Top 6 Electric Cars Under £30.000 in 2026

The Fiat 500e is a charming and well-built electric car under 30,000 pounds. It is ideal for urban environments and its 95 hp electric motor provides enough power for a small vehicle. The compact dimensions make the Fiat easy to manoeuvre in narrow city streets. Although the overall load capacity is limited, the 200-litre boot can be extended to 460 litres with the rear seats folded down — plenty of room for groceries or two medium-sized suitcases.

If you’re after a sporty yet affordable electric car for under £30,000, the MG4 could be just the ticket. The EV comes with aggressive styling and strong driving dynamics. It reaches 60 mph in 7.5 seconds, with a top speed of 100 mph. It’s hard, if not impossible, to find an electric car with such performance in this price class. We can’t complain about handling either. The MG4 is smooth at the corners and maintains composure at higher speeds.

Unlike some other electric cars, this one has large volume buttons under the 10.25-inch touchscreen. Is it an advantage or disadvantage? It’s up to you to decide.

But it's not all sunshine and roses. If your budget is rather tight and upgrading to a higher trim level is not an option, some things about the MG4 might disappoint you. For instance, the heat pump meant to increase the battery efficiency in cold weather is not available in the basic version of the EV. In addition, the AC charging power is limited to 6.6 in the standard MG4. So, charging from 10% to 80% will take around 7 hours.

For those looking for a cute, techy electric car under £30,000, the Mini Cooper E Essential Trim could be the one. Inside, it has a round OLED touchscreen for most controls. The physical toggles for the basics make you feel like you’re starting not a car but a spaceship. The "Experience" modes, like the “Go Kart” mode, let you change the displays and add sound effects. This is fun if you're heading out for a weekend road trip or just want to make your daily commute more interesting. The car goes from 0 to 62 mph in 7.3 seconds. It might not sound particularly fast, but when you're merging onto the motorway or navigating through tight city streets, it feels amazing.

In terms of range, the car is decent but not the best. The Cooper can go up to 185 miles on a charge, but on motorways, you might get less. So it’s a good idea to plan your stops and take a mobile wallbox like our go-e Charger Gemini flex 2.0 with you wherever you go.

The materials inside feel nice, with good attention to detail. On the downside, the back seats are rather small, and the boot space isn’t very satisfying. If you're planning a family vacation or need to carry a lot of stuff, it might not be a great fit.

The Renault 5 E-Tech Electric is like a nostalgic throwback to the classic R5, but this time, with zero emissions. It is basically something between the old Twingo and the newer Clio, an electric car under 30,000 pounds that combines compact city agility and everyday practicality. The steering feels light and precise. A turning circle of just 10.3 meters makes parking and tight manoeuvres easy even for newbies.

Inside you’ll find a clean, modern dashboard with a 7-inch digital instrument cluster as standard (or 10 inches in the higher trims). The OpenR-Link infotainment system allows you to use Google Maps, voice commands, and even download apps. By the way, Renault has also added its own AI assistant, "Reno," which can answer all sorts of car-related questions with voice control. Cool, huh? The seats are comfy, but if you’ve got tall passengers in the back, they might feel a bit cramped on longer trips.

Charging depends on the version you go for. The 95 hp model doesn’t support DC fast charging, so you’re looking at around 3.5 hours for a full charge using 11 kW AC. But if you pick the 120 hp variant, you get 80 kW DC fast charging, meaning you can go from 15% to 80% in just 30 minutes. It also supports V2L bidirectional charging, so you can power a coffee machine or your e-bike when camping. Soon, when the technology is ready, the car can also be used to feed energy back into the grid (V2G).

The Hyundai INSTER is similar to the Dacia Spring and Citroën ë-C3, but with a bit more tech and comfort. At just 3.83 meters long, this electric car under £30,000 is compact enough for city driving. Thanks to its 2.58-meter wheelbase, the interior feels surprisingly spacious. The adjustable rear seats help maximise space, and the 280 l boot is bigger than you’d expect for a car this size.

The basic version comes with a 42 kWh battery, giving you a 229-mile range. This is not a breathtaking distance, but the car’s DC charging capabilities mean you can charge the battery from 10% to 80% in about 25 minutes, which is great.

Now, let’s take a peek inside. You get two 10.25-inch digital displays — one for driving data, the other for infotainment. There’s ambient lighting with 64 colour options, wireless phone charging as standard, and if you’re willing to pay extra, you can add seat heating and advanced driver assistance features. One cool extra is Hyundai’s Vehicle-to-Load function, which lets you use the car’s battery to power external devices. For instance, you can power an electric grill or a camping fridge to keep the drinks cool.

Ford fans have been waiting for an electric Puma for what feels like forever, and now that it’s finally here… well, it looks almost exactly like the petrol version. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. After all, why mess with a winning formula?

Step inside, and you’ll find the same practical layout as the regular Puma. The new two-tone interior freshens things up, and the digital display is clear and simple without unnecessary distractions. The driving position is comfortable, and if you go for the Premium model, you’ll even get a Bang & Olufsen sound system for that extra touch of luxury. However, while front-seat passengers will be happy, rear-seat space isn’t the best in class. Another disappointing thing about this EV model is that heated seats cost extra, even in the higher trim.

One of the Puma’s biggest strengths is its boot. At 523 litres, it beats many larger competitors, and that includes a 145-litre underfloor storage area (“Gigabox”). That’s perfect for hiding away charging cables, dirty shoes, or even carrying taller items upright. It’s one of the most practical small electric cars at under 30.000 pounds.

With a 43 kWh battery and an official range of up to 233 miles, the Puma Gen-E is impressively efficient for its size. It even outperforms some rivals in miles per kWh and the powerful motor gives a reasonable 0-62mph time of 8.0 seconds. So while it won’t win any drag races, it’s more than quick enough for daily driving.