Mazda 2 Hybrid

New MG3

Porsche Macan Electric

New Audi A3

New Audi S3

Mercedes CLE Cabriolet

Volvo XC40

Volkswagen Tiguan

top-10-used-electric-cars-for-less-than-pound25000

It's perhaps not surprising that, following the proposed legislation banning the sale of pure petrol and diesel-engined cars in the UK from 2030, interest in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/category/electric">electric cars&nbsp;</a>has grown enormously&nbsp;and demand for zero-emissions vehicles is growing fast.

Buying a new&nbsp;electric car&nbsp;can still cost rather a lot of money, though, and the cuts in the electric car grant don't do much to help matters.

One solution&nbsp;is to buy one used, where you can still dip your toes in the future&nbsp;without spending a fortune. Here, we've brought together our top 10 favourites for less than&nbsp;£25,000. Some are stylish, some are sensible, but all of them have plenty to offer the eco-conscious motorist on a budget.

Slideshow story: please click the right-hand arrow above to continue, or simply scroll down if you’re reading on your mobile&nbsp;

Top 10 used electric cars for less than £25,000

Hatchback

Munich-based BMW is most famous for its sports saloons, in particular the 3 Series and 5 Series. However, it actually builds almost every type of car imaginable: everything from two-seat convertibles to seven-seat MPVs.

The cheapest model in the BMW range is the 1 Series hatchback, which is a rival to the Audi A3, Mercedes-Benz A-Class and Volkswagen Golf. Meanwhile, at the other extreme is the i8 plug-in hybrid sports car, which costs more than £100,000.

BMW was also quick to capitalise on the rise of the SUV and now has six in its range: the X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 and X6.

All of this makes it one of the big three German prestige brands, along with Audi and Mercedes-Benz.

The i3 was a refreshing and innovative delight on its launch in 2013 and it still turns heads today. A 2019 facelift upped the range to between 177 and 193 official miles, depending on the power output. It remains a pleasant thing to drive and grips the road well, despite&nbsp;its skinny tyres. The ride can be a little firm, but that helps the i3 to resist&nbsp;body lean well in corners, despite being fairly tall. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

We found:&nbsp;2020&nbsp;BMW&nbsp;i3 42kWh, 8000&nbsp;miles, £24,000

Find a used one for sale&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/bmw/i3?used=true&amp;nearlynew=true&amp;postCode=tw1%203sp">here</a>

10: BMW i3

<h3>Pros</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Agile handling</li>
	<li>Low running costs</li>
	<li>Smart and futuristic interior</li>
</ul>

<h3>Cons</h3>

<ul>
	<li>High used prices</li>
	<li>Lumpy ride</li>
	<li>Not very practical</li>
</ul>

The VW Group famously spends more money on research and development than any rival – and as a result, perhaps it should be no surprise that our testers rate its cars so consistently highly.

The fact that many of those cars use the same underpinnings also helps, because it means that if they get it right once, they have the foundations to keep on getting it right.

However, the Volkswagen brand faces plenty of tough competition, often from within, because the rapidly rising Seat and Skoda brands that are also part of the group have access to the same technology.

VOLKSWAGEN

E-UP

The desperately cute Up has&nbsp;always been one of our favourite&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/category/city">city cars</a>&nbsp;and this latest all-electric version's a bit of a hoot. A 2019 facelift brought a 37kWh battery, good for a claimed range of 161 miles. Take a look at the Up's siblings, too, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/mii/hatchback/used-review/n822">Seat Mii</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/citigo/hatchback/used-review/n836">Skoda Citigo</a>, both of which are available to buy used as&nbsp;fully electric cars.&nbsp;

We found:&nbsp;2021&nbsp;Volkswagen&nbsp;e-Up, 2000&nbsp;miles, £19,950

Find a used one for sale&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/volkswagen/up?postCode=tw1%203sp&amp;sort=asc&amp;sortBy=distance&amp;nearlynew=true&amp;used=true">here</a>

9: Volkswagen e-Up

<h3>Pros</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Great to drive</li>
	<li>Well equipped</li>
</ul>

<h3>Cons</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Expensive</li>
	<li>Limited range</li>
	<li>Not huge inside</li>
</ul>

Nissan turned up early to the SUV party, with its Qashqai paving the way for the countless models we see today. The Qashqai continues to sell in big numbers in the UK, too, and was also our overall Car of the Year in 2014.

