The best used electric car bargains to snap up now

Best for: range and efficiency

Tesla has been suffering recently thanks to the various political outbursts of its publicity-hungry CEO, Elon Musk. New sales are on the slide and the company has been forced to launch a line-up of stripped-out, lower priced versions of the Model 3 and Y to boost sales

There’s a real sense of agility – you might call it nervousness until you get used to It – and body roll is controlled well, so the Model 3 exhibits an alert keenness to its handling.

Matt Saunders, Road test editor

Yet these problems shouldn’t worry buyers on the lookout for used examples, because the previous popularity of the Model 3 means there’s plenty to choose from. Moreover, with its expertise in battery technology and motor efficiency, the American machines 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, then Standard Range cars cost from as little as £10,000 - although we would stretch to the extra £1500 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 the Tesla Superchargers also remain a benchmark for public rapid-charging convenience, speed and reliability. And while the Tesla isn’t the most thrilling car to drive, it’s composed, capable and comfortable.

Best for: handling

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. 

Porsche's development don Andreas Preuninger likes a car with just enough power to spin up its driven rear axle but not so much as to dominate its character. That’s precisely how the Performance Plus Taycan feels: enlivened by power but not ruled by it.

Matt Saunders, Road test editor

That’s because the sleek German saloon remains as remarkable as it has always been, especially with prices starting at just over £35,000. No EV is as good to drive, with sharp and engaging handling plus 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.

Best for: luxury appeal

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.

The brake calibration here is conspicuously good, not least in how it lessens the regenerative effect when you roll off the brake pedal and onto the throttle.

Richard Lane, Deputy road test editor

In fact, it’s been around long enough now that values of this fast and fleet-footed big cat have now dropped to as little as £13,000.  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.

Best for: space and practicality

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

The ‘engine start’ button is largely redundant as the car senses someone in the driver’s seat and will move off when put in ‘D’. Annoyingly, leaning over to get something from the passenger footwell can turn the car off (not once moving, of course).

Illya Verpraet, Road Tester

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

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

Around £12,000 (or slightly less for a well used, high mileage example) will get you into a 60 model with a 58kWh battery and 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, and provides more than enough zip, even if the performance fails to drum up much by way of entertainment. 

For all-round appeal though, the Enyaq is a solid, sensible choice. 

Best for: versatility

With family car icons such as the Beetle and Golf on its books, Volkswagen knew its first bespoke EV hatchback had some big boots to fill.

The electronic management of the ID 3’s handling is really sophisticated, but it's also permanent: there’s no dialling back or switching off the ESC. Would it be more fun if you could? I doubt it.

Matt Saunders, Road test editor

And while the ID 3 probably won’t be held in such high regard as its ancestors, it makes a solid and sensible used choice. 

Being designed from the ground up as an EV using the brand’s MEB platform (rear-mounted motor and battery under the floor), the ID 3 is roomy and brisk, even in entry-level 168bhp guise.

It’s not quite as fun as its rear-drive layout might have you believe and some of the cabin ergonomics will make you want to set fire to the car (the unlit touch-sensitive temperature controls being the biggest faux pas), but for around £11,000 you can a three-year-old example with the smallest (58kWh) battery. That’s still good enough for a claimed 265 miles (roughly 230 miles in real-world use).

The bigger, 77kWh battery delivers a realistic 300 miles between top-ups, but currently commands a hefty ££5000-6000 premium, which means it doesn’t offer nearly as much value for money.

Best for: small cars

Proof that the best things really do come in small packages, the pint-sized Fiat 500e wraps fun driving dynamics and low running costs in a stylish Latin wrapper. 

Notably for a small EV, the 500e has plenty of kerb and driver appeal. It’s fun at everyday speeds and can be hurled into corners without being overrun by the on-tap torque.

Richard Lane, Deputy road test editor

Designed from the outset as an EV, this electric 500 packs all the retro visual charm of its ICE predecessor yet feels like a much more modern and upmarket proposition. 

The 24kWh-battery version is best avoided because of its very limited range, so we would recommend spending a little extra (prices start at just over £10,000) on the 42kWh model, which has a claimed range of up to 199 miles – or 150 miles in the real world.

Regardless of battery size, you get traffic-dodging agility and surprisingly grown-up ride and refinement.

It’s at its best in the urban jungle and rear-seat space is best left to children or contortionists, but few EVs serve up as much everyday fun.

Best for: city driving

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

Yes, the steering wheel has a blue line running round it. No, it's not naff. It's not Tron light bike cool, either. But in a climate of recycled chic, it chimes.

Matt Saunders, Road test editor

Underpinned by strong and light carbonfibre-reinforced-plastic 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 that the i3 already has the makings of a modern classic, while prices starting at under £5000 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).