These are the five cheapest electric cars on the market.

High prices remain one of the biggest barriers to buying a new electric car, but over the past few months several models have arrived with entry-level prices below €25,000.

The Dacia Spring, launched in 2021, was the forerunner of this new wave of affordable EVs, designed to make electric mobility more accessible. Four years on, Dacia’s model still tops the list of the cheapest electric cars on sale.

Even if nothing can touch it on price, the Spring no longer has the budget end of the market to itself. With that in mind, we have pulled together the five cheapest brand-new electric cars you can currently buy in Portugal.

Dacia Spring (electric car) - from €16,900

Introduced in 2021, the Dacia Spring received a major update in 2024, bringing a fresh exterior look, a more tech-focused cabin and a significant safety upgrade to meet the European Union’s latest requirements.

You can choose between two distinct set-ups: a base version with a 33 kW (45 hp) electric motor delivering 125 Nm, and a higher-spec option with 48 kW (65 hp) and 113 Nm.

Both variants share the same 26.8 kWh usable-capacity lithium-ion (NMC) battery (unchanged), mounted beneath the rear seats. In either form, it offers a driving range of up to 225 kilometres.

In Essential trim with 45 hp, the Spring starts at €16,900. Above that sits the 65 hp Expression version, priced from €18,900.

Leapmotor T03 - from €18,985

The Leapmotor T03 is the smallest electric car from the Chinese brand and is already on sale in Portugal, with prices starting at €18,985 - and we have already tested it.

Despite being just 3.6 m long, it seats four and includes a 210-litre boot, which is adequate for the demands of city driving.

With “perks” such as a digital instrument display, a panoramic roof and a 10.1" multimedia screen, the Leapmotor T03 is sold with a single electric motor producing 70 kW (95 hp) and 158 Nm of peak torque.

Power comes from an NMC (Nickel, Manganese, Cobalt) battery rated at 37.3 kW, enabling a claimed maximum range of 265 km on the combined (WLTP) cycle and up to 395 km in urban use.

BYD Dolphin Surf - from €20,865

The BYD Dolphin Surf is the newest arrival in this line-up: it has only just “landed” in Portugal and was shown to the public for the first time at ECAR Show 2025. Prices begin at €20,865.

At almost four metres long, it does not hide its city-car roots, offering seating for only four occupants. Even so, it provides a competitive boot with 308 litres.

Standard equipment includes a 10.1" multimedia screen and a digital instrument panel, and the Dolphin Surf is available with two LFP batteries: a 30 kWh pack offered only on the entry version, and a larger 42.3 kWh option.

With the smaller battery, the WLTP combined range is quoted at 220 km, rising to 356 km on the urban cycle. With the larger pack, range increases to 322 km combined and 507 km urban, respectively.

Citroën ë-C3 - from €23,300

The new Citroën ë-C3 was the first model in Stellantis’ fresh push into affordable EVs and is available on the Portuguese market with prices starting at €23,300 (a lower-range version priced at €19,990 will arrive soon). Until then, here is our test of the longer-range version:

Built on the Smart Car Platform, the Citroën ë-C3 clearly positions itself as a crossover, with a straightforward but practical interior. Optional features include a 10.25" touchscreen, automatic climate control and a rear parking camera.

With an 83 kW (113 hp) motor and a 44 kWh battery, the ë-C3 promises up to 314 km of range and lists combined consumption (WLTP cycle) of 17.7 kWh/100 km.

In a few months, the much-anticipated cheaper version will arrive, using a smaller battery (around 30 kWh and only 200 km of range), which will allow the ë-C3’s starting price to drop to €19,990.

FIAT Grande Panda - from €23,547

The FIAT Grande Panda follows the same philosophy and uses the same technical solutions as the Citroën ë-C3, but it stands out with a retro-futuristic design and several cues that hark back to the original Panda.

Although it is also offered with a hybrid powertrain, the electric Grande Panda pairs an 83 kW (113 hp) motor with a 44 kWh battery, delivering up to 320 km of range on the WLTP combined cycle.

As for pricing, it starts at €23,547 for the RED version, while the better-equipped La Prima variant begins at €26,457.