The Most Affordable Electric Cars for 2027, Ranked by Price and Range
By Google News Motors ·
The least expensive new electric car on sale in the U.S. is the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt LT, at $28,995 with destination and 262 miles of EPA-rated range.
The Kia EV3 and Nissan Leaf follow at about $31,400 and $31,600, and the Leaf’s 303-mile rating gives it the lowest price per mile of range in my ranking of 15 new EVs under $42,000.
The federal EV tax credit ended for vehicles acquired after September 30, 2025, so these are the prices buyers pay before dealer discounts. I collected base prices and destination charges from each automaker’s U.S. site or price sheet on November 9, 2026, and EPA range from fueleconomy.gov, after spending a week in a 2027 Bolt RS.
Leftover 2025 Hyundai Kona Electrics, at $34,470 with destination and 200 miles, and 2025 Ioniq 6s are still on some lots, but Hyundai has no newer model year of either in its U.S. lineup, so they are left out of the ranking.
The Bolt LT costs $28,995 and the RS $32,995, both with a 65-kWh lithium iron phosphate battery, a 210-hp front motor, 262 miles of range and a native NACS port with 150 kW DC fast charging. It is a five-door hatchback with 16.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat, and Chevrolet calls it a limited-run model.
The RS I drove for a week stickered at $35,685 with a sunroof and the Technology Package. It was easy to charge and easy to park, with firm seats and a firm ride; my 2027 Bolt RS review covers the week and my LT vs RS breakdown prices both trims.
The redesigned Leaf S+ lists at $29,990 plus $1,575 destination and carries a 75-kWh battery rated at 303 miles, 41 more than the Bolt for $2,570 more.
That works out to $104 per mile of range, the lowest of any EV here.
It charges through a native NACS port at up to 150 kW, and Nissan keeps a J1772 port for Level 2 charging.
The EV3 Light FWD costs $31,385 with destination for a 58.3-kWh battery and 221 miles of range, the shortest rating among the top three. Kia quotes a 10-80% DC fast charge in 29 minutes. The Wind trim’s 81.4-kWh battery stretches the range to 321 miles for $34,990 before destination.
The 2027 Chevrolet Equinox EV LT, at $36,795, carries the most range of the group at 319 miles, and the 2026 Subaru Uncharted Premium FWD, at $36,445, is rated at 308 with a 74.7-kWh battery and 150 kW charging. The 2027 Hyundai Ioniq 5 SE Standard Range ($36,900, 245 miles) and the 2027 Toyota bZ XLE FWD ($36,575, 236 miles) trade range for price.
Tesla’s least expensive cars are the rear-drive Model 3, at $36,990 plus $1,390 destination, and the Model Y, at $39,990 plus the same destination charge. Both are EPA-rated at 321 miles, and the Model 3’s 225 kW fast-charge peak is the highest any automaker in this ranking publishes.
The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt LT is the least expensive new EV on sale, at $28,995 including destination. It is EPA-rated at 262 miles.
The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt LT, at $28,995 with destination, followed by the 2027 Kia EV3 Light at $31,385 and the 2026 Nissan Leaf S+ at $31,565, based on automaker prices checked November 9, 2026.
Under $32,000, the 2026 Nissan Leaf S+ leads at 303 miles. Under $42,000, the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y rear-drive models are rated at 321 miles and the Chevrolet Equinox EV at 319.
The federal clean vehicle credit ended for new and used EVs acquired after September 30, 2025, according to the IRS. Prices in this ranking are before any state incentives or dealer discounts.
The 2026 Leaf S+ costs $31,565 with destination, $2,570 more than the…
Originally published by Google News Motors
