The Stylish Budget EV That Makes Gas Guzzlers Hard To Justify

Here in the United States, electric vehicles (EVs) aren’t exactly at price parity with their pure internal combustion engine (ICE) counterparts. As such, the definition of a “budget” EV still means a vehicle that’s priced higher than an ICE car, but still on the affordable end by EV standards.

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So with that out of the way, here’s the stylish budget EV that makes gas guzzlers hard to recommend. Then again, if stylishness is your concern, design is very subjective. To our eyes, however, the comprehensive mid-cycle facelift that was implemented for this vehicle certainly helped things to a point that it’s become an easy EV to finally recommend.

But First, Your ICE Choices

Based on the most recent available data from Kelley Blue Book, the average new car transaction price in March 2026 was $49,275. Though a vehicle costing around $35,000 isn’t cheap, it is still well below the average price that American customers paid for a new car. So, what are your gas-powered options at this price point?

Diverse Crossover Choices

Mazda

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The EV that’s been chosen for today’s article happens to compete in the compact crossover SUV segment, and so the ICE vehicles we’ll be listing are also within this segment. Since compact crossover SUVs are some of the most popular vehicles these days, it is unsurprising that you’ve got a ton of choices. Though for the pure ICE versions, a lot of these vehicles start a little under or at $30,000, such as the Hyundai Tucson, Mazda CX-5, and Subaru Forester.

These vehicles, however, aren’t the most efficient out there. In fact, for the new CX-5, its combined city and highway efficiency of 26 MPG is 28 MPG less than the most efficient version of the previous model. What’s even more surprising is that the most efficient variants of the Subaru Forester beat the CX-5 at a combined 29 MPG, even if both models offer all-wheel drive (AWD) as standard. The Tucson, meanwhile, is on par with the CX-5 at 26 MPG with AWD, while the front-wheel-drive (FWD) version has a combined 28 MPG.

Efficient Sedan And Hybrid Choices

Honda

But if a sedan within that price bracket is your concern, your choices will mostly be hybrids. Pure ICE sedans are some of the most affordable cars in America today, with models like the Honda Civic being able to achieve a combined 36 MPG. Hybrid options are even more efficient, though, with a few sedans even achieving a combined figure of more than 50 MPG. If we now include hybrid crossovers into the mix, there are models that achieve more than 40 MPG in their combined ratings, which is good for a vehicle in their size class.

EVs certainly win on the efficiency part—even if it doesn’t necessarily mean they have a higher total driving range. That’s because the combined efficiency of the model for today’s article is an impressive 131 MPGe. MPGe measures the efficiency equivalent of alternative fuel vehicles versus their gas counterparts. There’s minimal loss of energy from the grid to your EV versus a gas car, which is only about 20 to 35 percent energy efficient. What you’re probably perceiving about EVs being inefficient due to their shorter range is actually more about an ICE car having far higher energy density. EVs need large batteries just to achieve similar range to an ICE car with a physically smaller fuel tank.

Toyota’s Keeping You bZ

Toyota

With this in mind, the affordable and stylish EV that I’d recommend, as it makes gas guzzlers hard to justify, is the newly updated 2026 Toyota bZ. Formerly called the bZ4X, the bZ’s rebranding is due to Toyota abandoning its bZ naming strategy in favor of more familiar names.

314 Miles Of Range

Base Trim Engine

Electric

Base Trim Transmission

1-speed automatic

Base Trim Drivetrain

Front-Wheel Drive

Base Trim Horsepower

168 HP

Base Trim Battery Type

Lithium ion (Li-ion)

Make

Toyota

Model

bZ

One of the major improvements of the 2026 Toyota bZ is its range. Previously, your only choice for an EV at around this price range with more than 300 miles of range would be the Chevrolet Equinox EV, but with the $7,500 Federal Tax Credit’s removal and the tariff situation, the pricing situation of EVs has drastically changed. Today, EV prices across various brands have equalized, regardless of their manufacturing origin, but in the bZ’s case, it is one of the few EVs under $40,000 that still offer more than 300 miles of range.

