The best used electric cars bargains to snap up now

In the not-so-distant past, used electric cars failed to strike a chord with consumers, due to unpredictable depreciation and concerns about battery health.

Now, however, used EV sales are on an upward trajectory, and for those who want to go electric on a budget, there’s no better time to snag a bargain.

According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), used EV sales surged by 67% in the second quarter of this year, with more than 110,000 charging hands. That’s the biggest jump in second hand EV sales since 2024.

Used EV are also showing signs of prices stability compared with used petrol and diesel cars – and while they’re not yet on a par, it seems like a great time to make the switch.

Car makers have spent the last few years flooding the market with new and improved EVs, which means the classifieds are now packed with a diverse range of choice.

Factor in the major strides in battery technology and charging infrastructure and range anxiety is quickly becoming a thing of the past.

Buying a used EV also means you can save money on running costs; charging an EV is much cheaper than refilling an ICE car with petrol or diesel, particularly if you can charge at home.

Whether you need an efficient family SUV with a real-world range of more than 300 miles or a diminutive hatchback for inner-city jaunts, finding a used EV that fits your needs is easier than ever.

But which used EVs are actually worth your money? Our expert team of road testers have compiled a list of the very best on sale, taking into account real-world range, efficiency, practicality, price, charging capability and long-term reliability.

At a glance...

The best used electric cars

We think the Polestar 2 is the best used EV overall. This handsome, practical liftback is great to drive, while its real-world range and efficiency give it plenty of long-distance versatility.

If you’re after something more engaging, the Porsche Taycan is an excellent choice, not just for its incisive handling and whipcrack performance, but also for its surprisingly accessible second-hand price tag.

For those who need an EV with a versatile edge, the Skoda Enyaq and Kia EV6 have enough space, pace, range and rational charm to fit seamlessly into family life.

1. Polestar 2

The Polestar 2 has been a hit from the moment it arrived, thanks to its understated Swedish style, fastback practicality, decent efficiency and slick dynamics.

We would recommend both the Long Range Dual Motor and Long Range Single Motor variants, but if range is your priority, it’s the latter that you should seek out.

Initially it had front-wheel drive and a 75kWh battery; then a facelift in 2023 gave it a 79kWh battery and more efficient rear-wheel drive, for a WLTP range of 406 miles.

Prices for a used Long Range Dual Motor start at around £15,000, but stretching your budget to £22,000–£25,000 will secure a nearly new or ultra-low-mileage example.

If you want to spend even less, Standard Range Single Motor cars start from as little as £12,000.

2. Porsche Taycan

Few cars have been hit as hard by the slump in used EV prices as the Taycan, with examples of the Porsche losing more than half their value over the course of three years. No wonder used buyers are rubbing their hands with glee.

That’s because the sleek German sports saloon remains as remarkable as it has always been, especially with prices starting at around £28,000.

No EV is as good to drive: it has sharp, engaging handling and a scorching turn of pace, even in relatively modest 4S guise, which packs ‘just’ 563bhp.

When new, it had a claimed range of 288 miles and in real-world use you can expect an easy 250 miles, while an 80% charge using a 350kW charger takes less than half an hour.

Some owners have reported the odd electrical glitch and there has been the occasional battery failure, but the eight-year/100,000-mile warranty means you shouldn’t be hit with any big bills yet.

3. Tesla Model 3

Tesla has been suffering recently. Sales have been on the slide and the company felt forced to launch a line-up of stripped-out, lower-priced versions of the Model 3 saloon and Model Y SUV.

These problems shouldn’t worry buyers on the lookout for used examples, though, because the previous popularity of the Model 3 means there’s plenty of examples to choose from.

Moreover, with its expertise in battery technology and motor efficiency, the American EVs offer some of the best range-per-pound ratios out there.

As long as you can live without the sleeker looks of the ‘Highland’ facelift from 2023, Standard Range cars cost from as little as £9000 - although we would stretch to the extra £1500-£2000 or so the Long Range car demands, because it gets you a claimed 348 miles (just over 300 miles in reality) between charges.

Not only that, but also Tesla's Superchargers remain a benchmark for public rapid-charging convenience, speed and reliability.

And while the Model 3 isn’t the most thrilling car to drive, it’s composed, capable and comfortable.

4. Skoda Elroq

The Skoda Elroq is an impressive compact electric car that brings all the goodness and completeness of the Enyaq in a stylish and desirable package.

Its pleasant road manners, intuitive cabin and high level of practicality (the boot is among the largest in the class) give it bags of appeal, as does its classless, understated character.

It doesn't compromise on the essentials either, with excellent efficiency, range, drivability and comfort.

Used prices start from around £21,000 for the entry-level, 232-mile 55 SE model, but we would at least find the extra cash for the more usable 60, which you can get in more generously equipped SE L and Edition trims.

