These are the 11 cheapest electric cars you can buy in 2023

• Going electric can cost an arm and a leg — but it doesn’t have to. 
• Some battery-powered vehicles cost less than $30,000. 
• The best electric cars for budget-conscious buyers include the Chevy Bolt, Volkswagen ID.4, and Hyundai Kona.

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Anyone looking to go electric on a budget is sure to be dismayed by the general state of the battery-powered car market. 

A new Ford F-150 Lightning starts at nearly $60,000. Tesla’s popular Model Y cost almost $70,000 before a recent cut dropped it into the mid-$50,000 range. Electric vehicles from exciting upstarts Rivian and Lucid cost even more — if you can get your hands on one.

But with more electric options on the market than ever before, there are some lower-priced models on sale too.

We’ve found the 11 cheapest new EVs you can buy in 2023. Note that  these prices don’t account for the $7,500 federal tax incentive for plug-in purchases. Some models qualify for it right now (as indicated below), but the regulations are still in flux. 

Chevrolet Bolt EV

The 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV.

Chevrolet

Retail price: $26,500

Environmental Protection Agency-estimated range: 259 miles

Qualifies for EV tax credit

Chevy’s little electric hatchback has been around since 2016 and got a comprehensive refresh for the 2022 model year that brought sleeker, more modern looks. With 259 miles of range and bargain-bin price, the Bolt provides excellent driving range per dollar. 

Chevrolet Bolt EUV

The 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV.

Chevrolet

Retail price: $27,800

EPA-estimated range: 247 miles

Qualifies for EV tax credit

Chevy recently introduced a big brother for the Bolt EV, the Bolt EUV.

It takes the Bolt’s underlying tech and adapts it into a small SUV with a higher driving position and a more spacious interior. It’s the first Chevy to offer Super Cruise, General Motors’ hands-free driving system. But it lacks all-wheel drive, which may disappoint some SUV buyers. 

Nissan Leaf

2023 Nissan Leaf.

Nissan

Retail price: $27,800

EPA-estimated range: 149-212 miles

Qualifies for EV tax credit

Like the Bolt, the Nissan Leaf has been around the block a few times. But it’s gotten some important updates since its launch more than a decade ago. The revamped-for-2023 Leaf gets some styling updates and up to 212 miles of range — more than double the 2011 version. 

Hyundai Kona Electric

2022 Hyundai Kona Electric.

Hyundai

Retail price: $33,550

EPA-estimated range: 258 miles

The Hyundai Kona comes in both gas and electric versions. The base Kona EV delivers healthy amounts of range, a 201-horsepower motor, and a smattering of standard safety tech like blind-spot monitoring.  

Mazda MX-30

Mazda MX-30.

Mazda

Retail price: $34,110

EPA-estimated range: 100 miles

Mazda’s first electric model disappoints in the all-important range department. But it still could suffice for a short commute or a second car.  

Mini Cooper SE

The Mini Cooper SE.

BMW Group

Retail price: $34,225

EPA-estimated range: 114 miles

The 2022 Mini Cooper SE retailed for just under $30,000. But like milk, eggs, and practically everything else, the little EV has been hit by inflation hard. Without much range, it’ll be better suited for bopping around town than long-haul journeys. 

Volkswagen ID.4

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 Pro promises 275 miles of range.

Volkswagen

Retail price: $38,995

EPA-estimated range: 209-275 miles

Qualifies for EV tax credit

The ID.4 is sleek, spacious, and approachable. Bringing production to the US let VW drop the model’s price to below $40,000 — and enabled the ID.4 to qualify for the new EV tax credit, which is only for vehicles manufactured in North America. But it still might be a good idea to shell out a few thousand dollars more for the larger battery option and extra range. 

Kia Niro EV

The 2023 Kia Niro EV.

Kia

Retail price: $39,550

EPA-estimated range: 253 miles

The Kia Niro gets bold new looks for the 2023 model year. Like the Kona it shares a platform with, the Niro has 201 horsepower, generous driving range, and lots of standard safety features. 

Hyundai Ioniq 5

The 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5.

Hyundai

Retail price: $41,450

EPA-estimated range: 220-303 miles

The Ioniq 5 looks straight out of a sci-fi flick, but that’s not all it has going for it. It also benefits from super-fast charging, up to 303 miles of range, and a modern, uncluttered interior.  

Toyota BZ4X

The Toyota BZ4X electric SUV.

Toyota

Retail price: $42,000

EPA-estimated range: 242-252 miles

Toyota has been slower than rivals to get into the EV game, and the BZ4X is its first modern offering. It features bold looks and available all-wheel drive, but it’s only being sold in limited quantities. 

Tesla Model 3

Tesla Model 3.

Tesla

Retail price: $43,990

EPA-estimated range: 272-358 miles

Qualifies for EV tax credit

The Model 3, Tesla’s first true mass-market offering, is arguably the car that sparked today’s mad dash to an electric future.

After a rare price cut, the entry-level sedan costs $43,990 and provides 272 miles of driving range. An extra $10,000 gets you the Performance version, which boosts range to 315 miles, adds all-wheel drive, and drops the car’s 0-60-mph time to a blistering 3.1 seconds.