Best cars eligible for the Electric Car Grant
High-quality grant-eligible cars from rated and reviewed dealers
Last updated September 03, 2025 by
Tom Wiltshire
Best cars eligible for the Electric Car Grant
The UK Government has launched a new initiative aimed at cutting the cost of going electric. Known as the Electric Car Grant, the scheme is still being rolled out, with more models set to join in the coming months. Even so, the best cars already confirmed for the grant are a strong line-up that could tempt plenty of buyers.
While the details behind the policy are a bit complicated, the customer experience is simple: when you buy a qualifying EV, the price is automatically reduced by either £1,500 or £3,750, depending on how the car performs against certain sustainability measures. There’s no paperwork for you to complete – the saving is applied at the point of purchase.
Only a handful of models qualify for the higher £3,750 discount at present, but a much wider choice of cars is eligible for the £1,500 grant. These span everything from compact hatchbacks such as the Renault 5 to larger family options like the Vauxhall Grandland Electric and Citroen e-Berlingo.
Beyond the government discount, the Electric Car Grant has triggered a wave of fresh deals across the market. Some manufacturers have trimmed prices to bring cars within the scheme, while other manufacturers are responding to the grant with separate price cuts on models outside the official list. The result is a mini price war – great news for anyone ready to move to electric motoring.
Of course, not every grant-eligible model is a winner, even with a chunk off the sticker price. That’s why our expert reviews team has driven them all and picked out the ones we’d actually recommend.
If you want to know more about how the EV grant works, let Mat explain it to you:
Battery range up to 252 miles
Best for: all-round small car brilliance
The original Renault 5 was an incredibly popular small hatchback - the new version takes that and runs with it. It’s our favourite small electric car by some margin, with a superb blend of retro style, modern tech, and fantastic driving dynamics.
In comparison with other small electric cars such as the BYD Dolphin or Vauxhall Corsa Electric, the Renault 5 does something really important - it brings a sense of fun to the class. Yet it hasn’t forgotten practicality - its retro-styled stablemate, the Mini Cooper Electric, doesn’t hold a candle to the 5’s big boot and five-door body.
It’s super-affordable even before the EV grant, but with it prices start from less than £22,000.
The Renault 5 isn’t perfect - the back seats are decidedly cramped, and if you want the maximum range from your small EV you’d be better off looking at something like the Long Range MG4. But no alternative drives quite as nicely as the Renault 5 - it’s the perfect combination of nippy and agile in town, but planted and stable on the motorway. It’s even quite good fun to sling around on a twisting back road.
The interior is a real highlight thanks to that retro-styled, stacked dashboard - but it hides a trick up its sleeve. Because Renault cars run on a Google-based software setup, the infotainment system is basically like having an Android phone on the dash - complete with native access to Google Maps and other apps.
All versions of the Renault 5 are eligible for the EV grant, so you can select between the shorter-range, lower-priced model or a long-range version with all the bells and whistles. For our money, the long-range model in Iconic Five trim is hard to beat - especially if you go for the eye-catching Pop Yellow.
You could also consider the Nissan Micra - it’s the same car as the Renault 5 but with different styling and of course, a different dealer. Prices are virtually identical, though.
The original Renault 5 was an incredibly popular small hatchback - the new version takes that and runs with it. It’s our favourite small electric car by some margin, with a superb blend of retro style, modern tech, and fantastic driving dynamics.
In comparison with other small electric cars such as the BYD Dolphin or Vauxhall Corsa Electric, the Renault 5 does something really important - it brings a sense of fun to the class. Yet it hasn’t forgotten practicality - its retro-styled stablemate, the Mini Cooper Electric, doesn’t hold a candle to the 5’s big boot and five-door body.
It’s super-affordable even before the EV grant, but with it prices start from less than £22,000.
The Renault 5 isn’t perfect - the back seats are decidedly cramped, and if you want the maximum range from your small EV you’d be better off looking at something like the Long Range MG4. But no alternative drives quite as nicely as the Renault 5 - it’s the perfect combination of nippy and agile in town, but planted and stable on the motorway. It’s even quite good fun to sling around on a twisting back road.
