The price of e-bikes being what it is, sub-£3,000 pretty much qualifies as mid-price. That label might be a little deflating, but the context is that e-bike prices really do go very high indeed. More reassuringly (and more meaningfully) this is the point at which you shouldn’t really have to make major compromises on central elements, like the motor or gearing. Sure, some of the fancier nice-to-have stuff might still be out of reach, but in our experience (and we’ve tested an awful lot of e-bikes) all your main bike bits should be high quality at this sort of price.
- Estarli e28.X
- Mako Shark
- Specialized Turbo Vado 4.0
- MiRiDER 24 GB3
- MiRiDER One GB3
- Ribble Gravel AL e Sport
- Estarli E-Cargo Longtail
So what do you get for your £3k? Well, most obviously, you’ll find a more even mix of hub and mid-drive offerings, where hub motors tend to predominate at lower price levels. That isn’t to say that mid-motors are necessarily better though.
For many people a hub motor will provide sufficient power assistance without adding as much weight (or cost) to the bike. Conversely, if you’re looking to go off-road, or have to tackle steep climbs, or habitually carry significant cargo (or passengers), then a mid-motor is probably a better option. (More about hub motors v mid-motors here.)
As for types of e-bike: take your pick. At this price, you can get pretty much anything, including cargo bikes, road bikes and even a few hardtail electric mountain bikes. You’ll see a greater number of city and leisure bikes though and most of these will be all-rounders to a greater or lesser extent.
We’ve tried to cover most categories with our choices below. It’s also worth emphasising that all of our selections been thoroughly tested by our expert reviewers. You can find out more about how we review e-bikes here.
Estarli e28.X – £1,895
With prices starting from £1,895, you could spec out the Estarli e28.X with all manner of upgrades and add-ons and it’d still come in way under £3,000. Price is of course only half of the equation. Fortunately, the e28.X happens to be an excellent bike too.
Its key selling point is that it gives you the main benefit of an e-bike – smooth power assistance – while taking away several of the maintenance hassles that are part and parcel of owning an unassisted bike. If you’ve no particular appetite for cleaning and lubricating a chain, you’ll delight in the e28.X’s belt drive. If you don’t especially get on with gears – either using them or maintaining them – then the e28.X doesn’t have any.
Okay, technically it has two, but they’re integrated into the motor and function automatically. The lower gear’s great for setting off and getting up moderate hills, but unless you live somewhere really hilly (in which case this probably isn’t the bike for you), you’ll spend most of your time in the higher one, cruising around near the assistance limit.
The end result is a lightweight, polished, user-friendly e-bike for everyday use. The diamond frame is pictured here, but a low-step frame is also available.
Mako Shark – £2,600
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If you do live somewhere hilly, how about the Mako Shark? It too has a belt drive, but this time combined with a mid-motor which will deliver superior power at lower speeds – which basically means easy-peasy, sweat-free climbing. The Mako’s 8-speed Shimano Alfine hub gearing will also help you tackle tougher terrain without adding significant maintenance
At 29.7kg, it’s quite a heavy bike, but it’s also supremely comfortable thanks to a suspension seat post and a decent suspension fork. All in all, it’s easy to get along with in just about every daily e-bike use circumstance. It’s also on sale for £2,300 at the time of writing.
Specialized Turbo Vado 4.0 – £2,800
Buy from Specialized for £2,800
Not everyone likes a step-through. Specialized’s Turbo Vado 4.0 provides an alternative for those who prefer a diamond frame. It’s another good all-round e-bike that’s as fun as it is practical.
The Turbo Vado 4.0 cost £4,300 back when we reviewed it, but this seems to have permanently fallen to a far more appealing £2,800. The gearing’s Shimano Cues now, rather than Sram, but the key element’s the same: the powerful and responsive Specialized 2.0 mid-motor. (Don’t confuse this with the Turbo Vado SL, a lighter version of the bike with a different motor that offers a little less clout.)
Review: Specialized Turbo Vado 4.0
MiRiDER 24 GB3 – £2,995
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If you’re after something a little smaller, the MiRiDER 24 GB3 might well fit the bill. It’s another low maintenance all-rounder, but this time a compact with 24in wheels, which means it’s a little more manoeuvrable as well as being easier to store.
Like several of its siblings (see below), the GB3 version of the MiRiDER 24 features the three-speed G3ARED transmission system, a low maintenance gearing system for e-bikes that rely on a rear hub motor. This again allows for a belt drive. Belt drives may be a little less efficient than chain drives, but this is a lot less important on e-bikes where the motor will make that percentage or so difference in efficiency unnoticeable.
One of our favourite features is the throttle which gives immediate access to full power, provided you’re pedalling. This is great for hill starts or to get over smaller lumps and bumps when you’re riding in a lower assistance level.
MiRiDER One GB3 – £2,495
If the MiRiDER 24’s not small enough, try its smaller and older relative. The two bikes have much in common, but this time with 16in wheels and a funky-looking, fold-in-half style magnesium frame.
As well as being smaller and lighter, the MiRiDER offers a bit more hill climbing pep and speed out of the blocks thanks to those smaller wheels.
Ribble Gravel AL e Enthusiast- £2,799
If your needs run more towards leisure riding, you’ll do well to improve on the Ribble Gravel AL e Sport. Electric road and gravel bikes can be pretty darn expensive, but this one offers better value for money than most. SRAM’s Apex XPLR AXS wireless electronic groupset is a pretty striking inclusion at this price.
Like a very large percentage of bikes in this category, the Gravel AL e Sport is built around Mahle’s X35+ motor system. While this is a hub motor system, and therefore no match for a top-end mid-motor on the steeper stuff, it’s powerful enough to make a serious difference to your ride.
In Dave’s words, “it’s mostly just like being a lot fitter” with smooth motor assistance that makes it feel like you’re riding an acoustic bike more quickly than you normally would.
Review: Ribble Gravel AL e Sport
Estarli E-Cargo Longtail – £2,995
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E-cargo bikes are about as expensive as electric bikes get, but you do have a couple of options below £3k and Estarli’s longtail is our favourite. While there’s a light smattering of cheaper options out there, they lack the super powerful mid-drive with high quality, super-wide ratio gearing that this bike offers.
The motor’s doubly important on a cargo bike, but you also get a big battery, a long rear rack and a useful front carrier. What you don’t get – unless you spend a few more quid – are any of the seating or carrying add-ons, like a bench seat, handrails or the capacious 180L ‘cargo cocoon’.
