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. The only cars to benefit from the £3,750 top tier saving are certain Fords, the Nissan Leaf SUV, and selected versions of the Renault 5 and Citroen e-C5 Aircross.

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.

Read more about the Electric Car Grant here.

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. Kia EV4

The new Kia EV4 has bold styling but sticks to a fairly traditional family hatchback recipe. Don't overlook it because it's really impressive – the long-range 81.4kWh battery is good for 388 miles to a full charge, and it sneaks under £37,000 in the Air trim. The interior encases everything we loved about the EV3: big screens, posh materials and more storage pockets than Inspector Gadget's coat. There's a lot of kit and a lot of room, too.

Shop used electric Kia cars for sale or read our Kia EV4 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 – and the new long-range model is barely any more expensive. Given that the long-range e-C5 Aircross promises 421 miles of range, it seems very good value for its £36k price. 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 our review of the new Citroen C5 Aircross

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. Volkswagen ID.5

The Volkswagen ID.5 is a new entrant to the ECG eligibility list, and it's one that'll make you feel like you're getting a good deal. Mainly because, a few weeks ago, the ID.5's starting price was almost £40,000, and now it's just above £35,000. The ID.5 is a big, roomy SUV with a comfortable ride and family-friendly luggage space. Go for the Pro Essential trim and you'll get a large battery and a maximum range of 345 miles between charges, while standard equipment for this model includes heated front seats, keyless entry, sat nav and two-zone climate control.

Shop used Volkswagen ID.5 cars for sale or read our Volkswagen ID.5 review

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 our Ford Puma Gen-E review

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.