There are more than a dozen affordable electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid cars selling today, with dozens more on the way, including the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica minivan, the first of its kind to get a plug.

This roundup consists of plug-in cars that start under $50,000 and are available in most states. The Chevrolet Spark EV, Fiat 500e, Smart ForTwo ED, Volkswagen E-Golf, and Toyota Mirai hydrogen fuel-cell have limited availability.

BMW i3: $43,395
MPG: 137 city, 111 highway, 124 combined
Range: 81 miles/150 miles with range extender
The i3 is a terrific driver, with a somewhat space-age looking two-tone graphics exterior with rear-hinged suicide doors. The interior has the look and feel of Scandinavian furniture. It is offered with a two-cylinder gas range extender.

Chevrolet Bolt: Estimated $37,000
MPGe: TBD
Range: Estimated 200 miles-plus
Getting over 200 miles in range, the Bolt could be a game-changer when it hits dealer lots in the fourth quarter of 2016. Roomy interior, and plenty of cargo space in an attractive five-door package.

Focus EV: $31,105
MPGe: 110 city, 99 highway, 105 combined
Range: 76 miles
With about a 75-mile range, the Focus EV doesn’t go as far as many rivals do, but the actual driving experience with the car is quite good, and the recharging time is about four hours on a 240-volt charger.

Kia Soul EV: $36,775
MPGe: 120 city, 92 highway, 105 combined
Range: 93 miles
With a 93-mile range, the nicely equipped and fun-styled Soul EV is one of our top choices for comfort and satisfaction. Only downside is price. Handy interior space. You can recharge in about five hours with a 240-volt charger, but you can also get a 480-volt charge (30-minute charge time) at Kia dealerships in California.

Mitsubishi i-Miev: $23,940
MPGe: 126 city, 99 highway, 112 combined
Range: 62 miles
Every category has its bare-bones value-priced entry and the i-Miev is it here. Small, funny- looking, a shorter driving range than rivals – 62 miles – and iffy highway handling. It will take seven hours to recharge even with a Level 2 240-volt charger. But it is cheap, and so it remains an attractive choice for those in the EV geek crowd who don’t like spending much on cars.

Nissan Leaf: $29,860
MPGe: 126 city, 101 highway, 114 combined (24 kW-hr battery pack)
Range: 107 miles
The 2016 Leaf is all-new for Nissan, with a less clunky and more stylish exterior design. The range is improved to between 85 and 107 miles. The Leaf is a handy package, with comfortable seating and a roomy interior. There are three trim levels for the Leaf, so getting all the goodies you want is not a problem, including the quicker charger, which will light up the battery in about four hours on a 240-volt outlet.

Hyundai Sonata Plug-in Hybrid: $35,690
MPG: 38 city, 41 highway, 40 combined
Gas+electric: 99 MPGe
The Sonata is a terrific sedan to start with, and this extended-range EV has an all-electric range of 27 miles.

Chevy Volt: $34,725
MPG: 43 city, 42 highway, 42 combined
Gas+electric: 98 MPGe
The Volt, which was the first plug-in hybrid on the market, is all-new for 2016, and sports a much sleeker style than the original. The back seat is still tight though. It takes about 4.5 hours to recharge on a 240-volt charger and the all-electric range is up to 53 miles.

Ford C-Max Energi: $32,645
MPG: 40 city, 36 highway, 38 combined
Gas+electric: 88 MPGe
The C-Max, with perhaps the most utilitarian style package for passengers and cargo, will go about 19 miles on an electric charge before the gas motor kicks in. C-Max also has one of the best rides.

Ford Fusion Energi: $34,775
MPG: 40 city, 36 highway, 38 combined
Gas+electric: 88 MPGe
All the benefits of a Ford Fusion, a handsome sedan, inside and out, but with a 20-mile electric range before the gas motor kicks in to get you the rest of the way.

Related Stories