Best Budget E bike?

Last week I had to go from a hearing test to work. I was on my e conversion shopper.
This entailed doing some of my local loop the wrong way, ie going up the fun downhill.
This was actually fun and got me thinking of an ebike that didn’t have panniers ,full guards and skinny wheels.
I don’t need full sus and fancy bits as I’ve got good stuff to go on it
Must have boost spacing.
The decathlon e st 900 is perfect but isn’t a bike you’d want to look at while having a cuppa.
The La Pierre 5.5 overvolt sure looks better. I know nothing of electrical bicycles so what else is there for around £2k?
What motors need to be avoided?

Ps. When the motor is removed is the seat tube hollow ?
I’m looking at internal dropper installation.

A friend has a Canyon On-8 eMTB hardtail and recommends it.

Mrs Pondo’s Canmondsle Tesoro Remixte is ace, that was a bit over £2k in ’22.

Canmondsle Tesoro Remixte

I’m not sure which of those words are typos and which are actual names 🙂

Either Decathlon or Vitus seem to be the default answer for best budget e-bike, without going to a bolt on motor option.

I don’t need full sus and fancy bits as I’ve got good stuff to go on it

There are e-bike HT fans on here, but for me it seem pointless to go e-bike HT (for off-road use) when there very little disadvantage of having a full suss e-bike (except the additional price). It doesn’t need to have the best bits, anything with decent but not bling kit works well on e-bikes

Personally I am avoiding buying another shimano motor, as long term they seem the least ‘fixable’ of the motor options, with well know electronic’s failure (search E010)

Some Haibikes come in around £2K eg here https://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/mountain-bike/bikes/electric-bikes/onsale
Don’t seem to be quite as hideous as their full sus jobbies (pun intended)
I take that back, I’ve zoomed in 🤢

Ive said this before on other threads. Mrs SSS has a Cube Reaction Hybrid Performance 500.
Shopping around it can be had for £2k to £2.5k.
Bosch motor and battery. It is a hardtail, but does everything she wants of it on the ‘rougher’ stuff and muddy trails. No unpleasant to the eye too.
No problems in time of ownership.
Only ‘issue’ we have with it is that its heavy. 22kg heavy.

second hand Orbea Urrun?

Stealth ad…. I’ve got a Focus Jarifa for sale that might fit the bill.  PM me for details if interested.