Electric vehicles still represent a fraction of new car sales (just 1% in the UK in 2019), but it’s increasing rapidly as more and more find that an electric car actually does suit their needs – so far in 2020 EVs have made up 12% of all new car sales. That’s largely owing to ever-improving battery range and the proliferation of a rapid charging network nationwide. In turn, economies of scale mean the cost of producing EVs is coming down, which means there are some great value electric cars to be had now. Here are five of our favourites.
FIVE | SEAT Mii Electric: £19,800
The SEAT Mii Electric doesn’t have the biggest range – its 36.8kWh battery gives you a claimed 160 miles, but in reality you’re looking at about 120 – but SEAT has packaged the battery smartly under the rear seats so that very little cabin space is lost. It’s also still brilliant fun to drive, as per the standard car, with the instant responsiveness of the electric motor adding to the Mii’s natural suitability for town driving.
FOUR | MG ZS EV: £25,495
Pound-for-pound the MG ZS EV is the best value new electric car on sale today. It’s not the most cutting edge EV on the market, with a relatively small 44.5kWh battery pack good for a 160-mile claimed range, but that keeps cost down and means it’s just as spacious as the standard car. It’s enough range for a runabout too, making this the cheapest way to get the kids to school in zero emissions fashion. It’s canny to drive too. Not great, just canny.
THREE | Vauxhall Corsa-E: £27,665
The new Corsa is the first Vauxhall devopled on Peugeot-Citroen’s watch, so it’s based on the Peugeot 208. It’s nowhere near as much fun as that car, nor as good looking, nor as interesting in general, but the electric version is well priced, spacious for a supermini, and the 50kWh battery means claimed range is a reasonable 211 miles.
TWO | MINI Cooper S Electric: £24,900
An electric version of the MINI was always going to happen – nothing is more zeitgeisty than an electric car, which means trendy MINI just had to do one, and quick. It actually has quite a small battery though because BMW chose not to significantly reengineer the chassis, and so its real-world range is only about 100 miles. Not great, but it does mean that the MINI is priced cost-effectively, and it’s also the most fun-to-drive electric car on sale today.
ONE | Renault Zoe: £26,495
The Renault Zoe is a perfect example of how far electric cars have come over the last decade. It was facelifted a couple of year back but it’s basically the same car that Renault launched in 2012. Under the skin, though…different story altogether. The first Zoe had a 22kWh battery pack good for 60 miles if you were lucky. Today’s has a 52kWh pack that can comfortably give drivers 200 miles. That really is the difference between it being usable for the majority of buyers and, well, not. It’s also cracking value now, with Renault offering big discounts.
Keyword: TOP FIVE: good value electric cars