Gas Too Expensive? These Are The Cheapest Electric Vehicles on the Market

With gas prices surging over the past few months, now may be the time to look for an electric vehicle. While there's no longer a federal tax credit for EVs, many states still offer a rebate or tax credit for electric vehicles. If you are looking to ditch gas and pick up the charger, here are the cheapest electric vehicles you can get in 2026, according to Car and Driver

1. Chevy Bolt

The overall cheapest electric vehicle on the market today is the 2027 Chevy Bolt. Starting at $28,885 MSRP for the LT trim, the Bolt has 210 horsepower and has a range of 262 miles. Chevrolet also boasts that the Bolt can charge from 10 to 80 percent in just 25 minutes, which isn't the best on the market but is a significant improvement from earlier models. The most convenient feature for the Bolt is that it's Chevrolet's first EV that uses a NACS charging port, meaning it can use the Tesla Supercharger network. Other notable features include an 11.3-inch infotainment center and Super Cruise hands-free driving.

2. Nissan Leaf

Coming in as the second-cheapest EV on the market, the S+ trim of the 2026 Nissan Leaf starts at $29,990 MSRP. The Leaf has the Bolt beat in the range department, offering 303 miles of range from the S+. It also beats it in the infotainment department, coming in with dual 12.3-inch screens and a heads-up display inlaid into the windshield. The Leaf also has an NACS port that allows it to use Tesla Superchargers. Other notable features include remote climate control, Wi-Fi hotspot and four drive modes.

3. Hyundai Kona Electric

The Hyundai Kona Electric is the next cheapest EV, starting at $32,975 MSRP for the base SE model. The Kona Electric Falls short of the previous two vehicles in range, having a 200-261-mile range depending on the trim level. Like the Leaf, it comes with dual 12.3-inch screens, one for the gauge cluster and one for the infotainment center. For power, the SE comes with 133 horsepower, but the performance S-Line bumps those numbers up significantly with 201 horsepower.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Apr 28, 2026, where it first appeared in the Gear section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published April 28, 2026 at 6:30 AM.