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It’s no secret that buying a new electric car can cost a lot of money.
Of course, that does depend on the brand you go for and the type of EV you’re buying; electric SUVs are typically more expensive than a hatchback. So are you better off buying a used electric car when making the switch to electric power?
This has its benefits because you’re getting all the goodness of an electric car, such as efficiency and lower maintenance cost, without breaking the bank. From electric saloons to large SUVs, we’ve put together a list of our favourite used machines to help you find the ideal one for you.
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10. Kia e-Niro
With an excellent claimed range and a surprisingly capacious interior, the e-Niro is a five-star EV that offers great value for money. Opt for the ‘3’ trim level and you get the more desirable 64kWh battery, which offers up to 282 miles of range; or 253 in real world conditions.
The maximum charging rate for the new e-Niro is 100kW, which allows for a 10-80% charge in just 54 minutes - that gives you plenty of time to stop for a meal break and stretch your legs.
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10. Kia e-Niro
Thanks to its boxy exterior shape, the e-Niro offers plenty of room inside, with several handy storage compartments. Head and leg room is also good for adults in the rear and rivals like the Hyundai Kona Electric feel more cramped by comparison.
You get lots of useful equipment, too, with every model getting adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera and wireless phone charging. We found a 2021 model with 71,213 miles for just over £18,000.
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9. Porsche Taycan
The Porsche Taycan is one of the best electric performance cars on sale today, offering searing pace in an ultra-refined package. The Taycan Battery Performance Plus is the best choice if range is a real concern, as the 93.4kWh EV can travel up to 318 miles on a single charge.
Charging is up to 270kW which means you can top-up the battery from 10-80% in around 20 minutes.
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9. Porsche Taycan
Its handling and grip levels are unrivalled, with the Taycan’s low centre of gravity and minimal body roll makes it a joy to thread through bends. Power is also impressive; even entry-level cars get 300kw (400bhp). And if that’s not enough, there’s a 560kW Turbo S model.
Inside, the Taycan feels very upmarket and refined, with plush metals and soft-touch leather used throughout. The infotainment is good too. We found a 2020, 93.4kWh Battery Performance Plus model with 22,000 miles for £59,000.
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8. MG 5
Want a used electric car that isn’t an SUV or hatchback? Of course many electric saloons are practical, but if you want a bit more space then an estate car is your best bet, and there is no better choice in this segment than the MG 5. It offers great value for money, good interior space, and a big boot.
Early 2020 models were fitted with a 114kW motor and 52kWh battery which was good for a claimed range of up to 214 miles. MG refreshed the 5 in 2021 and up the range to 350 miles while a facelift in 2022 brought a more stylish exterior look.
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8. MG 5
It might not get your pulse racing, but as an affordable, practical and usable entry to EV ownership it makes a lot of sense. You can get your hand on an 2020, 214-mile car for as little as £14,000.
We’d recommend spending more on the more usable 250-mile car. We found a 2021 Exclusive model, with 43,000 miles on the clock for £15,990.
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7. Skoda Enyaq
Don’t be put off by the Enyaq’s more conventional looks. It’s one of the best electric cars on sale, due its comfortable ride, practicality and overall refinement. The entry-level 60 model gets a smaller 58kWh battery and 247 miles of range, while the 80 models can travel up to 330 miles on a single charge.
You can charge the Enyaq 60 at speeds of up to 120kW, which means you can expect a 10-80% charge to take around 30 minutes. The 80 model can be charged at a faster rate of 135kW and is four minutes faster to charge than the entry-level car.
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7. Skoda Enyaq
The Enyaq is brilliantly spacious: it’s huge in the back, with plenty of head and leg room for adults. You also get lots of useful features such as phone pockets on the back of the front seats.
Equipment is good too, with the central infotainment screen both easy to use and good quality. You can get a 60 model for around £23,000, while an Enyaq 80 will cost around £10,000 more.
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6. Volkswagen ID 3
Volkswagen’s all-electric hatchback arrived in 2020 and was instantly praised for its practicality and commendable range. It’s good to drive too, with surprising levels of performance.
At launch the VW ID 3 was offered with either a 45kWh, 58kWh or 77kWh battery. The 45kWh unit offered up to 217 miles of range while the larger 58kWh model was good for a hardy range of 263 miles. Topping the range was the Pro S model which, thanks to its larger battery, could do 336 miles on a single charge.
