The number of electric cars on the roads of the UK are rising rapidly – and in turn sales of used EVs are also soaring.
A record 71,071 used battery electric cars were sold in the UK last year, a rise of 37.5 per cent on 2021. But which models were most popular with used car buyers? Well, since you asked… here are the ten best-selling used electric cars in the UK in 2022.
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Transaction figures have been provided by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), while all estimated pricing details are taken from our sister brand What Car?'s Used Car classifieds (which are powered by Auto Trader).
If you're thinking of trying to bag a bargain, make sure you read our Used Electric Car Buying Guide.
1 Nissan Leaf (17,270 transactions)
It’s no surprise that the Nissan Leaf dominates sales of used EVs: the hatch has now been on sale for more than a decade, and spans two generations.
That also means that there are lots of options spanning a wide range of prices available. Early first generation models featured a 24kWh or 30kWh battery, with a 30kWh version arriving in 2016. They could be charged at speeds of up to 44kW.
The significantly upgraded second-gen Leaf landed in 2018 with a choice of 40kWh and 62kWh batteries – and the ability to charge at speeds up to 100kW.
That variety of battery size and technology means there’s a wide range of Leafs available. Early models with the smaller 24kWh battery are priced from around £4600, with 30kWh versions starting from around £9000. Second-generation 40kWh models start from around £12,500, rising to around £22,500 for a 2019-reg 60kWh model.
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2 Tesla Model 3 (8145)
Tesla’s much-anticipated saloon finally arrived in 2017 and has been a huge hit, topping the UK EV sales chart in 2021 and finishing second – behind the closely related Model Y – last year. With a range of up to 315 miles it’s a hugely practical choice, so it’s no surprise it’s rapidly become a popular used purchase.
The ten best-selling electric cars in the UK
The cheapest we found was a 63,630-mile 2020 Standard Range model for £25,698, but you could spend up to £69,995 for a 2800-mile Dual Motor model with the Performance upgrade – which is above the £57,990 asking price for a new version.
3 Renault Zoe (7658)
Like the Nissan Leaf, the French hatchback is a long-running electric pioneer, offering reasonable space and decent range. Launched back in 2012 and now spanning two generations, the Zoe is currently Europe’s all-time best-selling EV – so a good number pop up on the Used market.
While early models featured a 22kWh battery (initially offered on a lease deal), a 41kWh version was introduced in 2016 and a 52kWh version offering a 245-mile range landing for the second-generation model in 2019. The power output also rose: early models used a 66kW motor, but 80kW and 100kW versions later arrived.
Early Zoe models are now relatively affordable: the cheapest we found was a £6700 2013 model with a 22kWh leased battery that had done 79,701 miles. More recent versions with the 52kWh battery and more powerful motor are priced from around £15,600.
4 BMW i3 (6216)
The BMW i3 has only just gone out of production, and we already miss it. The German marque’s first series production EV was a truly unusual hatch, with distinctive styling both inside and out. But it has bags of character and was surprisingly practical.
Launched in 2013, the i3 was offered as both a a pure EV and as an electric range-extender with a small petrol motor. That version was discontinued in 2018, when the EV model was upgraded to a 42.2kWh unit. There was Alsop a sportily styled BMW i3S.
Given you can’t get a new one anymore, the used market is the only place you can get your hands on one. Around £11,000 will get you a 2014 Range Extender model, but you’ll need to spend £12,495 for the cheapest pure electric version: a 2014 car that’s done 93,470 miles.
As you might expect for a car just out of production, recent examples will set you back a good deal of money: a 2022 version with 845 miles on the clock will cost £35,171.
5 Jaguar I-Pace (5356)
The Jaguar I-Pace is a large, luxurious SUV that’s great to drive, and given it’s not the cheapest EV on the market a used version can give you a taste of premium British motoring at a discount price. And judging by the sales figures, it’s proving a tempting option.