The interior is a real highlight thanks to that retro-styled, stacked dashboard - but it hides a trick up its sleeve. Because Renault cars run on a Google-based software setup, the infotainment system is basically like having an Android phone on the dash - complete with native access to Google Maps and other apps.
All versions of the Renault 5 are eligible for the EV grant, so you can select between the shorter-range, lower-priced model or a long-range version with all the bells and whistles. For our money, the long-range model in Iconic Five trim is hard to beat - especially if you go for the eye-catching Pop Yellow.
You could also consider the Nissan Micra - it’s the same car as the Renault 5 but with different styling and of course, a different dealer. Prices are virtually identical, though.
2025
Smart Spender Award
Highly Commended
Battery range up to 201 miles
Best for: great value
If saving money is your priority then the Citroen e-C3 is a great shout. Already one of the UK’s lowest-priced electric cars, with the addition of the EV grant its starting price is well below £21,000 - and even if you go for the top-spec Max model it’s not much more expensive.
The e-C3 may be the size of a small hatchback but it’s styled like a baby SUV, and its tall body gives plenty of room inside for passengers and a decent-sized 310-litre boot. However, if you want more space, the very similar e-C3 Aircross has a longer body, a bigger boot, and roomier backseats - and isn’t much more expensive.
The e-C3’s modest battery gives it a range of less than 200 miles but for a lot of drivers, that will be plenty - and its superb energy efficiency means you’ll pay just pennies per mile if you’re charging it up at home.
And despite the low price tag, the e-C3 doesn’t feel bargain-basement. Sure, you don’t get a huge-screen infotainment system or posh upholstery, but the neatly-designed interior comes with wireless smartphone connectivity as standard, and clever use of fabric trim neatly hides the cheaper plastics used.
It’s also surprisingly good to drive for an entry-level car. The 113hp electric motor isn’t fast, but the e-C3 is so light that it gives plenty of pep at town speeds and doesn’t feel outclassed on the motorway. Better yet, Citroen’s trick hydraulic suspension system means it’s really comfortable over bumps in town, without feeling too wallowy when you’re cornering.
You could also consider the Vauxhall Frontera Electric, which is based on the same underpinnings as the e-C3 Aircross but gets a more conventional interior setup. It’s also available with the EV grant.
If saving money is your priority then the Citroen e-C3 is a great shout. Already one of the UK’s lowest-priced electric cars, with the addition of the EV grant its starting price is well below £21,000 - and even if you go for the top-spec Max model it’s not much more expensive.
The e-C3 may be the size of a small hatchback but it’s styled like a baby SUV, and its tall body gives plenty of room inside for passengers and a decent-sized 310-litre boot. However, if you want more space, the very similar e-C3 Aircross has a longer body, a bigger boot, and roomier backseats - and isn’t much more expensive.
The e-C3’s modest battery gives it a range of less than 200 miles but for a lot of drivers, that will be plenty - and its superb energy efficiency means you’ll pay just pennies per mile if you’re charging it up at home.
And despite the low price tag, the e-C3 doesn’t feel bargain-basement. Sure, you don’t get a huge-screen infotainment system or posh upholstery, but the neatly-designed interior comes with wireless smartphone connectivity as standard, and clever use of fabric trim neatly hides the cheaper plastics used.
It’s also surprisingly good to drive for an entry-level car. The 113hp electric motor isn’t fast, but the e-C3 is so light that it gives plenty of pep at town speeds and doesn’t feel outclassed on the motorway. Better yet, Citroen’s trick hydraulic suspension system means it’s really comfortable over bumps in town, without feeling too wallowy when you’re cornering.
You could also consider the Vauxhall Frontera Electric, which is based on the same underpinnings as the e-C3 Aircross but gets a more conventional interior setup. It’s also available with the EV grant.
Battery range up to 356 miles
Best for: clever interior features
The Elroq is the smaller of Skoda’s two electric SUVs, sitting under the Enyaq. However, from the drivers’ seat you’d barely notice the difference - in fact, the two cars are so similar that the existence of the Elroq means that the Enyaq also qualifies for a £1,500 grant discount, despite its starting price being well above the £37,000 threshold.
