The electric revolution is here, and more and more manufacturers are producing EVs as they all train to gain the upper hand over each other.
The issue with EVs, however, is their price. Many are more expensive than their ICE cousins, pricing people out of being able to buy them and shutting them out of a more sustainable driving future.
Fortunately, several affordable electric cars are on the market, and we’ve compiled a list of 13 of them. Our criteria? They’re all priced below $50,000, making them a viable option for the average buyer. This way, you can be well-informed about the range of affordable EVs available and make a decision that suits your needs and budget.
Chevrolet Bolt EV
The 2024 Chevrolet Bolt EV is currently the most affordable EV in America, starting at $27,800, while you also get the $7,500 Clean Vehicle Federal Tax Credit to apply to the vehicle’s price. It provides an excellent option for those wanting to begin their EV journey without breaking the bank.
The Bolt EV doesn’t skimp on features, either. It offers up to 247 miles of EPA-estimated range and 56.9 cu-ft of cargo space. The driver’s dashboard is large and clear, and Chevrolet’s infotainment system is intuitive and user-friendly. The Bolt is also a smart-looking EV, and Chevrolet resisted adding a fake grille to the car.
Nissan Leaf
While it is no longer many people’s go-to choice for EVs, the Nissan Leaf is still an exceptional car and a solid daily driver. It is perfect for commuting to work or day trips that aren’t too far away. The 2024 Leaf starts at $28,140, and there is also the potential Federal Tax Credit of $3,750.
Despite its age, the Nissan Leaf SV Plus trim still offers up to 212 miles of EPA-estimated range. The Leaf also has a spacious, comfortable interior and an infotainment screen that is thankfully not devoid of buttons. The NissanConnect EV app is another bonus, enabling you to control aspects of the car from your smartphone.
MG MG4
While it isn’t currently available in the United States, the MG MG4 is still one of the most affordable EVs. The 2024 MG4 retails at around $32,000, which puts it right up there with the Leaf and Bolt price. The MG4 is starting to make a name for itself, too, with it offering a lot of technology and equipment as standard while boasting five models within the range.
These range from the base model up to the Trophy, offering 218 and 270 miles of range, respectively. Plenty of positive reviews praise the MG4’s ride and comfort levels. It is a great-looking EV with sharp lines and a purposeful stance.
Renault 5 EV
The upcoming Renault 5 EV might be the most exciting electric car of 2024. Renault’s design team deserves a raise thanks to its 1980s-inspired design, which pays tribute to the original Renault 5 of the 1980s while keeping it fresh and modern for the 2020s.
It is one of the best-looking EVs on the market, and despite its small size, the Renault 5 offers plenty of space and plenty of technology, including Android and Apple connectivity. In France, the new Renault 5 will start at €25,000, roughly converting to $26,900, making it even more affordable than the Nissan Leaf and the Chevrolet Bolt.
Fiat 500 Electric
Fiat is set to bring the 500 Electric to the USA in 2024, allowing the country to access one of the best small EVs on the market. Currently, two versions of the 500 Electric are available, starting with the 24 kWh battery 500e with its 94 hp motor and 118 miles of range. Above that is the 42 kWh battery version with a 117 hp motor and 199 miles of range.
Fiat has retained the styling of the revived 500 that pays homage to the 1950s classic, but the Italian manufacturer has refreshed it a bit, including removing the grille at the front. This creates a much sleeker front end and tidies up the face of the supermini.
BYD Dolphin
BYD is a Chinese EV manufacturer that is slowly making a name for itself. Having arrived on the scene as a big unknown, BYD has produced affordable and very competent EVs, such as the Dolphin, which makes us wish they were available in the United States.
The Dolphin retails for around $31,000, and for the money, you get a 44.9 kWh battery pack with a 94 hp single electric motor, providing up to 252 miles of range. This ensures that the Dolphin would be very competitively priced if it were to come to the USA. There is plenty of good equipment, such as the clever rotating infotainment screen and Apple and Android connectivity, and the Dolphin is also a very spacious EV.
Mini Cooper Electric SE
The Mini Cooper Electric SE is another electric vehicle perfect for driving around town, commuting to work, and taking the kids to and from school. It has only 114 miles of range, but if you only need a city car, then the Cooper Electric SE is an excellent choice.
