Updated February 4, 2025
By Rick Cotta
While this section is devoted to listing the lower-priced EVs available on the new-car market, it seems warranted to start with a note about the Clean Vehicle Credit, formerly known as the EV tax credit.
Elements of the Clean Vehicle Credit that took effect in August of 2022 (and were updated in 2023) not only made many vehicles ineligible for credits, but also many higher-income buyers. For more on the rules of the Clean Vehicle Credit along with the vehicles and buyers that qualify for it, you can click on the “EV Tax Credit Info” icon — the “$” — on the home page.
Although the goal here is to list vehicles in ascending order of base price, those prices often change over the course of a model year, so figures shown should only be considered a guideline.
Prices are for the least-expensive trim level and include the destination charge. Note that several on this list also come in AWD or Long-Range (LR) versions, which are listed separately by their respective prices.
Some vehicles on the list are eligible for a $3750 or $7500 Clean Vehicle Credit, and that status is noted under the “Tax Credit” column. Keep in mind that the vehicles qualifying for the credit can change at any time. A current list of qualifying vehicles can be found at https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/tax2023.shtml
Be aware that not all vehicles are sold in all states. You can consult the manufacturer’s website or a local dealer to determine if a given EV is available in your area — or when it might be.
While the list includes 2024 and 2025 models that were available in early 2025, below that are lists that cover 2024 and 2023 models, and after that, the 11 least-expensive EVs offered for the 2022 model year. And below that is a buying guide for those 2022 models that include photos and a host of specifications, many of which apply to the vehicle’s 2023-24 versions.
Now on to the list of available lower-priced EVs. This first run includes EVs with list prices up to about $50,000.
The Most-Affordable EVs for 2025
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The Most-Affordable EVs for 2024
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The Most-Affordable EVs for 2023
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Overview
The “Electric 11,” the Least-expensive 2022 EVs sold in the U.S.
The Electric 11 List, in Ascending Order of Price
The Electric 11 Buying Guide
The 30 Specifications and Features Listed — and Why You Might Care About Them
The Electric 11, in Alphabetical Order, with Specifications and Features
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Overview
The world of EVs is evolving at a very rapid pace.
Better battery technology is not only providing longer driving ranges at lower cost, but also faster charging times.
That “rapid pace” also applies to features — and new models. The former might eventually include hands-free charging, the latter already including several crossovers and large pickup trucks. In fact, on our charts below, nearly half the models detailed weren’t offered a year ago.
All of these topics are covered in more detail under the “Is an Electric Vehicle Right for Me?” icon on the home page; see the heading at the bottom titled, “Is Now the Time to Buy an EV?” But if you’ve already decided it is, let’s get to our “Electric 11” — the least-expensive EVs currently for sale … or soon to be.
The “Electric 11,” the Least-expensive 2022 EVs sold in the U.S.
Listed below is a brief overview of the 11 least-expensive Electric Vehicles offered in the U.S. for the 2022 model year. All are covered in greater detail under the Electric 11 Buying Guide heading following this section. Note that not all of these EVs are offered in every state, but many are gradually expanding their availability. Your local dealer can probably tell you if or when one will be available.
This brief overview lists these EVs in ascending order of price after the $7500 Federal Tax Credit, if any. The Retail Price is also shown, as some buyers may not be eligible for the full tax credit. (Check with your tax accountant or the IRS to see if you’re eligible.) Also included are EPA estimated Range and the Drive Wheels for ease of narrowing your choices. The more detailed reports in the Buying Guide are arranged in alphabetical order.
Our current price cut-off is a base price of $40,000 (including destination) after any available tax credit, though longer-range or AWD versions may start above that amount. More-expensive models will be added as time permits.
Meanwhile, you can see a listing of all EVs sold in the U.S. — both currently and historically — on the fueleconomy.gov website. (On the right side of the page, look for “Hybrids & Electrics” in blue type, then below that, “All-electric Vehicles,” then, also on the right, “Compare side by side” in small grey type. Under “New Electric Cars,” they’re listed in order of MPGe, and not all are current model year.)
