Best used electric cars for less than £25,000
Electric cars don't come cheap, but you can get a great one for a much more reasonable price if you buy used...
You'd have had to be living under a rock not to know that, since the proposed legislation banning the sale of pure petrol and diesel-engined cars in the UK was first announced, the interest in electric cars has grown enormously.
Buying a new electric car can still cost a lot of money, though. One solution is to buy used, where you won't end up spending a fortune.
Here, we've brought together our top 10 favourites for less than £25,000. All of them are under three years old. Some are stylish, some are sensible, but all of them have plenty to offer the eco-conscious motorist on a budget.
Click on the links below each review, and you can even put the car on your driveway sooner than you'd think.
Strengths
- Tremendous performance in all versions
- Impressive electric range for everyday driving
- Surprisingly practical for its size
- Advanced tech features a boon
Weaknesses
- Build quality could be better
- Ride and handling not up to top its best ICE rivals
- Touchscreen can be distracting to use while driving
Launched in 2019, the Tesla 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. Of these earlier models, 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 an extremely tempting low, starting at just £12,000.
"Every time we test a Tesla, it proves vastly more efficient than its rivals; the latest, post-2022 Model 3 averaged 3.7 miles per kilowatt hour of electricity used on our real-world test route." – Mark Pearson, used cars editor
We found: 2023 Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus, 37,000 miles, £25,000
Read our full used Tesla Model 3 review
Search for a used Tesla Model 3 for sale
Strengths
- Extremely spacious interior
- Well equipped in all trim levels
- Plush and comfortable ride, even on rough roads
- Very well priced as a used buy
Weaknesses
- So-so performance by electric car standards
- Some rivals are more adept in the handling department
- Infotainment isn’t as responsive as some rival systems
The Skoda Enyaq may look rather conventional next to one or two of its modern electric SUV rivals, but don’t be put off: it’s one of the best around, new or used, regardless of size. It’s good to drive, comfortable, practical, extremely refined and comes with a decent range. The iV 60 version has a 58kWh battery and a decent official range. Bought used, it’s also great value. It could be all the car you’ll ever need.
"I'm not usually a fan of touchscreen infotainment systems, but the Enyaq's is helped by having five customisable icons on the top that take you directly to your favourite functions." – George Hill, used cars writer
We found: 2024 Skoda Enyaq iV60 63kWh Nav Loft, 22,000 miles, £24,995
Read our full used Skoda Enyaq review
Search for a used Skoda Enyaq for sale
Strengths
- Good to drive with nippy performance
- Plenty of range
- Spacious interior
Weaknesses
- Underwhelming interior quality
- Questionable reliability
- Infotainment system misses the mark
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.
"I know looks are a matter of personal taste, but I thought it looked a million dollars when it first came out and it still looks pretty good today. A really attractive used buy, in all senses of the word." - Mark Pearson, used cars editor
We found: 2024 Volkswagen ID 3 Pro Performance 58kWh Life, 9000 miles, £23,000
Read our full used VW ID 3 review
Search for a used VW ID 3 for sale
Strengths
- Great to drive
- Intuitive infotainment system
- Good reliability record
Weaknesses
- A fair few alternatives are faster
- An Audi E-tron or Mercedes EQC will cost you less to buy
- The Tesla Model Y can go further on a single charge
From its driving experience to its build quality, the BMW iX3 is a class act. It's well-rounded and in our eyes devoid of any major weaknesses. And the good news is you can now pick one up for a very healthy discount off the price you'd pay for one new. Part of its appeal is the way it drives. For a car as heavy and tall as the iX3, it has remarkable agility and composure in the bends. It feels well-screwed together and has lots of dense, squishy materials in the most important places. Prices start at just £20,000.
"I love the way the iX3 drives. As electric SUVs go, it's one of the sharpest and most fun out there. I also found it rather comfortable." – George Hill, used cars writer
We found: 2023 BMW iX3 80kWh Premier Edition, 43,000 miles, £24,500
Read our full used BMW iX3 review
Search for a used BMW iX3 for sale
Strengths
- Terrific range for family use
- Spacious interior with plenty of storage options
- Well equipped with modern features
- Plenty of head and leg room for passengers
Weaknesses
- Stiff ride in urban conditions
- Handling isn't as exciting as one or two of its rivals
- Limited boot space due to the battery fitment
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 one of our Real Range tests, it achieved 253 miles in real-world use. Look for '3' trim with the 64kWh battery, because it's quicker, has a much longer range, is better to drive and gets an upgraded infotainment system. Prices start at just £11,000.
"Proof that we know what we're talking about. This e-Niro was class-leading when it was launched and it makes a really attractive used buy now." - George Hill, used cars writer
We found: 2022 Kia e-Niro 64kWh 3, 29,000 miles, £18,000
Read our full used Kia e-Niro review
Search for a used Kia e-Niro for sale
Strengths
- Good range between charges
- Sharp, capable handling
- Remains comfortable, despite its sporty demenour
Weaknesses
- Fiddly touch-sensitive buttons
- Subpar infotainment system
- Interior feels cheap in places
It's no coincidence that the Cupra Born looks like a Volkswagen ID 3, because that's essentially what the Born is underneath. The two are mechanically related, although the Born is effectively the sportier option. You'll find it has a slightly more upmarket interior and sharper handling. It's also the more expensive option, and that holds true for used prices as well, hence it finishes lower on our list.