The Elroq is a great way to get the Enyaq experience while saving a few quid, though. It’s similar in price to much smaller EVs such as the Volvo EX30 but is really spacious, with lots of room for passengers in the back and a big, useful boot.
As is typical with Skoda, the Elroq is packed full of clever features. Sure, you get the umbrella hidden in the front door and the ice scraper built into the tailgate - par for the course - but you also get an ingenious cargo net on the bottom of the parcel shelf for storing your charging cable. It’s such a simple idea that you wonder why nobody’s done it before.
Most versions of the Elroq qualify for the £1,500 EV grant, except the range-topping vRS. That means you can have a cheap-and-cheerful entry model for just over £30,000, or step up to one of the long range cars and achieve up to 356 miles on a charge. Whichever you select, the Elroq is comfortable to drive. It’s a great, sensible EV choice.
The Elroq is the smaller of Skoda’s two electric SUVs, sitting under the Enyaq. However, from the drivers’ seat you’d barely notice the difference - in fact, the two cars are so similar that the existence of the Elroq means that the Enyaq also qualifies for a £1,500 grant discount, despite its starting price being well above the £37,000 threshold.
The Elroq is a great way to get the Enyaq experience while saving a few quid, though. It’s similar in price to much smaller EVs such as the Volvo EX30 but is really spacious, with lots of room for passengers in the back and a big, useful boot.
As is typical with Skoda, the Elroq is packed full of clever features. Sure, you get the umbrella hidden in the front door and the ice scraper built into the tailgate - par for the course - but you also get an ingenious cargo net on the bottom of the parcel shelf for storing your charging cable. It’s such a simple idea that you wonder why nobody’s done it before.
Most versions of the Elroq qualify for the £1,500 EV grant, except the range-topping vRS. That means you can have a cheap-and-cheerful entry model for just over £30,000, or step up to one of the long range cars and achieve up to 356 miles on a charge. Whichever you select, the Elroq is comfortable to drive. It’s a great, sensible EV choice.
Battery range up to 367 miles
Best for: a grown-up family EV
The Cupra Born is a bit like the more hip, stylish sibling of the Volkswagen ID3. Cupra’s sharp-styling and copper-coloured accents mean the Born stands out in the crowd, and its interestingly tall and boxy silhouette comes across as a bit avant-garde rather than boringly practical.
It is still practical, though. The 385-litre boot is a fraction bigger than a normal family hatchback’s, such as a VW Golf, and there’s loads of room for passengers in the back seats thanks to generous headroom and legroom.
Up front, the Cupra gets sporty seats and a 12.9-inch touchscreen, which comes with plenty of features.
Most versions of the Born are eligible for the grant, including the big-battery models which can do well over 300 miles on a charge. This makes the Born great if you want an EV that can do long distances, and you’ll cover them in comfort thanks to supple suspension.
Despite its sporty looks and rear-wheel drive layout, the Born isn’t tremendously fun to drive - even the high-powered VZ model. But it’s relaxing on the motorway and great to drive round town, even if forward visibility is impacted a bit by that sloping windscreen and large pillars.
The Volkswagen ID3 is very similar to the Born - under the skin, it’s identical - and is also available with the EV grant, but for us the Born’s cheaper price and more stylish image make it much better value than the pricier, dowdier VW.
The Cupra Born is a bit like the more hip, stylish sibling of the Volkswagen ID3. Cupra’s sharp-styling and copper-coloured accents mean the Born stands out in the crowd, and its interestingly tall and boxy silhouette comes across as a bit avant-garde rather than boringly practical.
It is still practical, though. The 385-litre boot is a fraction bigger than a normal family hatchback’s, such as a VW Golf, and there’s loads of room for passengers in the back seats thanks to generous headroom and legroom.
Up front, the Cupra gets sporty seats and a 12.9-inch touchscreen, which comes with plenty of features.
Most versions of the Born are eligible for the grant, including the big-battery models which can do well over 300 miles on a charge. This makes the Born great if you want an EV that can do long distances, and you’ll cover them in comfort thanks to supple suspension.
