2025 is said to be the turning point for the auto industry, kick-starting an intensive shift to EVs in entry-level segments. Several new low-priced EVs are to be released in the U.S. in the short term. Here are six affordable electric cars that will be available to American buyers by 2027, in the price range of USD 25,000 to USD 35,000.
Tesla Model Q
The on-again, off-again Tesla Model Q is said to be still in the pipeline. Citing a Deutsche Bank report, The Wall Street Journal reporter Becky Peterson has said (via X) that this model will arrive in the first half of 2025.
Travis Axelrod, Head of Investor Relations at Tesla, reportedly revealed the existence of this model at Deutsche Bank’s Autonomous Driving Day on December 5, 2024. The $30,000 Tesla EV holds the potential to popularize EVs in the entry-level segment and make them attractive and affordable.
Ford low-cost pickup truck
In 40 years in the industry, I’ve seen a lot of gamechanger products. But the mid-size electric pickup designed by our California team has got to be one of the most exciting.
Jim Farley, CEO of Ford Motor Company, at Ford’s Q3 2024 Earnings Call on October 28, 2024
Five years after introducing the Mustang Mach-E in the U.S., Ford is working on an electric midsize pickup truck positioned below it and aimed at customers on a lower budget. The company has put together a skunkworks team in California to develop the platform for this model with innovative cost-cutting approaches and at a fast pace. The company aims to price it aggressively and we expect the base trim to retail at under $35,000. The Blue Oval will launch the electric midsize pickup truck in 2027.
Next-gen Chevrolet Bolt
A second-generation Chevrolet Bolt is currently in the development stage, and GM has confirmed plans to launch it as a crossover at the end of 2025. Mark Reuss, President of General Motors, hinted at GM’s 2024 Investor Day last October that indicated that the company would add a lower-cost, hatchback version later.
To be based on an updated version of the BEV2 platform that underpinned the earlier model, the 2026 Chevy Bolt will have a new battery pack consisting of LFP cells that are not only cheaper but also have a longer life and are more resistant to cold weather than NMC cells.
The redesigned model should feature a heat pump for reduced energy consumption, an NACS charging port for the ability to conveniently utilize Tesla’s widespread Supercharger network, and a new infotainment system that is more responsive and offers the latest connectivity features.
Jeep Renegade EV
The second generation of the Jeep Renegade will be available with a pure-electric powertrain, and will be sold in the United States. Based on the STLA Small platform, the Jeep Renegade EV should be available with a choice of two battery packs, one with low-cost LFP cells and the other with premium NMC cells. The latter may deliver an EPA-estimated range of around 250 miles.
The Renegade Electric will likely pack up to two 70 kW (94 hp) electric motors, leading to a system power of up to 140 kW (188 hp). Jeep plans to unveil the new small EV by 2027, and launch it at an attractive base price of “just below” $25,000, as revealed by Antonio Filosa, CEO of Jeep, at the Stellantis Investor Day in June 2024.
Rivian R3
The Rivian R3 is a hatchback-styled compact crossover positioned below the Rivian R2. Expected to be priced from around $35,000, it will be way more affordable than the current models, the R1T and R1S.
Rivian plans to sell the R2 with two battery pack options, with the bigger one expected to deliver an EPA-estimated range of over 300 miles. The long-range configuration will likely also be capable of accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in under 3 seconds. An off-road-focused variant called Rivian R3X will also be available. We expect the R3 to be on sale in 2027.
Next-gen Nissan Leaf
The Nissan Leaf will move into its third generation and transform into a coupe-styled crossover this year. The radically designed compact EV will be based on a new dedicated EV platform called Ampr Medium, and is likely to offer marked improvements in space, comfort, efficiency, and range.
Nissan is expected to sell the next-gen Leaf in Europe with 60 kWh and 87 kWh NMC battery pack options and 168 hp and 215 hp front motor choices. The company has yet to confirm, but it could launch the next-gen Leaf in the U.S. in 2026, starting at well under $35,000.
Featured Image: Instagram/sugardesign_1
An automobile engineer by training, I’ve analyzed the global car market since 2005, with a keen focus on EVs since 2008. My journey in online automotive publishing spans 16 years, during which I have reviewed cutting-edge automotive technologies and interviewed leading CEOs and vehicle developers from around the world.
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