Once upon a time, £35,000 was a very important price tag for all new, affordable electric cars in Britain. 

For a while that magic £35k figure was the barrier to qualifying for the Government's plug-in car grant, with electric cars beneath that sum made all the more tantalising by the promise of a chunk of money off courtesy of the Department for Transport. 

The grant ended in June 2022, but it’s left behind a legacy of its own. Plenty of popular electric cars are still priced below the £35,000 threshold. Here are some of the best.

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Fiat 500

The reborn Fiat 500 in electric form is one of the best small electric cars on the market today, and though it’s not quite the bargain it was at launch, it’s still got tonnes of appeal as an affordable electric car for people living in cities. 

The entry-level version uses a small 24kWh battery, enabling a range of only 118 miles. But it opens the line-up at just over £28,000. However, the real sweet spot is just north of £31,000, which gets you into the 42kWh battery car with a claimed range of up to 203 miles, and a more powerful 116bhp electric motor. It’s a fun small electric car to drive, being nimble and agile around town, easy to park, with light steering and great visibility. 

But it’s also got enough power, stability, and just about enough range to make it a small electric car you can do big journeys in, especially thanks to 85kW rapid charging capability. It’s got a funky interior and great on-board tech, too. But it’s not a practical choice, with limited space in the rear and the boot.

A good thing in a small package

MG 4

The MG 4 was one of the biggest surprises of 2022, when we first drove it. It’s arguably the car Volkswagen has been trying to develop for a while now, being a Golf-sized hatchback offered at a price that’s compelling alongside a petrol hatchback of the same size - something Volkswagen has struggled to offer consistently with its ID.3. 

The new MG family hatchback comes in two forms, kicking off at under £27k for the standard range car capable of 218 miles on a full battery. However, once again the sweet spot of the line-up is occupied by a model with a larger battery. From £29,495 is the SE Long Range car, equipped with a 64kWh battery and a single electric motor, boasting a handy range of 281 miles on a full charge. 

Throw in plenty of equipment, practicality, 135kW rapid charging capability, and solid performance and handling, and it’s no wonder more and more MG 4s are appearing on roads up and down the land right now.

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MG 4 is MG's most convincing electric car to date

MG 5

Staying within the confines of the MG line-up, more practicality minded electric car buyers could be swayed by this: the MG 5. It’s a near unique electric offering, as it’s just one of two all-electric estate cars you can buy right now - the other being the somewhat pricier Porsche Taycan Sport Turismo. 

Prices start from £30,995, and both versions of the MG 5 use the same 61kWh battery, for a maximum range of 250 miles for the SE version, dropping to 235 miles for the better equipped, but heavier Trophy level version. 

Like the MG 4, the 5 boasts a great amount of standard equipment, but its greatest asset is found behind the spacious second row of seats. The boot sizes up at 479 litres, expanding to a vast 1,367 litres of space with the rear seats folded flat.

Vast amounts of space for not a lot of cash

Peugeot e208

How clever of Peugeot to simply make three versions of the latest 208, petrol, diesel and electric. The great looking e208 may not have the longest range at 224 miles, but it's pretty usable and you can top it up with 100 miles in just 20 minutes on a rapid charger. 

The e208 has selectable modes which temper the amount of power and the way the car feels. In ‘Sport’ you get the full 135bhp but you won’t be able to drive as far between charges. ‘Normal’ gives you 100bhp and is meant for everyday driving. If you want to make the most of the range there’s ‘Eco’ which cuts the power and extends the range to about 280 miles. It means you can tailor the car to be fun, economical or somewhere in-between.

Charging is easy too. At home you can use a normal 7kW point but at a rapid charger, the e208 can zap in the watts at up to 100kW, which is fast compared to rivals in this price range. Low running costs mean the Peugeot e208 starts to claw back some of the extra investment you had to make to buy the electric version in the first place. ​

e208 offers three modes for three moods

MG ZS

While it isn’t sporty to drive like you might expect from a car wearing an MG badge, the ZS EV is a practical family electric SUV which looks good and is great value. Its strong points are a good range and a long warranty, both of which give you peace of mind.

The ZS EV is powered by a 51 or 72.6kWh battery pack giving a range of between 198 and 273 miles. It certainly isn’t a basic car or badly made, with plenty of tech, a top safety rating and solid-feeling interior. It’s also quiet, comfortable and easy to live with which for most people is all they want.

Have a look at our full reviews here.

ZS has a top safety rating and warranty

Vauxhall Corsa-e

It’s closely related to the Peugeot e208 and there’s a lot to like about the new Corsa-e too. Not least that for those new to pure electric ownership, it doesn’t look, feel or drive very differently to any of it’s stablemates. The Corsa is one of the best-selling cars in Britain, around 2.1 million of us drive one. So, the news that this car is going electric is a pretty big deal, and proof that the world is becoming electrified. 

That’s good enough for an official range of 222 miles, and once the battery is exhausted you can ‘fill up’ in around half an hour, thanks to 100kW rapid charging capability.

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the Corsa-e is how normal it all is. This is an electric car without the fuss or fanfare.

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Corsa does without fuss or fanfare

Citroen e-C4

​The Citroen e-C4 is a car boasting a mixed appeal. Is it a hatchback, or is it a compact SUV? Either way, it’s a practical electric family car available from £34,495, positioned as a tempting bargain alongside a slew of similarly sized electric cars that are priced nearer to £40k.

Using the Stellantis CMP platform (the same underpinnings are used underneath the Peugeot e-208 and Vauxhall Corsa-e), the e-C4 fields a 50kWh battery and is capable of up to 218 miles on a full charge. It’s a neatly designed, comfortable electric car perfect for small families.

e-C4 is another Stellantis electric car offered with petrol and diesel powertrains

Kia Niro EV

OK, so the new Kia Niro EV doesn’t quite scrape under the £35k barrier. But it’s close enough to warrant a mention in this list, because at £36,795 it’s still a fabulous compact electric SUV that’s got a bit of desirability about itself these days. 

The Niro EV is based partially on the old version of the car, but comes with a far more modern design and a wholly overhauled interior. It’s plush and high-tech inside, suddenly, and more practical too. 

Under the skin is a 64.8kWh battery good for a claimed 285 miles of range, and while the charging tech isn’t the best at only 80kWh, it’s still good enough for a 10-80 per cent top up in around 40 minutes.

The new Niro EV does a great job of convincing you that Kia means business