Despite its sporty looks and rear-wheel drive layout, the Born isn’t tremendously fun to drive - even the high-powered VZ model. But it’s relaxing on the motorway and great to drive round town, even if forward visibility is impacted a bit by that sloping windscreen and large pillars.
The Volkswagen ID3 is very similar to the Born - under the skin, it’s identical - and is also available with the EV grant, but for us the Born’s cheaper price and more stylish image make it much better value than the pricier, dowdier VW.
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5. Nissan Ariya
Nissan Ariya review
Battery range up to 330 miles
Best for: a stylish interior
If you need a larger car then the Nissan Ariya is the model for you - it’s one of the most practical EVs currently available with the electric car grant. Nissan actually cut a chunk off the starting price of the Ariya to make it eligible, so you’re getting impressive value for money.
The Ariya is about the same size as the hybrid-powered Nissan Qashqai so there’s lots of room inside for all the family - though it is only a five-seater and the sloping rear windscreen means the boot isn’t quite as practical as it could be.
It feels really posh inside, too. Some models get fantastic shagpile carpet, a throwback to older Japanese cars, but all models get the same minimalist dashboard with lots of storage.
To drive, the Ariya is fine - it jiggles and fidgets about a bit on poor road surfaces at low speeds, but it settles down on the motorway and it actually takes corners very keenly. A maximum range of 330 miles from the larger-battery model is pretty good too, even if the Ariya doesn’t charge quite as fast as you might like from an electric SUV.
If you need a larger car then the Nissan Ariya is the model for you - it’s one of the most practical EVs currently available with the electric car grant. Nissan actually cut a chunk off the starting price of the Ariya to make it eligible, so you’re getting impressive value for money.
The Ariya is about the same size as the hybrid-powered Nissan Qashqai so there’s lots of room inside for all the family - though it is only a five-seater and the sloping rear windscreen means the boot isn’t quite as practical as it could be.
It feels really posh inside, too. Some models get fantastic shagpile carpet, a throwback to older Japanese cars, but all models get the same minimalist dashboard with lots of storage.
To drive, the Ariya is fine - it jiggles and fidgets about a bit on poor road surfaces at low speeds, but it settles down on the motorway and it actually takes corners very keenly. A maximum range of 330 miles from the larger-battery model is pretty good too, even if the Ariya doesn’t charge quite as fast as you might like from an electric SUV.
Battery range up to 247 miles
Best for: retro style and practicality
Love the retro looks of the Renault 5 - but need a car that can carry a bit more junk in the trunk? Enter the Renault 4 E-Tech. Like the 5, it’s based on a popular model from Renault’s past, in this case the uber-practical Renault 4 launched in the 1960s and heralded by some as the world’s first real hatchback.
For 2025, it’s undeniably grown up a bit, but the 4 E-Tech’s boxy body and circular headlights really evoke the spirit of the old model. And just like the old model, it’s very practical. The 420-litre boot is a really good size and it has a super-low loading sill, which makes it easy to load heavy items or for dogs to jump up. There’s a useful double-sided underfloor storage compartment, too.
Up front, the 4 has a similar retro style to the 5, and includes the fantastic infotainment system from that car. It’s a bit more expensive, but that’s mostly because Renault doesn’t offer the 4 with the smaller battery and less powerful electric motor of the entry-level 5. It’s still great value - even better with £1,500 off from the EV grant scheme.
Love the retro looks of the Renault 5 - but need a car that can carry a bit more junk in the trunk? Enter the Renault 4 E-Tech. Like the 5, it’s based on a popular model from Renault’s past, in this case the uber-practical Renault 4 launched in the 1960s and heralded by some as the world’s first real hatchback.
For 2025, it’s undeniably grown up a bit, but the 4 E-Tech’s boxy body and circular headlights really evoke the spirit of the old model. And just like the old model, it’s very practical. The 420-litre boot is a really good size and it has a super-low loading sill, which makes it easy to load heavy items or for dogs to jump up. There’s a useful double-sided underfloor storage compartment, too.
Up front, the 4 has a similar retro style to the 5, and includes the fantastic infotainment system from that car. It’s a bit more expensive, but that’s mostly because Renault doesn’t offer the 4 with the smaller battery and less powerful electric motor of the entry-level 5. It’s still great value - even better with £1,500 off from the EV grant scheme.
