Best Affordable EVs For 2023

Fresh pricing for 2023 catapults the Bolt lineup to the top of the list. A $5,000 price cut put the Bolt EV on the top of any affordable EV list. It doesn’t hurt that it’s a well-rounded hatchback, as well. It offers a driving range of 259 miles on a single charge, and its 65 kWh battery pack can work at fast chargers. The base 1LT starts at $27,495 and the more feature-loaded 2LT starts at $30,695, still easily making the list. The 2LT brings leather upholstery, machined aluminum wheels, heated exterior mirrors with turn signals and some added safety features; plus, it’s the only way to get adaptive cruise ($375). With such low pricing we think most budgets can justify stepping up to the 2LT. Read the full review.

The Chevy Bolt EUV is the original Bolt’s bigger sister (although it arrived later) and it’s the most affordable way to get into an electric crossover. General Motors’ price cut also made the EUV eye-poppingly cheap in this era of rising car prices: $28,795 for the base LT and maxing out at $33,790 for the top-trim Premier Redline. Although the added size means it offers a tad less range than the regular Bolt, many of the ingredients are the same. As with its smaller sister, there’s only one powertrain: a 200-horsepower electric motor driving the front wheels and drawing power from a 65.0-kWh battery pack. While not all that fast, the Bolt EUV will hit 60 mph in 6.8 seconds and more than keep up with traffic. Small and nimble, this crossover is perfectly at home darting through traffic, with responsive steering, but it’s a good highway cruiser too. Read the full review.

The 2023 Nissan Leaf features a pair of choices with different sized batteries and performance abilities. The S and SV PLUS trims have a 40 and 60 kWh battery pack, respectively, with maximum range at 149 miles on the base and 215 on the higher trim. The starting MSRP is $29,135 and even the upper SV Plus is under $40,000 at $37,135. That pricing used to make the Leaf the least expensive EV available, before the Bolts usurped it. The Leaf might be one of the original EVs that set the stage for widespread electrification, but Nissan has focused more attention on a new electric crossover, the Ariya, instead of updating the Leaf. The Plus variant is the more viable EV and thousands more than the base. Read the full review.

The always-charming, quintessential city car, the Mini Cooper SE’s low starting price masks the glaring deficiency of one of the few affordable EVs: an official 110-mile driving range, less than half that of many EVs. To its credit, the Mini Cooper SE blends frisky handling and lots of features with the signature style that’s made Britain’s Mini Cooper an international legend for 61 years. It’s likely best to consider the Mini as a second- or third car in the household, well-suited to daily commutes, errands or weekend fun. With that in mind, we’d stick with the base Signature Trim 2.0 for $34,225 and skip costly options and enjoy its spunky personality overall. Read the full review.

There’s a lot to like about the Hyundai Kona Electric, including its $34,885 base price. Its 258-mile range is one of the best, as is its 120 MPGe efficiency. Our biggest criticism is that Hyundai couldn’t find a way to put two key safety features—adaptive cruise control and automatic high beams—into the base SE model. The jump to the Limited, the all-in top-top trim, is $43,495. A 2024 update will improve looks for the Kona Electric. Read the full review.

The MX-30 EV starts at $35,385, while the Premium Plus trim is $38,395, both slipping in under our $40,000 cap. Both come very well-equipped, including such features as a sunroof, adaptive headlamps, blind-spot monitoring, rain-sensing wipers and 18-inch wheels. But the CX-30 is hobbled by its weak-kneed 100-mile range. It’s hard to recommend for anyone outside of self-contained communities and maybe tiny resort islands, which is good, as it is currently sold only in California. Read the full review.

The 2023 W ID.4 is a competent electric crossover that easily matches most gas-powered rivals’ performance, comfort and convenience. While this isn’t the vehicle to take on unpaved backroads, it is ideal for urban adventurers and families who can charge at home, the office or a public station nearby. For 2023, the ID.4 receives a less expensive trim dubbed “Standard” that drops range to only 209 miles from a 62 kWh battery pack. Pricing starts at $40,290, just squeaking by our price cap. The rest of the long lineup (Pro, AWD Pro, S, Pro S, AWD Pro S, Pro S Plus and ends with AWD Pro S Plus) immediately jumps to $45,290 and ends at a not-so-affordable $56,540. Read the full review.

In a small but competitive segment, the Kia Niro EV offers peppy performance, a quiet and comfortable cabin, and numerous standard features for the price, including a healthy set of advanced driver-assist technologies. Its improved 253-mile range and fast-charging ability should be enough for most drivers’ day-to-day needs. With improvements for 2023 the Niro EV almost got booted from this list with higher starting prices on the two (renamed) trim levels, the Wind at $40,745 and the Wave at $45,745. Its more powerful sibling, the Kia EV6, ratcheted up in price and is no longer privy to an affordable label. Read the full review.

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 has crushed the compact electric SUV segment, rising in popularity since its debut. But the price has also ballooned, so much so that the award-winning Ioniq 5 doesn’t technically qualify for this list. The base Ioniq 5 SE Standard Range starts at $42,745, but it’s a good starter for anyone seeking a fully loaded EV that costs relatively little with 220-mile range. The big-battery rear-drive SE, SEL and Limited swell up $53,895, but offer 303-mile range—a notable improvement over most EVs of its size. Read the full review.