3 cheap electric vehicles under US$35,000 show just how good the discontinued Chevrolet Bolt is
1. The Volkswagen ID.4 is a (relatively) cheap crossover SUV
With the new US tax incentives that came into play in 2023, the Volkswagen ID.4 officially became one of the cheapest electric SUVs around, coming in at a little over US$30,000 for the standard base model after the US$7,500 tax credit. The Standard RWD ID.4, however, only has a 62 kWh battery that delivers 209 miles of EPA range — 50 miles less than the Chevrolet Bolt's. To get the 275-mile variant of the ID.4, you're looking at upgrading to the US$43,995 ID.4 Pro.
Not everything is about range, though, and the ID.4 does outclass the Bolt EV in a few other ways. The ID.4 is a bigger vehicle with more cargo space, and it has a nicer interior with fewer hard plastic surfaces than the Bolt. Still, the Bolt represents a much better value proposition than the VW alternative, considering the price difference.
2. The Nissan Leaf falls short on value and range
Starting at an MSRP of US$28,040, you might think that the Nissan Leaf is in prime position to replace the ~US$27,500 Chevrolet Bolt. Unfortunately, with a range of 149 miles, compared to the Bolt's 259 miles, the Leaf falls woefully short of the discontinued Chevrolet Bolt. Stepping up to the 60 kW battery in the ~US$37,000 Leaf SV Plus is the only way to get more range. Even then, you're paying around 32% more for the Leaf that has 45 miles less range.
3. The Hyundai Kona EV comes in at just US$30,500 after tax credits
Even if you don't qualify for any of the EV incentives, the Hyundai Kona's US$33,550 pricetag comes in at just under our US$35,000 limit. Fortunately, the Kona EV does qualify for up to US$7,500 in tax incentives — as long as you're purchasing through a lease agreement — bringing the price down to US$26,000, and making it the perfect Chevrolet Bolt alternative.
While the Kona EV is a fairly basic vehicle, it's probably the one that comes closest to the Bolt EV in terms of range and packaging. The US$33,500 SE trim of the Kona EV scores 258 miles of EPA range, and it comes with creature comforts like Wireless Android Auto and Wireless Apple CarPlay. The inside is also well-appointed, with much of the AC and infotainment controls being physical buttons, even if hard plastics are present throughout the interior of the vehicle.
Buy the Autel Home Smart Electric Vehicle (EV) Level 2 Charger on Amazon.
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