The 10 best cars eligible for the Electric Car Grant
From Renault and Kia to Toyota and Citroen, here are our pick of the best EVs that qualify for the UK Government’s Electric Car Grant
After a slightly confusing start, the UK’s Electric Car Grant seems to be having a positive impact on EV orders.
Offering between £1,500 and £3,750 off the list price of new models, the grant is helping make EVs more accessible for more people and the list of eligible cars is growing regularly.
In fact, at the last time of checking there were more than 40 cars that qualify for either the Band 1 discount of £1,500 or the full £3,750 savings of the Band 1 grant.
Of course, some cars are better than others. So here we’ve rounded up our favourites among the ECG-eligible models, covering everything from superminis to SUVs and vans.
Renault 5. From £21,495
The Renault 5 has won just about every award in the automotive world, and with good reason. Renault’s design team have crafted a sharp, smart supermini that appeals just as much to those who’ve never seen the original as those who revel in its nostalgic nods. But there’s so much more to it than looks. A balanced but lively chassis delivers a truly pleasurable driving experience, backed up by a responsive 148bhp motor. And powering it all is a 52kWh battery good for an official 252 miles. Add in a brilliantly executed user interface with full Google integration and you’re onto a winner. The ECG grant that cuts prices to just over £21,000 is just the icing on the cake. We’re going to cheat here and also mention the Nissan Micra, which is a Renault 5 in all but name.
Renault 4. From £23,445
Take everything we’ve just said about the Renault 5, add a healthy dose of practicality and you’ll see why the Renault 4 is also on this list. Using the same underpinnings as the big-batteried R5, the R4’s crossover body delivers more passenger and luggage space plus a slightly softer ride, without compromising on the charm or fun of the hatchback. Like the 52kWh R5, the Renault 4 qualifies for the highest level of ECG, meaning prices currently start at around £23,500.
Skoda Elroq. From £33,970
Regardless of the ECG, the Skoda Elroq is one of the best electric cars on sale at the moment. Starting from around £33,000 it pulls off Skoda’s usual trick of offering more space, practicality and features than just about anything else for the money. A range of up to 355 miles is among the best in its class and it backs this up with a positive drive, user-friendly cabin and charging of up to 185kW. Some very high-spec variants aren’t eligible for the grant but there’s plenty of choice beneath the £42,000 threshold, including our pick – the Edition 85.
Citroen E-C5 Aircross. From £34,065
It’s not clear how, but Citroen has managed to build a full-size family SUV with a range of more than 400 miles that still qualifies for the ECG. The E-C5 Aircross already represented good value with a starting price of around £34,000 for the entry-level car and just over £39,000 for the long-range version. The fact that the long-range one also qualifies for a £3,750 discount means it represents ludicrous value. But it’s also a thoroughly pleasant car. Its ride comfort is unrivalled, it has a quirky but user-friendly interior, plenty of modern technology and one of the biggest boots in its class. Well played, Citroen.
Kia PV5 Passenger. From £32,995
A growing number of Kia vehicles qualify for the ECG. There’s the excellent EV4 hatchback, its EV3 SUV sibling, and the inbound EV2, but we’ve chosen the PV5 because it’s an entirely different option from anything else on this list. It’s a large van-based people carrier in the spirit of the great MPVs of the late 1990s. It offers incredible levels of passenger and luggage space, heaps of user-friendly features for the modern family and is backed by Kia’s EV expertise that delivers up to 256 miles of range. It’s every bit as practical as the VW ID Buzz, but with the ECG applied it is literally half the price, starting at £31,500.
Nissan Leaf. From £32,249
Nissan helped pave the way for mainstream EVs with the original Leaf before falling behind rivals. But it’s back in the game with the third-generation Leaf. This segment-defying hatchback/crossover brings quirky design features plus a bright airy interior and a focus on driver and passenger comfort. There’s also a pleasingly logical approach to controls plus an excellent Google-based user interface. With two battery options offering between 271 and 386 miles of range, it’s a sensible choice as a family’s main car. And thanks the the ECG, prices start at under £33,000.
Citroen E-C3. From £18,495
Among a sea of overly complicated new cars, the E-C3 is refreshingly simple. It’s a honest small hatchback with a focus on comfort and delivering a usable experience for not a lot of money. It lacks some of the shine and gadgets of rivals like the Renault 5 – it even has a physical key to start it! – but has bundles of character, a class-leading ride and a decent enough range of around 200 miles. Thanks to the ECG the E-C3 is also cheaper than the basic petrol version, starting at under £18,500.
Cupra Born. From £35,690
The Cupra Born is the only Cupra model to currently qualify for the ECG but it’s a great option for buyers seeking a sharply styled and capable hatchback, especially with a facelifted model just around the corner. It’s not the cheapest car on the list, with prices starting at around £34,000 after the grant, but it brings the Spanish firm’s flair to the family car segment while delivering plenty of space, strong performance and up to 340 miles of range. Sadly, the 322bhp VZ version is the only Born model not covered by the £1,500 grant.
Renault Scenic. From £33,245
We make no apology for making this the third Renault on our list. The French brand is knocking it out of the park with its current range of EVs. The Scenic is its flagship model, a C-segment SUV that offers among the best specification in its class while undercutting most rivals. Its 375-mile range is among the very best, the light and spacious cabin is packed with smart family-friendly features and, as our long-term test proved, it delivers stress-free family motoring for a very competitive price. What’s more, it has just qualified for the Band 2 grant, bringing it starting price down to £33,245.
Toyota C-HR+. From £32,500
It’s taken Toyota some time but it seems to finally have got a hold on EVs with the C-HR+. It uses the same underpinnings as the much-improved bZ4X but in a neater package. It’s so neat that it could actually threaten its larger stablemate thanks to sharper styling but comparable space and practicality. With up to 378 miles of range and 221bhp, it’s a strong all-rounder that can compete with the best in its class, backed by Toyota’s unrivalled reputation for reliability. We said when we drove the prototype that its success would come down to cost and with prices starting at £32,500, it’s a top pick among ECG-eligible cars.
