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Top 10 used electric cars

Electric cars are bang on-trend, and if you buy used you don’t need to spend a fortune to get into one. Here we list our top 10 favourites, from urban runarounds to luxury SUVs...

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by
Oliver Young
Updated12 February 2023

Used electric

It's perhaps not surprising that, with the proposed legislation banning the sale of pure petrol and diesel-engined cars in the UK from 2030, and hybrid cars from 2035, fast approaching, interest in electric cars has grown enormously and demand for zero-emissions vehicles is growing exponentially.

Buying a new electric car can still cost rather a lot of money, though. One solution is to buy one used, where you can dip your toes in the future without spending a fortune. Here, we've brought together our top 10 favourite used electric cars. Some are stylish, some are sensible, but all of them have plenty to offer the eco-conscious motorist on a budget.

10

Vauxhall Corsa-e

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, £18,995

Find a used one for sale here

 

Pros

  • Impressive performance for a small car
  • Good equipment levels
  • Capable of fast charging speeds

Cons

  • Its range is average
  • Used prices are still rather high
  • The similar e-208 has more flair
9

Nissan Leaf

This second-generation Leaf is a well-equipped car that's good to drive and easy to live with, and a good buy if your budget lies below the £20,000 mark. Nissan claims a range of around 168 miles for the 40kWh version and around 239 miles for the 62kWh version.  Both are tempting to buy used but the 40kWh version actually rides much better than the 62kWh car and is cheaper and for those reasons, we'd shop for one of those. 

We found: 2020 Nissan Leaf 40kWh Tekna, 19,000 miles, £16,550

Find a used Nissan Leaf for sale here

Pros

  • Good performance
  • Easy to live with
  • Well equipped

Cons

  • Rear head room limited
  • Interior could be classier
  • Limited steering wheel adjustment
8

Peugeot e-208

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, £19,995

Find a used Peugeot e-208 for sale here 

Pros

  • Good to drive
  • Modern and well-finished interior
  • Relatively good value

Cons

  • Steering wheel can obscure instruments
  • Mushy brake pedal feel
  • Some rivals have more range
7

Hyundai Kona Electric

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. With its five-year transferable warranty from new, it's a great used package. 

We found: 2019 Hyundai Kona Electric Premium 64kWh, 26,000 miles, £21,450

Find a used Hyundai Kona Electric for sale here

Pros

  • 250-miles-plus range in real-world driving (64kWh version)
  • Strong acceleration
  • Even the base trim level is well-equipped

Cons

  • Rear seat space and boot is limited
  • Doesn't ride as well as the Kia e-Niro or Peugeot e-208
6

Volkswagen e-Golf

The e-Golf is not based on the brand new Mk8 version of the 2020-onwards Volkswagen Golf but the very popular Mk7 one. Don't worry, though, it's good to drive, rides well and it's a highly practical electric car. Indeed the biggest compliment you can pay the e-Golf is that it feels just like a regular Golf.  The claimed range increased to a reasonable 186 miles (according to the older NEDC tests) after the 2017 facelift. That's the one we'd look for.

We found: 2019 Volkswagen e-Golf 35kWh, 21,000 miles, £22,000 

Find a used one for sale here 

 

Pros

  • Great to drive
  • Well equipped
  • Spacious interior

Cons

  • Some other electric cars offer greater range
  • Smaller boot than standard Golf
  • Heat pump not standard
5

MG ZS EV

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, £17,000

Find a used one for sale here

 

Pros

  • Lot of room for passengers
  • Big boot
  • Well equipped

Cons

  • Limited steering wheel adjustment
  • Not that comfortable or good to drive
4

Audi E-tron

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. Did it succeed? Yes it did. The model has already impressed with its luxury, practicality and tech, making it not only an attractive buy new but now also a good, well-priced used option. 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, 20,000 miles, £30,500

Find a used Audi E-tron for sale here

Pros

  • Comfortable ride
  • Very smooth and quiet
  • Spacious and luxurious interior

Cons

  • Disappointing range
  • Fiddly infotainment system
  • BMW iX3 or Jaguar I-Pace is more fun to drive
3

Renault Zoe

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: 2020 Renault Zoe R135 50kWh GT Line, 8000 miles, £16,000

Find a used Renault Zoe for sale here

Pros

  • Low running costs
  • Quiet and easy to drive
  • Decent range

Cons

  • So-so performance
  • Inconsistent brake feel
  • Interior isn't plush
2

Jaguar I-Pace

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, £32,000

Find a used Jaguar I-Pace for sale here

Pros

  • Big range
  • Entertaining handling
  • Futuristic looks

Cons

  • Road noise
  • Poor rear visibility
  • Reliability can be an issue
1

Tesla Model 3

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 now one can be yours for less than £30,000. 

We found: 2019 Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus, 27,000 miles, £26,500 

Find a used Tesla Model 3 for sale here

Pros

  • Tremendous performance
  • Long range
  • Surprisingly practical

Cons

  • Build quality could be better
  • Ride and handling not up to top ICE rivals