Here Are the 11 Cheapest Electric Vehicles You Can Buy

What Car Shoppers Need to Know

• With a starting price of $28,995 (including destination), the Chevrolet Bolt has returned and taken the crown from the Nissan Leaf as the cheapest new electric vehicle you can buy.
• SUVs and crossovers dominate the list, with nine of the 11 offerings being an SUV or crossover.

We have some good news if you’re shopping for a new EV: There are plenty of good EVs available for a lot less than the average listing price on Cars.com of $57,932, starting for less than $30,000. We’ve put together the following list of 11 of the cheapest EVs available as of May 2026. All prices include destination charges, but no state or local subsidies that may still be available.

Related: Electric Cars With the Longest Range

Cheapest EVs

1. Chevrolet Bolt: $28,995
2. Nissan Leaf: $31,535
3. Subaru Uncharted: $36,445
4. Toyota bZ: $36,495
5. Hyundai Ioniq5: $36,600
6. Chevrolet Equinox EV: $36,795
7. FIAT 500e: $37,695
8. Tesla Model 3: $38,380
9. Toyota C-HR: $38,595
10. Kia EV6: $39,445
11. Ford Mustang Mach-E: $39,840

1. Chevrolet Bolt

• Starting price: $28,995
• Manufacturer-estimated range: 255 miles
• What to know about the Chevrolet Bolt: After taking a brief hiatus, Chevy is finally set to bring back the Bolt as a 2027 model.

Gone are the regular Bolt hatchback and small SUV that Chevy referred to as the Bolt EUV; the EUV takes the place of both and will only be known as Bolt going forward. While EPA testing for the Bolt’s range has yet to be released, Chevy says it will have an estimated 255 miles of range. While that might seem low to some, GM says data shows that most Americans drive 42 miles a day on average, so that fits within most people’s needs. Along with increased range thanks to a bigger battery, the new Bolt should charge faster, as well. Chevy has given it a native North American Charging Standard charging port with DC fast-charging capability, and the brand says the Bolt will be able to charge from 10%-80% in 25 minutes.

2. Nissan Leaf

• Starting price: $31,535
• EPA-estimated range: 259-303 miles
• What to know about the Nissan Leaf: The Nissan Leaf enters its third generation reborn as a small crossover; it was formerly a small hatchback.

With this new generation of the Nissan Leaf comes improved technology both inside and out. On the powertrain and charging front, there’s a larger 75-kilowatt-hour battery pack paired with a 214-horsepower electric motor; a base variant with a smaller 52-kWh battery pack and a 174-hp electric motor will come later. That’s all enough to give the Leaf up to 303 miles of range, depending on the trim. There’s also a native NACS charging port that can support DC fast-charging speeds of up to 150 kilowatts. That’s enough to take the Leaf from a 10% charge to 80% in 35 minutes, according to Nissan.

Inside, standard features include dual 12.3-inch displays and four speakers, and higher trims get dual 14.3-inch displays and up to 10 speakers.

3. Subaru Uncharted

• Starting price: $36,445
• EPA-estimated range: 273-308 miles
• What to know about the Subaru Uncharted: The Subaru Uncharted is both Subaru’s smallest EV and one of the newest entries in the category.

Introduced for 2026, the Subaru Uncharted is a four-door, coupelike electric SUV that’s about the same size as the subcompact Subaru Crosstrek. It’s also closely related to the Toyota C-HR, with which it shares its EV powertrain, structure and more than a passing resemblance. Base trims get a single 221-hp motor and front-wheel drive, while the AWD GT gets a two-motor setup good for 338 hp and driving all four wheels. The Uncharted comes with a long list of standard features, and AWD versions have plenty of power and some off-road capability. Driving range falls short of some competitors, and the AWD Uncharted is on the expensive side for the category.

4. Toyota bZ

• Starting price: $36,495
• EPA-estimated range: 236-314 miles
• What to know about the Toyota bZ: Toyota’s EV got a major update for 2026, with new styling, a simplified name (from bZ4X to simply bZ), and more power and range.

Changes to the bZ for 2026 are transformative, bringing more than a 50% increase in power to as much as 314 hp for dual-motor models while boosting driving range by up to 60 miles. Other updates include a nicer cabin with wireless device charging, a redesigned shifter and a more upscale look with added soft-touch materials. The changes are enough to make the bZ a lot more competitive in a rapidly evolving category. Depending on the trim, the bZ gets either a 57.7-kWh or 74.7-kWh battery pack. With single-motor FWD or dual-motor all-wheel-drive configurations, the bZ has 168-338 hp and can get up to 314 miles of range on a charge. An NACS charging port and DC fast-charging capability with speeds up to 150 kW allow the bZ to charge from 10%-80% in about 30 minutes.

5. Hyundai Ioniq 5

• Starting price: $36,600
• EPA-estimated range: 221-318 miles
• What to know about the Hyundai Ioniq 5: Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 enters 2026 with a little something for everyone.