Don’t think Nissan is just about SUVs, though. As well as the Qashqai, the smaller Juke and the larger X-Trail, the Japanese brand has the Micra hatchback, GT-R sports car and Navara pick-up truck.

Nissan was also one of the first big car makers to launch a fully electric car, with its latest Leaf being one of the best on the market.

Despite being based in Japan, Nissan has long committed to building cars in the UK, making several of its best-selling models at a huge factory in Sunderland.

NISSAN

LEAF

This second-generation Leaf is a well-equipped car that's good to drive and easy to live with.&nbsp;Nissan claims a range of around 168 miles for the 40kWh version. And, while&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-car-real-range-which-electric-car-can-go-farthest-in-the-real-world/n18159">that version only managed 128 miles in&nbsp;our real range tests</a>, the 62kWh version increased that figure to&nbsp;217 miles, which isn't that far away from its&nbsp;predicted range of 239 miles. Its reliability record is a bit poor, though.&nbsp;

We found:&nbsp;2020&nbsp;Nissan Leaf 62kWh E+ Tekna, 11,000 miles, £24,995

Find a used one for sale&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/nissan/leaf?used=true&amp;nearlynew=true&amp;postCode=tw1%203sp&amp;sort=asc&amp;sortBy=distance">here</a>

8: Nissan Leaf

<h3>Pros</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Good performance</li>
	<li>Easy to live with</li>
	<li>Well equipped</li>
</ul>

<h3>Cons</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Rear head room limited</li>
	<li>Interior could be classier</li>
	<li>Limited steering wheel adjustment</li>
</ul>

Hyundai has transformed itself from a maker of oddball hatchbacks that sold in small numbers in the UK, to a major rival to the likes of Ford, Vauxhall and Volkswagen.

The Korean firm’s Ioniq Hybrid is particularly impressive, having beaten the trend-setting Toyota Prius when we tested the cars back to back.

Meanwhile, at the extremes of the Hyundai range you find the tiny i10 city car – a four-time What Car? award winner – and the stylish yet family-friendly Santa Fe SUV.

As a bonus, all of these cars come with the reassurance of a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty, whereas most of Hyundai’s rivals offer only three years and 60,000 miles of cover.

HYUNDAI

IONIQ

The Ioniq is available in three different flavours – hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric – and&nbsp;we think this all-electric version is well worth seeking out used.&nbsp;Later models from 2019 onwards have&nbsp;an official range of 194 miles and a healthy&nbsp;real range too, nearer to 170 miles.&nbsp;It doesn’t drive quite as nicely as one or two rivals, but it’s comfortable and quiet. It's also well equipped.

We found:&nbsp;2020&nbsp;Hyundai Ioniq Electric 38 kWh Premium, 6000&nbsp;miles. £23,000

Find a used one for sale&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/hyundai/ioniq?postCode=tw1%203sp&amp;sort=asc&amp;sortBy=distance&amp;nearlynew=true&amp;used=true">here</a>

7: Hyundai Ioniq

<h3>Pros</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Good-quality interior</li>
	<li>Low running costs</li>
	<li>Hybrid is good to drive</li>
</ul>

<h3>Cons</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Poor rear head room</li>
	<li>Unsettled ride around town</li>
	<li>EV model expensive</li>
</ul>

E-GOLF

Not the brand new Mk8 version but the very popular Mk7 one here. 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<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf/hatchback/used-review/n776">&nbsp;regular Golf</a>.&nbsp; The claimed range increased to 186 miles (according to the older NEDC tests) after the 2017 facelift, so expect around 120-140&nbsp;miles in the real world. That's the one we'd look for.

We found:&nbsp;2019 Volkswagen e-Golf 35kWh, 11,000 miles, £23,000&nbsp;

Find a used one for sale&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/volkswagen/golf?used=true&amp;nearlynew=true&amp;postCode=tw1%203sp&amp;sort=asc&amp;sortBy=distance">here&nbsp;</a>

6: Volkswagen e-Golf

<h3>Pros</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Great to drive</li>
	<li>Well equipped</li>
	<li>Spacious interior</li>
</ul>

<h3>Cons</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Some other electric cars offer greater range</li>
	<li>Smaller boot than standard Golf</li>
	<li>Heat pump not standard</li>
</ul>

Modern Fiats fall into two categories: the retro models and those with more functional designs.

