Top 10 used electric cars

Although some rivals can travel for longer on a charge and others are considerably cheaper, the Corsa-e is a great all-rounder and a fine car in its own right. It’s not quite as comfortable or as flashy inside as the Peugeot e-208, with which it shares a lot of its underpinnings, but its slightly sharper handling and more conventional interior layout make it a convincing alternative. 

We found: 2020 Vauxhall Corsa-e 50kWh Elite, 11,000 miles, £12,995

Find a used one for sale here

Launched in 2020, the Volkswagen ID 3 was the first-born child of the manufacturer’s ever-expanding all-electric ID series. It's good to drive, with nippy performance, it has plenty of range and it comes with a spacious and practical interior. True, the overall quality of the interior is a little underwhelming, and the infotainment system can be fiddly, but overall the ID 3 is now one of the best used electric cars you can buy. 

We found: 2020 Volkswagen ID 3, 19,000 miles, £22,550

Find a used Nissan Leaf for sale here

The practical MG ZS EV offers a lot for the money in the electric car world, with good interior space, a big boot and plenty of standard equipment. There's a claimed range of 163 miles, too. What's more, you can buy a decent car that's under a year old for a surprisingly modest outlay. It's even surprisingly good to drive, and comfortable to ride in. All in, it's a great way to get a foot on the electric-car ladder. 

We found: 2020 MG ZS EV Exclusive, 9000 miles, £14,000

Find a used one for sale here

Though the regular 208 looks strikingly modern, it's the e-208 that sounds it due to the subdued woosh of electric power you hear upon accelerating. It also has a great interior and is surprisingly good fun to drive. It rides well, too, and it's quieter than most of its rivals. In fact, it's a great all-rounder. Its official range of 217 miles is also decently competitive, as is its used pricing. 

We found: 2020 Peugeot e-208 50kWh Allure, 12,000 miles, £14,995

Find a used Peugeot e-208 for sale here 

The E-tron luxury SUV was released in 2019 as Audi's first production electric car, and its mission was to put the German brand firmly on the EV map. And it certainly succeeded, spawning a whole new generation of electric Audi SUVs. The E-tron impresses with its luxury, practicality and tech, and its attractive used prices. It's incredibly refined and ticks all the practical SUV boxes, so it's great for families, plus the range is reasonable, with the 50 quattro officially managing 198 miles. 

We found: 2020 Audi E-tron 50 quattro Technik, 60,000 miles, £28,500

Find a used Audi E-tron for sale here

The Kia e-Niro might not look like a revolution, but it was one of the first pure electric cars offered at a reasonable price that came with a terrific on-paper range. It's handily sized outside and roomy inside, and it comes with a range that will embarrass many more expensive electric cars. In our Real Range test, it achieved 253 miles in real-world use. Look for '3' trim which has the 64kWh battery, because it's quicker, has a much longer range, is better to drive and gets an upgraded infotainment system.

We found: 2020 Kia e-Niro 64kWh 3, 49,000 miles, £20,000

Find a used one for sale here

The Kona Electric is practical and easy to live with. There are two power outputs and battery pack sizes available: a 134bhp/39kWh version and a more potent 201bhp/64kWh model. The range is exceptional, with the 64kWh version managing 259 miles on a single charge during real-range resting. That variant also has a fairly speedy 0-60mph time of 7.9sec. It just bests the similar Kia e-Niro by having a slightly longer real-world range and being cheaper to buy age for age. 

We found: 2020 Hyundai Kona Electric Premium 64kWh, 26,000 miles, £18,450

Find a used Hyundai Kona Electric for sale here

The electric car to buy if money is limited, and the best value overall.  Yes, you can pick up an old Zoe for as little as £7000, but even the later versions are great value.  Its official range, under the latest WLTP testing, is 238 or 245 miles depending on power output. It's good to drive, too, and decently practical, though its poor safety rating – which was mostly due to a lack of safety kit on entry-level models – could work against it. 

We found: 2019 Renault Zoe R135 50kWh GT Line, 28,000 miles, £9000

Find a used Renault Zoe for sale here

The I-Pace is one of the most advanced electric cars in the world, and one that comes with a very long range – 292 miles, officially. Better still, it can be yours for a lot less than it cost new. Under its floor, the I-Pace has a huge battery pack that provides power to all four wheels through two electric motors, one at the front and one at the back, with a total output of 395bhp. That 90kWh battery gives the car exceptional performance. The interior is a luxurious delight, too. 

We found: 2019 Jaguar I-Pace EV400 S 90kWh, 35,000 miles, £27,000

Find a used Jaguar I-Pace for sale here

Launched in 2019, the Model 3 has been a runaway worldwide sales success. It offers state-of-the-art tech, great performance and an excellent range in a relatively affordable package. The Standard Range Plus is WLTP-certified for 254 miles of claimed range and the Long Range steps that up to 348 miles. The Performance officially does 329 miles. All Model 3s come with plenty of luxuries, and the best news of all is that used prices have now fallen to a tempting low.  

We found: 2019 Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus, 47,000 miles, £23,500 

Find a used Tesla Model 3 for sale here