The Electric 11 List, in Ascending Order of Price
What the numeric notations on the following chart mean:
(1) Other versions with longer range or AWD may be farther down on this list.
(2) Includes Destination Charge. Prices change throughout the year, so this should only be used as a guide. Some vehicles are no longer eligible for the full tax credit due to sales volume, and others are approaching that mark.
(3) The EPA Range estimate does not include winter driving with the heat on, which can reduce range significantly.
(4) Longer-range version is farther down on this list.
(5) AWD version is farther down on this list.
(6) A lower-priced (by $4000), lower-range (220 mi) version of the Ioniq 5 has been announced, but was not yet on sale at the time of this writing. It is detailed in the full report.
The Electric 11 Buying Guide
Note: Most of these specs and features are based on information from manufacturer websites or the EPA. They can not only change during the course of a year, but there can be mistakes made on both ends, so we cannot be held responsible for errors.
Some abbreviations and symbols used:
Std = Standard equipment on the base model.
Opt = Optional on the base model, or only offered on higher trim levels.
No = This feature is not offered.
NA = Not Available. If it’s a feature (such as a heat pump), this means the manufacturer doesn’t mention it as being offered, and we have not been able to confirm. If a specification (such as weight), it means the manufacturer doesn’t list a figure.
~ = Approximate. In some cases, a manufacturer might not list a figure, though it can be roughly calculated, or it may have been gleaned from a third party.
The 30 Specifications and Features listed — and Why You Might Care About Them
Base $ w/Tax Credit: We do the math for you, subtracting the Federal Tax Credit — if any — from the Base Retail Price (which includes destination). Most EVs are still eligible for the full $7500 tax credit, though GM and Tesla have already exceeded the sales limit on tax-credit eligibility. Note that some buyers may not be eligible for the full amount. In general, you need to have $7500 in tax liability to take the full credit. If you don’t, you can only get back as much as the amount of tax liability you have.
Base Retail Price: Includes the destination charge, typically about $1000. Prices can change throughout the year, so these should only be used as a guideline. This would be the starting point for those buyers who are not eligible for all or any of the $7500 Federal Tax Credit.
EPA Electric Range: Estimated range as calculated by the EPA. Note that the calculation does not include winter driving, which can greatly reduce the range. Though “Your results may vary,” it’s a good comparison from vehicle to vehicle.
MPGe: An official rating that’s similar to the MPG rating for a gas vehicle, though there’s little real-world correlation between the two. It can, however, be used to compare the efficiency of one plug-in vehicle to another, as it’s given to any vehicle — electric or plug-in hybrid — that can be plugged in to charge.
EPA Miles per kW: Another measure of efficiency that helps you calculate your per-mile energy costs. Divide your per-kW home electric cost by this number to get cents-per-mile cost. Example: $.12/kW divided by 3 mi/kW = 4 cents per mile.
Class: General size and number of doors
Seating Capacity: How many passengers — including the driver — the vehicle can legally hold.
Drive Wheels: Front (front-wheel drive), Rear (rear-wheel drive), or AWD (all-wheel drive). Some models are offered in two versions, and if so, each will have its own column.
Horsepower: It doesn’t mean as much here as in a gas car, but it’s a common measure of power output, so it’s included.
Torque (lb.ft.): Probably more meaningful for EVs than horsepower. Largely useful as a comparison between vehicles.
Battery Size: In kilowatt-hours (kWh). It’s a determination of how much electricity the battery can produce before it needs to be recharged.
Battery Type: Most are Lithium-ion (Li-Ion), but a few use a different chemistry, one being Lithium-polymer (LIPO). At some point, we may find that one has benefits over another, but it’s really too early to tell.
Battery Voltage: A higher number tends to mean faster charging capability, though that may not be real meaningful until DC Ultra-Fast Chargers become widely available.
