Affordable Alternatives: 5 Great EVs for Under $50,000

Gas prices—along with the cost of living—are soaring, and perhaps they have you thinking it might be time to break up with fuel permanently. If you want to never spend a dime at a gas station pump again, here are some great choices for making the EV switch you’ve been mulling over.

Despite the slew of recent announcements by automakers that various models have been delayed or canceled, plenty of great EVs remain on the market. Even better? Many can be found at reasonable prices, even without the benefit of the now-repealed federal tax credit. With the average transaction price for all vehicles hovering at just over $50,000, here are five of our favorite EVs that fall below that mark—or even way, way below.

Winner of our 2023 SUV of the Year Award, the Ioniq 5 charms with its fast-charging capabilities, extremely reasonable starting price, excellent design, everyday practicality, and onboard technologies. It’s a totally mainstream car that just happens to be an EV. Hyundai slashed prices recently to counter the loss of the tax credit, meaning you can get the base single-motor rear-drive variant for just under $37,000. If you have a little more room in your budget, the more feature-rich SEL AWD starts at $44,900. That's a great deal, and it’s also great that you can charge your Ioniq 5 at Tesla Superchargers.

Read Our Experts’ Full Review of the Hyundai Ioniq 5

The Model 3 underwent a significant refresh in 2024 that brought a sharpened-up exterior, better cabin materials, reduced interior noise, and a rear passenger screen. Ride quality was also improved, although the Model 3 still doesn’t ride as well as some of the others mentioned here. Obviously, it’s Supercharger-capable, offering peace of mind given those chargers’ ubiquity, and you can fit a ton into what’s a fairly small vehicle thanks to its generous front and rear trunks. A base RWD Model 3 starts at $38,630, while the nicer Premium AWD starts at $49,130.

Read Our Experts’ Full Review of the Tesla Model 3

The Mach-E lives up to its Mustang name by being fun to drive, and it even has some Mustang-ish styling elements despite being an electric SUV. Passenger and cargo volume are impressive, and it offers a usable front trunk—a rarity in mainstream EVs. (Unfortunately, the frunk became an option you now have to pay for.) We’re fans of the Mach-E here at MotorTrend because it has continually improved every year on the market into a well-rounded and enjoyable daily driver. It’s priced a bit more favorably than the competitive Chevy Blazer EV, with a starting sticker of $39,990. If you can swing for the Premium AWD, you’ll get a more luxurious interior for $46,990. The Mach-E's only serious drawback is its inability to charge as quickly as competitors from Hyundai and Tesla.

Read Our Experts’ Full Review of the Ford Mustang Mach-E

Mechanically similar to the Ioniq 5, the EV6 packs its hardware into a swoopier body that sacrifices some interior volume as a result. As part of its 2025 refresh, the EV6 gained Tesla Supercharger capabilities, making it even more usable on trips and for errands. This Kia EV also delivers pleasant driving dynamics that are a bit sportier than the more relaxed Ioniq 5’s. Prices for 2026 start at $39,445 for the Light RWD, and if you want AWD, the Light Long Range AWD starts at $46,745.

Read Our Experts’ Full Review of the Kia EV6

Another award winner for your consideration: the Chevy Blazer EV, which took home our 2024 SUV of the Year Award. As a midsize SUV, the Blazer offers excellent rear passenger and cargo space. Its exterior design is outgoing and sporty, but it still rides plushly in non-performance trims. The Blazer is the most expensive EV in this roundup, with prices for the front-drive version starting at $46,495. If you want AWD, that brings the starting sticker to $49,495.

Read Our Experts’ Full Review of the Chevrolet Blazer EV