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This is the first of a five-part series of articles where I look at the best affordable EVs in each size category.
There are plenty of good EVs right now, but one of the main challenges continues to be their price and how much more expensive they are compared to their fossil fueled competitors.
As such, I have selected a few of the best EVs in each size category that are on the affordable side of things. After all, the new Porsche Macan is probably the best midsize EV out there, but it is not exactly affordable….
A few disclaimers first: These models are a mirror of what is happening in the EU market, the prices mentioned regard the Netherlands, a neutral country. Range numbers are according to WLTP standards, and despite having a number of objective metrics — like price, range, charging speed, and others — the analysis also has some subjective input from me, as in some segments it was hard to select just two or three models, due to the abundance of choices. So, if you do not agree with some of the choices, or feel that other models should have been on the shortlist, please mention that in the comments section.
A Segment — City Cars
Having restricted the price for the City Car category to 22,000 euros, as that can be considered a reasonable price for a city car (after all, a Kia Picanto can go from 16,000 to 22,000 euros), there wasn’t really much to choose from. The only two models falling in this category, city cars costing less than 22,000€, were the made-In-China Dacia Spring 65 and the Chinese Leapmotor T03. Both are sold in Europe through local OEMs, Renault Group in the case of the Dacia, and Stellantis in the case of Leapmotor.
I would have loved to add the Fiat 500e to the tally, as the little Italian city car has been the definition of Cheap and Cheerful throughout the last couple of decades, but … the Chic Italian starts at 29,000 euros now. Ouch! Fiat really needs to cut cost and slash prices on its poster model.
Dacia Spring 65
Let’s start then by the Sino-Romanian model, which has been on the market since 2021. It’s been the cheapest EV in Europe since then, and one of the best sellers on the continent until recently.
2024 hasn’t been a good year for the little Dacia, especially since the start of the increased made-in-China tariffs. Despite a recent refresh, sales are lagging.
Despite this, it is still an interesting model, especially in the 65 version. For more 1,000 euros over the 45 version, it offers a 65 hp motor, or 20 hp more than the cheaper version, which allows it to increase acceleration from snail paced (0–100 km/h in 19.1 seconds) to okay paced (0–100 km/h in 13.7 seconds) without losing range.
What you get in return for your 20,000 euros is a light EV (less than 1,000 kg!) with 225 km of range on a full charge, or think more like 160 km in the real world. That’s from a 25 kWh NMC battery. The car has a 125 km/h max speed, which is just enough to merge on the highway, 6.6 kW AC charging, and 34 kW DC charging, which might not sound much but is present nevertheless, something that is not guaranteed in this size category.
One of the distinctive features is that since the recent facelift, the Spring allows vehicle to load (V2L), and adding onto the practical side of the car, it has a big (for the category) 308-liter trunk and a 9.5-meter turning circle.
On the other hand, it only seats four people, it does not have a heat pump, and the wheelbase is small, just 2.42 meters.
Finally, the general warranty is three years, while battery warranty is eight years, or 120,000 km.
Leapmotor T03
As for the most recent city EV offer in Europe (in China it has been on sale since 2020), the city car from startup Leapmotor landed in Europe thanks to a deal made with Stellantis, with the multinational conglomerate now having a competitive offering in this category as a result.
It lands with only one version, but for the same price as the Dacia Spring 65 (20,000€), it offers significantly more value. It has a 95 hp motor, or almost 50% more than that of the Dacia, and consequently the 0–100 km/h times is faster, 12.7 seconds (it could have been better if it didn’t weigh 1,200 kg). Thanks to a 37 kWh usable LFP battery, the range jumps to 265 km, or around 220 km real world, while the top speed is 130 km/h, not much better than Dacia’s (125 km/h), but okay for a city car.
When it comes to charging, AC is done at 6.6 kW and DC at 48 kW. The trunk has normal capacity (for the category), 210 liters, and the wheelbase is 2.40 meters, just 2 cm less than the Dacia despite being 8 cm shorter. Despite this, it has a slightly longer turning radius, 9.7 meters.
Like the Dacia, it only seats four, and has a three-year global warranty and eight year warranty for the battery. But, unlike the Spring, the little T03 has L2 assistance driving, which is something unusual in this category and surprising at this price range.
Comparing these two, if range is not an issue, the Dacia is a bit more practical, with a bigger trunk and V2L capabilities. On the other hand, the Leapmotor is a step above when it comes to powertrain. It is faster, it has longer range (especially since it comes with an LFP battery, so can be charged to 100% without fear of degradation), something that should be avoided in the NMC battery of the Dacia, and it charges slightly faster. And, on top of that, it offers L2 driving assistance, which might be a trump card for many.
All in all, the Leapmotor EV wins when it comes to powertrain, while the Dacia defends itself with a more spacious interior.
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