Under the hood is a 31 kWh battery, and thanks to its small size, the Cooper Electric is comparatively light compared to other EVs on the market. That lightness provides excellent handling, meaning the Cooper Electric is also a lot of fun to drive. Its compact size makes it easy to park, especially in town, and while its range is somewhat limited, it provides a brilliant entry point into EVs, starting at just $31,895.
Volkswagen ID 4
The Volkswagen ID range of EVs isn’t the most exciting compared to some of the other offerings. You might regularly hear people label the IDs as boring, but while they aren’t the most radical EVs, they are affordable and a solid choice if you want something midsize with over 200 miles of range.
The 2024 ID4 currently retails at $39,735 for the standard model. For your money, you will get around 209 miles of range and 201 hp from the 62 kWh battery pack and electric motor. If you want more range, the 2024 ID4 Pro is for you, which offers 291 miles of range for $44,875.
Hyundai Ioniq 6
Hyundai’s design department is on a roll with its current EVs, and the Ioniq 6 is no exception. Building upon the success of the Ioniq 5, the Ioniq 6 provides a low, sleek, and streamlined shape with a remarkable drag coefficient of just 0.21. This easily makes it one of the most efficient EVs on the market, primarily as it utilizes the formidable Hyundai E-GMP platform.
You get plenty of range, too, up to 361 miles EPA-estimated, and yet the Ioniq 6 won’t break the bank as it starts at $42,450 for the 2024 model. Even the standard Ioniq 6 offers plenty of range at 240 miles, so range anxiety is unlikely to be a problem with Hyundai’s latest electric car.
Hyundai Ioniq 5
If we are talking about the Ioniq 6, then we must also talk about its predecessor, the excellent Hyundai Ioniq 5. The Ioniq 5 offers something very different from the 6, with the sleeker shape replaced with a boxier, squarer, 1980s-style design with shades of the Lancia Delta Integrale.
Under that retro masterpiece is the same E-GMP platform as we find in the Ioniq 6, meaning the Ioniq 5 is also highly efficient. In the premium trim, you will get at least 303 miles of EPA-estimated range, and at two miles per kWh, the Ioniq 5 is efficiency personified. Yet it still costs less than $45,000, starting at $41,800 for the 2024 model, and is on par with its new sibling. Plus, its drag coefficient of 0.28 is still very impressive.
Citroen Ami
If you want an EV that won’t cost you anything, look no further than the Citroen Ami. The quirky, cute, and unusual-looking Ami is solely for city driving, with a maximum range of just 46 miles and a top speed of 28 mph thanks to its 8 hp electric motor. So don’t even dare take it out on the highway! But that is missing the point of what the Ami is about.
Citroen hopes to encourage younger drivers on a budget to get out and about in something small and compact. This will also help keep bigger cars out of city centers and decrease emissions. It has faults; it isn’t the most comfortable EV in the world. It could perhaps do with having speed in reserve. But the Ami is a brilliant concept that could be the future of inner-city driving.
Tesla Model 3
Thanks to increased competition, Tesla has had to raise its prices, and the Model 3 has now become one of the most affordable EVs on the market. At the time of writing, the new rear-wheel-drive Model 3, with 272 miles of range, will set you back $38,990, making it an excellent choice for many looking to get into the EV world.
You get plenty of performance, too, with a top speed of 125 mph and a 0-60 mph time of 5.8 seconds, making merging onto highways easy. All the usual Tesla technology is in the cabin, and of course, with the Model 3, you can access Telsa’s excellent and widely available Supercharger fast-charging network.
Hyundai Kona Electric
It might not look as radical as the Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6, but the Hyundai Kona Electric is a desirable option right now. For 2024, the MSRP is just $32,675; with that, you get up to 261 miles of EPA-estimated range and 201 hp, more than enough for any daily driver.
Hyundai redesigned the Kona Electric for 2024, creating a longer, wider, and taller subcompact SUV with a clean front end thanks to no fake grille and impressive lines and bulges down the side. For the base trim, power is lower at 133 hp, but that is still perfect for a daily driver, and you still get 200 miles of range.