Cars in the first camp appeal to the heart and include the 124 Spider sports car and the 500 series: a hatchback, a convertible, an SUV and two MPVs.

By contrast, the remaining models rely on their practicality and attractive pricing, with the Panda city car, Tipo hatchback and Fullback pick-up truck all prime examples.

Fiat can trace its roots back to the 19th century but is now part of the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles group, along with Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Jeep and Maserati.

FIAT

If you need a small electric car for urban use, look no further than the delightful Fiat 500. It's shorter than its key rivals, so fits into spaces they won’t, while a tight turning circle, ultra-light steering and great forward visibility make it especially easy to manoeuvre as it darts around tight city streets in a refined, smooth manner. It&nbsp;has a good range too, of up to 199 miles, depending on trim, so it isn't just limited to the urban sprawl. And, of course, unlike rivals, it's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/fiat/500/sports/review/n17176">available as a convertible</a>.&nbsp;

We found:&nbsp;2021 Fiat 500e 42kWh Action, 5000 miles, £22,000

Find a used one for sale&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/fiat/500?used=true&amp;nearlynew=true&amp;postCode=tw1%203sp">here</a>

5: Fiat 500

<h3>Pros</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Good fun to drive</li>
	<li>Reasonable range</li>
	<li>Cheap to run</li>
</ul>

<h3>Cons</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Still expensive used</li>
	<li>Cramped in the rear</li>
	<li>Can be noisy on the motorway</li>
</ul>

MG has a long heritage in the UK, and while these days it is owned by Chinese firm SAIC, it is slowly but surely beefing up its model range.

Kicking things off is the MG 3, a rival for affordable hatchbacks such as the Dacia Sandero and Skoda Fabia. Then there’s the ZS small SUV, which faces off against the likes of the Renault Captur and Seat Arona. And at the top of the range is the GS, which goes up against Dacia’s Duster and the Ssangyong Tivoli.

While any future MG products are likely to be introduced in China before coming to the UK, design work is still undertaken in the UK. MG’s design studio is based at Longbridge, where the brand made its name with models such as the MGB GT.

MG MOTOR UK

Temporary taxonomy to separate ZS EV from other models in the ZS range. Built by ChrisH 11/10/2019

ZS EV

The 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, our budget will buy you a decent car that's under a year old. It's even surprisingly decent to drive, and comfortable to ride in.&nbsp;All in, it's a great way to get a foot on the electric-car ladder.&nbsp;

We found:&nbsp;2021&nbsp;MG ZS EV Exclusive, 9000 miles, £24,000

Find a used one for sale&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/mg-motor-uk/zs?postCode=tw1%203sp&amp;sort=asc&amp;sortBy=distance&amp;nearlynew=true&amp;used=true">here</a>

4: MG ZS EV

<h3>Pros</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Lot of room for passengers</li>
	<li>Big boot</li>
	<li>Well equipped</li>
</ul>

<h3>Cons</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Limited steering wheel adjustment</li>
	<li>Not that comfortable or good to drive</li>
</ul>

Hatchbacks, SUVs, hybrids, electric cars: Renault makes them all, in a variety of shapes and sizes, meaning&nbsp;it has a line-up designed to tempt pretty much everyone.

From the roadside, the standout feature of all its cars is design, with them instantly recognisable as members of the Renault family, without being so similar that they fall&nbsp;into the Russian doll trap. However, in terms of ability they're a mixed bag,&nbsp;ranging&nbsp;from very good to no better than average.

Models that fall into the former camp include the Clio small hatchback and Megane E-Tech electric car, while the smaller Zoe electric car is also impressive in most respects; it's just a pity Renault omits key safety kit.

On the other hand, the Captur, Arkana and Austral SUVs are all outclassed by several rivals.

Renault has some exciting new models planned, including a new Scenic (this time it will be an electric SUV instead of a conventionally powered MPV) and two cars that reimagine classic Renaults: the 4 and 5.