From basic trims with economy-car-rivaling horsepower to the wild performance of the Ioniq 5 N, you really can’t go wrong with any version of the Hyundai Ioniq 5. The Ioniq 5 is available in either rear-wheel drive or AWD and with two battery sizes: 63 or 84 kWh. No matter the battery size, all trims of the Ioniq 5 have blistering charging speeds; capable of handling DC fast-charging speeds of up to 350 kW, the Ioniq 5 can charge from 10%-80% in as little as 20 minutes. Being a Hyundai, the Ioniq 5 comes well equipped with standard features such as heated front seats, a power driver’s seat, a 12.3-inch touchscreen, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

6. Chevrolet Equinox EV

• Starting price: $36,795
• EPA-estimated range: 288-319 miles
• What to know about the Chevrolet Equinox EV: The popular Equinox EV is well equipped for its price and comes with either FWD or AWD.

The Equinox EV has proven to be popular with buyers, with nearly 58,000 sold in 2025. Buyers interested in the Equinox EV will find it comes with either a 220-hp, single-motor FWD setup or a 300-hp, dual-motor AWD setup. With 150-kW fast-charging capability, Chevy says the Equinox EV can add 77 miles of range in just 10 minutes, which is more than enough to get drivers back on the road quickly. The Equinox EV also comes well equipped for its price, with standard features such as a suite of driver safety aids and a massive 17.7-inch infotainment display running Google Built-In.

7. Fiat 500e

• Starting price: $37,695
• EPA-estimated range 141-149 miles
• What to know about the Fiat 500e: The Fiat 500e is another EV that’s returned to the U.S. market after a brief hiatus. Its relatively affordable starting price comes with a few caveats, mainly in size and range.

The Fiat 500e is one of the smallest new cars on sale today at nearly 12 feet long, 6 feet wide and with a curb weight just under 3,000 pounds. An equally small 42-kWh battery pack and 117-hp electric motor give the 500e up to 149 miles of driving range, which may not work for everyone. Charging is midpack, as well, with Fiat saying the 500e can charge from 0%-80% in 35 minutes, with a peak charging speed of 85 kW. The brand keeps things interesting with the 500e, though, as it’s available in a few special editions, such as the RED, Icona and Giorgio Armani Collector’s Edition. The 500e comes with standard features like a 10.25-inch touchscreen, wireless charging pad, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

8. Tesla Model 3

• Starting price: $38,380
• EPA-estimated range 309-363 miles
• What to know about the Tesla Model 3: No matter what trim of the Model 3 you choose, you won’t get less than 300 miles of driving range on a charge.

Between its battery tech, Supercharger network and low starting price, Tesla packs a lot of value into the Model 3, which can be had with RWD or AWD. With charging speeds up to 225 kW, Tesla says up to 170 miles of range can be added in 15 minutes. Despite its sparse interior, the Model 3 comes decently equipped for the price, with standard features such as an all-glass roof, a suite of remote vehicle controls, a massive center touchscreen that controls everything and the ability to use your phone as the vehicle’s key.

9. Toyota C-HR

• Starting price: $38,595
• Manufacturer-estimated range: 273-287 miles
• What to know about the 2026 Toyota C-HR: Toyota’s smallest SUV returns as a stylish and powerful EV, sharing a platform and mechanicals with the similar Subaru Uncharted.

Toyota is adding another EV to its ranks by bringing back a model you might’ve thought was done for: the C-HR. The automaker has dusted off the name for an all-electric SUV with a starting price that makes it one of the cheapest on the market. The C-HR is offered in two trims: SE and XSE. Both trims get standard AWD, as well as the same 74.7-kWh battery pack and 338-hp total output. Despite those identical specs, ranges differ depending on the trim. The base SE trim gets the most range out of the lineup with a manufacturer-estimated 287 miles, while the top-of-the-line XSE gets 273 miles of range. Charging is normal for the segment, as well: Toyota says the C-HR can charge from 10%-80% in about 30 minutes under ideal conditions.

10. Kia EV6

• Starting price: $39,445
• EPA-estimated range: 237-319 miles
• What to know about the Kia EV6 : With a spacious interior, solid driving range and a newly reduced price for 2026, the EV6 is an appealing and versatile EV.

Following a significant freshening for 2025 that brought larger batteries, styling tweaks, added tech features and interior updates, the only notable change to the EV6 for 2026 is a drop in price. The welcoming interior offers decent room for up to five passengers, while tech features include a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster that blends seamlessly into a 12.3- inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Powertrain choices include a 167- or 225-hp single rear electric motor and RWD or 320- or 641-hp dual electric motors and a 63- or 84-kWh battery with RWD or AWD. The 2026 EV6 has an EPA-estimated range of 231-319 miles, depending on equipment.

11. Ford Mustang Mach-E

• Starting price: $39,840
• EPA-estimated range: 240-320 miles
• What to know about the Ford Mustang Mach-E: Despite a name that may upset purists, the Mustang Mach-E is a great EV and offers something for everyone.

Ford’s Mustang Mach-E has proven to be popular with buyers, and for good reason, too. Available with RWD or AWD and with three battery sizes (73, 88 or 91 kWh), longer range trims of the Mach-E can get up to 320 miles of range on a single charge. You can even have your choice of performance, with horsepower ratings ranging from 264 on lower trims to 480 on the GT and Rally trims. No matter which you choose, Mach-Es come well equipped; standard features include LED headlights, a suite of driver safety aids, a 360-degree camera and a massive 15.5-inch tablet oriented touchscreen running Ford’s Sync 4A operating system.

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