10 of the best electric cars for under £37,000

It's a bit more nuanced than that, though. Unfortunately, the vast majority of the EVs so far confirmed in the grant are only eligible for the £1,500 saving. Ford is the first manufacturer to benefit from the full £3,750 grant; hopefully the UK-built Nissan Leaf SUV will follow suit.

To be eligible for the grant at all, vehicles must be passenger-carrying electric cars that offer at least 100 miles of range, have an eight-year battery/100,000-mile battery warranty and can reach at least 60mph.

And some electric cars costing over £37,000 are eligible for the grant – as long as there are cheaper versions with the same battery (yes, we're just as confused as you are). Either way, these are the best cars that are definitely eligible for the ECG.

But make sure you also look at used electric cars – nearly new EVs can be thousands of pounds cheaper than a brand-new model, even for cars with fewer than 1,000 miles on the clock. You’ll save much more than the £3,750 of the grant by choosing a used EV.

1. Renault Scenic E-Tech

The Renault Scenic is simply fantastic – as a family car, it’s almost unbeatable, regardless of fuel type. Its large battery pack means a range of up to 379 miles, its interior is a captivating mix of sustainable materials and push-the-envelope technology, and there’s a cavernous amount of space for people and luggage. Because all Scenics come with the same big battery, even the £40k+ Iconic Esprit Alpine trim gets the grant – but you don't need to venture above entry-level Techno trim to get heated seats, a powered bootlid, adaptive cruise control and keyless entry.

Shop used Renault Scenic E-Tech cars or read our Renault Scenic E-Tech review

2. Cupra Born

Take a Volkswagen ID.3, add some delightfully sporty looks, and an excellent EV hatchback is… er… Born. The Cupra Born feels a lot sportier to drive than the ID.3, too. Arguably, the most impressive thing about the Born is that it feels posher inside than the VW, with a vast amount of standard equipment and tactile materials. As long as you're not eyeing up the range-topping VZ model, all Borns – with either the 59kWh or 77kWh batteries – are eligible for the saving.

Shop used Cupra Born cars or read our Cupra Born review

3. Nissan Ariya

After the Leaf, the Ariya was Nissan's difficult second electric album (if you'll allow us to completely ignore the lacklustre e-NV200). The Ariya is peak Nissan – it's sleek, spacious, sophisticated and suave. It looks expensive from the outside, and feels it inside with plush materials and buttons integrated into the dash trim. A 250-mile range is promised from the entry-level battery, or there's an 87kWh battery that gives you up to 330 miles between charges. A heat pump comes as standard, to give you a better chance of hitting those figures in colder weather.

Shop used Nissan Ariya cars for sale

4. Renault Megane E-Tech

It’s a rival to the Cupra Born, but the Renault Megane E-Tech is much better value if you don’t mind missing out on the Cupra’s keener driving experience. Impressively, all versions of the Megane now cost under £37,000. Every Megane gets a big screen with Google software baked-in – meaning your maps are always up to date and the charging experience is joined up – and there’s a bigger boot than pretty much all other electric hatchbacks.

Shop used Renault Megane E-Tech cars or read our Renault Megane E-Tech review

5. Peugeot e-2008

You'd hope a small SUV would come in under £37,000, even if it's electric. The Peugeot e-2008 is comfortably under the maximum price for the grant threshold, and is a compelling package – especially if you're saving a bit of money off list price. It's big for a small SUV, with family friendly practicality and plenty of legroom. The new 54kWh battery unlocks a range of around 250 miles, and there's nippy, smooth acceleration to enjoy too.

Shop used Peugeot e-2008 cars for sale or read our Peugeot 2008 review

6. Citroen e-C5 Aircross

With the ECG in place, the new Citroen e-C5 Aircross is only about £2,000 more than the hybrid model. Both seem like good value, and the electric one returns up to 322 miles on 100% charge. We're promised class-leading rear-seat space, a whopping boot and a new, tech-heavy interior – and the big touchscreen is designed to be as easy to use as possible.

Read more about the new Citroen C5 Aircross and its 'magic carpet' ride

7. Vauxhall Grandland

If you need a spacious electric SUV that costs less than £37,000, the new Vauxhall Grandland fits the bill. There’s a luxurious amount of rear-seat space and a big 550-litre boot, which is the same as the petrol version. Plus a whole host of interior storage. A 325-mile range is possible from a full charge of the 73kWh battery, and fast-charging tops it back to 80% in under half an hour. You’ll need to stick with the Design trim, which admittedly isn’t as nice inside as the Renault Scenic’s cheapest trim.

Shop used Vauxhall Grandland cars or read our Vauxhall Grandland review

8. Alpine A290

A hot hatch version of the superb Renault 5 E-Tech, the new Alpine A290 certainly ticks a lot of boxes. It’s obviously not one of the most practical cars on this list, but it’s arguably one of the most desirable. Three of the four A290 trim levels cost under £37,000, including the GT Performance model with its beefed up 220hp motor and 6.4-second 0-62mph time.

9. Ford Puma Gen-E

Better late than never – Ford has arrived at the small electric SUV party with the Puma Gen-E. And the good-value e-Puma is now even cheaper, because it's eligible for the full £3,750 grant. The Puma's 43kWh battery is good for 233 miles on a full charge – and we've seen around 200 in the real world – and it's just as fun to drive as the petrol-powered Puma. What's more, there's no exhaust system to package in the Gen-E, freeing up even more space under the boot floor – Ford, in its giddy excitement, calls the large washable storage compartment a 'GigaBox'.

Shop used electric Ford cars for sale or read more about the Ford Puma Gen-E

10. Citroen e-Berlingo

The electric Citroen Berlingo makes this list for its vast boot and three Isofix points across the back row. Stick to the M model to ensure you get the grant – annoyingly, the seven-seat XL model isn't included. You could also opt for the electric Peugeot Rifter or Vauxhall Combo Life – they’re all the same beneath the badges. All built in Britain, too.

We're EV experts – make sure to read our guide to buying an EV and how to charge at home.