RENAULT

Yes, you can pick up an old Zoe from as little as £6000, but here we'll concentrate on the later, heavily revised 2020 version.&nbsp; Its official range, under the latest WLTP testing, is 238 or 245 miles depending on power output, and it also achieved an excellent 192 miles in our Real Range tests. It's good to drive, too, and decently practical, but some important safety kit is a costly extra or only available on the higher trims on some of the later models.&nbsp;

We found:&nbsp;2020 Renault Zoe R135 Rapid Charge 50kWh Dynamique Nav, 4000 miles, £22,000

Find a used one for sale<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/renault/zoe?used=true&amp;nearlynew=true&amp;postCode=tw1%203sp&amp;sort=asc&amp;sortBy=distance">&nbsp;here</a>

3: Renault Zoe

<h3>Pros</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Low running costs</li>
	<li>Quiet and easy to drive</li>
	<li>Decent range</li>
</ul>

<h3>Cons</h3>

<ul>
	<li>So-so performance</li>
	<li>Inconsistent brake feel</li>
	<li>Interior isn't plush</li>
</ul>

Vauxhall has an incredibly diverse range of cars on sale, a few of which stand out above the class average. Add in the fact that it still offers some of the largest Target Price discounts in the market (something it is trying, without huge success, to cut back on), and there are very good reasons to consider buying one of its better models.

However, you need to choose carefully, because it is also a brand in transition. It has a newish parent company – the same one that owns Citroën, DS and Peugeot. And while Vauxhall’s newer models tend to be competitive, some of the others feel dated; a quick check of our star ratings will reveal which is which.

Still, given the recent success of sister brands Citroën and especially Peugeot, each new launch should make its range more appealing to buyers.

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 an e-208, but its slightly sharper handling and more conventional interior layout make it a convincing alternative.

We found:&nbsp;2020&nbsp;Vauxhall Corsa-e 50kWh Elite, 11,000 miles, £22,995

Find a used one for sale&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/vauxhall/corsa?used=true&amp;nearlynew=true&amp;postCode=tw1%203sp">here</a>

2: Vauxhall Corsa-e

<h3>Pros</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Good value</li>
	<li>Well equipped</li>
	<li>Efficient engines</li>
</ul>

<h3>Cons</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Fiddly infotainment system</li>
	<li>Rather average to drive</li>
	<li>Safety results not as good as some rivals</li>
</ul>

Peugeot has its strongest model line-up for some years, with some of its cars now rated by our testers as being among the very best available.

Highlights focus around the firm’s newest SUVs, the 3008 and 5008. The 5008 was named Large SUV of the Year at the 2018 What Car? Awards, thanks to its appealing blend of space, interior quality and low running costs.

That bodes well for future launches, too, because many of the learnings from these cars will be passed on as new versions of existing cars are launched – something that could take many years, because the Peugeot range is so big, ranging from an entry-level supermini with the 108 to an executive saloon with the 508, up into the SUV range and also vans.

Buyers should evaluate some of the lower-rated cars in the range more carefully, though. Some are now quite old, and are subsequently left behind in terms of quality when compared with the opposition, making them below-average buys, in our estimation.

PEUGEOT

Temporary taxonomy to get review live.

ChrisH 01/10/2019

e208

Peugeot's first all-electric mass production car is as pretty as a peach and some real bargains are now filtering through to the used forecourts. Not only does it&nbsp;look&nbsp;the part it also has a great interior and is surprisingly good fun&nbsp;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&nbsp;miles is also decently competitive.

We found:&nbsp;2020 Peugeot e-208 50 kWh Allure, 7000 miles, £24,000

Find a used one for sale&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/peugeot/208?postCode=tw1%203sp&amp;sort=asc&amp;sortBy=distance&amp;nearlynew=true&amp;used=true">here</a>

1: Peugeot e-208

<h3>Pros</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Good to drive</li>
	<li>Modern and well-finished interior</li>
	<li>Relatively good value</li>
</ul>

<h3>Cons</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Steering wheel can obscure instruments</li>
	<li>Mushy brake pedal feel</li>
	<li>Some rivals have more range</li>
</ul>

<hr />
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<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-electric-suvs-2022/n23038">Read more:&nbsp;Best electric SUVs 2022 &gt;&gt;</a>

Electric cars don't come cheap, but you can get a great one for a bargain price if you buy used

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