. It’s packed with kit, supports V2L (vehicle-to-load) as standard and looks smart to boot. Its pointy, fin-like mini spoilers have something of a shark look to them – but don’t let that confuse you with the BYD Shark pickup truck.
Its 200-mile maximum WLTP range equals that of the Fiat Grande Panda but it sacrifices acceleration and a bit of charging speed (it’ll reach a peak of 85kW, which is a bit lower than rivals) for a low asking price and a great tech package.
The Dolphin Surf’s not the most inspiring thing to drive, despite being incredibly easy going. However, it's less likely to put a smile on your face when you're driving than when you look at how much you've saved compared with its immediate rivals. Those options can cost up to £2,000 more though, so it’s all about compromise.
