The best used electric cars on a budget

Buying a brand new electric car isn't always necessary, especially when making the switch for the first time.

You see, electric cars have become more advanced over time, with the latest models featuring the most efficient battery technology and fast charging speeds.

Sure, a brand new car will have the best range and will be more frugal with its energy, but there are plenty of used models that will meet your needs.

With this in mind, we've put together a list of affordable all-round electric cars. These are the cars than can do both long and short journeys, while also being spacious and practical.

MG 5 

Whether you opt for the 250-mile SE Long Range or the 235-mile tech-orientated Trophy Long Range, the MG5 has you covered when it comes to boot space with its 578-litre capacity (1367 litres with the seats folded).

It also has your back if you need to precondition your car on winter days via the MG iSMART app or if you need to zip off the mark for whatever reason (0-60mph in 7.3sec). 2022 cars can be purchased for around £25,000.

Renault Megane E-Tech

The new E-Tech shows just how grown up the Megane can be. Passengers get 209mm of leg room, there’s also 33 litres of cabin storage and a 440-litre boot which extends to 1332 litres with the rear seats folded.

The 220bhp electric motor delivers a 0-62mph time of 7.5sec and Renault claims the range is 280 miles. There are few used cars available but you can have a 2023 car with 5500 miles for around £30,000.

Cupra Born

With its rear-mounted electric motor, sports suspension and clever electronic stability control, the Cupra Born is a genuinely fun and engaging electric car to drive. You can be born with a 59kWh battery, which promises a range of up to 264 miles, or a larger 77kWh pack, which gives a range of up to 342 miles.

And there is more space inside than rivals like the Renault Megane E-Tech and Vauxhall Astra Electric. 2022 models now cost around £25,000.

Volkswagen ID 3

When released, the ID 3 was equipped with a 58kWh battery good for 265 miles. It would charge via a 50kW rapid charger from 10 to 80% in just over an hour, but if you found a fast 150kW unit, that’d be cut to just 30min.

Open the boot and you’re met with 385 litres, fold the rear seats flat and this expands to 1267 litres. Its 201bhp motor helps the ID 3 complete the 0-62mph dash in just 7.3sec before topping out at 99mph. Tidy cars from 2020 with 38,000 miles can be bought for less than £20,000.

MG 4

The MG is one of the most affordable small electric cars you can buy. It undercuts a number of key European rivals on price and offers an excellent range, especially in SE Long Range trim. It can travel up to 281 miles on a charge.

Despite the shape, boot space is generous at 363 litres (1177 litres with the seats folded). SE models from 2022 with 3700 miles cost around £24,000.

Tesla Model 3

Now that the new-generation Model 3 has landed, you can snap up the old model for a reasonable price. You don’t have to be picky either, as all variants fall under the £30,000 threshold. If range is the main concern then the 373-mile Long Range version is your best bet, or the Standard Range car which can do 319 miles on charge. 

Performance versions sacrifice a bit of range for searing acceleration; 0-62mph sprints are covered in 3.2sec. Used examples with 20,000 miles can be purchased for around £27,000.

Nissan Leaf

The Leaf has been around for some time now, and even though it's one of the older used models on this list, it still appeals for its semi-quick charging time and interior space. The boot’s big enough for a medium dog and boasts 435 litres, fold the seats down and this increases to 1176 litres.

For those needing more punch, you can choose the Leaf e+ variant. This variant produces 217bhp, 67bhp more than the standard car, which means it’ll dispatch 0-62mph in 6.9sec. Cars with 30,000 miles can be had for around £13,000, which makes it quite cheap.

Skoda Enyaq

Skoda’s first EV was a beer truck and it was built in 1939; its first bespoke electric car, however, was the Enyaq, released in 2020. Buyers can either choose the iV 60, a 177bhp 256-mile-range car, or opt for the more expensive 201bhp iV 80, which is good for 329 miles.

The estate rear means the boot has 585 litres or 1710 litres with the seats flat; this is reduced to 570 and 1610 litres for those who choose the pricey Coupe variant. You can buy a nice Enyaq 80 from 2021 with 17,000 miles for around £28,000.

Jaguar I-Pace

The Jaguar I-Pace was ahead of its time when it launched in 2018. Not only was it a luxury SUV, it was also an engaging and enjoyable electric car to drive. Powered by a 90kWh battery, the I-Pace can travel up to 292 miles on a single charge. 

Move inside and you’re met with soft-touch leather and refined materials, helping to deliver an upmarket premium feel. 2021 cars with around 30,000 miles for £26,000.

BMW i3

You may question the ability to transport a large dog in the boot of the i3 and we wouldn’t blame you — boot size is only 260 litres or 1100 litres with the seats folded. It has four seats and accessing the rear is done via the nifty rear-hinged doors.

The range for the EV-only variant was originally around 100 miles whereas the range-extender, which had a 657cc engine, pushed that to 186 miles. For 2016 models, the battery was increased and the range expanded to 195 miles and 276 miles respectively. In 2022, BMW canned the i3 to focus on the i4 and iX cars. You can have a 2020 range-extender car with 22,000 miles for around £17,000.

