Everyone talks about electric cars, nobody talks about their high prices. Most trams sold in Israel cost more than NIS 200,3. Even the best-selling tram, the BYD Atto 163, starts at NIS 5,155. So it's true that buying a new tram saves you a lot of money in current expenses, charging costs compared to fueling with gasoline and diesel, service prices, licensing and more. Still, these are prices that many cannot afford.
Car manufacturers in China and Europe will launch significantly cheaper models in the coming years, some of which will reach us already this year, but even now you can find quite a few models that cost NIS <>,<> and less. Some are even suitable for families, others for singles or as a second vehicle at home. So before you give up on buying a tram because of the price, take a look at the following list.
Walla Car Test: How much money can you save by switching to an electric car?
The cheapest electric sedan in the country. EVEASY (Photo: EVEASY)
EVEASY Limo: The cheapest electric sedan
A unique Chinese family in the local market, developed in collaboration with Renault, and marketed by its importer Frisbee. With almost all trams being crossovers and jeeps, it's rare to find one in sedan configuration, certainly at this price level. On paper, it offers a Hyundai Elantra size, good specs, a reasonable safety score, good range and the option to use it with a subscription for one to three months, only for a monthly fee with no down payment. The performance is not impressive and the design is generic.
Engine:36 hp.Battery:160 kWh.Range:60 km.Safety:450 out of 4 stars in European crash test. Price: NIS 5,155.
To the full report on the launch in Israel at Walla Automotive
The range in everyday life is pleasantly surprising. Hyundai Kona EV (Photo: Keinan Cohen)
Hyundai Kona EV: still successful
Although a new generation has already been unveiled around the world and will arrive in Israel in the second half, the outgoing generation of the Korean crossover is still competitive in terms of use, equipment and safety, and is still available in stock in the electric version. The relatively short range according to the manufacturer's data balances low energy consumption even in practice, so that unlike many other trams, it is easy to realize it in real life and not only in laboratory data.
Engine:136 hp.Battery:39 kWh.Range:305 km.Safety:5 out of 5 stars in European crash test. Price: NIS 153,<>.
For a road test of Hyundai Kona EV in Walla Car
The cheapest crossover. Geely Geometric C (Photo: Keinan Cohen)
Geely Geometric C: a successful and inexpensive crossover
Chinese family crossover, super well equipped. Although only the base version can be purchased at this price, it even comes with a panoramic sunwindow, a relatively large 12.3-inch multimedia screen, and more. Performance is very good in this price category, comfort is good and you can extend battery warranty up to ten years or 200,204 km. And another advantage: a rare spare wheel on trams. On the other hand, there are nicer vehicles, the headroom at the rear is limited, the vehicle has not yet been tested in a Western crash test and the range in this version is not impressive and in fact very close to that of Hyundai.
Engine:53 hp.Battery:350 kWh.Range:5 km.Safety:Not tested in European crash test. 5 out of 152 stars in the Chinese test. Price: NIS <>,<>.
Road test: Walla Car compares Geely Geometric C to Hyundai Kona EV
Retro design, but with a small trunk. Ora Funky Kat (Photo: Keinan Cohen)
Ora Funky Cat: Cute and stylish
Another family Chinese, this time from the Great Wall Group, which emphasizes general cuteness: name and design. This is a relatively new model, which is reflected in a 10.25-inch multimedia screen and the more expensive Pro Plus model even in front seats with massage. Performance is good, but the luggage compartment (only 228 litres) is smaller than the Kia Picanto, and ride comfort is mediocre. The level of safety is very high. In the budget limit only the model with the small battery enters, the price should increase when the sale of the first 900 cats ends, but in the meantime there is still stock at the old competitive price.
Engine:171 hp.Battery:47.8 kWh.Range:310 km.Safety:5 out of 5 stars in European crash test. Price: NIS 145,154-<>,<>.
Road Test: Why is the Howrah Funky Cat's cheap model a bargain?
