The best bargain used electric cars to buy right now

While many manufacturers are trying their hardest to make electric cars as affordable as possible for as many buyers as possible, a lot of them are still out of reach.

The current cheapest electric car on sale is the Dacia Spring, which starts at around £15,000. If you want something with a bit more range or added decadence to its interior features, you're looking at spending well over £30,000.

Do not fret, however, because the used market is your saving grace.

The values of used electric cars are currently approaching their petrol and diesel equivalents. In fact, a reputable UK-based auctioneer has reported that the average trade price of a two- to four-year-old EV is just over £16,000, whereas diesel cars are currently around £18,000. 

This, combined with the fact that the electric cars' share of the new car market soared during the COVID-19 pandemic, means you can bag yourself a brand new EV for as little as £2000. 

But which cars should you be looking out for? After all, you don't want to bag yourself a bargain EV to then find it is riddled with issues. Here, then, is our list of the top used EVs.

Nissan Leaf - from £2000

Here it is, the car that started this whole electric craze, and one which Nissan launched to compete with cheaper mainstream combustion cars. But just like it made a case for itself way back when it launched in 2011, it still makes a case for itself today. 

To make the most of the savings, you'll need to search for the first generation Leaf manufactured between 2011 and 2017. Mind you, second generation cars can still be had from about £5000, so if you want something a bit more modern, they are worth a look.

Early models of the Leaf used a 24kWh battery which was good for a range of about 80 miles, so if you're looking for a cheap-as-chips electric city car then this is where to look. A larger-capacity 30kWh model was introduced in 2016, however, is claimed to travel up to 160 miles on a charge, making it better for long-distance commuters.

Inside, the driver's seat is easy to adjust for comfort and build quality is stellar. It should also be a reliable purchase, with many owners taking to internet forums and praising their cars for their solidity and determination to not go wrong.

Renault Zoe - from £2500

Production of the Zoe officially stopped on 30 March 2024 after a 12-year production run and sales of around 400,000 units across Europe.

All cas up until 2019 were badged 'R110', which denotes the horsepower figure (which actually amounts to 109bhp). R110 cars made use of a 54.7kWh 350V lithium-ion battery with a usable capacity of 52kWh, making for a total electric range of around 195 miles. 

After 2019, an 'R135' model was added to the range, which uses the same battery as the R110 but with a more powerful electric motor and a longer range, this time rated at 135bhp and with a range of up to 245 miles.

When shopping on the used market, you might come across owners noting that the battery has been "bought", or "paid for". This is because Renault leased the batteries to owners for a monthly fee, but at this point most of them have been purchased.

To drive, you will find the Zoe to be soft and comfortable, but it keeps its body roll in check when you're on a roundabout or taking a corner with more enthusiasm than normal. It's also very torquey off the mark, with an instant response from the electric motor.

Peugeot iON - from £3000

Talking of weirdly-styled electric superminis, the Peugeot iON arrived in 2011 and remained in production until 2019.

Early cars made use of a lithium-ion battery with a usable capacity of 14.5kWh and a real-world range of around 50 miles. When it was facelifted in 2016, it kept the same battery pack but its potential range increased to 85 miles. That, combined with its leisurely performance, makes it a car you can only really use for driving in built-up areas.

This is, of course, no bad thing. At 3500mm in length, it is similar in size to Peugeot's 107 supermini, which makes it easy to manoeuvre and thread through tight junctions. What's more, its 1600mm height makes it quite tall for its size, which means it's very spacious inside.

As standard, all cars come with air conditioning, a leather-wrapped multi-function steering wheel, bluetooth, DAB radio and leather trim pieces. We would recommend looking for a car with the Cold Pack, however, which got a heated driver's seat and heated door mirrors. Otherwise, the iON's interior is quite basic.

Volkswagen e-Up! - from £4500

If you're on a budget and you're looking for a city runabout, the e-Up might just be exactly the car you're looking for.

With an electric range of up to 125 miles, the e-Up's largest lithium-ion battery has a total capacity of 36.8kWh and a usable capacity of 32.3kWh. The smallest battery, used in the earlier cars, is 18kWh and takes the supermini about 60 miles on a charge.

No matter which one you go for, however, you will not be able to travel especially long distances, which is why it is our recommended pick for city dwellers.

The car with the smallest battery was manufactured between 2016 and 2019, and charges at speeds of up to 37kW. That means you will be able to top it up in around 25 minutes. The 36.8kWh car, meanwhile, will top up in 48 minutes at the same charge speed.

Standard equipment includes a heated windscreen, air conditioning, a trip computer, leather trim pieces, and Volkswagen's portable navigation system called 'Maps & More'.

BMW i3 - from £5000

The BMW i3, much like the Nissan Leaf, was ahead of its time when it first launched back in 2013. This compact electric hatchback was comfortably the best car in its class, with a competitive official range of up to 205 miles, whip-crack acceleration that didn’t seem to ail off the faster you went, and bold styling that still hasn’t dated.

An incredible amount of care was taken during this car's six-year development, and it arrived looking to prove that electric cars could be different from the three-box norm. And indeed it was, with bold styling cues that continue to make it a very distinctive proposition.

