Electric cars are still on the move in North America and automakers are lining up more affordable electric models to introduce to American consumers. Eighteen different electric vehicles under or near $35,000 are due in the United States between 2026 and 2029 as demand for affordable EVs continues to grow, according to a new report. The new vehicles will include various type of vehicles and will appeal to consumers seeking smaller to larger vehicles with more versatility.

A handful of affordable EVs have been on sale in the U.S., but one of the most promising aspects is that carmakers are developing different manufacturing techniques and engineering approaches to optimize costs. Some small SUVs and pickups feature longer driving ranges and more high-tech features, and some small EVs are geared solely toward practicality or utility. With these models, the low-cost EV segment is finding its footing, gradually starting to expand beyond the traditional city car and tiny truck. Eight new models are poised to help broaden the EV options for Americans.

1. Subaru Uncharted

The 2026 Subaru Uncharted is a special step for Subaru in the U.S. because it’s the first modern vehicle they sell here in a front-drive configuration, as a compact crossover. Coming to the dealership soon, the Uncharted is ground clearance of 8.2 inches complemented by Subaru’s chassis tuned for unplowed roads. The strikethrough pricing for the premium trim level FWD is in the $30s from our perspective and the lower end of the affordable EV range, but the Uncharted also offers a practical compact crossover with daily usefulness and a claimed range of 300 miles or more in a 221-horsepower package.

Subaru Uncharted Highlights:

• 221 horsepower
• Over 300-mile range
• 74.7-kWh battery
• 150-kW DC charging
• 8.2-inch ground clearance

Available in all trim levels is 74.7 kWh of battery capacity with battery preconditioning and an 11-kW onboard charger. A standard NACS port offers up to 150-kW DC fast charging capable of restoring the battery from 10 to 80 percent in about 28 minutes. On the interior, there’s the large 14-inch infotainment screen with wireless Apple Car Play and Android Auto integration, Eye Sight driver-assistance tech, a power-operated rear gate, and an all-weather package. The Uncharted’s combination of practical ground clearance, decent range, quick charging, and standard crossover appeal should give Subaru a one-of-a-kind offering in the more affordable EV market.

2. Mitsubishi Lancer EV

Mitsubishi has announced its re-entry into America’s electric-vehicle market in the summer of 2026. The new model will be a crossover built on the next-generation Nissan Leaf platform. Known by the traditional Mitsubishi names Lancer or Lancer Sportback, the coupe-styled electric vehicle will be offered through a dealer network in the United States and Canada. The expected starting price for the range of $30,000-$35,000, aiming to challenge the affordable-EV market segment that is set to expand in the coming years.

Lancer EV Technology Highlights:

• $30,000-$35,000 pricing
• 52-kWh battery option
• 75-kWh battery option
• Around 303-mile range
• 150-kW fast charging

The front-end features stacked LED headlights, flush-fitting motorized front door handles, and a steeply raked rear spoiler. The interior is believed to have either dual 12.3-inch displays or larger dual 14.3-inch Google-built in screens, depending on the trim level, as well as heat pumps and regenerative-braking paddles. Powertrains are rumored to include a 52-kWh pack with 174 horsepower, as well as larger 75-kWh pack that outputs 214 horsepower and 261 lb-ft of torque, with the bigger option able to deliver an estimated 303 miles of range. Expected features also include both J1772 and NACS ports, Plug & Charge capabilities, and 150-kW fast charging.

3. Fiat Topolino

A cheeky continental flavor. It might be built on an ultra-compact EV quadricycle platform, but the fresh Fiat Topolino is pure European attitude in a wallet-friendly package. Based on the looks of retro Fiat 500s, the tiny car wears a shade called Verde Vita that appears to be a pale green, with satin chrome-looking bumper trim, blacked-out upper body panels, and a dual-tier headlamp arrangement. While U.S. pricing has not been announced, there is a hope that it will start at or below $15,000, although its size and modest specs will be worlds apart from the mainstream EVs set to arrive here.

Topolino Urban Highlights:

• Approximately $15,000 expected
• 8.2 horsepower
• 28-mph top speed
• 47-mile WMTC range
• Tiny electric quadricycle

Its 8.2-horsepower motor and electronically limited top speed of 28 mph give it a World Motorcycle Test Cycle (WMTC) driving range of up to 47 miles. Those specs are pretty much a giveaway that the Topolino is going to be used in a specialized low speed role and not in regular highway use. Its facilities are likely to be found in holiday parks, theme parks, golf courses, and gated communities. It has a modest dashboard display showing speed and range, a USB-C port and a phone holder but no infotainment screen, a simple cabin, a small glovebox, strap-type door pulls, a forward-mounted glass roof, tilt-out windows, and a Dolcevita Box on the dashboard.

4. Slate Truck

Unlike most competitors, the much-simpler and more utilitarian design of the cheapest EVs on the market, the Slate Truck sets itself up as a very affordable alternative with a more modest approach to electric transport, the Slate Truck is designed, from scratch, to be cheap (for starters, we built it in Detroit’s Motor City, not Detroit, Indiana) and highly customizable. The Slate is one big platform with no factory variations, plus, wrap-friendly surfaces and over 100 different accessory options let you make it your own. Pre-orders for delivery by July will begin at sub-$30,000. The flat-pack SUV Kit version gives the two-person electric pickup five seats.

