BERLIN: Demand for electric vehicles (EVs) is down in some countries but the number of less expensive electric car models on offer globally is growing every year.
In 2025, the newcomers in the pipeline range from affordable city runarounds to baby SUVs, and all of them aim to make EV ownership a lot more appealing.
Manufacturers are aiming for a big push in EV sales, while those selling in European Union member states also have to contend with heavy fines from next year if their fleets fail to meet the EU Commission's targets.
Experts say that if the transition to electric cars is to work, zero-emission cars need to become accessible to a wide pool of commercial and private drivers who want affordable transport for commuting and everyday life.
Electric offerings often skew heavily toward the premium end of the spectrum and getting prices down without hurting profits is a hot topic in car company boardrooms from Cologne to Korea.
So what is in store?
This neat little SUV is slated to cost around €33,000 (RM155,000) and could qualify for EV tax credit is some countries. It will come with two battery options, the larger of which should deliver at least 480km of range, according to Kia. Expect to pay around €36,000.
Available with both single-motor front-drive and twin-motor all-wheel-drive, outputs are likely to range from 215 hp to 302 hp for standard versions.
Neat touches on the Kia includes seats made from natural rather than carbon-fibre materials. The bases of the rear perches can be folded completely to create a generous rear load area, which Kia says will easily swallow an e-bike or e-scooter.
This funky little runabout is a small electric car with a very clever interior. The boot is the same size as a Volkswagen Polo’s and you get sliding rear seats which grant rear passengers masses of legroom.
You can forgive the cheap cabin plastics inside and enjoy the friendly-looking headlights, and neat LED running lights borrowed from the Ioniq 5. The pint-sized Hyundai costs from €24,000 (RM113,000).
The Inster gets a choice of two batteries — a basic 42kWh version with a 97hp electric motor, which gets 330 km of range. This is enough to beat both the Dacia Spring and the Citroen e-C3, but not the basic MG4.
Renault 4 E-Tech
Renault's revival of the R5 as an affordable electric car in 2024 was met with much acclaim. Now the city car is getting an SUV sibling with nostalgic flair. With more ground clearance, a beefier rather than utilitarian appearance and a little more space in the interior, the rugged R4 is returning this year as an electric car using the same modular system.
According to Renault, the born-again R4 offers five seats and 420 litres of boot space (plus a 35-litre underfloor area for the charging cable) and is expected to start at prices well below €30,000 (RM141,000).
The technical basis is provided by the R5, from which it takes, among other things, the front motors with 90 kW/120 hp or 110 kW/150hp and the battery with 40 or 52 kWh. This makes up to 400km possible. The price is more upmarket too at around €40,000.
Volkswagen will be hoping that the arrival of the ID.2 will draw attention away from its current financial woes amid threats of factory closure and industrial strife.
The new EV may also be the all-electric replacement for the iconic Golf. The ID.2 will come with a single electric motor with 226hp, as well as up to 500km of range from a new battery. Prices start at €25,000 (RM117,000).
The ID.2 is aimed at the masses for whom around €40,000 (RM187,000) for the current, bigger ID.3 is just too much, and it could be a game-changer for Europe's biggest car maker.
Fiat Grande Panda
The upcoming fourth-generation Fiat Panda will be one of the cheapest electric cars on the market when it touches down.
Dubbed the Grande Panda to reflect a footprint that is larger than that of the previous model, the new hatchback, will carry a price sticker of €24,990 (RM117,000) for the entry-level model.
The car is closely related to the recently launched Citroën C3 and with which it shares Stellantis’s budget-minded Smart Car platform.
Motive power is provided by an 83 kW/113hp electric motor, which is fed with power for up to 320km from a 44 kWh battery.
Fiat is not putting all its eggs in the electric drive basket though and the Grande Panda can be supplied with an old-school combustion engine for some €5,000 (RM24,000) less.
Dacia Spring
The new Dacia Spring is not just one of the cheapest electrics, it's also one of the most bargain-basement cars on the market, period.
Since its introduction in 2021, the Spring has carved out a niche by appealing to environmentally minded drivers on a budget. The third-best-selling electric car in Europe after the Tesla Model 3 and Y has also been heavily updated for 2025.
For your money, you get what are regarded these days as "bare essentials" as standard such as air-conditioning, Bluetooth connection and electric windows but only a modest 260-kilometre of range between charges. The base model starts at around €17,000 (RM80,000).
This car is not ideal for long-distance driving but more than enough for a cross-town commute.
The tidy-up inside the the new model sees the outgoing car’s curved dashboard and piano black finish ditched for a more modern, rugged design familiar from the new Duster.