Battery range up to 212 miles
Best for: ultimate carrying capacity
You can’t really do any better than a van when it comes to practicality - what shape is more efficient than a big box? Luckily, electric vans have moved on a bit, and the Citroen e-Berlingo isn’t just a battery-powered cargo vehicle - it’s plush and comfortable for family use.
The dimensions and aerodynamics of the e-Berlingo do mean that maximum driving range is depleted, especially on the motorway - in the real world you should get about 140 miles to a charge on faster roads, but over 200 is easily possible if you’re just pootling around town.
And you’ll struggle to find another electric car that offers you so much space. Headroom is palatial in all seats, and those in the rear can really stretch out. Plus, the 775-litre boot is mammoth - it’s the sort of thing you can get a washing machine or sofa into, as well as all the family’s suitcases.
You do have to put up with some van-like hard plastics, but most of the tech you’d expect is present and correct, and the e-Berlingo is much easier to drive than you might think. It’s a great electric family car.
You can’t really do any better than a van when it comes to practicality - what shape is more efficient than a big box? Luckily, electric vans have moved on a bit, and the Citroen e-Berlingo isn’t just a battery-powered cargo vehicle - it’s plush and comfortable for family use.
The dimensions and aerodynamics of the e-Berlingo do mean that maximum driving range is depleted, especially on the motorway - in the real world you should get about 140 miles to a charge on faster roads, but over 200 is easily possible if you’re just pootling around town.
And you’ll struggle to find another electric car that offers you so much space. Headroom is palatial in all seats, and those in the rear can really stretch out. Plus, the 775-litre boot is mammoth - it’s the sort of thing you can get a washing machine or sofa into, as well as all the family’s suitcases.
You do have to put up with some van-like hard plastics, but most of the tech you’d expect is present and correct, and the e-Berlingo is much easier to drive than you might think. It’s a great electric family car.
Battery range up to 260 miles
Best for: comfort
Citroens of old were always known for their pillowy-soft suspension, capable of ironing out bumps until you didn’t even know they were there. The e-C4 can’t quite pull off the same trick, but it comes mighty close - it’s easily the most comfortable family hatchback you can buy, and while the hybrid model is good, the electric version is the pick of the range as you can pair that ride comfort with the eerie silence of an electric motor.
The e-C4 is cheap to buy, even cheaper thanks to the EV grant, yet doesn’t feel it on the inside. You get nice, high-quality materials in most of the places you touch, and where cost-cutting has been done it’s quite clever - like using a smaller screen for the driver display, as all you really need to see is your speed and charge level.
It’s a shame you have to go for the pricier Max-spec car if you want the bigger battery - this comes paired with a more powerful motor too, and a maximum range of up to 256 miles. The small-battery model has a maximum range of just 218 miles, and less in the real world. No version of the e-C4 is any fun to drive, though, so don’t spend extra on the more powerful model just because you think it’ll be more enjoyable on a back road.
Citroens of old were always known for their pillowy-soft suspension, capable of ironing out bumps until you didn’t even know they were there. The e-C4 can’t quite pull off the same trick, but it comes mighty close - it’s easily the most comfortable family hatchback you can buy, and while the hybrid model is good, the electric version is the pick of the range as you can pair that ride comfort with the eerie silence of an electric motor.
The e-C4 is cheap to buy, even cheaper thanks to the EV grant, yet doesn’t feel it on the inside. You get nice, high-quality materials in most of the places you touch, and where cost-cutting has been done it’s quite clever - like using a smaller screen for the driver display, as all you really need to see is your speed and charge level.
It’s a shame you have to go for the pricier Max-spec car if you want the bigger battery - this comes paired with a more powerful motor too, and a maximum range of up to 256 miles. The small-battery model has a maximum range of just 218 miles, and less in the real world. No version of the e-C4 is any fun to drive, though, so don’t spend extra on the more powerful model just because you think it’ll be more enjoyable on a back road.
