Top 10: used electric cars

It seems as though a new electric car is announced every other week at the moment, whether it's an all-electric version of an existing petrol, diesel or hybrid, or an all-new electric vehicle built from the ground up as a standalone model.

The planned 2030 ban on the sale of new purely petrol and diesel-engined cars is partially to thank for this increasing choice of good electric cars and it's trickling down to the used market, too. That's good news if you want to save some money. After all, a new electric car is still a very expensive purchase.

Picking the right used vehicle needs careful planning, though. Fortunately, we’ve saved you some of the hassle by compiling this top 10 list of our favourite used electric cars, from small hatchbacks to luxury SUVs. We've also included examples of each model we found for sale.

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The iconic Model S is fast, sleek and stuffed with tech. Shop for the earlier 60kWh battery versions if you want the cheapest or, if you want something faster, a Dual Motor (four-wheel drive), Performance or Performance Ludicrous model; the Dual Motor Long has a 100kWh battery pack and 762bhp.

Even in 60kWh form it can officially manage 208 miles. Its dependability has proven questionable in previous What Car? Reliability Surveys.

We found: 2020 Tesla Model S Long Range Auto 4WD, 40,627 miles, £59,500

Find a used Tesla Model S for sale here

Pros

• Staggering performance
• Impressive range for an electric car
• Seating for up to seven

Cons

• Pricey to insure and to buy
• Charging infrastructure still may not work for everyone across the country
• Interior quality
• Poor reliability record

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 £30,000.

Nissan claims a range of around 168 miles for the 40kWh version. And, while that version only managed 128 miles in our real range tests, the 62kWh version increased that figure to 217 miles, which isn't that far away from its predicted range of 239 miles.

We found: 2020 Nissan Leaf 62kWh E+ Tekna, 18,351 miles, £27,850

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

Though the regular 208 looks strikingly modern, its 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, 5852 miles, £22,995

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

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: 2020 Hyundai Kona Electric Premium 64kWh, 36,000 miles, £27,450

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

The ID.3 was VW’s first electric car based on a bespoke electric platform, and replaced the e-Golf as its family-sized choice for those with a green conscience.

It's good to drive and available with three battery choices – there's a 45kWh battery with a 217-mile official range, a 58kWh that claims 263 miles and a 77kWh which can officially manage 336 miles. Used prices are still settling but there are good buys to be had.

We found: 2020 Volkswagen ID.3 Life Pro Performance 58kWh, 15,035 miles, £34,995

Find a used Volkswagen ID.3 for sale here

Pros

• Good to drive with nippy performance
• Plenty of range
• Spacious interior

Cons

• Underwhelming interior quality
• Questionable reliability
• Infotainment system misses the mark

Cars with plenty of horsepower for a relatively affordable price are often referred to as giving you a lot of bang for your buck. In the case of the e-Niro, the 'bang' it offers is its incredible range – officially 282 miles (for 64kWh models).

Used examples start at around £30,000, rising to £38,000 for higher specced, 2020/2021 cars. Power is 134bhp with the cheaper 39kWh battery pack, and 201bhp with the more expensive 64kWh option. You'll get the rest of a transferable seven-year warranty from new, too.

We found: 2020 Kia e-Niro 4 64kWh, 12,000 miles, £31,990

Find a used Kia e-Niro for sale here

Pros

• Terrific range
• Spacious interior
• Well equipped

Cons

• Still very pricey
• Doesn't charge as quickly as some rivals

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.

The model has already impressed with its luxury, practicality and tech, making it not only an attractive buy new but now also a good used and well-priced option. It's incredibly refined and ticks all the practical family SUV boxes, plus the range is pretty good, with the 50 quattro officially managing 198 miles.

We found: 2020 Audi E-tron 50 quattro Technik, 20,368 miles, £47,450

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

The electric car to buy if money is limited, and the best value overall. Yes, you can pick up an old Zoe from as little as £7000, but the later 2020 version is still a bargain. 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, though its poor safety rating – Euro NCAP gave it zero out of five stars during crash testing, mostly due to a lack of safety kit on entry-level models – works against it.

We found: 2020 Renault Zoe R135 50kWh GT Line, 8000 miles, £21,949

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

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.

We found: 2019 Jaguar I-Pace EV400 S 90kWh, 35,160 miles, £45,000

Find a used Jaguar I-Pace for sale here

Pros

• Big range
• Entertaining handling
• Futuristic looks

Cons

• Road noise
• Poor rear visibility
• Feels heavy

Launched in 2019, the Model 3 has been a runaway worldwide sales success. It offers state-of-the-art tech, great performance and 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 for less than £40,000.

We found: 2020 Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus, 27,000 miles, £37,500

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

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Read more: The best electric cars in 2022 – and two to avoid >>