This decade could see the transformation of entry-level cars moving from combustion engines to electric powertrains as future Euro 7 norms require significant investments in powertrain, thereby increasing the vehicle’s price. As electric mobility advances, a better chance at a profit would be to sell affordable electric cars than entry-level combustion cars with high costs and short shelf life.
Here are the cheapest electric car offerings from global brands that are planned to launch in Europe by 2025:
Citroen e-C3 (2023)
Expect the electric Citroen C3 to have signature elements like a split headlamp design and contrast accents on the bumper, mirrors, and the side body cladding. Image: Citroen
The Citroen e-C3 electric car, based on the eCMP platform, is expected in 2023 following its combustion variant, which has already been revealed for emerging markets. The design should be largely similar to the C3, and the e-C3 is rumored to launch in two variants: a 30 kWh, 60 PS, and a 40 kWh, 80 PS variant. According to reports, the battery would be supplied by China-based Svolt, and production would occur at Trnava, Slovakia.
In terms of features and creature comforts, we wouldn’t be surprised if only the basics were offered on the e-C3 electric car, with the cost-cutting extending to even a media system using the user’s device only. This could also make the e-C3 one of the cheapest electric car offerings from the Stellantis group. The e-C3 could be revealed in 2022, before a 2023 launch in Europe. Expect prices for the Citroen e-C3 to start under EUR 25,000.
Next-gen Dacia Spring (2024)
The next generation Dacia Spring could be a better in terms of range, charging, features, space and safety. Image: Instagram/alireza_hajatmand_design
Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo confirmed at Renault Group’s 2021 Financial Results conference that the redesigned new-generation Dacia Spring electric car will arrive in 2024. It will continue to be based on the CMF-AEV platform, which has been in use since the arrival of the Renault Kwid in 2015. The CEO also said that the Spring would continue to be an affordable EV, and it will serve as the gateway to the EV category for many buyers.
The current model uses a standard 27.4 kWh battery that offers a range of 143 miles. However, the 2024 Spring should come with a more efficient and bigger battery that ranges around 186 miles. It should also support faster charging. The 0-80% SoC DC fast-charging time could be lower than 30 minutes, which would be a considerable upgrade from the current model’s 56 minutes.
Customers would also like to see better safety ratings, as the first-generation Spring received a 1-star score at the EuroNCAP crash tests.
Group Renault stated during its 2021 financial results conference that the next generation Dacia Spring would be launched in 2024. Expect it to be priced around the EUR 20,000 mark when it arrives.
ORA Cat (2022)
GWM is expected to extract up to 260 miles of range from the ORA Cat. Image: Ora/GWM
The ORA Cat electric car, from China’s Great Wall Motor, is built on the dedicated ‘L.E.M.O.N.’ EV platform and aims to shift some customers from the VW ID.3 by offering a lower price. It provides a front-wheel-drive layout, and the version earmarked for the UK is likely to sport 169 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque.
ORA could offer two battery versions on its electric car: a 48 kWh delivering 249 miles of range or a 63 kWh with up to 311 miles (NEDC claims). The latter should come close to a WLTP figure of 260 miles. According to the brand’s UK website, it can charge up to 80% in just 45 minutes and gets a 0-60 mph acceleration time of just 8.5 seconds, which isn’t bad for a small electric car.
Germany’s order book opened towards the end of 2021, and deliveries are expected to begin by Spring 2022. The electric car has a EUR 30,000 starting price, making it one of the world’s cheapest electric cars.
Nissan Micra EV (2024)
Thanks to the unique C-pillar, the Nissan Micra EV also appears to get a ‘split roof’ design. Image: Nissan
Nissan has confirmed that the Micra electric car will succeed the ICE Micra and be based on the CMF-BEV platform. While the specifications of the Micra EV remain under wraps, we expect the cheap electric city car to offer a 250-mile range from a 50 kWh battery pack and a power output of around 135 hp.
Nissan has indicated that the design of the Micra EV will be similar to the third-generation model with plenty of curves and round-ish elements, especially on the light fixtures. The interior is expected to be roomy and practical, and there could be variants with an optional complete glass roof as well.
The Micra EV is expected to enter showrooms in the second half of 2024, although a concept previewing its design could be shown this year. Expect it to be priced in the region of EUR 25,000 (Estimated) before incentives.
Nissan sold the Micra in Canada until 2020, sourcing the car from the Mexican production line.
VW ID.2 (2025)
Styling elements from the ID. Life concept can be expected on the ID.2 hatchback and the ID.2 X crossover. Image: VW
Previously, the VW ID.2 electric car was expected to be the production model of the VW ID.Life concept was unveiled at the IAA Munich 2021 show. However, new reports suggest that the ID. 2 could be a Polo-sized electric hatchback with an interior as spacious as the VW Golf. The ID. 2 X could be its SUV iteration. The hatchback will arrive in 2025, which means that the VW ID.2 X SUV should reach showrooms in 2026.
The ID.2 and its derivatives for other brands in the VW Group will be front-wheel drive biased, with a single motor and a 50-60 kWh battery providing around 250 miles of range. The range-topping variant could also have a 234 hp electric motor and a 0-60 mph time of just 6.9 seconds, as per VW’s official press release of the ID.Life from 2021.
The ID.2 will likely be priced between EUR 20,000 and 25,000 in Europe. The ID.2 X could start at around EUR 26,000, and it could come to the U.S. as the brand’s entry position. The ID.2 is expected to be launched in European markets in the first half of 2025.
