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Best used electric cars
Electric cars can be expensive, but if you buy used you don’t need to spend a fortune. Here we list our top 10 favourites, from urban runarounds to luxury SUVs
Mark Pearson
Updated: 6 September 2026
Electric cars are becoming more mainstream. With only a few years left until the proposed legislation banning the sale of pure petrol and diesel-engined cars in the UK comes into force, the good news is that the choice for anyone considering an electric car is now vast.
Whichever one you fancy, though, buying a new electric car can still cost rather a lot of money. 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 have plenty to offer the eco-conscious motorist looking for a bargain.
Click on the links below the reviews, and via our used cars classifieds site, you can even put one of them on your driveway a lot quicker than you think.
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Used Tesla Model 3 2019-present
Our pick: 84.7kWh Premium Long Range Auto 4dr
0-62 mph: 5.2 sec
Range: 466 miles
Seats: 5
Boot: 594 litres
Insurance group: 37D
Strengths
- Tremendous performance in all versions
- Impressive electric range for everyday driving
- Surprisingly practical for its size
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
Yes, you really can buy a used Tesla Model 3 for less than the price of a new Dacia Spring. And for the money, you're getting one of the best electric cars around.
Indeed, the Model 3 is great to drive, with all versions offering quick performance, sharp handling and impressive refinement.
It might not be as practical as the Skoda Enyaq, but the Model 3 is also a very practical car; despite the sloping roof, two adults should fit easily in the back seats, with enough leg and head room to spare. The Model 3 has a big front and rear boot, too; we managed to fit in 10 carry-on suitcases overall in both.
Used prices for the Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus start from around £10,000, but this will get you a high-mileage example. For a 2019 or 2020 car with around 70,000 miles on the clock, price rises to around £11,000 for the Standard Range Plus, £13,000 for the Long Range and around £14,000 for the Performance.
If you fancy a newer car, perhaps a Model 3 from 2023, you'll need to up your budget to £18,000. For a facelift car from 2024, look to spend at least £24,000. Cars from 2025 cost upwards of £30,000.
The Model 3 finished in ninth place out of 20 electric cars in the latest What Car? Reliability Survey, with a score of 92.8%. That's not bad, finishing above the MG4 and Polestar 2 but below the BMW i4 and Hyundai Ioniq 6.
As a brand, Tesla finished in a respectable seventh place out of 30 manufacturers. That places it above Audi, Skoda and Volkswagen, but below BMW and Honda.
"The Model 3 has – and continues to be – a bit of a no-brainer for many electric car buyers and I can certainly see why. You get lots of range, lots of tech and that Tesla Supercharger network takes away a lot of the hassle of electric car charging." – Mark Pearson, used cars editor
We found: 2022 Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus, 30,000 miles, £18,000
Read our full used Tesla Model 3 review
Search for a used Tesla Model 3 for sale
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Used BMW iX3 2021-2025
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 eye,s 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 a new one. 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.
A 2021 BMW iX3 should set you back around £17,000. Expect around 100,000 miles on the clock and a car in Premier Edition or Premier Edition Pro trim. Lower mileage examples cost upwards of £20,000, as do facelift models in M Sport trim. Prices for M Sport Pro models start from around £22,000.
The iX3 did very well in our latest What Car? Reliability Survey, finishing in fourth place out of 27 cars the electric SUV category, with a score of 95.5%. This placed it above the Audi Q4 e-tron and Jaguar I-Pace, but below the Tesla Model Y.
As a car brand, BMW did quite well, coming sixth out of 30 car makers ranked. This places it above most of its premium rivals, including Audi, Jaguar, Porsche and Mercedes.
"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, £32,500
Read our full used BMW iX3 review
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Used Volvo EX30 2023-present
Our pick: P5 51kWh Plus Auto 5dr
0-62 mph: 5.7 sec
Range: 209 miles
Seats: 5
Boot: 400 litres
Insurance group: 33E
Strengths
- Good to drive
- Great value when buying used
- Smart interior
Weaknesses
- Too many controls on the touchscreen
- Not as spacious in the back as its rivals
- Limited range with 49kWh model
The Volvo EX30 is a brilliant and bang-on-trend compact electric SUV.
