Cheap as They Come: 10 Electric Vehicles from Around the World

Looking for an electric car, but not ready to pay an exorbitant amount of money for it? Makes sense, since there are more and more options for acquiring inexpensive EVs. They are not lacking the moat modern features and are no less comfortable than their "cousins" with internal combustion engines. All of the cars on our list are under $40,000.

Humanity has reached that turning point where electric vehicles are becoming as affordable as their gasoline counterparts. Even cars from the list compiled by Columbus experts and published below are getting cheaper by the day - just a year ago, the price on some of them was several thousand dollars more than it is today.

We ranked the cars in order of decreasing average cost, naming their starting retail price suggested by the manufacturer or MSRP. This is the most accurate and objective independent metric used by the US automotive industry in particular. Local dealerships are mandated by law to indicate the MSR on a sticker placed on the windshield of a new car or include it in its specifications.

Of course, sellers can change the recommended price, raising or lowering it at their discretion. Thus, car prices in Georgia may differ from American, European or Asian ones. However, most of the cars we list here fit into the up-to-$40,000 range.

The range of cars is recorded by manufacturers after one full charge.

10. Kia Niro EV

Let's start the list of the most affordable electric cars with the Kia Niro EV hatchback. It is available in hybrid, plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and fully electric (BEV) options. The car uses the same 64 kWh battery pack and 201hp engine as the Hyundai Kona Electric. However, the Niro's rear seat is clearly more spacious. The 10.25-inch touchscreen provides simultaneous access to music and navigation via voice commands, while standard driver assistance features include forward collision warning, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert. Last year, JD Powers, a company that conducts regular consumer surveys in the US, named Kia the No. 1 automaker for reliability. In addition, the company's 10-year warranty on a car was recognized as the bestin the class.

• MSRP: $39,990.

• Range: 384 km.

9. Volkswagen ID.4

Next on our list of the most affordable electric vehicles is the gorgeous VW ID.4. The car has 5.5 cubic meters of cargo space in the back which is more than the Mustang Mach-E. The base rear-wheel drive ID.4 Pro model is equipped with an 82 kWh battery and a 201 hp electric motor.

Inside, you'll find a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system and the latest high-tech safety and driver assistance features. Curiously, after VW opened its factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the base price of the ID.4 dropped worldwide.

• MSRP — $37,495.

• Range: 418 km.

8. MINI Cooper SE (Hardtop EV)

Driving the Mini Cooper SE Hardtop is pure pleasure. The two-door, four-seater hatchback has a lean look, and the same sharp steering as a go-kart. The 181-horsepower engine accelerates the car from 0 to 100 km/h in just 6.1 seconds.

The Mini is ideal for urban dwellers who prefer dynamic driving. In 2023, the car’s appearance was updated and now it is even more charming. The MINI Cooper SE comes standard with an 8.8-inch infotainment touchscreen, heated steering wheel and lane departure warning system. Among the additional options, adaptive cruise control and new design rims are worthy of a separate mention. In addition, a limited series is offered with an updated interior and exterior style.

• MSRP: $34,225.

• Range: 183 km.

7. Hyundai Kona Electric

Another electric car that has seen its price drop this year is the Kona Electric. This four-door subcompact vehicle became $3,390 cheaper, bringing it closer to the price of a Chevy Bolt. The front-wheel drive car is equipped with a 201 hp electric motor and a 64 kWh battery that can be charged up to 80% in just 47 minutes.

The Kona has been given a facelift this year. The front and rear bumpers have been updated, the wheels have a new design, and the changes are also visible in the interior: the touch screen has grown to 10.25 inches, the entire center console has been redesigned - namely, wireless smartphone charging has been added. The manufacturer claims that if you fold down the rear seats, you can fit 15 medium-sized suitcases in the back.

• MSRP: $34,000.

• Range: 458 km.

6. Mazda МХ-30

The Mazda MX-30’s appearanceon the electric vehicle market this year was a triumph, and the design of the car played an important role in this. Compact and stylish, either a crossover or a hatchback, it has a low coupe-like roofline and rear half-doors. It comes with a 30 kWh battery and a 143 hp electric motor (frontdriveonly).

The premium option is $3,000 more and includes a number of handy features: sport mode driving assistance (ESP), front cross-traffic alert, a heated steering wheel, 360-degree cameras and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. The sportiness of the car earned it the MX badge, which was previously only seen on the Miata.

• MSRP: $33,470.

• Range: 160 km.

5. BYD Yuan

The subcompact crossover from BYD Auto is named after the Yuan Dynasty, founded by the grandson of Genghis Khan. However, we are not interested in historical so much as technical aspects of a car that comes in several modifications.

A petrol version of the BYD Yuan has been produced since 2015 under the name BYD S1. In some markets, the S1 name was also used for the all-electric version of the BYD S2, a subcompact crossover launched in 2019.

The second generation model, called Yuan Plus, was introduced in July 2021. It has a slightly larger size, high-end design and BYD's patented blade battery.

In the same year, the BYD Yuan underwent a facelift to become the BYD Yuan Pro. The main dimensions and appearance of the rear of the car remained practically unchanged, but the interior, engine and battery were given a radically rethinking.