Peugeot e-208

Like the normal 208, Peugeot managed to keep the boot space at 311 litres (1106 litres with the seats folded) due to the batteries being mounted in the floor. There’s only a 136bhp electric motor available here but it’ll still crack 0-60mph in 7.5sec and deliver 192lb ft.

Peugeot claims that the e-208 is good for 218 miles and that it’ll charge from empty to 80% in 30min from a 100kW charging station. 2020 cars come in at around £15,000.

Renault Zoe

Things start with a 22kWh battery, giving 130 miles and 88bhp, which is enough for city driving. The larger 41kWh battery is claimed to last for 250 miles while newer cars have a 55kWh 223-mile 135bhp option with rapid charging.

Boot space is generous at 338 litres, extending to 1225 litres with the seats flat. What’s more, they’re pretty good value. Newer 55kWh Zoes from 2022 with just 1000 miles can be had for around £19,000.

Audi Q4 e-tron

If you want a spacious SUV that’s refined and comfortable, the Audi Q4 e-tron is a strong proposition. The e-tron is fitted with a 82kWh battery, giving a range of up to 321 miles. 

There is plenty of room inside, with enough space in the back for taller passengers. And you get a 585-litre boot with a wide boot aperture, which makes it easier to lift bulkier items inside. 2022 models with around 20,000 miles on the clock can be purchased for around £28,000.

Peugeot e-2008

If you’re finding yourself looking at the MG ZS or the Kia e-Niro, the e-2008 should also be on your list. Like the e-208, it has 136bhp, it will hit 62mph from rest in under 9sec and reach 93mph flat out. It has a 50kWh battery pack which Peugeot says is good for 212 miles and it’ll support rapid charging up to 100kW, replenishing it from 10 to 80% in 30min.

The boot space matches that of the normal 2008 at 405 litres, falling ever so slightly short of the MG ZS and e-Niro. 2021 cars can be had for around £18,000.

Hyundai Ioniq 5

If you fancy a stylish EV, then the Ioniq 5 is the way to go with its aggressive front and galactic-like rear lights. There’re three battery options available: a 58kWh, a 73kWh and a 77kWh but the smaller 58kWh is the one in our £30,000 budget.

This option will still manage around 238 miles on a charge and deliver decent performance from its 168bhp motor — 0-62mph in 8.5sec. Its 527-litre boot extends to 1587 litres if you fold the seats flat. 2022 cars can be bought for around £29,000.

Citroën ë-C4

The ë-C4 doesn’t have the largest battery on our list at 50kWh but Citroën does say that it’s good for 219 miles and will charge from 15 to 80% in 30min using a 100kW charger. The boot is decent at 380 litres (1250 litres with the seats down) which is like the one found in the Volkswagen ID.3.

Its 136bhp electric motor means that the ë-C4 will take a leisurely 10sec to reach 62mph but it does have 192lb ft on tap for swift overtaking. There are plenty to choose from in the used market; a 2022 car can be bought for around £21,000.

Mini Electric

The Mini Electric arrived in 2020 as the brand's first mass-market electric car, featuring drivetrain technology from the BMW i3. Fitted with an 181bhp electric motor, the Mini proved to be a fun electric car, with go-kart-like agility. 

A 32.6kWh battery gives a range of up to 145 miles. Being a city-focused supermini, space inside is limited and you only get 211 litres of boot space. Early cars with less than 20,000 miles on the clock cost from around £15,000.

MG ZS

It’s easy to see why the ZS EV is so popular with its plethora of standard tech on offer and four trim levels: SE, Trophy, SE Long Range and Trophy Long Range, catering for various range needs. Range is 198 miles for the SE and spans to 273 miles for both Long Range variants.

All variants will hit 62mph from rest in around 8sec. 2022 Trophy cars with 4000 miles cost around £23,000.

Hyundai Kona Electric

The first-generation Hyundai Kona Electric was launched with two variants: a 136bhp 189-mile 39kWh and a 204bhp 300-mile 64kWh — both fall below our £30,000 budget limit.

The latter is nearly 2sec quicker to 62mph than the 39kWh version at 7.9sec but both cars will top out at around 100mph. Both variants have 332 litres of boot space and 1114 litres with the seats folded. 64kWh models from 2022 with 8100 miles on the clock can be had for around £26,000.

DS Automobiles DS 3 Electric

Although there’s only one trim to choose from, a 50kWh, Citroën claims it gives 232 miles of range. Mix this with a 134bhp, 192lb ft motor and you get a spacious SUV with decent boot space — 350 litres — with enough oomph to hit 62mph from rest in 8.7sec.

Its max charging speed is 101kW, or 10 to 80% in just 30min. Clean and tidy 2021 cars can be had for around £28,000.

Mazda MX-30

The MX-30 traces its roots almost back to the RX-8 with its rear-hinged doors, with Mazda launching it as an electric alternative to the ICE-powered CX-30. 2022 cars received a charging hike from 40kW to 50kW, meaning the 35.5kWh battery, capable of around 124 miles, will charge from 20 to 80% in just 26min.

The boot size is 350 litres or 1155 litres when you fold the seats down and the 143bhp motor will haul it to 62mph in just under 10sec. 2022 cars can be purchased for around £24,000.