The I-Pace features a 90kWh battery that delivers an impressive range of 292 miles, while the only powertrain option is a dual motor, 290kW unit. That makes it fairly simple for used car buyers, although it’s worth noting early models featured a 7.4kW charger, while newer examples have an 11kW version.
Prices start from £29,000 for a 2019-reg model that’s done 52,000 miles, while you can pay up to £69,999 for a Black edition that’s done just 2589 miles.
6 MG ZS (4606)
While the Jaguar I-Pace is a firmly premium option, the MG ZS is one for buyers looking to stretch their budget. As new, it has a starting price of £26,095, and for that money you get a decent-sized family SUV that has plenty of practicality to make up for any lack of frills.
Early versions uses a 44.5kWh battery and a 105kW motor, with an official range of 163 miles. Prices start from £16,995 for a 202 model with 57,700 miles on the clock.
In 2021 a facelift introduced a 72.6kWh battery that increased the range to 211 miles, and prices for those machines start from around £30,000.
7 Tesla Model S (3502)
Tesla’s large saloon might be showing its age slightly compared to the smaller Model 3, but it’s still a top pick if you’re looking for a premium machine with an impressive range of up to 405 miles. And if you cover lots of miles, another major bonus is access to the impressive Tesla Supercharger network.
On sale since 2012, the Model S has been offered with both a single rear motor and a more powerful twin motor set-up, and with batteries ranging in size from 75kWh to 100kWh, so It’s worth paying attention to what you’re buying.
The cheapest model we found on sale was a 2014 version that had covered 82,596 miles with an 85kWh battery for £22,999, but you’ll have to shell out upwards of £42,989 for a Long Range version with that 100kWh battery. If outright performance is a priority then there are a handful of Ludicrous models on the market – although you will pay fairly ludicrous prices for them.
8 Vauxhall Corsa Electric (3305)
The Vauxhall Corsa has long been one of the most popular cars in the UK, and that extends to the electric version that arrived in 2020 and was originally based as the Corsa-e. It’s easy to see why, with the hatchback offering a 100kW motor and a 50kWh battery, with a range of 210 miles.
Offered in a range of trims, an increasing number of Corsa-e are beginning to arrive on the used market, with prices currently starting for £15,495 for model from 2020 that’s done 26,000 miles. Nearly new models with low mileage in Elite Premium trim are close to £29,000.
9 Volkswagen ID 3 (3290)
The first model in Volkswagen’s ID line-up of bespoke electric vehicles, the ID 3 is essentially a battery-powered equivalent to the long-running Golf. It’s an excellent all-round vehicle: while the minimalist interior might take a bit of adjusting to and the infotainment has prompted a few grumbles (which should be addressed in an imminent facelift), it’s really comfortable, decent to drive and easy to live with.
There are three battery sizes (45kWh, 58kWh and 77kWh) and various powertrains and trims to choose from, so again it’s worth looking carefully at the specs of any you’re considering buying.
Examples with the 45kWh and 58kWh batteries start from around £26,000. There are only a handful of 77kWh machines on the used market, and prices for those start from around £37,000.
10 Audi e-tron (3226)
The Audi e-tron is the German firm’s first EV, and is an SUV that blends premium features and comfort with impressive tech and a quiet zero-emission powertrain.
You’ll find two battery sizes: models badged 50 feature a 230kW powertrain and a 71kWh battery, while 55 models use a 95kWh powertrain, with power outputs ranging from 300 to 370kW. There’s also an S version which uses three motors.
The cheapest e-tron we could find is actually a 55 model that’s covered 66,650 miles for £29,295, while similar money will get you a 50 version that have covered fewer miles. You can pay upwards of £70,000 for newer examples in higher trim levels.
There’s also the e-tron Sportback – basically a coupe-SUV version – to consider. And it’s worth noting the model has just received a facelift, being rebranded as the Q8 e-tron and gaining new motors and batteries.