When it arrived in 2023, the EX30 brought with it a new generation of Volvo design and technology. The exterior and interior look almost space-age, while most of the car’s interior functions are operated via a new Google-based infotainment system. It even features tech that’s been rolled out in larger Volvo models.
It’s smart on the inside and stylish on the outside, and it’s quiet and pleasant to drive. If you can live with the car’s frustrating touchscreen-based interior controls, it’s a great used buy. The Extended Range model is our recommended choice for the longest range.
Prices for a used EX30 start from around £20,000, which will get you a 2024 Single Motor Plus car with low miles. Extended Range models won’t cost a whole lot more, with prices starting from £21,000, while Twin Performance models cost from £23,000. Ultra cars are a bit more expensive, with prices starting from £24,000.
The EX30 finished in 15th place out of 27 cars in the electric SUV class in our most recent 2025 What Car? Reliability Survey, with a good score of 90.6%.
"The EX30 feels suitably futuristic but doesn't quite resort to the extreme minimalism found inside the Model 3 (something I sometimes struggle to get my head around): Instead, it's really plush inside, and feels well-built and a bit of a cut above." – Mark Pearson, used cars editor
We found: 2023 Volvo EX30 single motor extended range, 22,000 miles, £21,995
Read our full used Volvo EX30 review
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Used Cupra Born 2022-present
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
The Cupra Born is a more fun and more classy alternative to the Volkswagen ID 3.
Both models share a great deal under the skin, but with only a few exceptions, you’ll be hard-pressed to tell the difference. Indeed, the ID 3 is even a fraction cheaper to buy age-for-age, but overall we prefer the better driving characteristics and plusher interior of the Born.
There's a choice of 58kWh and 77kWh batteries, delivering official ranges of 264 and 341 miles – although in our real-world tests, the former returned 183 miles (winter) and 219 miles (summer), with the latter managing 235 and 285 miles. We think the smaller battery makes the most sense because the range should be plenty for many drivers, and these are also the cheapest and most plentiful on the used car forecourts.
Around £12,000 is the starting point here, this for a high-mileage V1 car from 2022 or 2023. Expect to spend upwards of £15,000 for a car with more reasonable miles, likewise for an e-Boost or a V2 model. If you want a top-spec V3 car, have a budget of at least £17,000.
For a 2024 model, look to spend at least £18,000. A 2025 example starts from around £20,000.
The Born seems to be a reliable car. In our latest What Car? Reliability Survey, the Born finished in 10th place out of 20 cars in the electric car class. Its reliability score of 92.5% puts it above the Polestar 2 and Volkswagen ID 3, but below the Mini Electric and Nissan Leaf.
"The Born feels very roomy up front, with plenty of handy cubbyholes, while a couple of six-footers will be comfortable in the back, even behind 6ft 2in-tall me." – George Hill, used cars writer
We found: 2023 Cupra Born 58kWh V1, 24,000 miles, £17,995
Read our full used Cupra Born review
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Used Skoda Enyaq 2021-present
Strengths
- Extremely spacious interior
- Well equipped in all trim levels
- Plush and comfortable ride, even on rough roads
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 so good we had no hesitation in making it our What Car? Used Car of the Year last year. And no wonder. It’s good to drive, comfortable, practical, extremely refined and comes with a decent range. It's very well-equipped, too.
The iV 60 version has a 58kWh battery and a decent official range of 256 miles and, for not much more cash on the used car forecourt, there's an 80 version that can go even farther, up to 333 miles.
Bought used, it’s also great value, with prices starting from just £12k. Only an unusually mixed report in this year's What Car? Reliability Survey, after several good results, demotes it from the top spot.