"The Born feels very roomy up front, with plenty of handy cubbyholes, while even behind 6ft 2in of me a couple of six-footers will be comfortable in the back." – George Hill, used cars writer
We found 2024 Cupra Born 58kWh V2, 12,000 miles, £24,500
Read our full used Cupra Born review
Search for a used Cupra Born for sale
Strengths
- Impressive range
- Fast-charging capability
- Spacious inside
- Long warranty
Weaknesses
- Firm ride
- Shallow boot
- Headroom not great
- Reliability mixed
The Kia EV6 is a brilliant and bang-on-trend electric car with a long range and the ability to charge up very quickly. It’s also plush inside and huge in the back and very good to drive. The cheaper rear-wheel-drive versions make more financial sense than the faster four-wheel-drive models, especially used. You'll also pick up the residue of Kia's excellent seven-year-from-new warranty.
"Another one of our old Car of the Year winners. What can I say? Terrific then, still great now. I love its refinement. Prices are really tempting here." - Mark Pearson, used cars editor
We found: 2023 Kia EV6 77.4kWh Air, 20,000 miles, £24,000
Read our full used Kia EV6 review
Search for a used Kia EV6 for sale
Strengths
- Very quiet and cosseting to drive (on 19in wheels)
- Lots of passenger room, especially in the rear
- Quick to charge
Weaknesses
- Woolly handling, more so in regards to pre-2022 cars
- Interior doesn't feel as premium or solid as it looks
- While capacity is good, the boot itself is quite shallow
Its looks are arresting enough, but there's plenty more to like about the Hyundai Ioniq 5. It's a supremely comfortable and spacious electric SUV, with a surprisingly good range and eager performance to back it up. It's quiet and cosseting, there's loads of room inside and it's quick to charge. It might look like a million dollars but its used prices are now very competitive, well under half what you'd need for a new one.
"The space between the Ioniq 5's front and rear wheels – also known as its wheelbase – is larger than that of an Audi A8 limo, so yeah, it's spacious (if I'm to say the least)." – Mark Pearson, used cars editor
We found: 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5 77kWh Ultimate, 39,000 miles, £24,000
Read our full used Hyundai Ioniq 5 review
Search for a used Hyundai Ioniq 5 for sale
Strengths
- Classy interior
- Extremely refined
- Neat infotainment system
Weaknesses
- Boot is on the small side
- Rear-seat space is only average
- Some of its rivals are a fraction cheaper to buy
With the Genesis GV60, the upmarket Korean brand took the underpinnings of the excellent Kia EV6 and added an extra layer of polish. That's great news, because we love the EV6 and we like a bit of luxury. On top of that, the GV60 offers a generous range of up to 321 miles and ultra-fast charging (meaning a 10-80% top up can take as little as 20 minutes). It's also very refined and has a wonderfully classy interior. It's slightly more expensive age-for-age than the EV6 and the Ioniq 5, and there are fewer of them on the used car forecourts, hence it finishes further down our list here.
"This really is a whisper-quiet electric vehicle, one that combines performance, refinement and space with a huge dose of luxury. Don't tell anyone but I prefer it to the Kia EV6, and that's a wonderful car too." – Mark Pearson, used cars editor
We found: 2022 Genesis GV60 Premium 77kWh, 27,000 miles, £25,000
Read our full used Genesis GV60 review
Search for a used Genesis GV60 for sale
MG5
Strengths
- Decent range for this class
- Good value for money used
- Quite comfy inside
Weaknesses
- Infotainment is fiddly to use
- Not much fun to drive
- Charging speeds not the quickest
If you fancy a spacious and practical estate car that's also an electric car and is cheap to buy used, you're really only looking at one model: the MG5. A 2022 facelift sharpened up its looks, making its cut-price origins less obvious and giving it a bit more 'impress the neighbours' appeal. It also ushered in an improved interior design and new infotainment. If you’re after an electric car with a long range, enough room for a family and a high level of standard kit, this could be the model for you.
"An electric estate? There aren't many of them, but the MG5 is a neat buy. it's good to drive and really practical. The dog will love it." - George Hill, used cars writer
We found 2024 MG5 EV Trophy Long Range, 10,000 miles, £22,950
Read our full used MG5 review
Search for a used MG5 for sale
FAQs
Apart from natural depreciation, we don't think the EV market will decline in the fashion we've witnessed in the last 12 months. For that reason, it's a good time to buy a used electric car, with prices being temptingly low on some models .
If we're talking from new or nearly new, then it's the Nissan Leaf.
The Nissan Leaf was one of the founding fathers of the electric car class, and it's still worth considering if you're considering going green.
There are two versions to choose from, with 39kWh models offering a range of up to 168 miles, and 59kwh models managing 239 miles between charges. While neither does brilliantly in terms of depreciation, versions with the smaller battery take the biggest hit, especially if you also choose entry-level Acenta trim.
At least the Leaf should have plenty of space for your luggage, while precise steering allows you to place the car exactly where you want it.
