These are the 11 cheapest electric cars you can buy in 2023
- Going electric can cost an arm and a leg — but it doesn't have to.
- Some battery-powered vehicles cost less than $30,000.
Anyone looking to go electric on a budget is sure to be dismayed by the general state of the battery-powered car market.
A new Ford F-150 Lightning starts at nearly $60,000. Tesla's popular Model Y cost almost $70,000 before a recent cut dropped it into the mid-$50,000 range. Electric vehicles from exciting upstarts Rivian and Lucid cost even more — if you can get your hands on one.
But with more electric options on the market than ever before, there are some lower-priced models on sale too.
We've found the 11 cheapest new EVs you can buy in 2023. Note that these prices don't account for the $7,500 federal tax incentive for plug-in purchases. Some models qualify for it right now (as indicated below), but the regulations are still in flux.
Chevrolet Bolt EV
Retail price: $26,500
Environmental Protection Agency-estimated range: 259 miles
Qualifies for EV tax credit
Chevy's little electric hatchback has been around since 2016 and got a comprehensive refresh for the 2022 model year that brought sleeker, more modern looks. With 259 miles of range and bargain-bin price, the Bolt provides excellent driving range per dollar.
Chevrolet Bolt EUV
Retail price: $27,800
EPA-estimated range: 247 miles
Qualifies for EV tax credit
Chevy recently introduced a big brother for the Bolt EV, the Bolt EUV.
It takes the Bolt's underlying tech and adapts it into a small SUV with a higher driving position and a more spacious interior. It's the first Chevy to offer Super Cruise, General Motors' hands-free driving system. But it lacks all-wheel drive, which may disappoint some SUV buyers.
Nissan Leaf
Retail price: $27,800
EPA-estimated range: 149-212 miles
Qualifies for EV tax credit
Like the Bolt, the Nissan Leaf has been around the block a few times. But it's gotten some important updates since its launch more than a decade ago. The revamped-for-2023 Leaf gets some styling updates and up to 212 miles of range — more than double the 2011 version.
Hyundai Kona Electric
Retail price: $33,550
EPA-estimated range: 258 miles
The Hyundai Kona comes in both gas and electric versions. The base Kona EV delivers healthy amounts of range, a 201-horsepower motor, and a smattering of standard safety tech like blind-spot monitoring.
Mazda MX-30
Retail price: $34,110
EPA-estimated range: 100 miles
Mazda's first electric model disappoints in the all-important range department. But it still could suffice for a short commute or a second car.
Mini Cooper SE
Retail price: $34,225
EPA-estimated range: 114 miles
The 2022 Mini Cooper SE retailed for just under $30,000. But like milk, eggs, and practically everything else, the little EV has been hit by inflation hard. Without much range, it'll be better suited for bopping around town than long-haul journeys.
Volkswagen ID.4
Retail price: $38,995
EPA-estimated range: 209-275 miles
Qualifies for EV tax credit
The ID.4 is sleek, spacious, and approachable. Bringing production to the US let VW drop the model's price to below $40,000 — and enabled the ID.4 to qualify for the new EV tax credit, which is only for vehicles manufactured in North America. But it still might be a good idea to shell out a few thousand dollars more for the larger battery option and extra range.
Kia Niro EV
Retail price: $39,550
EPA-estimated range: 253 miles
The Kia Niro gets bold new looks for the 2023 model year. Like the Kona it shares a platform with, the Niro has 201 horsepower, generous driving range, and lots of standard safety features.
Hyundai Ioniq 5
Retail price: $41,450
EPA-estimated range: 220-303 miles
The Ioniq 5 looks straight out of a sci-fi flick, but that's not all it has going for it. It also benefits from super-fast charging, up to 303 miles of range, and a modern, uncluttered interior.
Toyota BZ4X
Retail price: $42,000
EPA-estimated range: 242-252 miles
Toyota has been slower than rivals to get into the EV game, and the BZ4X is its first modern offering. It features bold looks and available all-wheel drive, but it's only being sold in limited quantities.
Tesla Model 3
Retail price: $43,990
EPA-estimated range: 272-358 miles
Qualifies for EV tax credit
The Model 3, Tesla's first true mass-market offering, is arguably the car that sparked today's mad dash to an electric future.
After a rare price cut, the entry-level sedan costs $43,990 and provides 272 miles of driving range. An extra $10,000 gets you the Performance version, which boosts range to 315 miles, adds all-wheel drive, and drops the car's 0-60-mph time to a blistering 3.1 seconds.