The Pro version combines German lapidary and soaring Italian style in an amazing way. This is not surprising, given that Wolfgang Egger, chief designer of BYD, was born in Germany and studied in Italy. Interior design is minimalistic, in the spirit of the times.

The 47kWh high-voltage Li-ion battery has been replaced by a 50kWh Blade battery (one of the safest in the world that has passed the common nail-piercing test). The new chemical composition of the battery allowed the manufacturer to provide a lifetime (!) Warranty on it. The traction motor has also undergone changes, its power has increased to 100 kW and torque to 210 Nm. Thanks to the successful combination of the power of the electric motor, large battery capacity and modern software, it was possible to achieve impressive car range indicators.

• Price in Georgia: $29,900.

• Range: 401km.

4. BYD Qin

BYD Auto’s flagship made for a pleasant surpriseas soon as it went into production in 2015. In just one year, it became the best-selling sedan in China. Soon after, the second generation of the car –the Qin Pro -came out, and in 2021, its restyled version - the Qin Plus. At the same time, the popular first generationcontinued production as an all-new Qinafter the 2019 facelift.

The car comes is available as a BEV as well as a hybrid. But it is the BYD Qin Plus 600 EV that is selling like hot cakes this year. In the first four months of 2022, Qin sedans of all generations outsold even the popular in China Tang and Song crossovers.

What is the reason for the popularity? The second generation sedan was developed under the guidance of Wolfgang Egger, the man responsible for the designsat Alfa Romeo and Audi. And you c\n definitely see it: the car is stylish, and its forms are Сonfucian in theirrestrain and are easy on the eyes. The only thing disrupting the visual peace arethe lights, reminiscent of the dragon claws. An inconspicuous but important technological element - the NFC icon on the rear-view mirror signifies that you can use smartphone to open the car.

Overall the car is equipped beyond praisein this regard. Although the dashboard screen is small by modern standards (about the size of a smartphone), the multimedia system screenis the envy of other cars - the image quality of the 12.8 inch screen is unprecedented.And there is an added shtick from BYD - at the touch of a button, the display rotates from a horizontal position to a vertical one. The menu allows you to set the climate control, music, driver assistants, atmospheric lighting colors, etc. There's even a karaoke app and a built-in dashcam.

The interior has a sound finish with modern upholstery materials that are pleasant to the touch.

The 600 EV optiongot the most powerful electric motor - 184 hp and 280 Nm, and the highest capacity battery - 71.7 kWh, which make the sedan blast off nicely.

Several modifications of the car are offered with 400, 500 and 600 in the name corresponding to the declared mileage on a single charge. However, according to the official website, the 600 EV version is capable of traveling up to 720 (!) km.

• Price in Georgia: $29 000.

• Range: 720 km.

3. Nissan Leaf

The Nissan Leaf definitely stands out among the most affordable electric vehicles. The price of the standard Leaf S dropped by $4,000 last year (in the US). The four-door hatchback has been on the market for twelve years and it has been constantly improved acquiring new capabilities and safety features.

The Leaf comes standard with a 40 kWh battery and a 147 hp electric engine and Nissan has added a standard fast-charging port and charging cable.

The Leaf Plus comes with a larger 62kWh battery and a 214hp motor. The SV Plus version boasts ProPilot Assist for semi-autonomous driving. All models feature an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support.

• MSRP: $27,800.

• Range: 257 km.

2. Сhevrolet Bolt

One of the most popular electric hatchbacks in America lost $5,900 in price and gained a radically new look. GM hopes the lower price will help offset the elimination of federal tax credits for the purchase of US-made electric cars. There is also a new, larger crossover version called the Bolt EUV that costs $2,000 more.

The new Bolt is still equipped with a 65 kWh battery pack and a 200 hp engine. Inside, you'll find new seats, dashboard and a 10.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. And the Bolt has more luggage space than the Kona. With the rear seats folded down, there's 17m3 of cargo space. The Bolt remains the most affordable electric vehicle sold in the US.

• MSRP: $25,600.

• Range: 416 km.

1. Renault Zoe

The five-door ZOE B-class hatchback is one of the most popular electric cars in Europe (in 2016, the car’s market share, according to Renault, was 19.2% with slight decrease afterwards), so we just have to mention it. Thanks to a 41 kWh battery, the car’s range is above average. Using a conventional outlet, you can charge it in 25 hours, and if you use a 22 kW source - in 2 hours and 40 minutes.

The ZOE interior is futuristic and surprises with the presence of two displays at once: one in place of the traditional dashboard and one above the air ducts on the center console. The basic equipment of this baby includes ABS, EBD (Electronic brakeforce distribution), Emergency Braking Assistance,Electronic Stability Program and Anti-Slip Regulation.

It comes with airbags installed in the front and sidesto ensure driver and passenger safety, climate control, cruise control, heated front seats and side mirrors. Also "on board" there is an R-Link multimedia system with TomTom navigation and steering column controls. ZOE trunk volume is 338 liters to the top of the shelf and 1,225 liters with the back row folded down.

• MSRP: $23,000.

• Range: 403 km.