Most Affordable Electric Cars for 2025
The most affordable new electric cars are ranked based on our analysis of their lowest base prices, though local market conditions might push a specific model’s price above the starting MSRP for vehicles in short supply or with high demand.
The most affordable electric car is the Chevrolet Bolt EV hatchback electric, with a starting price of $26,500 based on iSeecars.com’s affordability ranking of 19 electric cars. The most affordable electric cars offer the lowest starting price for their base trim level. The average starting price for a electric car is $70,037, and there are 10 electric cars that are cheaper.
The electric car affordability ranking is calculated based on the starting price for the lowest-priced trim level of a given model. The overall iSeeCars Score also factors into the ranking of each vehicle. Shoppers seeking the most affordable electric car should consider costs beyond the purchase price, including residual value, insurance, fuel efficiency, and maintenance, to fully understand how much a specific electric car will cost to own and operate.
How Much Range Will the Cheapest Electric Cars Deliver?
While most electric vehicles are priced higher than an equivalent gasoline model, affordable EVs offering more than 200 miles of range are available for a lower price than the average new car. This is true even before taking state and federal tax credits into account, incentives that can lower the cost of a new EV by more than $10,000. Of course the cheapest EVs have EPA-estimated driving ranges of around 200 miles or less, which is fine for daily commuting but below the standard range for most new model year EVs.
For medium- to long-range driving, shoppers should look for EVs with at least 250 miles of range. These electric vehicles will have larger kWh battery packs and higher price tags than entry-level EVs, but they will also include advanced infotainment systems with larger touchscreens, more powerful electric motors, and fast charging technology. EV shoppers should also look beyond an EV’s driving range and evaluate powertrain specs, charging speeds, and driver-assistance features when weighing price versus features.
The good news is that automakers now include a long list of features and technology on even their base model electric cars. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on every modern EV sold in America, and even “nice to have” features like futuristic styling and intuitive control interfaces are becoming more common.
Electric SUVs Can Be Affordable, Too
If an electric doesn’t offer the interior space and functionality you need, consider an electric SUV. Like their electric car counterparts, lower-cost electric crossovers like the Chevy Bolt EUV, Hyundai Kona Electric, Kia Niro EV, and Volvo EX30 are also priced lower than the average new vehicle while offering at least 250 miles of range.
Most of these models are front-wheel drive (FWD), but larger rear-wheel-drive (RWD) and all-wheel-drive (AWD) options like the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Tesla Model Y, and Volkswagen ID.4 are available. The Model Y gets the benefit of access to Tesla’s Supercharger network, though additional automakers now have access to these chargers. Honda also offers the Prologue SUV, which is either FWD or AWD. Check out our Most Affordable Electric SUVs page to learn more.
If after evaluating affordable electric cars and SUVs you still can’t commit to going electric, consider a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). PHEVs can operate on an electric motor for limited ranges before switching to a gasoline engine when the battery runs low. This eliminates range and charging anxiety while still cutting emissions drastically compared to a gasoline model. PHEVs are gaining popularity and can be found at most dealerships alongside EVs.
How Much Range Will the Cheapest Electric Cars Deliver?
While most electric vehicles are priced higher than an equivalent gasoline model, affordable EVs offering more than 200 miles of range are available for a lower price than the average new car. This is true even before taking state and federal tax credits into account, incentives that can lower the cost of a new EV by more than $10,000. Of course the cheapest EVs have EPA-estimated driving ranges of around 200 miles or less, which is fine for daily commuting but below the standard range for most new model year EVs.
For medium- to long-range driving, shoppers should look for EVs with at least 250 miles of range. These electric vehicles will have larger kWh battery packs and higher price tags than entry-level EVs, but they will also include advanced infotainment systems with larger touchscreens, more powerful electric motors, and fast charging technology. EV shoppers should also look beyond an EV’s driving range and evaluate powertrain specs, charging speeds, and driver-assistance features when weighing price versus features.
The good news is that automakers now include a long list of features and technology on even their base model electric cars. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard on every modern EV sold in America, and even “nice to have” features like futuristic styling and intuitive control interfaces are becoming more common.
Electric SUVs Can Be Affordable, Too
If an electric doesn’t offer the interior space and functionality you need, consider an electric SUV. Like their electric car counterparts, lower-cost electric crossovers like the Chevy Bolt EUV, Hyundai Kona Electric, Kia Niro EV, and Volvo EX30 are also priced lower than the average new vehicle while offering at least 250 miles of range.