Specifically, the bZ in XLE FWD Plus form is capable of 314 miles, which also happens to be the version of the bZ with the highest range. Credit the smaller 18-inch wheels of this variant, while its single-motor FWD drivetrain provides an impressive combined efficiency of 131 MPGe. Tesla is one of the best EV brands in terms of efficiency, and so for the bZ XLE FWD Plus to nearly match the $39,990 Model Y Standard’s 138 MPGe is indeed impressive. Then again, with 295 horsepower in the Model Y Standard versus the 221 horsepower bZ XLE FWD Plus, Tesla still has the power relative to its efficiency edge.

Impressive Range, Lower Running Costs

Toyota

For American buyers to start considering an EV as a primary car, its range should be at least 300 miles. You’d also be surprised that a lot of pure ICE crossover SUVs aren’t too far off, depending on the version. Then again, with gas stations being far more common than EV charging stations, long range isn’t much of a selling point in ICE cars. Still, a Tucson FWD does 400 miles, while the AWD does 372 miles. The new CX-5 with standard AWD does 398 miles, while the Forester with standard AWD has the highest driving range among the three at 481 miles.

But range is one thing—fueling costs are another. Especially with high gas prices at the moment, Gulf Coast News reports that an EV, on average, is still cheaper to run than ICE cars. EV home charging is the cheapest at just five cents per mile, while public EV charging is 10 to 12 cents per mile. Gas, on the other hand, is around 12 to 15 cents per mile. You also have to remember that, features-wise, the bZ is pretty much like a mid-spec equivalent already. Plus, there’s a $4,500 Lease Cash offer, or $3,000 off if you’re a former owner of certain EV models, which will put it at price parity with an equivalently-kitted ICE crossover SUV.

What The bZ XLE FWD Plus Offers

Chris Chin | TopSpeed

Chris Chin | TopSpeed

The 2026 Toyota bZ is comprehensively updated with more range and power, but the aesthetic updates help make this electric crossover SUV something that you’ll finally consider because of its design.

Hammerhead Sleekness

Chris Chin | TopSpeed

Toyota’s current Hammerhead front fascia is one of my favorite design cues in the automotive industry at the moment. For the new bZ, the C-shaped LED daytime running lights that are visually connected by a black trim piece give it a very distinct front-end design. Depending on your color choice, the bZ also gets rid of the large expanse of gloss black cladding. We highly recommend going for the monotone colors, as this is where you’ll fully appreciate the cleaner look of the new bZ. XLE variants get 18-inch wheels, which, in my opinion, already fit the design well, but higher trims get 20-inch wheels that, as expected, reduces its range.

Chris Chin | TopSpeed

The interior has likewise seen a comprehensive redesign, as it gets a new but similarly styled dash in order to accommodate the large 14-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system. The seven-inch digital gauge cluster has been repositioned for better visibility, while the XLE FWD Plus gets a six-speaker sound system, a combination of synthetic leather and fabric upholstery, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, a powered tailgate, heated front seats, and the option to add a panoramic glass roof. Indeed, this vehicle offers similar equipment to a mid-spec ICE crossover SUV already.

Easy-Going Drive

Chris Chin | TopSpeed

Our team has driven the 2026 Toyota bZ, and you’ll be happy with its easy-going driving dynamics. Serenity-wise, it’s hard to beat an EV, as our team notes that it’s as easy to drive as a Crown Signia. The steering is also light but accurate, while body control is commendable—aka just the right balance between handling and comfort. The cabin is also a bit more premium than the more rugged interior of the RAV4, helping once again with its perception of refinement.

The new bZ is also surefooted through the corners, due to the placement of the batteries. Though our team drove the dual-motor AWD, the XLE FWD Plus is good enough at around seven seconds (claimed by Toyota). Finally, the bZ also natively supports the NACS charging standard, which should mean seamless access to both Tesla and third-party charging stations.

Sources: Toyota, Gulf Coast News, KBB, The EPA