A top-spec 85 model will cost you from around £27,000, which is excellent value for money, considering it will cover 270-300 miles in the real world. During testing of the 85, it achieved an impressive everyday efficiency of 4.8mpkWh.

5. Cupra Born

At first it was easy to cast aspersions at the Cupra Born, given its links to the Volkswagen ID 3, but the Spanish brand’s electric hatchback turned out to be a far more appealing proposition.

With bolder styling, richer cabin materials and a fun, engaging drive, the Born is a car more complete product that can now be had for as little as £11,000.

Such a budget will limit you to the 264-mile, 58kWh model, so we would find a bit more cash and buy a 77kWh version.

These start from around £15,000, with the higher trim V3 variants costing a bit more at around £17,000.

In real-world driving, the Born should return between 3.4-3.8mpkWh, giving a 77kWh model a range of around 260-290 miles.

Range and efficiency aren't Born's main drawcards, however: it’s the way it drives that really sets it apart. Its rear-wheel-drive set-up gives it real poise and balance through corners, with the ride and handling to satisfy keener drivers.

6. Hyundai Ioniq 5 N

Hyundai’s first electric N-badged performance car was a watershed moment, proving that EVs could be fun to drive.

We assumed that its synthesised exhaust note and fake gearshifts would just be gimmicks, but instead these turned out to be excellent innovations that gave it real character on a twisty B-road, adding genuine engagement and emotion to the drive.

Yes, it's heavy and has a lot of software to contend with, but this is a proper driver’s car with an impressive dynamic edge.

With 641bhp and 549lb ft of torque, the dual-motor Ioniq 5 N has a ferocious turn of pace, dispatching 0-60mph in 3.5sec.

Performance does come at a cost of range: during our testing, the Ioniq 5 N could manage only 230 miles on a charge.

A brand new example costs £65,800, but you can get a used one with around 20,000 miles under its belt for less than £45,000.

7. Skoda Enyaq

Practical, rangey and easy to live with, the Skoda Enyaq is a well-rounded car that also offere excellent value for money in what is one of the most competitive EV segements.

While many EVs in this list standout for one particular reason, the Enyaq impresses in several key areas.

You will likely be drawn to its roomy and logically configured cabin, confidence-inspiring drive (thanks to its medium-firm set-up) and broad mix of batteries and trims.

Around £10,000 (or slightly less for a well-used, high-mileage example) will get you into a 60 model with a 58kWh battery and a 250-mile range.

You're better off spending £2000-£3000 more on an 80 model, however, as it has a real world range closer to 300 miles, making it a more competent companion for longer motorway trips.

Its 201bhp motor is brisk, too, providing more than enough zip, even if the performance fails to drum up much by way of entertainment.

8. Kia EV6

The EV6 is great to drive and has the potential to charge much faster than the Polestar 2, and there’s also the peace of mind offered by Kia's seven-year warranty to consider.

Despite its sleek coupé-inspired lines, the EV6 is a big car, yet it doesn’t offer huge practicality advantages over the more compact Polestar. It just edges its rival for handling fun, however, especially in its lighter rear-wheel-drive forms.

A recent facelift has helped soften values of earlier versions: three-year-old Air variants now cost from around £18,000.

For the best value and range, we reckon you need to stick with the 74kWh RWD versions, which will give a real-world range of roughly 240 miles, depending on the conditions.

9. Jaguar I-Pace

It seems odd that Jaguar is no longer with us (temporarily at least), especially when you consider the I-Pace was a luxury EV pioneer.

In fact, it has been around long enough now that values of this fast and fleet-footed big cat have now dropped to as little as £8500.

For that outlay, you get a muscular 395bhp dual-motor, four-wheel-drive set-up, plus a hefty 90kWh battery that will give you a slightly disappointing usable range of around 250 miles (295 miles is claimed).

The upside is stonking straight-line pace and typical Jaguar dynamics that manage to blend invigorating handling with hushed refinement and a plush ride.

The I-Pace is also spacious and retains the British brand’s delightfully upper-crust interior ambience.

10. BMW i3

Arguably ahead of its time, the innovative BMW i3 is an EV that’s as interesting to own as it is cheap to run.

Underpinned by strong and light carbonfibre architecture and clad in distinctive composite bodywork, the i3 is surprisingly light for an EV (it tips the scales at less than 1200kg).

Its rear-mounted 168bhp motor serves up zippy performance while the skinny-tyred handling has enough baked-in BMW driver appeal to keep things fun.

Then there’s the boldly styled and neatly packaged interior, which is crammed with sustainably sourced materials.

This pioneering approach to the car’s design and engineering means it already has the makings of a modern classic, while prices starting at just over £4000 make it an affordable choice too.

The only downside is that the small 21.5kWh battery on early cars means a realistic range of only 80 miles or so (BMW claimed 100 miles).