"The Enyaq was one of the first electric cars I ever got behind the wheel of. Still, even to this day, I find myself impressed with how practical, comfortable and well-priced it is (new and used)." – George Hill, used cars writer
We found: 2023 Skoda Enyaq iV 60 63kWh Nav Suite, 45,000 miles, £17,485
Read our full used Skoda Enyaq review
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Used Skoda Elroq 2025-present
Strengths
- Comfortable ride
- Spacious in the back
- Very well equipped
Weaknesses
- No physical climate controls
- Big battery version is still quite pricey
- So-so warranty
Welcome to one of Britain's best family electric SUVs. And to give the Skoda Elroq that honour makes complete sense – after all, it's about the same size and offers many of the same features as the Skoda Karoq, which is one of our favourite family SUVs, but benefits from electric power.
Even entry-level 168bhp versions of the Karoq feel plenty quick enough, and the standard suspension setup does a good job of ironing out lumps and bumps in the road. The Elroq handles well for a family SUV, too, with well-weighted steering that's also accurate.
Inside, you don't sit as high up as you do in the Tesla Model Y, but there's a decent amount of space for adults. Plus, we managed to fit six carry-on suitcases into the Elroq's boot, which means your holiday luggage shouldn't be much trouble.
Prices for a used Elroq start from around £21,000. At this level, you’ll find plenty of 50 models from 2025 in SE trim, but if you want a 60 car in SE L or Edition trim, you’ll need a budget of at least £24,000. Sportline models are more expensive, starting from £28,000, while big battery 85 versions cost upwards of £29,000.
The Elroq finished in 14th place out of 31 cars in the electric SUV class in the latest What Car? Reliability Survey. It did so with a score of 93.7%. This put it ahead of the Audi Q4 e-tron and VW ID 4, but behind the Kia EV3, Renault Scenic and Tesla Model Y.
"When I was faced with picking up some flat-pack furniture, I was pleased to find the Elroq has a handy ski hatch, so I could load longer items through the middle of the car from the boot." – John Howell, Deputy Reviews Editor
We found: 2024 Skoda Elroq 60 Edition, 27,000 miles, £22,000
Read our full used Skoda Elroq review
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Used BMW i5 2023-present
Strengths
- Quiet to drive
- Surprisingly agile
- Spacious, well-built interior
Weaknesses
- Mercedes EQE has a longer range
- Disappointing real-world efficiency
- Ride is on the firm side
The BMW i5 is based on the BMW 5 Series, and it’s the first time this hugely popular executive car has been available with pure electric power.
A large 81.2kWh (usable capacity) battery enables the eDrive40 to have an official range of 357 miles. As you’d expect with its vast power output, the M60 drops this to 315 miles, though.
The i5’s roomy and plush interior has a similar level of pizazz to the flagship BMW i7. There’s a large infotainment touchscreen that sits as the main focal point, while lots of soft, padded surfaces and glossy trim grace the surrounding areas.
The i5 has depreciated heavily since it was introduced in 2023, which means it’s a bit of a used bargain. An eDrive40 model from 2023 or 2024 costs from £35,000, which is almost half its original value. This will get you an M Sport model, too, being the most popular trim level on forecourts.
The i5 is too new to have featured in the latest What Car? Reliability Survey. However, to give you a rough idea, the BMW i3 and BMW i4 finished in first and second place out of 20 cars in the electric car section of the survey.
***"*The i5 has six driving modes: Personal, Sport, Efficient, Expressive, Relax and Digital Art. The last three, in my view, are gimmicks and don’t really change anything, other than the sound and interior lighting." – Mark Pearson, used cars editor
We found 2023 BMW eDrive40 M Sport, 29,000 miles, £34,946
Read our used BMW i5 review
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Used Smart #1 2023-present
Our pick: 66kWh Premium Auto 5dr
0-62 mph: 6.7 sec
Range: 273 miles
Seats: 5
Boot: 313 litres
Insurance group: 32E
Strengths
- Smart, high-quality interior with a modern design
- Very well equipped for the price
- Sharp handling for an electric SUV
Weaknesses
- Small boot, especially when compared with some of its rivals
- Ride is on the firm side, especially on urban roads
- Infotainment system can frustrate in everyday use
The Smart #1 offers plenty of appeal as a used electric SUV.
It looks like no other car in its class, which is a good start. Then there's the performance, with even the entry-level version fast enough to push the car from 0 to 62mph in just 6.7sec officially, although in our tests it was even quicker, doing the sprint in just 5.8sec.