Cupra Urban Rebel (2025)
The Cupra Urban Rebel concept can deliver up to 320 kW (430 hp) with a 0-62 mph time of just 3.2 seconds. Image: Cupra
The Urban Rebel is the Cupra’s interpretation of a cheap electric car on the MEB eco platform. It will be mechanically identical to the VW ID.2; however, the Urban Rebel could be inspired by hot hatches where the VW opts for a plainer look. The case for a performance variant on the MEB short platform is robust with the Urban Rebel as the Cupra brand is derived from Seat Sport, and the VW Group can show the engineering prowess of the EV platform with a sporty Urban Rebel.
Cupra says that the high-performance variant of the Urban Rebel could deliver up to 320 kW (430 hp) peak power and accelerate from 0-62 mph in just 3.2 seconds, which is at par with some of the world’s most famous supercars. The Urban Rebel Concept measures 165 inches long (4,186 mm), 71 inches wide (1,795 mm), and 57 inches tall (1,444 mm). For perspective, it’s slightly smaller than a VW Golf.
The Cupra Urban Rebel should follow hot along with the heels of the ID.2 for an early 2025 launch, if not in the second half of 2025. Pricing of the Urban Rebel will be similar to the ID.2 at EUR 20,000 to EUR 25,000, depending on the specification. It will slot beneath the 2024 Cupra Tavascan.
Renault 5 (2024)
The design of the Renault 5 EV harks back to the original Renault 5 hatchback that was produced between 1972-1996. Image: Renault
Another member on the Nissan CMF-BEV platform will be the Renault 5 electric car. The Renault 5 and the Nissan Micra EV will be manufactured at Renault’s ElectriCity production cluster in Northern France. The Renault 5 and the Micra EV will get a Li-ion battery with a range in the whereabouts of 250 miles from a 50 kWh battery, which should be sufficient as these will be the cheapest electric cars from the brand, and buyers seeking more range can look higher up in the price segment.
The market launch of the Renault 5 is expected in early 2024, and sales will commence in France and other European countries by mid-2024. Renault 5 price in Europe is anticipated between EUR 23,000-25,000, and will be followed by the Renault 4 EV in 2025.
Fiat Panda Electric (2025)
The Fiat Centroventi concept, showcased for the first time at the 2019 Geneva International Motor Show, is built on the same platform as the 500 electric. Image: Fiat
Fiat will launch new B-segment models starting from 2023, and according to reports, the Panda will get a successor, which may or may not continue the nameplate. However, there will be a range of models (Bodystyle variations) under this brand, of which an electric car offering is a certainty.
The Electric Fiat Panda should see a powertrain at least matching the 500e, which means around 200 miles of range and 85 kW of fast charging capability. Design inspiration could come from the Fiat Centoventi concept.
The Panda EV, or the successor B-segment EV, is expected to cost around EUR 22,000 when it comes out in the next few years.
Kia Picanto EV (2025)
When the Kia Picanto moves to its next-generation, expect an electric car variant to follow. Similar to the MEB eco, a low-spec E-GMP platform (low-spec E-GMP eM) could underpin the car. The Kia Picanto EV could arrive sometime in 2025, though the upcoming months should reveal more of the Hyundai Group’s plans for entry-level EVs. Expect the Kia Picanto EV to be priced around the EUR 20,000-23,000 mark.
Electric Hyundai i10 (2025)
The next-gen Hyundai i10 is expected to go pure electric with a range of over 300 km (WLTP). Image: Hyundai
The i10 electric car will be a mechanical cousin of the Picanto EV, with the styling remaining the key (and maybe only) differentiator between these EVs. Both EVs should be achieving a range of around 200 miles in the WLTP cycle and will primarily aim at the VW ID.2/Skoda Citadine.
The i10 EV should arrive sometime in 2025 alongside its platform-sharing cousin, the Picanto EV. The Hyundai i10 EV should cost between EUR 20,000-23,000.
Skoda Citadine (2025)
Skoda’s cheapest electric car offering, which will also be based on the MEB eco platform, is expected to be revealed through a concept soon. The Citadine (name unconfirmed) will be one of three electric Skodas that will slot below the Enyaq as the brand aims to achieve 50-70 percent of its sales through EVs by 2030.
The smallest Skoda electric car should have its debut sometime in 2025. Since Skoda is positioned as the value brand in the VW Group, the Citadine could be slightly cheaper than the VW ID.2. However, it should fall within the same range.
MG4 EV Hatchback (2023)
The MG4 hatchback will be unveiled later this year for Europe. Pictured is the MG4’s rendition by TopElectricSUV.
MG is developing a hatchback, the MG4 EV, based on an all-new EV platform to compete with the like of the VW ID.3 and Renault Megane E-Tech, but the MG is expected to be a bit more economical in price. More about MG’s cheapest electric car for Europe and Britain is likely to come out during the Beijing Motor Show in April 2022. It will slot below the MG ZS EV in the UK and should be capable of offering around 200-250 miles of range. The new hatchback is part of MG’s Mission100 strategy, through which the brand aims to sell 100 million vehicles globally while expanding to 100 global markets by 2024.
Expect the MG4 to launch in Europe towards the end of 2022 or early 2023. The MG EV hatchback should be priced in the vicinity of EUR 25,000 to 30,000.
Lancia Ypsilon Electric (2024)
The next generation Lancia Ypsilon will get an EV variant, though it remains to be seen whether the company will use the eCMP platform or base it on the 500e. Either way, we know Lancia is serious about selling the new Ypsilon and its EV counterpart in Europe and Britain as it plans to relaunch in Britain mid-decade. We should have more details about Lancia’s future in the coming months.
The new Ypsilon EV should be ready for Europe in 2024. It should be priced in the region of EUR 25,000 to EUR 30,000.
Featured Image: Render of the 2024 Nissan Micra from EVW
Keyword: 13 upcoming world’s cheapest electric car models