Most of these models are front-wheel drive (FWD), but larger rear-wheel-drive (RWD) and all-wheel-drive (AWD) options like the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Tesla Model Y, and Volkswagen ID.4 are available. The Model Y gets the benefit of access to Tesla’s Supercharger network, though additional automakers now have access to these chargers. Honda also offers the Prologue SUV, which is either FWD or AWD. Check out our Most Affordable Electric SUVs page to learn more.
If after evaluating affordable electric cars and SUVs you still can’t commit to going electric, consider a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). PHEVs can operate on an electric motor for limited ranges before switching to a gasoline engine when the battery runs low. This eliminates range and charging anxiety while still cutting emissions drastically compared to a gasoline model. PHEVs are gaining popularity and can be found at most dealerships alongside EVs.
1. Chevrolet Bolt EV
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Starting MSRP
$26,500
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
7.1
/ 10
-
Value Retention
6.9
/ 10
-
Safety
10
/ 10
-
Starting MSRP
$28,140
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
6.9
/ 10
-
Value Retention
7.0
/ 10
-
Safety
10
/ 10
-
Starting MSRP
$30,900
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
Coming soon
-
Value Retention
7.7
/ 10
-
Safety
8.0
/ 10
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
Coming soon
-
Value Retention
7.7
/ 10
-
Safety
Not Available
-
Starting MSRP
$37,500
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
Coming soon
-
Value Retention
7.2
/ 10
-
Safety
10
/ 10
-
Starting MSRP
$38,990
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
7.2
/ 10
-
Value Retention
7.6
/ 10
-
Safety
10
/ 10
-
Starting MSRP
$49,900
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
Coming soon
-
Value Retention
6.6
/ 10
-
Safety
10
/ 10
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
Coming soon
-
Value Retention
6.7
/ 10
-
Safety
Not Available
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
Coming soon
-
Value Retention
6.2
/ 10
-
Safety
Not Available
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
Coming soon
-
Value Retention
6.6
/ 10
-
Safety
Not Available
-
Starting MSRP
$72,990
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
9.4
/ 10
-
Value Retention
6.8
/ 10
-
Safety
Not Available
-
Starting MSRP
$74,375
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
Coming soon
-
Value Retention
6.5
/ 10
-
Safety
10
/ 10
-
Starting MSRP
$74,900
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
Coming soon
-
Value Retention
6.4
/ 10
-
Safety
Not Available
-
Starting MSRP
$99,400
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
Coming soon
-
Value Retention
6.9
/ 10
-
Safety
Not Available
-
Starting MSRP
$104,400
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
Coming soon
-
Value Retention
6.2
/ 10
-
Safety
Not Available
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
Coming soon
-
Value Retention
6.0
/ 10
-
Safety
Not Available
-
Starting MSRP
$106,500
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
Coming soon
-
Value Retention
6.3
/ 10
-
Safety
Not Available
-
Starting MSRP
$111,100
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
Coming soon
-
Value Retention
7.5
/ 10
-
Safety
Not Available
-
Starting MSRP
$147,100
iSEECARS SCORE
iSeeCars Best Car Rankings are calculated based on an analysis of data from over 12 million cars that assesses how long each vehicle lasts and how well it retains its value over time, along with safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association
See how we rank these cars
-
Reliability
Coming soon
-
Value Retention
6.3
/ 10
-
Safety
Not Available
Related Rankings
How We Rank These Cars
The Most Affordable Car lists rank vehicles by their starting MSRP.
Starting MSRP is the lowest MSRP across all trims for a given new car model. In the event there is a tie, we use iSeeCars proprietary rating of the overall quality of the car (iSeeCars Score) to break the tie.
The overall iSeeCars Score is an analysis of three factors: reliability, resale value and safety. It is calculated based on the latest research and analysis by our data science team. The data analysis comes from over 12 million new and used vehicles in our Longest-Lasting Cars and 5-Year Depreciation Studies, combined with NHTSA and IIHS Safety Ratings.
Vehicles are scored in three categories:
Reliability
The reliability score represents an analysis of iSeeCars' proprietary research on the longest-lasting vehicles.
Value Retention
The value retention score is based on our data science team's statistical analysis and prediction of 5-year depreciation from MSRP to determine which cars hold their value best, using US Bureau of Labor Statistics data to adjust for inflation.
Safety
The safety score is calculated based on the last five years of crash test ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and incorporates the latest Top Safety Pick information from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).