22 surprisingly affordable used electric cars

22 surprisingly affordable used electric cars

New electric cars are expensive, but you can save a fortune by dipping into the used market. We’re not saying these are the cheapest EVs in the UK, but the prices of these relatively new cars might surprise you. Our bargain EV choices are presented in no particular order.

Nissan Leaf Mk2

New prices from £31,500
Used prices from £6,000

The original (2010-2017) Nissan Leaf is one of the cheapest used electric cars in the UK, but prices of the second-generation model are also surprisingly low. Sure, it’s a little dated in some areas and the 39kWh battery offers just 168 miles of range, but £6,000 is a small price to pay. It might be worth upgrading to the 62kWh Leaf e+ model for 239 miles between charges.

Renault Zoe

New prices from £31,000
Used prices from £3,000

The Renault Zoe went on sale in 2013, with the earliest examples now worth as little as £3,000 on the second-hand market. We wouldn’t recommend buying an early one, though, not when a 2023 or 2024 model could cost as little as £13,000. That’s for a car with a 52kWh battery and an official 239 miles of range. When Zoe production stopped in early 2024, the same car cost £31,000.

Porsche Taycan

New prices from £86,500
Used prices from £40,000

There’s been a lot of online chat about the Porsche Taycan and its ‘shocking’ depreciation, but the evidence is there to see in the classifieds. Cars registered in 2020 or 2021 start from around £40,000, while new cars are being advertised with savings of up £25,000. The Taycan is one of the most impressive EVs you can buy, but with 760 used examples available at the time of writing, you’d be mad to buy a new one.

GWM Ora Funky Cat

New prices from £32,000
Used prices from £13,000

The GWM Ora Funky Cat, now simply called the Ora 03, went on sale in 2022 with cutesy retro styling. It costs £32,000 if you want the Pure+ model with a 48kWh battery and 193 miles of range, or £35,000 for the Pro+ and a 63kWh battery and 260-mile range combo. Early cars now cost as little as £13,000 – and that’s for the well-equipped First Edition model.

MG5 EV

New prices from £31,000
Used prices from £9,000

Until the arrival of the Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer, the MG 5 was the only electric estate car you could buy. It’s not in the least bit exciting, but it’s got a big boot, a long warranty and a 57.4kWh battery in Long Range guise. That’s good for between 235 and 250 miles of tip runs and journeys to the park to walk the dogs.

Omoda E5

New prices from £33,000
Used prices from £24,000

The Omoda E5 is one of several new electric cars from China. There’s nothing remarkable about it, but you can expect 257 miles of range from its 61kWh battery, a seven-year warranty and a big boot. It’s also got a pair of 12.3-inch touchscreens, although they’re not the most intuitive systems on the market. The big shock is the price, with dealers offering up to £8,500 off a new one.

Tesla Model 3

New prices from £40,000
Used prices from £14,000

At the time of writing, there were 1,600 used Model 3s for sale out of a total of 2,500 second-hand Teslas. That’s a lot, which explains why you can buy a used one for less than the price of a new Kia Picanto. Yes, it’ll be a pre-facelift model with the older tech, but this is a cheap way into the Tesla experience.

DS3 E-Tense

New prices from £31,000
Used prices from £12,000

The DS3 E-Tense, formerly known as the DS3 Crossback E-Tense, has been on sale since 2020. Its design-led interior will either delight or dismay you, but the DS does feel like an upmarket crossover. A larger 54kWh battery arrived in 2023, promising 250 miles of range.

Fiat 500e

New prices from £25,000
Used prices from £11,000

Even at £25,000, the Fiat 500e is one of the cheapest new electric cars in the country, but you’ll spend significantly more if you want to upgrade from the 24kWh to the 42kWh model. The former will deliver 118 miles of range, while the latter offers an official 199 miles between charges. It’s been on sale since 2021, so prices start from just £11,000.

Jaguar I-Pace

New prices from £70,000
Used prices from £15,000

Although Jaguar I-Pace production has stopped, prices ranged from £70,000 to £80,000 before sales ceased in 2024. Incredibly, you can buy a 2024 model with around 5,000 miles on the clock for less than £40,000 – and that’s from a main dealer. That’s a bargain for a premium SUV with a 90kWh battery and up to 286 miles of range.

