EVs are still expensive to buy, with the average price still hovering at around $55,000. But despite their hefty costs, affordable EVs do exist — eve though they're in short supply. I've tested out nearly a handful of the, with two of the most affordable EVs you can buy right now being the Nissan Leaf (from $38,990) and Hyundai Kona Electric (from $38,375). They prove that you don’t need to spend a fortune to reap the rewards of all-electric power.
I drove both models for a week to test out their driving performances, how efficient they are, and what kind of speeds you can expect with Level 1 charging at home. These are all the basics you should look at if you’re planning to upgrade to an EV. For this matchup, I’m pitting the two exact trims I tested: the 2026 Nissan Leaf Platinum+ FWD and 2025 Hyundai Kona Electric N Line.