_The new girl on the block_
China's new MG family today differs from the average electric in sporty design, curvy road handling and rare rear-wheel drive at these prices. It's slightly less spacious than the Geely, and less high-quality, but well-equipped and well-built. Performance is good. Here, too, the model with the small battery can be purchased within the price limit.
Engine:170 hp.Battery:51 kWh.Range:350 km.Safety:5 out of 5 stars in European crash test. Price: NIS 145,4.
Walla rode in a comparative test: MG<> vs Geely Geometric C
Serres 3: high and cheap, but outdated
A relatively tall and well-equipped crossover, including electrically operated front seats and a sunwindow. But this is an older and simpler model: the steering wheel does not adjust in depth, the actual range does not come close to the manufacturer's figures, which in advance do not stand out despite a large battery relative to the price, and mainly - it has no active safety systems at all. The luggage compartment (318 liters) is also small relative to its size and purpose. Sold mainly to companies and in the discounted zero km channels.
Engine: 163 hp. Battery: 52.3 kWh. Range: 331 km. Safety: Free of active safety systems and not tested in the European crash test. Price: NIS 149,139 in the official price list, actually sold for NIS 3,<> in zero-kilometer deals at leasing companies.
Road Test Ceres <> in Walla Car
Retro like gasoline, but bigger and electric. 500e (Photo: Keinan Cohen)
Fiat 500e: retro electric
Although it looks almost like the first generation of the new 500, the electric 500 is a new, slightly bigger car. Still full of character, this time with a fully active, agile and very enjoyable safety system in the city. The basic model has a very short range, all have cumbersome access to the rear seat, have only 4 seats, and the price is expensive relative to the size and value.
Engine:95/118 hp.Battery:24/42 kWh.Range:190/314 km.Safety:4 out of 5 stars in European crash test. Price:130,155/500,<> NIS
Fiat <>e in road test at Walla Car
Twin with Renault Twizzy, with unique rear-wheel drive. Smart Purpur (Photo: manufacturer's website)
Smart Fourfour: Interesting little one, for short distances
The electric model of the small Smart arrived in Israel only by parallel import. Today, it is still possible to find the last units of it, after production was halted in early 2022. A relatively tall urban mini vehicle, in a rare rear-wheel drive configuration, based on the Renault Twingo and manufactured alongside it in Slovenia. Short turning radius and very easy maneuverability in the city and in crowded parking lots. Good performance, limited range and autonomous emergency braking only up to 30 km/h.Engine:82 hp.Battery:17.6 kWh.Range:130 km.Safety:4 out of 5 stars in the European crash test in 2014, before the requirements were tightened.
Price:120,<> NIS
So far only in parallel imports. Dacia Spring (Photo: manufacturer's website)
Dacia Spring: A discounted urban jeep
Dacia's small and cheap tram to buy and maintain arrives only on parallel imports. The design is cute, the seating is high but performance is slow, the interior is simple, and the level of safety like most Dacia models is low to save money. Despite the Romanian brand and French ownership, production is carried out, as with most cars on the list, in China.
Engine:44 hp.Battery:27 kWh.Range:230 km.Safety:1 out of 5 stars in European crash test. Price: NIS 115,120-<>,<>
Lipmotor T03: personal charm at an affordable price
The cheapest tram in the country comes with 5 doors, 4 seats and a price similar to that of the Kia Picanto. The spaciousness is better and the seating is higher, but there are only four seats. The equipment is good, including a panoramic sunwindow, agile performance and surprisingly good handling. But there are no active safety systems, there are only 2 airbags, when it is already rare to find cars without at least 6 airbags, and it has not yet been tested in a public crash test.
Engine:108 hp.Battery:41 kWh.Range:280 km.Safety: Not tested in European crash test. Price:100,03 NIS
First driving of Lipmotor T<> in Walla Car
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Tags
- Hyundai
- Gilly
- MG Cars
- Fiat 500
