These 3 EVs show electric cars don’t have to cost a fortune

• Automakers are showcasing more affordable electric vehicles at the 2026 New York Auto Show.
• Several EV models are being highlighted with starting prices at or below $35,000.
• The Nissan Leaf, Fiat 500e Icona and Chevrolet Equinox EV are among the affordable options featured.

With consumer concerns about rising car prices mounting and interest in electric vehicles rising because of elevated gas prices, automakers are showing off several EVs that start around $35,000 or less at the 2026 New York Auto Show.

The annual New York City car confab is taking place as the average price of a new car reached $49,275 in March 2026, which is the most recent data available, according to Cox Automotive's Kelley Blue Book. The figure was up 3.5% from March 2025.

The average price of new electric car was $54,508 in March 2026, which Kelley Blue Book said was 2.8% lower than the average EV price was in March 2025.

"The numbers this month also show that the industry's near-$50,000 ATP [Average Transaction Price] is reflective of a market that favors large, expensive vehicles," Erin Keating, executive analyst at Cox Automotive said in a statement. "While affordable vehicles still exist, the demand continues to be concentrated in higher-priced segments."

The USA TODAY Cars team took at look at the electric cars that start around $35,000 or less that automakers are spotlighting at the New York Auto Show to tell that story of affordability.

1. Nissan Leaf

List price: $29,990

What they said: Nissan said in a news release "with over 15 years of proven dependability and the customer insights of almost 700,000 global sales, the all-new LEAF builds on the model’s DNA of reliable, affordable and attractive EV ownership, delivering strong value for the mass-market."

2. Fiat 500e Icona

List price: $34,745

What they said: Fiat said in a news release the 500e Icona is "an all-new, all-electric take on the FIAT brand’s most storied and iconic model." The company added "the two-door fully electric 500e is the lightest passenger BEV [battery electric vehicle] in the segment, boasting an EPA-estimated combined range of up to 149 miles (240 kilometers), enabled by a 42-KWh battery with a Level 2 (11-kW) charge time of six hours."

3. Chevrolet Equinox EV

List price: $33,600

What they said: Chevrolet says on its website the Equinox EV is "America’s most affordable 315+ mile range EV."