One of the big reasons drivers will give for not swapping to an electric car is that they are too expensive. But now the modern generation of EVs has been around for fifteen years, which means the earliest cars are now banger money. If you want something more modern, oversupply means nearly new models are great value too, often costsing less than a petrol equivalent. And as the EV market has expanded massively in recent years, there is much more choice so you can find a style that will fit in with your life.
These are the top 10 used EVs we think are the best value right now.
The Leaf one of the cheapest EVs you can buy used purely because of its age – the oldest are now approaching their 15th birthday. These early cars will have a limited range, now, especially in winter when it might dip down to 40 miles on a charge. But that will still be enough for drivers who just need to commute locally and don’t mind plugging in to charge overnight. It then offers an unbeatably cheap way of getting around compared to a petrol-powered banger.
Leafs are reliable too, and the brakes, suspension and other non-EV bits are shared with Nissan’s big selling petrol cars like the Juke, so parts are cheap. You can watch our buying guide here.
The later 30 and 40kWh versions add a bit more range than the earliest cars if you can stretch the budget. Bear in mind that Leafs use CHAdeMO plugs for rapid charging, which limits the number of places you can top up and means they are less future-proof than CCS in the UK.
There is a lot to love about the little Zoe, but there is a big factor which keeps prices low – battery leasing. When the car was launched in 2013 Renault would only let you own the car, but not the battery. This would be leased with a monthly fee, which would vary from around £50 upwards depending on the mileage you covered.
While this seems like a good idea and gives some reassurance, it causes massive complications when you come to sell the car and many dealers – including Renault’s own – won’t touch them.
The company now has an option to buy out the lease – it costs around £2,000 depending on the age and mileage covered – and later cars were all battery owned. But the confusion and hassle keeps all Zoe prices low and means they are great value if you know what you are buying.
Early Zoes had a comparatively small battery – 22kW – which would give a sub 100 mile range for most drivers, especially in winter. This is plenty for an average commute but may cause some anxiety on longer runs – especially as rapid DC charging was an option on some models.
The later 52kWh cars had up to 245 miles of official range though – plenty for most drivers.
If I was qualified to give investment advice I would be writing this in considerably more splendour, but I have noticed a strange phenomenon – BMW i3 prices are defying gravity and rising. It’s only true for the best models, but shows that this car was really ahead of its time and only now are its qualities being widely appreciated. Maybe you could buy one and make some money when it becomes a proper classic?
That includes its futuristic styling, lightweight carbon bodyshell, and remarkable efficiency. The interior has the quality you’d expect from a BMW too, and they are good fun to drive.
The i3 changed and improved considerably over its life. So, a higher mile later car could potentially have better performance, technology and range than a low mile older car which is exactly the same price.
There’s also the choice of a Range Extender (REX) model, which is fitted with a motorbike engine under the boot floor. If you start to get low on battery range, this two-cylinder engine will kick in to generate more electricity, adding about 80 miles to the range. They do cost much more to service, though.
It provides a useful safety net, and about 80% of early owners chose this option, mainly because the full EV only had a 22kWh battery at the time.
The 2017 onwards cars seem to be the sweet spot, with decent range and most of the troublesome parts purged.
The Kona was the first EV which offered a really usable EV range at a reasonable cost, and the later 64kWh battery models deliver very strong real-world usability for the money - a genuine 300 miles is easily possible. It’s efficient too, and although it is not huge there is enough room inside the pseudo-SUV body for a small family.
It’s also surprisingly fast, thanks to a 201hp motor, but don’t expect it to drive like a sportscar. Most will have been serviced properly at Hyundai dealers for at least the first five years of their life in order to keep up the manufacturer’s warranty, but many were also used as taxis – so check the history carefully.
Aim for a higher spec model too – the Premium and Premium SE aren’t much more when used but bring some nice extras you will appreciate every day.
Not only are ID.3s now available for less than £10,000, but they are also around £1,500 less than an equivalent age and spec of petrol Golf. That makes them seem seriously good value.
The ID.3 is practical, roomy hatchback with a good choice of specs and battery options, giving a range of between 200 and 260 miles in the real world. They have solid build quality, although the trim can feel cheap in places and the switches can drive people potty. But it rarely breaks.
