Electric cars can seem expensive and out-of-reach for many of us. Today, we’ll run through the most affordable electric car available for your budget in 2025. You’ll a rough idea of the cost and a brief description about each of our five electric car options.
Here’s what you can expect 👇
Budget Option - Renault Zoe
Renault Zoe (13-24) – c. £5,000 – £6,000
Yes, our budget option is the Renault Zoe. Launching in the UK in 2013, the Zoe was competitively priced at the time and remains a strong option for smaller budgets.
Depending on age, mileage, and other technical bits, we’ve found earlier models of the Zoe available from £5,000 – bargain! The Zoe is a pure electric car, meaning no fuel costs. It also comes with zero road tax as a zero-emissions vehicle. Electric charging often means a lower cost-per-mile, especially if you’re able to charge at home.
You’ll be cruising around Manchester emission-free, with zero tailpipe emissions – great news for city-centre drivers around Clean Air Zones (CAZs).
As far as being the most affordable electric car goes, the Zoe might just be it!
Something to be mindful of is the battery lease on earlier models. Make sure to check if the model you’re looking at means an extra monthly cost to lease the battery.
So, what do people reckon about the pros and cons?
Pros
- Spacious for a smaller car and decent boot space
- Good value for used Zoe’s – older models available second-hand
- Practical for use around Manchester city centre – nimble & smooth ride
Cons
- Battery leasing on earlier models adds an extra monthly cost – not ideal
- Range can be limited on some models
- Charging rate may be limited on certain models
Borrowing £5,000 at a fixed APR of 14.9% with repayments of £165 per month over 38 months, you will repay a total of £6,205.78
Mid-Priced Option – Hyundai IONIQ
Hyundai IONIQ (16-21) – c. £8,000 – £12,000
The Hyundai IONIQ sits nicely in our mid-priced bracket. Second-hand prices can be as low as £8,000.
As with the Zoe, the Hyundai IONIQ is fully electric. No fuel costs, zero tailpipe emissions, and zero road tax.
The IONIQ does come with a higher range, being listed with a real-world range of 160-190 miles in favourable conditions. A relatively aerodynamic shape, amongst other efficiency improvements, means a lower charging cost also.
It’s more suitable for small families as a slightly bigger vehicle than the Zoe. If you’re thinking about longer trips and staycations, this might be more up your alley!
The pros and cons?
Pros
- Good entry into electric car ownership at a good price with decent range
- Efficient running costs and reliable battery
- Ideal for commuting in and out of town and for those trips further afield
Cons
- Charging speed may be lower than newer electric cars
- Although decent, the range is still not quite as high as other electric cars
- The aerodynamic shape does mean a little less room in the back – mind your head!
Borrowing £10,000 at a fixed APR of 8.8% with repayments of £250 per month over 48 months, you will repay a total of £11,799.77
Luxury Option – Jaguar I-Pace
Jaguar I-Pace (18-21) – c. £14,000 – £20,000
In the luxury price bracket, the Jaguar I-Pace can be found for as little as £14,000. The cheaper buys typically have higher mileage.
Luxury electric cars can cost around £70,000 and above when bought new. Getting a slightly older model, yet still only 4-7 years old, gives you a lower-cost price point.
You might’ve guessed already. The I-Pace comes with no cost on petrol or diesel, zero tailpipe emissions, and zero road tax – it’s fully electric!
Luxury is almost a given here. It’s a full-size SUV from a premium brand, with a track record in high build quality, luxury interior, and comes with more advanced tech.
The price is steeper than both the IONIQ and the Zoe, but the Jaguar I-Pace still offers savings on running costs and comes with a real-world range of over 230-250 miles, depending on variant and age.
Looking for prestige with all the benefits of full-electric? It may not be the most affordable electric car, but the comfort offered by the I-Pace reflects its higher price point.
Let’s see some pros and cons.
Pros
- The driving experience, as expected, is far superior to lower-priced options
- Driving range is strong and gives more travel flexibility
- Excellent value for a luxury electric car
Cons
- Mind out for depreciation! The value from new has dropped to an affordable level for you. It could always drop further
- Maintenance costs may be higher due to more advanced, higher-priced parts
- Keep an eye on battery health. The lower-priced options may have significantly higher mileage and will generally come with more wear & tear
Borrowing £15,000 at a fixed APR of 8.8% with repayments of £350 per month over 52 months, you will repay a total of £17,940.16
Hybrid (HEV) Option – Toyota Yaris Hybrid
Toyota Yaris Hybrid (12-18) – c. £5,000 – £12,000
Now for the HEV option! We’ve gone for the Toyota Yaris Hybrid, a mid-priced alternative to a fully electric car.
