Updated May 19, 2026

The Cheapest Electric Vehicles
You Can Buy in 2026

All 46 new EVs sold in the US, ranked by starting price — with 2-year resale retention next to each one, so you see not just what's cheapest to buy but cheapest to actually own. The federal $7,500 credit expired September 30, 2025; state and utility rebates still apply.

By ·

Cheapest EV overall
Chevrolet Bolt EV
$28,595 · 255 mi range
Cheapest with 300+ mi
Nissan Leaf
$29,990 · 303 mi range
Best value under $50K
Kia EV3
92% resale at 2 yrs

Every new EV, ranked by starting price

Starting MSRP = cheapest available trim. "Per mi of range" = MSRP ÷ EPA range — a quick proxy for price efficiency. "2-yr resale" is the share of original value retained after two years (from our depreciation rankings); higher is better. Blank means insufficient resale data (usually a brand-new model).

# EV Starting MSRP EPA Range Per mi of range 2-yr resale
1 Chevrolet Bolt EV $28,595 255 mi $112 66.2%
2 Nissan Leaf $29,990 303 mi $99 50.2%
3 Hyundai Kona Electric $32,975 200 mi $165 81.1%
4 Chevrolet Equinox EV $34,995 319 mi $110 84.1%
5 Kia EV3 $35,000 220 mi $159 92%
6 Toyota bZ4X $36,880 252 mi $146 75%
7 Tesla Model 3 $36,990 321 mi $115 85.2%
8 Hyundai Ioniq 6 $37,750 240 mi $157 —
9 Ford Mustang Mach-E $37,995 260 mi $146 80.2%
10 Subaru Solterra $38,495 227 mi $170 —
11 Nissan Ariya $39,770 216 mi $184 75%
12 Tesla Model Y $39,990 321 mi $125 84%
13 Volvo EX30 $40,245 261 mi $154 77.5%
14 Hyundai Ioniq 5 $42,600 245 mi $174 83.2%
15 Kia EV6 $42,900 237 mi $181 82.3%
16 Chevrolet Blazer EV $44,995 334 mi $135 77%
17 Rivian R2 $45,000 275 mi $164 —
18 Volkswagen ID.4 $45,095 291 mi $155 77.5%
19 Honda Prologue $47,400 296 mi $160 85%
20 Audi Q4 e-tron $50,500 258 mi $196 69%
21 Ford F-150 Lightning $51,975 240 mi $217 83.4%
22 BMW i4 $52,200 256 mi $204 64%
23 Polestar 4 $54,900 300 mi $183 —
24 Kia EV9 $54,990 230 mi $239 90%
25 Volvo EX40 $56,445 296 mi $191 65.7%
26 Chevrolet Silverado EV $57,095 408 mi $140 77%
27 Volkswagen ID. Buzz $59,995 234 mi $256 91%
28 Hyundai Ioniq 9 $60,555 335 mi $181 91%
29 Cadillac Lyriq $60,695 326 mi $186 70.8%
30 Acura ZDX $64,500 313 mi $206 88%
31 Polestar 2 $64,800 254 mi $255 75.9%
32 Polestar 3 $68,900 342 mi $201 —
33 Lucid Air $69,900 420 mi $166 45.2%
34 GMC Sierra EV $70,600 410 mi $172 81.6%
35 Rivian R1T $70,990 270 mi $263 83.8%
36 Rivian R1S $75,900 270 mi $281 85%
37 Cadillac Vistiq $77,395 305 mi $254 92%
38 Volvo EX90 $78,090 291 mi $268 70%
39 Porsche Macan EV $78,800 308 mi $256 77%
40 Lucid Gravity $79,900 337 mi $237 —
41 Tesla Cybertruck $79,990 325 mi $246 72.8%
42 BMW iX $87,250 311 mi $281 75%
43 Tesla Model S $94,990 410 mi $232 51.1%
44 Porsche Taycan $99,400 246 mi $404 72%
45 Tesla Model X $99,990 352 mi $284 51.6%
46 Mercedes-Benz EQS $104,400 352 mi $297 66%

Cheapest doesn't always mean best value

Sticker price is only half the story. An EV that starts $4,000 cheaper but loses an extra 15 percentage points of value in two years is the more expensive car to own — you just pay the difference at resale instead of at the dealership. That's why this guide puts 2-year resale retention right next to MSRP. Among sub-$50K EVs, the Kia EV3 stands out — roughly 92% retained at two years, while several budget models give back a third or more of their value in the same window.

The post-tax-credit math

The federal $7,500 Clean Vehicle Credit (§30D) and $4,000 used-EV credit (§25E) both ended September 30, 2025 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. New-EV sticker prices no longer get a federal discount — but four levers remain:

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cheapest electric vehicle in 2026?

The Chevrolet Bolt EV is the cheapest new EV in 2026 at a starting MSRP of $28,595 (255 mi range). The Chevrolet Bolt EV and Nissan Leaf trade the top spot depending on trim and incentives. Note the federal $7,500 Clean Vehicle Credit expired September 30, 2025 — so sticker prices no longer get knocked down federally, though many state and utility rebates still apply.

What is the cheapest EV with 300 miles of range?

The Nissan Leaf is the cheapest 300+ mile EV in 2026, starting at $29,990 with 303 miles of EPA range. That works out to about $99 per mile of range — among the best price-to-range ratios on the market.

Are EVs still affordable in 2026 without the federal tax credit?

Yes, but the math changed. The $7,500 federal Clean Vehicle Credit and $4,000 used-EV credit both expired September 30, 2025 under the OBBBA. However: (1) several new EVs now start under $35,000 before any incentive; (2) state and utility rebates of $1,000–$12,000 still exist depending on where you live; (3) the new OBBBA auto-loan interest deduction lets eligible buyers deduct up to $10,000 of loan interest through 2028; and (4) used-EV prices have dropped sharply, making 2–4 year-old EVs the single best value in the market.

Which cheap EV holds its value best?

Among sub-$50K EVs, the Kia EV3 has the strongest 2-year resale retention at about 92% of original value. A low sticker price means little if the car loses half its value in three years — which is why this guide shows resale retention next to MSRP. See the full depreciation rankings for the complete picture.

Is a cheap used EV better value than a cheap new EV in 2026?

For most buyers, yes. Used EVs depreciated faster than gas cars through 2024–2026, so a 2–4 year-old EV with 88–92% battery health typically delivers 8–10 more years of usable life at roughly half the new price. The catch is battery health — always check a State-of-Health report before buying used. Use our used-EV battery health tool to see expected degradation by model and year.

Depreciation Rankings

Which EVs hold value best — full 2-year resale data.
Savings Calculator

See your real cost of ownership vs a gas car.
Used EV Battery Health

Check degradation before buying the cheaper used route.