Kia EV6

New prices from £45,500
Used prices from £22,000

The EV6 won several awards when it went on sale in 2021, but the market has moved on, which is why Kia updated the car in 2024. Along with a subtle facelift, the EV6 now has an 84kWh battery for up to 361 miles of range. The old 77.4kWh model remains an excellent EV, however, especially when you factor in a seven-year warranty and the fact that it’s essentially half-price.

Mini Electric Hatch

New prices from £30,000
Used prices from £11,000

The Mini Electric Hatch has been replaced by a new electric Mini Cooper with a choice of batteries and up to 247 miles of range. Yet before you rush out to buy the new one, it’s worth noting that the Mini Electric Hatch costs as little as £11,000. It’s great to drive, stylish and delivers up to 145 miles of range.

Ford Mustang Mach-E

New prices from £43,500
Used prices from £20,000

You might be surprised to discover that the Ford Mustang Mach-E has been on sale since 2021. It remains one of the most impressive electric SUVs, thanks to smart styling, a spacious interior and up to 379 miles of range. Amazingly, used prices start from just shy of £20,000, which is the sort of figure we’d associate with a new Ford Fiesta (if it still existed).

Honda e

New prices from £37,500
Used prices from £14,000

There were many reasons why the Honda e made little sense as a new car. It was too expensive, the range was too short and it was rather impractical. But at £14,000, the cute small EV with its retro styling and tech-laden interior makes more sense. Even a range of up to 137 miles is forgivable.

Vauxhall Corsa Electric

New prices from £27,000
Used prices from £9,000

The Vauxhall Corsa Electric, formerly the Corsa-e, shares a lot in common with the more stylish Peugeot E-208. You get a choice of two battery packs: a 50kWh unit for 221 miles of range, or 51kWh for 251 miles. There are plenty to choose from on the used car market, with prices starting from £9,000.

Citroen e-C4

New prices from £26,000
Used prices from £12,000

Depreciation is the enemy of the new EV, but it affects some cars more than others. Take the Citroen e-C4, which cost between £31,000 and £35,000 just a couple of years ago. Citroen updated the e-C4 electric hatchback in 2023 and prices are now more reasonable – at £26,000 to £30,000. That said, the pre-facelift car is even better value at £11,000.

MG ZS EV

New prices from £30,500
Used prices from £9,000

The combination of a long warranty, decent range and a long list of standard equipment has made the MG ZS EV one of the most popular electric SUVs. You can expect up to 273 miles of range from the Long Range version with its 72.6kWh battery. That said, the 44.5kWh model is significantly cheaper on the used car market.

Peugeot E-208

New prices from £30,000
Used prices from £9,000

The E-208 offers the same choice of 50kWh and 51kWh batteries as the Vauxhall Corsa Electric, but you’ll pay slightly more for the Peugeot. In fairness, it does look more stylish and feel more upmarket. Four years on from its launch, a second-hand E-208 feels very much worth the £9,000 entry price.

Mazda MX-30

New prices from £28,000
Used prices from £10,500

A measly 124 miles of range is a significant obstacle to overcome if you’re considering the Mazda MX-30. The rear-hinged back doors are another issue, although they do contribute to the car’s neat styling. It ticks a lot of boxes when it comes to design, sustainability and dynamics, though, so is definitely worth a look at £10,500.

Polestar 2

New prices from £45,000
Used prices from £17,000

We reckon the Polestar 2 is one of the most surprisingly affordable electric cars in the UK. Sales started in 2020, but the five-door hatchback still manages to turn heads, which says a lot about its styling. Up to 406 miles of range is available from a single charge, with prices starting from around £17,000.

Mercedes-Benz EQB

New prices from £53,000
Used prices from £28,000

The Mercedes-Benz EQB is a great family SUV, with space for seven and up to 253 miles of range. The problem is, it’s too expensive, with prices ranging from £53,000 to £61,000. But that’s where the bad news ends, because used prices start from a more palatable £28,000. With the exception of the electric G-Class, all Mercedes-Benz EQ models are surprisingly affordable when buying used.

Audi RS E-tron GT

New prices from £127,500
Used prices from £50,000

It’s the same story with Audi, especially if you’re fortunate enough to be considering the RS E-tron GT. Prices range from £127,500 to £151,000 if you enter an Audi showroom, yet used prices start from £50,000. At that level, it’s a hugely appealing alternative to the Porsche Taycan.