The Cheapest Electric Cars Under £20,000 in 2026

It turns out you can buy a new electric car for under £20,000 that falls into the "small SUV" category. Even with the upgrade to the Dacia Spring Extreme Electric for better performance, it still costs less than £20,000.

The basic version includes a 10-inch touchscreen on the centre console, supporting smartphone mirroring via Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. All the essential information for the driver is displayed on a 7-inch instrument cluster as standard. The steering wheel is height-adjustable, which might be crucial for your comfort. When it comes to storage space, the boot offers 290 litres of storage, which can be increased to 1,100 litres by folding down the rear seats.

Performance-wise, the basic electric Dacia accelerates from 0 to 62 mph in 19.1 seconds. If you upgrade to the Expression or Extreme version, that time drops to 13.7 seconds. The top speed for all versions is 78 mph, meaning you will feel pretty comfortable driving on a motorway.

The maximum AC charging speed of 3.7 kW isn’t the fastest, but if you have a home wallbox, charging time won’t be a problem. Simply plug it into our go-e Charger Gemini 2.0 overnight and you’ll wake up to a fully charged battery. Opting for a higher trim, like the Expression or Extreme, means you can also use DC fast charging at up to 30 kW.

The BYD Dolphin Surf became the first electric car for many people who were looking for an opportunity to make the switch. Its unbeatable combination of price and value was and remains more than convincing. In the UK, the car has been offered for less than £20,000 for nearly a year now.

The BYD Dolphin Surf is available in three versions to suit different driving needs. For city trips, daily errands, and short weekend getaways, the Active model offers a range of up to 137 miles (WLTP) and can be charged in just 25 minutes. For longer journeys or fewer stops along the way, the Boost model provides a range of up to 200 miles and a faster charging time of 22 minutes. The third version, the BYD Dolphin Surf Comfort, combines a generous 193-mile range with the quickest acceleration, reaching 62 mph in just over 9 seconds.

Inside, the cabin delivers a solid digital experience. A rotating 10.1-inch touchscreen controls media, navigation, and settings, and includes integrated route planning with charging station guidance. The car also supports V2L (Vehicle-to-Load), allowing you to charge a laptop, e-bike, or any other devices while on the move. Keyless access via smartphone and smartwatch, pre-conditioning via the app, and voice control all come as standard.

The Citroën ë-C3 offers a solid 199 miles of range at a price that’s much lower than most other EVs. The 113 hp motor is perfect for city trips and moderate motorway speeds, with a top speed of 82 mph. When it comes to acceleration, though, it’s not the fastest electric car under 30,000 pounds, as it goes from 0 to 62 mph in 10.4 seconds.

With 100 kW DC fast charging, you can get from 20 to 80% in just 26 minutes. If you’re AC charging with a wallbox, it takes about 5-6 hours for a full charge. If you’re willing to spend an extra £360, though, you can upgrade to 11 kW, which brings that time down to almost 4 hours.

The Ë-C3 is 4.01 metres long, which means it’s compact but still gives you a 310-litre boot. Driving is enjoyable, thanks to Citroën’s Advanced Comfort suspension that smooths out bumps. It’s honestly one of the most comfortable rides in its class. You get standard safety features like LED daytime running lights, active emergency braking, rear parking sensors, and six airbags. Those going for a higher trim additionally have a 10.25-inch touchscreen and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.

Inside, it’s roomy and practical, especially in the back. You can be sure that taller passengers sitting in the rear will feel comfortable with plenty of headroom. The base model doesn’t have a central touchscreen, but it does come with a smartphone holder that has NFC integration.

Let us introduce you to the Microlino, an EV that is just 2.52 metres long, making parking easy even for beginners. This electric car under 20.000 pounds is so small that you can fit into spaces where normal vehicles wouldn’t stand a chance. For example, instead of parallel parking, you can just drive straight in like a scooter.

The Microlino comes with two seats. Inside, it looks simple, featuring a digital display and touchscreen controls. In contrast to most microcars, this one can reach around 55 mph, so you won’t feel like an obstacle on faster roads. The 230-litre boot means you will have plenty of space for groceries. But if you’re planning a big IKEA shopping trip, you may have to rethink it as there’s some space, but not for huge boxes.

You can charge the Microlino using a wallbox and a type 2 charging cable. Alternatively, you can use a simple charging cable that connects the type 2 car socket directly to a normal 230 V socket. Since the charging power is very low, the second option does not pose any danger, like in the case of regular electric cars. Whether you use a socket or an AC wallbox, charging takes about 4-5 hours.

Speaking of drawbacks, while the Microlino is fun and functional for short city trips, you might feel the lack of some comfort essentials. For example, there’s no air conditioning and safety features like airbags and ESP are absent since they’re not required in its L7e category. The ride can also feel a bit bumpy, and at higher speeds, it gets noisy.

Still, if your daily life is mostly running quick errands or you just want to be able to get from A to B without the hassle of parking, the Microlino can make things easier. By the way, it is ideal as a second or third vehicle.

The Citroën Ami is an electric vehicle under 20,000 pounds built for urban life. It comes with a compact design and requires only a scooter license for driving. If you have children, this could be a great way for them to learn to drive in a safe way, as they can’t go faster than 27.9 mph with this EV. While the Citroën Ami is advertised as the perfect fit for young people without a driving license and seniors, it can also be used for daily commuting. If you want to get to work with minimum expenses but going by e-scooter is too casual, this small EV might be just the right choice.

The vehicle can be parked in places where even the Fiat 500 would struggle to squeeze in. Its 46-mile range is enough to get you through your daily city errands without having to worry about running out of charge.

Despite its small size, the Citroën Ami feels surprisingly spacious inside. It’s designed for two people. While the interior is minimal, there’s room to store small items behind the seats and in nets on the doors. The panoramic roof makes driving more exciting. Ordering your car is fun because you have four design options to choose from.