Two powertrains were available: an EV with 168bhp and a claimed range of 80-100 miles, and a range-extender (REx) with a BMW-developed electric motor and a 647cc two-cylinder petrol engine from a motorbike.

Both versions sent their power to the rear wheels via a single-speed transmission from a 22kWh, 33kWh or 42.2kWh battery pack. The range-extender car had a much better range at 190 miles, but it is not a pure-EV.

Hyundai Ioniq - from £7000

Because this car was the start of Hyundai's big plan to storm the market with a new breed of electric cars, the South Korean firm knew it had to get the Ioniq right.

Sitting on the same platform as the Kia Niro, the Ioniq makes use of high-strength steel to help rigidity, along with aluminium panels and other lightweight componentry to reduce its overall heft; in total, it's around 1500kg - quite light compared with more modern electric cars.

This means that its battery, which has a 38.3kWh capacity, is good for a real-world range of 193 miles, and its efficiency is rated at 247Wh/mi, which was highly competitive for its day. What's more, if you take it to a CCS rapid charger and take it to its maximum charge speed of 44kW, it will top itself up in just under 50 minutes. A 28kWh battery is also available, which can achieve 174 miles to a charge.

Cars available from £7000-£8000 are mostly of Premium specification, which gets luxuries like ventilated front seats upholstered in leather, a rear parking camera, dual-zone climate control, lumbar support for the driver's seat and adaptive cruise control.

Vauxhall Corsa Electric - from £8000

Both the Corsa and the e-208 share the same e-CMP platform developed by parent company Stellantis, which means that their specifications are very similar to one another.

It uses a 50kWh battery - 46.3kWh in usable capacity - which makes for an official all-electric range of up to 222 miles on a single charge. In the real world, however, many owners have found that their car will travel 180 miles, which for most people will be good enough for their morning commute.

The Corsa also shares very similar performance figures with the e-208, with either a 134bhp front-mounted motor or a more powerful 154bhp unit. Both produce 192lb ft of torque for 0-62mph times of 8.9sec and 8.2sec respectively.

You also get a very similar as-standard specification, with many top-rung Elite Nav Premium cars, which sport a 10in colour touchscreen, 17in alloys, LED matrix headlamps, and a heated steering wheel.

At the end of the day, however, it comes down to whichever car you prefer the look of.

Peugeot e-208 - from £9000

Launched in 2019, the e-208 was one of the first superminis on the market to go electric. Since then, almost 110,000 have been sold to European customers, which means there are plenty of used examples to choose from if you shop around.

It was available with either a 50kWh battery or a 51kWh unit, each with 46.3kWh and 48kWh of respective usable capacity. The smaller battery has a WLTP range of 225 miles, while the 51kWh car travels 248 miles. As standard, all cars are fitted with a heat pump to ensure their range doesn't drop off too much in winter.

What's more, if you top it up with a 100kW charger, it should only take half an hour to get from 10%-80% charge.

What about equipment levels? As standard, all cars come with 16in alloy wheels, LED daytime running lights, air conditioning, a 7.0in colour touchscreen and rear parking sensors, so no matter which car you go for, it should be well-equipped.

Hyundai Kona Electric - from £9000

Hyundai's rise to prominence on UK roads comes as no surprise to many. Because the brand blends warranty-backed reliability, tantalising value and aesthetic appeal, the South Korean brand makes a case for itself in every sector in which it operates.

The Kona Electric is no exception. It offered one of the most competitive blends of usability and affordability the electric car had yet seen, and even today it represents serious value for money.

Two battery sizes are available, a 64kWh unit, with a WLTP range of 300 miles, and a 39kWh car good for 194 miles. The good news is that, at this price range, both the 39kWh and 64kWh cars are available with similar mileages. The car's on-board CCS Type 2 connector can take the car to an 80% charge in 54 minutes when charging at 100kW, while a domestic 240V outlet will take it to this level in 31 hours.

Equipment levels varied from car to car but the good news is that top-specification Premium SE cars are available for around £10,000. For that you get Hyundai’s 8.0in infotainment system, as well as a nine-speaker Krell premium audio system, a DAB radio, a wireless smartphone charging pad and sat nav.

Kia e-Niro - from £12,000

The Kia e-Niro of 2019-2022 marked the South Korean brand's arrival into the electric car market, and while it is the most expensive car here, it was a very strong effort. It received high praise from Move Electric's sister titles Autocar and WhatCar?, even becoming the latter title's car of the year in 2019.

Why was it so widely regarded? Well, for starters, it offers a very good electric range at a competitive price, and given that you can now pick one up for around £12,000, they are fantastic value.

All cars received a 64kWh battery pack which was good for an official range of 283 miles, although in the real world this was more like 250 miles. The battery itself is able to be charged at speeds of up to 150kW, which means it will top itself up from 20% to 80% in half an hour.

As standard, all cars were fitted with an electric driver's seat, lumbar support, partial leather upholstery, heated seats and a 7.0in touchscreen. Its performance was also quite strong, with the 0-62mph sprint completed in a warm hatch-baiting 7.8sec.