Unlike our previous three options, this is a HEV. HEVs use electric motor assistance plus a petrol engine.
When considering the most affordable electric cars available, HEVs deserve to be part of the conversation.
The benefits of a HEV? Improved fuel economy and reduced emissions output in comparison to petrol/diesel cars.
The petrol engine acts as a backup. You wouldn’t have to rely on the electric battery’s generally lower range, nor rely on recharging wherever you possibly can.
HEVs allow a longer range with the combination of a petrol engine and more flexible refuelling. This makes the Yaris Hybrid a more convenient option in many ways, whilst still being a good greener option.
The Yaris Hybrid is a compact car, similar to the Zoe, but is a five-door, making it suitable for everyday driving, commutes, school runs etc.
As far as an entry point into electric cars, or at least greener cars, goes, the Toyota Yaris Hybrid is pretty good. It’s a nice bridge across from what we all know of petrol-powered cars across to the changes that electric cars bring.
Just here for the pros and cons? Here they are 👇
Pros
- Toyota’s hybrid system generally has a good reputation – a smart & safe option
- More efficient and economic than petrol engines
- Ideal for stop-start city centre traffic. Anyone who commutes into Manchester knows the pain 🤦
Cons
- It might feel to some like HEVs trade off the ‘feel’ of a petrol engine without the full benefits of electric. That’s more of a personal preference
- Space is fairly limited. It’s a five-door car, but the boot space and in-car size are quite small
- The older models are likely not to have amazing electric-only capabilities. Best to make sure it’s fuelled up still!
Borrowing £7,000 at a fixed APR of 8.8% with repayments of £195 per month over 42 months, you will repay a total of £8,105.77
Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV) Option – Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (14-18) – c. £7,000 – £12,000
Finally, our PHEV option – the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.
We’re looking now at another mid-priced alternative to a fully electric car. PHEVs can be driven electric-only, as they come with a chargeable battery, unlike HEVs, which have an electric motor to assist the petrol engine.
The Outlander PHEV can be driven for around 25-30 miles electric-only in favourable conditions, before the petrol engine kicks in. For anyone commuting shorter distances, it’s handy to know you won’t have to rely on the petrol engine very often. It would still need to be charged regularly!
Tailpipe emissions can be much lower when driving a PHEV. The more often you keep the battery charged, the lower your CO₂ output, and, in general, the cheaper your running costs.
With the low electric-only range, the PHEVs are much more efficient if you have regular access to a charging point, usually at home or at work. The best savings are made with a PHEV when regularly charged.
The Outlander PHEV is probably the biggest car on the list. The size and combination of battery and petrol power make this a great option. It’s the closest you’ll get to an electric car without being all-electric all the time.
For one last time, the pros and cons.
Pros
- Offers great flexibility. Less constrained by the need to charge or being limited to shorter trips than fully electric cars
- Great value for a car that can drive all-electric, depending on travel distance and charging frequency
- Good space for families and large boot space
Cons
- The low running costs and green benefit depend heavily on the frequency of charging
- Mitsubishi has scaled back UK operations. Just something to be aware of long-term when thinking about parts, repairs, and resale value
- Older models may have lower battery capacity, offering less all-electric driving and green benefit
Borrowing £9,000 at a fixed APR of 8.8% with repayments of £230 per month over 46 months, you will repay a total of £10,576.81
And The Most Affordable Electric Car in 2025 Is…
Well, it really all depends on who you are, where you travel to regularly, why you want an electric car, and what you’re after overall.
The most affordable electric car from our list is the budget option – the Renault Zoe. It provides a cheap entry point into driving all-electric.
For a more comfortable and practical electric experience, the Hyundai IONIQ and Jaguar I-Pace are worth looking at. Both are within a reasonable budget and offer upgrades on the Zoe.
It’s possible to go ‘semi-electric’! Our HEV and PHEV picks offer some benefits of electric cars and green benefits without going the whole way. They’re both mid-priced options and should be considered when looking to switch to a greener drive.
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