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6. Volkswagen ID 3
While there is plenty of room in the front of the ID 3, space is more limited in the back. The boot is well-sized and is as good as a Golf and better than a Nissan Leaf.
The ID 3’s infotainment system and central touchscreen is poor compared to rivals. It isn’t very intuitive and can often be quite laggy; a lack of physical buttons doesn’t help and the ‘sliders’ below the screen are fiddly to use on the move. We found a 2021 ID 3 Pro S that had covered just under 39,000 miles for £23,350.
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5. Jaguar I-Pace
Whether you’re looking for an electric car or a luxury SUV, the Jaguar I Pace is a compelling choice that is both fun to drive and well built.
When it first launched the I-Pace could travel up to 292 miles on a single charge, which was a competitive figure back in 2018. The large 90kWh battery helps the I-Pace to achieve such a range, and because it is placed lower down in the car it makes the car impressively agile.
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5. Jaguar I-Pace
Plug into a 100kW charger and you can replenish the I-Pace’s battery from 10-80% in just 40 minutes. Move inside and the I-Pace delivers an upmarket, premium feel. Soft-touch leather is used throughout and the digital screens are crisp and easy to use.
Most used I-Paces start from around £19,000. We found a 2019 model with over 60,000 miles for £22,500.
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4. Audi E-tron
Arriving as the German brand’s first all electric car, there was a lot riding on the large shoulders of the Audi e-tron SUV. The new EV from Ingolstadt delivered, featuring impressive technology and a comfortable ride.
Two battery sizes are available: 50 models get a 230kW powertrain and 77kWh battery, while 55 models use a 95kWh unit with different power outputs. Range is up to 254 miles, which isn’t as good as some rivals.
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4. Audi E-tron
Inside the e-tron is very well put together. It’s packed full of high quality materials and feels very comfortable. There’s lots of room for passengers too, with more rear head and legroom than the Jaguar I-Pace.
Shorter range used models start from around £20,000, but the 254-mile car will cost more at around £30,000.
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3. Hyundai Kona Electric
Boasting a 300-mile range and surprising performance, the Kia e-Niro rival is a straightforward electric car that could easily take on the school run and commute to work. Early models were offered with two power outputs and battery sizes: a 99kW, 39kWh variant and more powerful 150kW, 64kWh version.
The 64kWh models is the one to go for, as it has a claimed range of up to 300 miles and can be recharged at up to 100kW, which allows for a 10-80% charge in around 45 minutes.
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3. Hyundai Kona Electric
That said, the Kona does come with lots of equipment as standard, with even the entry-level modes getting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and sat-nav.
We found a 2020 64kWh model with more than 105,000 miles on the clock for £13,940.
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2. Renault Zoe
Small electric cars aren’t always known for having the best range, but one car that goes against this is the brilliant Renault Zoe. Early models were fitted with a 41kWh battery, but the second-gen model got a bigger 52kWh unit, giving an official range of up to 245 miles, which for a car of this size is pretty impressive. In real world conditions you get at least 200 miles.
As for the drive, the Zoe is a more sedate electric car. It rides and handles reasonably, but can accelerate from standstill at a brisk enough pace. The Steering is light and precise which makes it easy to place on the road.
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2. Renualt Zoe
The Zoe’s biggest flaw is its safety rating. Euro NCAP refused to grade it in late 2021 when Renault removed some life-saving equipment. A no star rating isn’t good, but doesn’t mean that the Zoe is unsafe compared to older cars, it just doesn't get the latest tech-based safety features.
We found a 2017 model year car with a 41kWh and 65,000 miles on the clock for £6995.
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1. Tesla Model 3
Practical, loaded with state-of-the-art technology and offering a brilliant official range, the Tesla Model 3 is one of the best all-round electric cars you can buy. When it first launched in 2019 the Standard Range Plus model could have a WLTP-certified range of 254 miles, while the Long Range Model could travel up to 348 miles on a single charge.
Charging is also impressive, the Tesla owners able to access the firm’s own – and very reliable – Supercharger network. Plug in to one of these and you can recharge to 80% in as little as 27 minutes.
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1. Tesla Model 3
Inside the Model 3 takes the minimalist approach, with a central screen in the middle of the dashboard the control centre for all functions. It can be fiddly on the move and some physical buttons for the climate control would be welcomed.
Space is good too and you get a boot that's bigger than other more conventional executive rivals. We found a 2019 Long Range model that had covered 58,657 miles and cost £25,444.