The best EVs for £250 per month

Most of us buy our cars on monthly finance. You might buy on PCP finance, which gives you the option of buying the car at the end of the term having paid off some of the car’s value. Or there’s contract hire and leasing, which is basically a long-term rental – and is increasingly popular with retail buyers, so don’t go thinking that it’s only for business users. 

“There’s a persistent assumption that EVs are only truly accessible to drivers inside company car or salary sacrifice schemes,” says Matt Woodward, operations director at Carparison, “where the tax advantages are well documented. Our 2025 data tells a different story: 76% of everything we sold last year was fully electric and the majority of those were personal leases. The value is there for private customers and we’re only seeing their appetite grow.”

You can read our guide to the pros and cons of the different types of car finance, right here. But in the meantime, we’ve picked a selection of the best EVs you can have on personal contract hire, for under £250 per month. Bargains, all round.

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Do you know your PCP from your HP?

Whether it’s a fun, small electric hatchback or a spacious and generously-equipped electric SUV, there's something for every lifestyle. Personally, I’d take the Renault 5 in yellow. Electric motoring doesn't get much better than that, does it? 

But you may want more range, more space, or just something a bit less yellow. So these are the best EVs you can lease for under £250 per month, based on a 36 month contract, 8,000 mile annual allowance and nine months up-front deposit:

Renault 5 Techno 52kWh

Price from: £247pm / WLTP range: 250 miles / Real-world range: 160 - 230 miles

Now, you may have seen that the Electrifying boss, Ginny, has just handed back the keys to her Renault 5 Techno. She spent a year living with it, and absolutely loved it. It’s fun to drive, practical enough for a small family and was solidly reliable during our year with it. It was already one of our favourite affordable EVs, but it’s only gone up in our estimation now that Ginny’s had time to live with it. For under £250 per month it’s an absolute no-brainer. You couldn’t ask for a more fun, more desirable, and more capable small EV.

Best for

* Individuals or small families
* Everyday use
* Looking great and having fun while not spending much money

BYD Atto 2 Comfort 65kWh

Price from: £254 per month / WLTP range: 270 miles / Real-world range: 170 - 250 miles

Let's face it, the BYD Atto 2 doesn't have quite the 'want one' factor of the Renault 5 and Nissan Micra, but this compact electric BYD is much more spacious inside than the Renault 5, has more standard equipment and a slightly longer range. So it's not hard to see why you would settle for this sensible, no-nonsense EV. It's comfy, roomy, great value and zero fuss to live with. Oh, and it's got a karaoke machine built in. Nothing wrong with that, is there?

Best for

* Fuss-free daily use
* Small families
* In-car karaoke

Nissan Micra Engage 40kWh

Price from: £223 per month / WLTP range 198 miles / Real-world range: 100 - 180 miles

The Nissan Micra is a great little EV. That was kind of inevitable, given that it’s a reskinned Renault 5! It’s a bit of a tricky sell, this particular deal, given that you can get the longer range Renault 5 for much the same money, but what we will say in the Micra’s favour is that it gets more standard equipment (heated seats, yay!) than the Renault. And for a lot of people who simply don’t need the longer range, that could be more important than an additional 50-odd miles of range per charge. It’s also better for the environment to opt for an EV with a smaller battery that you’ll use to its full extent, rather than settling for a bigger battery and rarely using its full capacity. So maybe there are good reasons to opt for the Micra, after all.

Best for

* Being less 'in yer face' than a Renault 5
* Environmentally friendly battery
* Great to drive

Leapmotor B10 

Price from: £237 per month / WLTP range: 261 miles / Real-world range: 150 - 230 miles

Leapmotor is a new Chinese brand that’s officially part of the Stellantis group – which also owns Citroen, Fiat and Peugeot, among many others. So it’s got backing from a European maker, and more to the point - the Leapmotor B10 is a perfectly decent car. Lots of space, a rather plush interior and loads of standard kit. It’s bland to drive, and you'll want to learn how to turn off the obtrusive driver assistance systems, but it’ll still be a great family EV. And at this price, do you really mind those niggles for this much space and equipment? Probably not.

Best for

* Families, or anyone who needs lots of passenger space and a big boot
* Those who want maximum value for money
* Anyone who likes a posh-feeling electric SUV

Vauxhall Frontera Ultimate 44kWh

Price from: £207 per month / WLTP range: 190 miles / Real-world range: 100 - 180 miles

The Vauxhall Frontera is the British brand’s take on the Citroen e-C3 Aircross, and it’s proving popular as a roomy, no-nonsense, affordable family EV. The chunky looks are appealing, there’s loads of room for the kids and all the sports kits and it’s brilliant value. Plus, it gets all the equipment you want, and looks kind of cool! Compact but chunky… If you’re after a useful compact family electric SUV, the Frontera is a brilliant option. 

Best for

​* Low mileage small families 
* Brilliant school run / local commuter
* Comfy and spacious enough to be your only family car, if you don't do loads of miles