Max Charger Output: Maximum output of the vehicle’s on-board charger. This dictates how fast the vehicle can charge at Level 2, though only if the electric line and charging cable running to the vehicle have an equal or greater capacity. Future Level 2 charging stations may put out more power than most in use today, so a higher number is better.
Max Level 3 kW: How much power the battery can absorb from a Level 3 DC Fast Charge charging station. The charge rate for many EVs is limited to about 50 kW, but some newer ones can accept 200 kW or more. Most Level 3 stations can’t put out that much now, but they may in coming years.
Level 2 Included?: Most vehicles only include a Level 1 charging cable, but a few include a Level 2 adapter plug. This is only relevant to home charging (and you have to have 240-volt wiring available), as most public charging stations put out Level 2 power. You can also buy a separate Level 2 charging cable, but note that there are different types of 240-volt outlets, so you have to get the cable plug and outlet to match.
Level 3 Plug: This is a different plug than the “J1772” commonly used for Level 1 and Level 2 charging. There are three types: Most common is a CCS plug, which is a “combined” plug that adds a couple of terminals to the normal J1772 Level 1 and Level 2 plug. A second style — used primarily by Nissan and Mitsubishi — is called a CHAdeMO. Tesla has its own style of plug, but offers a CHAdeMO adapter.
Level 1 Miles/Hour: This is roughly how many miles you can get back in range per hour of charging. A typical rate would be 3 to 4 miles for every hour of charge. Nearly every EV comes with the necessary charging cable, which plugs into a standard household outlet. (The only one we know of that doesn’t is the Kia EV6, where it’s optional.) In some cases, if the manufacturer doesn’t list a number, we give an estimate, indicated by “~”.
Level 2 Miles/Hour: Typically you can get back between 10 and 30 miles of range for every hour of charge. This figure is based on the capacity of the vehicle’s built-in charger, though it only applies if your home charging cable or public charging station can put out an equal amount of power.
Level 3 Miles/Hour: This can really vary based on the “Max Charging kW” noted earlier, along with the power of the Level 3 charging station. This figure is often given as a time “to 80% charge,” as charging beyond 80% can take a whole lot longer for not many more miles. Some newer EVs can charge at faster rates than some current Level 3 public chargers can deliver, but more-powerful chargers are likely coming.
Heat pump?: A heat pump is a more efficient way to produce heat than with regular old electric resistance heating, which is what’s used in your little plug-in heater at home — and in many EVs. And since heating in the winter can greatly reduce your range (the heater draws its power from the same battery as powers the drive motor), a heat pump can extend the vehicle’s range in cold weather.
One-pedal driving? This is a feature that allows the vehicle to slow down and come to a stop just by lifting your foot off the accelerator pedal, though you’ll have to hit the brake pedal to make a really severe stop. One-pedal driving is a real boon in stop-and-go city slogging.
Length: Gives you an idea of size, both in passenger/cargo space and when parking in confined spaces
Width: Ditto.
Height: Not only an indicator of interior space, but taller vehicles tend to be easier for taller people to get into.
Weight Range: EVs tend to be heavier than comparable gas vehicles, and since some folks like the idea of a heavier vehicle, it’s included where available. This may be either a single number or a range.
Ground Clearance: Most useful to know if you’re going to be driving through snow.
Turning Circle: It’s a parking thing. The lower the number (it’s in feet), the tighter the turning circle, so the better the maneuverability in tight spaces. It’s probably at least as important as length and width when it comes to parking.
Towing Capacity: Many smaller EVs aren’t rated for towing (in which case the number will be “0”), but some larger ones are. Trouble is, their battery charge may not last long doing it.
0-60 Est.: An estimate of how many seconds it takes to accelerate from zero to 60 mph; the standard for measuring acceleration. The manufacturers are often the source for these numbers, though some are gleaned from third-party testing.
Comments: This will usually include information noted by a number in the spec chart, such as “(1)”, that is too long to include in the chart.
The Electric 11, in Alphabetical Order, with Specifications and Features
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