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10 of the best used EVs you can buy, with prices to suit all pockets. These cars are ideal if you’re buying your first electric car.
There’s never been a better time to buy a used EV. Increased sales of new electric cars mean there is a wide selection of used examples to choose from, with prices starting from around £4,000. Lower running costs, free VED (road tax) and zero emissions are just three advantages of switching to electric.
We’ve selected 10 of the best used EVs you can buy, with prices to suit all pockets. These cars are ideal if you’re buying your first electric car.
With 40,000 sales and counting, the Nissan Leaf is the UK’s best-selling electric car. You can expect to see between 80 and 100 miles of range from an early example with a 24kWh battery. This should be adequate for city driving.
Later models feature a 30kWh battery, boosting the range to 155 miles. It’d be worth finding a Leaf with the optional 6.6kW on-board charger, as this halves the charging time to four hours.
Used Renault Zoe prices start from less than £5,000, but you’ll need to check if the batteries are included. That’s because the batteries could be leased rather than bought outright, with prices based on the length of the agreement and annual mileage.
The Zoe has been developed and improved since its launch in 2013, so a later model will come with the best battery and longest electric range. You can expect to see between 70 and 150 miles, depending on the battery.
You can buy a used BMW i3 for the price of a new city car. Highlights include the futuristic styling, delightful interior and a driving experience that’s almost unrivalled in the EV segment. Early cars offer a realistic 80 miles of range, although the later 33kWh battery is preferable if you need to travel further afield.
Alternatively, the i3 is available as a range extender (REx) model. This pairs the electric motor with a motorcycle engine to charge the batteries when they’re out of juice.
Some EVs tell the world that you’ve gone electric. Others, like the Volkswagen e-Golf, don’t. It’s based on the standard Golf hatchback, but the engine has been replaced by a battery pack and an electric motor. Early examples feature a 24.2kWh battery, but this was upgraded to 35.8kWh in 2017.
The claimed range is 118-186 miles, depending on the battery, but you should expect less in the real world. Prices start from around £13,000.
The Hyundai Ioniq Electric is backed by a five-year unlimited mileage warranty, so even the earliest 2017 examples will be covered until 2022. This should provide some peace of mind when you’re buying a used example. The battery is covered for eight years or 125,000 miles.
The car was launched with a 28kWh battery, but post-2019 versions feature a larger 38.3kWh unit. Longer range and faster charging times are the advantages of buying a later model.
Launched in 2014, the Soul EV was Kia’s first production EV. It’s based on the standard Soul SUV, although the transformation from conventional to electric was more comprehensive than it would appear. Its 27kWh battery offers an official range of 132 miles.
It’s practical, too, with seating for five and a decent boot. All models are covered by Kia’s seven-year warranty, which is transferable to the next owner. The all-new Soul EV offers an impressive 280 miles of electric range.
The MG ZS EV is one of the best value EVs you can buy new, with prices starting from around £26,000. That’s for a family-friendly SUV backed by a seven-year warranty and the potential to travel 163 miles on a single charge.
It’s even better value when buying used, with prices starting from around £16,500. That’s about what you’ll spend on an entry-level Ford Fiesta. You also get a generous amount of equipment as standard.
You don’t have to spend £27,000 on a new Vauxhall Corsa-e. Used prices start from around £20,000, which is excellent value for money for a 2020 model with the remainder of Vauxhall’s three-year warranty.
Its 50kWh battery delivers up to 209 miles of electric range, with an 80 percent charge available in just 30 minutes when using a 100kW charger. The Corsa-e shares its powertrain with the Peugeot e-208.
The Jaguar I-Pace is a very popular EV, with a huge selection available on the used car market. It’s not the cheapest option, but you could save up to £25,000 on the cost of a new model by opting to buy used. Its 90kWh battery delivers up to 292 miles of range, making this a great choice if you intend to cover long distances.
An impressive range is only part of its appeal, though, because the I-Pace offers the practicality of an SUV and the performance of a sports car.
Supercar performance, the longest range estimates in the business and impressive technology are just three good reasons to buy a Tesla Model S. Some early examples even come with free access to the Supercharger network of charging stations, so they could cost very little to run.
Prices start from just £25,000, so this is your chance to buy one of the most important EVs of the past decade for the price of a family hatchback.
