2026 ranking: the 5 most affordable electric SUVs under €40,000 on the Spanish market

The affordable electric SUV is no longer a promise: it is a tangible reality in Spanish dealerships in 2026. What three years ago forced you to stretch your budget up to €45,000 is now solved with competent models below the €40,000 barrier. And the offer, far from becoming clearer, has become dense — you have to know where to look.

At Highmotor we have filtered the market using three very simple criteria: B-segment electric SUV, base RRP below €40,000 and real availability in the Spanish dealer network. No prototypes. No versions sold only in Germany.

Methodology: what we mean by “affordable electric SUV” in 2026

An affordable electric SUV, for us, is a battery electric vehicle of the B-segment (compact crossover, roughly between 4.10 and 4.45 metres long), with a base RRP published by the manufacturer below €40,000, which a private customer can configure and buy today at an official network in Spain. Nothing more — and nothing less.

We therefore leave out premium C-segment crossovers such as the Volvo EC40, which start at considerably higher figures (around €50,450 in its Core entry version) and play in a different league. We cite them as aspirational reference, not as direct rivals. A buyer looking at these five models is not looking at an Volvo, and vice versa.

The prices shown are manufacturer RRP, without considering offers, dealer discounts, one-off campaigns or purchase aid such as the Plan Auto+. The real figure at the dealership can vary by several thousand euros.

1. Citroën ë-C4 — from ~€34,500

We start with the most unconventional of the group. The ë-C4 is not an orthodox SUV: it is a coupé-style crossover with the air of a high-riding saloon, and that is precisely its appeal. For anyone coming from a combustion C4, the transition is natural.

It features a 100 kW (136 hp) motor in its entry version — it is also offered with 115 kW (156 hp) from around €36,900 — and a battery that, in its most capable version, reaches about 416 km WLTP; the entry version, 342 km. The comfort of the Advanced Comfort seats — a house trademark — remains one of the best selling points below €35,000. The downside? Fast charging falls short compared with Korean rivals.

2. Jeep Avenger Electric — from €38,000

The Avenger won the 2023 Car of the Year award and, three seasons later, remains one of the most coherent entry points into the electric SUV world. It shares the CMP platform with the ë-C4, but its short body (4.08 m), its ground clearance and its genuinely distinctive styling make it appealing to a different audience.

115 kW (156 hp), a usable 51 kWh battery — 54 kWh gross — and a homologated range in the region of 400 km WLTP. In real use, 320-340 km is realistic. For city driving and a weekly getaway, more than enough.

If you want comparative context with a direct rival, the analysis Hyundai Kona Electric versus Jeep Avenger breaks down the differences where they matter most: charging, space and running cost.

3. Hyundai Kona Electric — from €38,010

The second-generation Kona Electric is probably the most mature of the five. Hyundai has refined the formula: excellent interior space for the segment, a finish a notch above the average and battery thermal management that makes a difference in winter.

In its entry version it offers 99 kW (135 hp) and 48 kWh. The Long Range variant rises to 150 kW (204 hp) with 65 kWh and just exceeds 500 km WLTP — around 510 km, although at that point it goes beyond the €40,000 threshold. In my view, it is the one that ages best.

4. MG ZS EV — from €29,990

MG has made price its weapon, and the ZS EV makes that plain. It is the cheapest in the ranking by a comfortable margin and yet offers up to 130 kW (177 hp) — 177 hp only in Standard Range; the Long Range is 115 kW (156 hp) — and around 440 km WLTP in its Long Range version — the Standard Range version is homologated at 320 km. On paper, unbeatable.

In practice, the ZS EV pays for that price with a somewhat plainer interior, a suspension that never quite smooths out urban expansion joints, and an infotainment software that runs two steps behind premium Korean and Chinese brands. That said: for €29,990 for the entry version — the Long Range is around €33,700 — few offer so much car.

5. BYD Atto 2 — from ~€29,990

The youngest of the Chinese giant’s range landed in Spain with a clear mission: to compete for entry into the electric B-segment without apologising. It fits the LFP Blade battery from BYD, with the thermal reliability and chemical safety that this technology brings, 130 kW (177 hp) and a homologated range of around 310 km WLTP — 312 km — in the entry version.

It is the least range-rich of the group, true. But it is also, by far, the cheapest and the best fit for a second family car or a purely urban vehicle. For context, GWM Ora 5 plays a similar game with a different philosophy.

Summary table and overall score

The premium counterpoint: where another league begins

To calibrate what you buy — and what you don’t buy — below €40,000, it is worth looking upwards. The Volvo EC40 Recharge BEV Single with 175 kW (238 hp) and 486 km WLTP starts at a base RRP of €50,450, and the Extended Range variant with 82 kWh and 584 km of range goes up to €52,900. We are talking about another segment, another perceived quality and another charging experience.

Is the jump worth it? It depends. If you cover 25,000 km a year with frequent long trips, possibly yes. If your use is urban and peri-urban with domestic charging, the saving of €15,000-20,000 that staying in the affordable B-segment represents weighs far more than the extra 100 km of range.

Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest electric SUV in Spain in 2026?
Among the B-segment models actually on sale, the BYD Atto 2 leads the ranking on price with a base RRP of around €29,990, followed by the MG ZS EV from €29,990. Both carry the Zero label and power outputs above 110 kW — the Atto 2 (130 kW); the ZS Long Range (115 kW).

Which electric SUV to buy for under €40,000 if I prioritise range?
The MG ZS EV Long Range, with around 440 km WLTP, is the longest-range of the five under that price barrier. The Citroën ë-C4 and the Jeep Avenger fall somewhat short but make up for it with better dynamic refinement and interior finish.

Can I claim the Plan Auto+ to buy one of these electric SUVs?
All five models in the ranking are pure electric vehicles with the Zero label, which makes them eligible for the current Plan Auto+ aid, provided the administrative requirements are met. The exact amounts and deadlines are best checked on the plan’s official website, as they vary by autonomous community and buyer profile.

Is an electric SUV under €40,000 suitable for long journeys?
It is, with nuances. Models such as the Citroën ë-C4, the Jeep Avenger or the entry-level Kona Electric allow 400-500 km journeys with one fast-charging stop. If your use includes several monthly trips of more than 600 km, stepping up to models with a 70-80 kWh battery — already in premium territory such as the Volvo EC40 Extended Range — is justified.

Technical specifications of the cars in this article

CrossoverHyundai Kona18 versions · from 30,190 €

Off-RoadJeep Avenger10 versions · from 25,700 €

CrossoverMG ZS5 versions · from 20,840 €

CrossoverBYD Atto 25 versions · from 28,200 €