Battery range up to 268 miles
Best for: a posh interior
If the Citroen e-C4 is the IKEA blue carrier bag - big, practical, and unashamedly value-oriented - then the Peugeot E-208 is the paper bag from M&S. It has the same purpose, but makes you feel just a bit classier.
So while the E-208 has the same underpinnings as the e-C4 - same battery and motor options - it majors on its poshness. The outside is small and stylish, with an intricate grille and eye-catching LED lights, while the interior is gorgeous for a small car. High-quality materials, real metal trim pieces and a cool design mean it’s a really nice place to sit, even if the unconventional i-Cockpit steering wheel and dial setup might not suit everybody’s driving position.
Compared to the Renault 5, the Peugeot 208 is unashamedly forward-looking in its style - but it’s not as good value as the Renault or some other small cars, with a hefty price tag even after the EV grant.
If the Citroen e-C4 is the IKEA blue carrier bag - big, practical, and unashamedly value-oriented - then the Peugeot E-208 is the paper bag from M&S. It has the same purpose, but makes you feel just a bit classier.
So while the E-208 has the same underpinnings as the e-C4 - same battery and motor options - it majors on its poshness. The outside is small and stylish, with an intricate grille and eye-catching LED lights, while the interior is gorgeous for a small car. High-quality materials, real metal trim pieces and a cool design mean it’s a really nice place to sit, even if the unconventional i-Cockpit steering wheel and dial setup might not suit everybody’s driving position.
Compared to the Renault 5, the Peugeot 208 is unashamedly forward-looking in its style - but it’s not as good value as the Renault or some other small cars, with a hefty price tag even after the EV grant.
Battery range up to 233 miles
Best for: a familiar experience
The petrol-powered Ford Puma is one of the UK’s best-selling cars and the all-electric Puma Gen-E stays as close as possible to the formula that so many British buyers know and apparently love. In styling terms, the only thing that marks out the Gen-E from the regular Puma is the blanked-off front grille and different alloy wheels while on the inside, you get a slightly redesigned centre console and a column-mounted gear shifter.
The Puma Gen-E has a smallish battery giving a maximum range of 233 miles, though in our testing we found it performed significantly better than this around town and significantly worse on the motorway. If you mostly do school runs or shopping trips, it’s great, but not the best EV for longer journeys.
It’s hugely practical thanks to the gigantic underfloor storage compartment in the boot - there’s even a ‘frunk’ to store your charging cables. Better yet, the Puma Gen-E is one of the only cars so far to be available with the full £3,750 discount from the government - bringing its starting price down impressively low.
The petrol-powered Ford Puma is one of the UK’s best-selling cars and the all-electric Puma Gen-E stays as close as possible to the formula that so many British buyers know and apparently love. In styling terms, the only thing that marks out the Gen-E from the regular Puma is the blanked-off front grille and different alloy wheels while on the inside, you get a slightly redesigned centre console and a column-mounted gear shifter.
The Puma Gen-E has a smallish battery giving a maximum range of 233 miles, though in our testing we found it performed significantly better than this around town and significantly worse on the motorway. If you mostly do school runs or shopping trips, it’s great, but not the best EV for longer journeys.
It’s hugely practical thanks to the gigantic underfloor storage compartment in the boot - there’s even a ‘frunk’ to store your charging cables. Better yet, the Puma Gen-E is one of the only cars so far to be available with the full £3,750 discount from the government - bringing its starting price down impressively low.
Factors to consider
Is it really cheaper?
Don’t be blinded by the EV grant - just because the government takes a chunk off the price, you may still save money looking at cars that aren’t eligible, and finance terms might make the discount less appealing than it first seems. Many manufacturers have introduced their own discounts to match or beat the government grant, and remember there’s always the chance to get even more money off through Carwow discounts. Shop around, and consider all the options.
Is now the right time to change?
The EV grant is intended to ease the transition into an electric car - but that doesn’t mean you should dash out now and replace your diesel. Consider whether an electric car suits your needs, and if you could save money simply by making the most of your current car first. However, if you were already on the fence, there’s no harm at all in using the EV grant while it lasts.
Is it worth waiting?
More models are being added to the EV grant week by week - so it could well be worth waiting for a few more models to hit the list before making up your mind. The current range of cars is still quite limited.
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