Slate Truck Utility Highlights:

• Under-$30,000 target price
• 201 horsepower
• 240-mile optional range
• 1,433-pound payload
• 1,000-pound towing capacity

It’s available with a 150 kW/201-horsepower/195 lb-ft three-phase motor mounted at the rear, allowing the cargo hauler to accelerate from 0-60 in 8.0 seconds flat. It rides on a standard 52.7-kWh battery pack that’s estimated to be good for 150 miles of range but can be upgraded to an 84.3-kWh pack for a 240-mile range estimate. It’ll work with a NACS port that charges at 120 kW using DC fast charging for a 20-80% charge in less than a half-hour.  Designed with utility in mind, the truck weighs in at a 1,433-pound payload capacity and can tow 1,000 pounds. So, with a low price point, modular construction, and practical utility, the Slate Truck is one of the most enticing affordable EVs on the horizon.

5. Kia EV3

Kia has put the EV3 on the market for the US, which will begin selling later in 2026, after its reveal at the New York International Auto Show in April 2026. Priced starting at approximately $35,000, the compact EV crossover features distinctive styling and a tech-heavy interior. Its exterior has Star Map daytime running lights, stacking lights, an available Nightfall black paint package, an available 19-inch wheel, factory-fitted 17-inch wheels, and rear door handles, which are concealed. The exterior gives the EV3 a modern appearance, albeit with a price within reach of shoppers looking for a less costly EV.

Kia EV3 Technology Highlights:

• Around $35,000 starting price
• 58.3-kWh standard battery
• 81.4-kWh larger battery
• Up to 320-mile range
• 29-minute fast charging

Charging & Range 2024 kill eve hybrid Now viewing The EV3’s interior features a sweeping screen setup spanning nearly 30 inches; dual 12.3-inch screens flank a 5-inch climate control screen. The EV3 offers a head-up display, Digital Key 2.0, a 360-degree Surround View Monitor, wireless charging for smartphones, and Vehicle-to-Load. The EV3 is available with either an 8.3-kWh or 14.8-kWh battery pack, and Kia estimates a range of up to 320 miles for the latter; when using DC fast charging, the battery can be charged from 10 to 80 percent in a minimum of 29 minutes.

6. Ford Low-Cost Pickup Truck

Ford is launching a low-cost electric pickup for 2027 at around $30,000 starting price. The midsize pickup will be available in 2027 for $20K less than a comparable-sized EV pickup. Making zero-emission utility affordable while remaining practical is the goal for this Practical pickup built at Ford’s Kentucky plant from the company’s new California-made Universal EV Platform that will be equipped with Michigan-made LFP prismatic batteries that Ford says will accelerate to 0-60 mph in less than five seconds.

Ford EV Pickup Highlights:

• Roughly $30,000 target price
• Sub-five-second 0-60 mph
• LFP prismatic batteries
• Six-day home power capability
• RAV4-beating passenger space

Among the features are a new, perky front trunk, the rest of a lockable bed, and enough EV juice to run a house for a six-day stretch without a generator. The process will include design changes that reduce parts by 20 percent, fasteners by 25 percent, and wiring by three-quarters of a mile, all of which Ford believes will translate into 40 percent faster build times at the Louisville plant. The interior of the truck will be sleek with floating touchscreen, wireless Apple Car Play and Android Auto, and the new Blue Cruise hands-free-driving tech. It will also have a larger passenger volume than a Toyota RAV4, all of which should add up to a sub-$20k entry point for a seemingly fast, functional, and spacious new hotness.

7. Rivian R3

The Rivian R3 is a hatchback-style, compact crossover that will slot in below the automaker’s R2. Rivian’s customer deliveries are set to start in 2028 at the Georgia plant under construction, where the price is projected to be in the vicinity of $35,000. The R3 aims to introduce Rivian’s signature electric styling and adventuresome personality to an order of magnitude lower in price compared to Rivian’s larger vehicles, and its crossover size should also appeal to a broader customer base.

Rivian R3 Performance Highlights:

• Around $35,000 expected
• Production planned for 2028
• Two battery options
• Over 300-mile range
• Tri-motor under-three-second sprint

Rivian will provide two battery-pack options for the R3, with the maximum pack expected to provide an EPA range of over 300 miles. R3 speed will go far beyond commuter use, with a planned tri-motor R3 version capable of hitting 0-60 mph in well under three seconds. Rivian will also introduce an off-road-focused R3X model aimed at fun-seeking shoppers (expect a higher-priced luxury R1-type model to follow). Altogether this means the R3 will have a bit more of an identity than a budget electric SUV, offered at a lower price point with strong power and range.

8. Ford Escape EV

After its forthcoming affordable electric pickup, Ford plans to launch an all-electric compact crossover nameplate for the U.S. market the return of the Escape. Known internally as U833, the Escape EV is scheduled to begin production at the Louisville Assembly plant in 2029. Ford is aiming a $35,000 pricetag on the new model, designed to bring electric crossover ownership within reach of people with a regular drive routine. The new Escape EV will be based on Ford’s Universal EV platform and sports a unique look targeted at the entry-level electric market.

Escape EV Affordability Highlights:

• Production planned for 2029
• Around $35,000 target price
• Universal EV architecture
• Compact crossover design
• Entry-level EV focus

The Escape EV should be Ford’s entry point to compete with entry-level Teslas like the Model Y and Model 3, Ford hopes to do so by offering a distinct design and a small crossover package that is cost-effective and practical for everyday life. With the expansion of battery manufacturing and easier vehicle platforms, the Ford Escape EV could become an important step in making EVs more affordable and on sale in 2029, a few years after smaller and less expensive EVs like the Kia EV3 and Subaru Uncharted join the Market in 2026.7 Between the Kia SUV and Topolino, Ford’s big electric pickup and Rivian’s smaller R3, as well as the upcoming EV4, we see a variety of ideologies, vehicles, and prices cars that demonstrate what EVs could look like for most car buyers.