Then there's the eye-catching interior and the huge touchscreen. It's all very on-trend, and the interior quality is surprisingly good, with plenty of room for passengers to stretch out in the back.
The good news is that there are more becoming available on the used market daily, and the cars listed are very well priced. Limited boot space and practicality are its downsides, though.
"Another What Car? favourite, the Smart came as a bit of a game changer – here's an electric car looked and tried to be very different. I ran one as a long-termer and loved it. So did all my passengers." – Mark Pearson, used cars editor
We found: 2023 Smart #1 Pro, 35,512 miles, £21,000
Read our full used Smart #1 review
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Used Volkswagen ID 3 2020-present
Strengths
- Great value
- Plenty of range
- Spacious interior
Weaknesses
- Underwhelming interior quality
- Questionable reliability
- Infotainment system misses the mark
If range and interior space are top priorities, then take a good look at the Volkswagen ID 3. With the 58kWh battery, the ID 3’s official range stands at 265 miles. In real-world summer conditions, we saw 228 miles.
Front and rear passenger space is excellent, with plenty of head and leg room available. The boot is about the same size as the one in the Volkswagen Golf. It's down one carry-on suitcase on the Renault Zoe, but it's fine for the typical requirements of fitting in a buggy, the weekly shop or a couple of reasonable-sized suitcases.
The ID 3 has light steering, so manoeuvring it around town is a breeze. Beyond the urban sprawl, the steering proves accurate and confidence inspiring, so it’s not an unnerving car to thread along B-roads. Handling and comfort levels are decent too, making it a good car for doing plenty of miles in.
The only fly in the ID 3's ointment is a rather mixed reliability record, with some owners reporting problems with the infotainment system and one or two minor electrical issues. But for this, it might have finished even higher here.
"I can't say the ID 3 is an exciting machine, at least in my opinion. However, objectively it is very good – and in a variety of areas – so it's very easy to recommend." – George Hill, used cars writer
We found: 2022 Volkswagen ID 3 Pro Performance 58kWh Life, 31,000 miles, £11,250
Read our full used VW ID 3 review
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Used Volkswagen ID Buzz 2022-present
Our pick: Pro 79kWh Style Auto 5dr (SWB, 6Seat)
0-62 mph: 7.6 sec
Range: 272 miles
Seats: 6
Boot: 1121 litres
Insurance group: 40E
Strengths
- Hugely practical
- Comfortable
- Well equipped
Weaknesses
- Frustrating infotainment system
- Disappointing interior plastics
- Range could be better
There’s nothing else quite like the Volkswagen ID Buzz. It combines the practicality of an MPV with the comfort and refinement of a premium SUV and the low running costs of an electric car.
It's good to drive, nicely refined, surprisingly comfortable and massive inside, with more space than most of its rivals can offer even put together. You can also have it in long-wheelbase form, where it's even bigger.
Expensive new, but used prices look good now with 2022 models on sale from just £30,000.
"Our overall What Car? Car of the Year winner in 2022 and now looking good on the used market. Driving is believing, because you'll never guess how nice this is to punt around or just to be driven in until you've experienced it." - Mark Pearson, used cars editor
We found: 2022 Volkswagen ID Buzz Pro 77kWh Life, 41,000 miles, £30,500
Read our full used Volkswagen ID Buzz review
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FAQs
What is the best EV to buy second hand?
The Skoda Enyaq is the best electric car you can buy second-hand. It's reasonably priced – you can pick one up for less than £13,000 in many cases – yet comes with a good range, lots of technology and it's supremely practical.
Is buying a second hand EV worth it?
Yes, because (as long as you look in the right places, our used cars for sale pages) there are a lot of great deals out there. People are understandably concerned about the longevity of batteries, but you don't have to go for an old model with lots of miles on it. Even electric cars with a year or two and a few thousand miles on the mileage can be had for a good discount off new.
What is the most reliable EV car brand?
In our 2025 What Car? Reliability Survey, the most reliable car brand was Honda, with Lexus not far behind. We'd also look at Hyundai and Kia, because they produce the wonderful Ioniq 5 and EV6.
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