There’s plenty of choice too, as the ID.3 has been a big seller. Some of the early cars have strange specifications as they were built in the weird pandemic/Ukraine War time when there was limited supply of parts. In particular, you would get higher models with steel wheels.
If you have a little more budget, take a look at the mechanically identical Cupra Born. It’s a little more exciting to drive and more interesting to look at.
It might be one of the best-known names in the car market, but the electric version of the Vauxhall Corsa is often overlooked. Which is a shame, because like the similar Peugeot e-208, it is great value, efficient and fun to drive.
It arrived in 2020 with a 46.2kWh battery, although newer versions have a slightly bigger (but much more efficient) 51kWh usable capacity pack and an official range of up to 246 miles. Just don’t trust the range readout when it’s on a high battery percentage, as it is notoriously optimistic. It will drop quickly and give a more realistic range expectation as the battery charge falls.
Every Corsa-e gets decent equipment levels, but look for the Elite with its larger 17in alloy wheels, heated seats, a heated steering wheel, a rear-view camera, tinted rear windows and a 10in infotainment system. It will cost buttons to run and will be supremely easy to live with.
The MG4 was a bit of a revelation when it was launched, offering a competitive and fun-to-drive EV for less than the cost of a basic Ford Focus. It was instrumental in making MG one of the biggest electric car brands in the UK.
Used prices are kept low because the deals on new cars are always keen, which means the MG4s which are less than a year old need to be cheaper still.
All models come with a decent level of kit as standard, so for most buyers, it will come down to which size of battery best suits them. Entry-level SE, or 'Standard Range', cars come with a 51kWh LFP pack, giving a claimed range of 217 miles. Meanwhile, buyers of the 64kWh NMC 'Long Range' could expect a WLTP-tested range of up to 281 miles, depending on spec.
There have been a few complaints about reliability niggles and dealer service too, so make sure you check the car thoroughly and make sure there is a genuine reason for the sale.
Along with the Model Y, Tesla’s Model 3 is the most successful electric car ever produced, thanks to a combination of usability and efficiency. You also can’t discount the impact of the Tesla Supercharging network, which takes the worry out of long distance driving.
The success means there are plenty of 3s on the used market, and you can bag an absolute bargain. The 2019 model was offered as a Standard Range model with an official range of 254 miles from a 51kWh LFP battery. The Long Range upped that to 348 miles, while the Performance had less efficiency but was unesccesarily fast – and consequently is expensive to insure.
We’d settle for the rear-wheel drive Long Range as the best balance of value, range and usability provided you’re not worried about four-wheel drive or towing. Bear in mind that the vast majority will be white as other colours were a pricey option. You’ll pay more for other shades.
The Polestar 2 has been around since 2020, and was one of the very first cars that we tested on Electrifying.com. Now, you can get a nice three year old car for less than half its new price. It’s slightly cheaper than an equivalent Model 3.
One of the big attractions was the fact it has a hatchback tailgate rather than a boot. That’s quite a big bonus if you like to do lifestyle things.
The two-wheel drive Polestar 2 has 220hp which is plenty in the real world, but the twin motor is either 408hp or a daft 469hp with the Performance Pack.
There was a BIG refresh in 2023 when single motor car went from being front wheel drive to rear drive, and everything got bigger batteries, more power and extra range. Oh and faster charging too.
I reckon the best value model is the Single Motor 78kWh Long Range. It offers a solid balance of range and performance. And try to find one with the Plus Pack - treat yourself - It was a £4,000 option when new.
Its styling might not be to everyone’s taste, but Kia’s Soul was one of the first sensible electric cars you could buy. The early models have a limited range, but the later cars are incredibly efficient and had big batteries.
The tall and boxy design means you get good interior space and easy access for passengers and luggage.
It was launched with just one trim level and 132 miles of range, which was class-leading at the time. A new model came in 2019 with a choice of two powertrains. The smaller gave 172 miles, while the larger battery pack more than doubles its predecessor’s range at 280 miles.
The Soul had a bit of a cult following early in its life but supplies were limited which kept prices high. Now it’s largely forgotten and those original owners have moved on to other cars, meaning the little Kia is a bargain – if you can find one.
