Best Value Electric Cars

The best value electric cars in 2020

We compare the cost of an EV to its range in miles to work out the best value electric cars.

The ‘best value’ calculation shines a very bright spotlight on car manufacturers. It’s easy to create an EV that can go hundreds of miles on a single charge – just stuff it with batteries. But then it would be very expensive.

At the other extreme, you could make an electric vehicle very cheap by hardly putting any batteries in at all. But then it wouldn’t go very far. Not much use.

The holy grail for best value electric cars is to secure a very good range, but to do so at a relatively low purchase price. The relevant calculation is therefore:

Purchase price including the grant ÷ Real-world range in miles

Below we list a Top 10 best value electric cars. They are ordered by the results of the formula above. The lowest ‘price per mile of range’ represents best value.

1^st Kia e-Niro

A family-sized SUV with incredible range for the price

Rivals: Hyundai Kona Electric | Nissan Leaf | Tesla Model 3

2^nd Hyundai Kona Electric

Dynamic SUV, fantastic range for the price, great acceleration

Rivals: Kia e-Niro | Tesla Model 3 | Nissan Leaf

3^rd Renault Zoe

Excellent value, compact but 5-seat, EV with good range

Rivals: Nissan Leaf | Hyundai Ioniq | Kia Soul EV

4^th MG ZS EV

Low-cost, 5-seat SUV with lots of features

Rivals: Kia e-Niro | Renault Zoe | Nissan Leaf

5^th Tesla Model 3, Long Range

4-wheel-drive saloon with fantastic range

Rivals: Kia e-Niro | Hyundai Kona Electric

6^th Nissan Leaf e+

Good value, family-sized hatchback with very decent range

Rivals: Hyundai Kona | Kia e-Niro | Tesla Model 3

7^th Tesla Model 3, Standard Range Plus

Hi-tech, rear-wheel-drive saloon with very good range

Rivals: Kia e-Niro | Hyundai Kona Electric

8^th Tesla Model 3, Performance

Hi-performance, 4-wheel-drive saloon with fantastic range

Rivals: Kia e-Niro | Hyundai Kona Electric

9^th BMW i3

Futuristic-looking, agile, compact, reliable 4-seat hatchback

Rivals: Renault Zoe | Smart EQ forfour

10^th Nissan Leaf

Very good value, family-sized hatchback with decent range

Rivals: Hyundai Ioniq | Renault Zoe | Kia e-Niro

Best value electric cars – Price

You might initially be looking for best value, but eventually settle on an EV that grabs your attention for other reasons.

If price is your motivating factor, please refer to the pricing bands below, with cars listed in ascending order, i.e. the cheapest first. Price bands already include the government grant.

To get these EVs even cheaper, you can consider second hand electric cars. The cheapest electric car you can find second hand is not necessarily the one to go for, however. A suspiciously low, used electric car price might be a sign there’s something wrong with it. Best to work with reputable, specialist EV dealers who have a long list of satisfied customers you can talk to.

Best value electric cars – Range

Again, you might start off by wanting the best value electric car, but later decide range on a single charge is more important.

If this is the case for you, below we list some range bands in ascending order, that is, the lowest range first.

If you are really concerned about range, you might consider hybrid cars. These have both a petrol / diesel engine and an electric motor. The best hybrid cars can travel over 500 miles on a single tank of petrol / diesel. However, bear in mind that hybrids – especially self-charging hybrids – are mainly fossil fuel based cars and emit large amounts of CO₂, as well as pollute the environment, making the air we breathe unhealthy.

Finally, if you are looking for the very best electric cars available in the UK in 2020 – and prepared to pay high prices in some cases – please see our dedicated best electric car page.

Up to 100 miles

Smart EQ fortwo cabrio, Smart EQ forfour, Peugeot iOn, Citroen C-Zero, Smart EQ fortwo coupe, Volkswagen e-up!

100 to 200 miles

Kia Soul EV, Volkswagen e-Golf, Mini Electric, Hyundai Ioniq Electric, MG ZS EV, Nissan Leaf, BMW i3s, Renault Zoe, BMW i3

200 to 300 miles

Nissan Leaf e+, Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus, Mercedes EQC, Audi e-tron 55 quattro, Hyundai Kona Electric, Kia e-Niro, Jaguar I-Pace, Tesla Model X Performance, Tesla Model X Long Range, Tesla Model 3 Performance

Over 300 miles

Tesla Model 3 Long Range, Tesla Model S Performance, Tesla Model S Long Range