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, £18,995

Find a used one for sale here

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

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 

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

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 

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

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

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

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

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