Cheapest Electric Cars You Can Buy in 2023 From Kia, Chevy, Toyota

Cheapest Electric Cars You Can Buy in 2023 From Kia, Chevy, Toyota

  • 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.

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 electric hatchback.

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.

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

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.

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_02

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

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 electric SUV.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.