The 10 slowest-depreciating electric cars

Model Twin Motor Performance Plus | List price £35,150 | 36k/3yr resale value £22,375 | Price drop £12,775 | Retained value 63.7%

Among electric cars, the Volvo EX30 is as rock-solid an investment as they come, keeping the biggest percentage of its original value after three years and 36,000 miles of ownership. 

Not ony is the EX30 a car you can buy with your head, though, it also makes good sense for your heart. That's because it's good to drive, with even the entry-level Single Motor model being able to dispatch the 0-62mph sprint in just 5.7sec. The Twin Motor Performance model we've chosen here, though, gets a frankly ludicrous 422bhp to play with – enough to cover the same sprint in less time than the Smart #1 Brabus can manage.

The EX30 feels properly plush inside, too, and while the #1 and Hyundai Kona Electric are a little bit roomier for reat-seat passengers, the Volvo can fit more luggage into its boot – we managed to squeeze six carry-on suitcases inside in our tests.

Read our in-depth Volvo EX30 review

Model R 112kwh | List price £121,305 | 36k/3yr resale value £72,100 | Price drop £49,205| Retained value 59.4%

You may not think of Lotus as being the kind of brand to make a large, luxurious SUV, but the Eletre is indeed just that – as well as feeling classy inside, though, this R version is also very fast.

Indeed, with 905bhp coming from dual electric motors, the 0-62mph sprint takes just 2.5sec. No matter which version of the Eletre you go for, you'll get the same 112kWh battery, which offers a range of up to 310 miles in R models, and 373 miles in the lesser Eletre and Eletre S variants.

No version of the car is cheap – it's priced to compete against the Audi SQ8 e-tron and Porsche Macan Electric – but at least that guarantees rarity, plus it will hold on to its value better than any rival.

Read our in-depth Lotus Eletre review

Model 4 | List price £67,255 | 36k/3yr resale value £38,025 | Price drop £29,230 | Retained value 56.5%

The regular Porsche Macan has for a long time been one of our favourite sports SUVs, but the latest version is also available as a fully electric car – and good news, it remains thrilling to drive despite a move to electric power.

The 4 is one of two models to be available at launch – the other is the bonkers Turbo model, which actually loses more money over three years – and gets a 95kWh battery, two electric motors and four-wheel drive. In the Macan 4, those motors produce a combined 402bhp, which is enough to haul this heavy SUV up to motorway speeds in 5.2sec. Combined with sweet handling and refined cruising manners, the Macan is a comfortable yet exciting SUV.

It's also spacious, with rear-seat passengers treated to more leg room than in the petrol model, plus there's more space for your luggage than you'd get in either the BMW iX3 or Kia EV6 GT.

Read our in-depth Porsche Macan Electric review

Model Style Pro 79kWh | List price £63,835 | 36k/3yr resale value £35,300 | Price drop £28,535 | Retained value 55.3%

If you need acres of space for people and luggage, but also have a keen eye on depreciation, the ID Buzz should be at the very top of your shortlist. Not only is it the best electric seven-seater for depreciation, but it's also a very good car in its own right – so good that it's a former What Car? Car of the Year.

What made the ID Buzz worthy of our top accolade? Well, aside from the spacey nature of its interior, it's also good to drive. The super-tight turning circle makes it easy to weave along city streets, you get punchy performance from its 201bhp motor, and the official electric range is a useful 283 miles.

Entry-level Life models have most of your equipment needs covered, coming with 19in alloy wheels, adaptive cruise control and heated front seats as standard. The Style model we've gone for here, though, is our recommended choice, because it adds electrically operated side doors to help your passengers get in and out easier, as well as a powered tailgate and adaptive headlights.

Read our in-depth Volkswagen ID Buzz review

Model Classic 41kWh | List price £30,000 | 36k/3yr resale value £16,525 | Price drop £13,475 | Retained value 55.1%

So far on this list we've had large electric cars and SUVs, so you might be surprised to see the diminuitive Mini Cooper Electric here. The fact is, though, that despite costing more to buy outright than other small electric cars including the MG4 or Vauxhall Corsa Electric, the Mini out-performs both of those models for depreciation too. And that goes some way to showcasing its popularity among buyers.

There's more to the latest Mini than just Instagram-friendly looks and rock-solid resale values, though. This Cooper E model gets a peppy 181bhp electric motor which makes it feel pleasantly quick around town. It's a shame that the standard 36.6kWh (usable capacity) battery can only officially manage 190 miles between charges, which is less than most rivals, but if that's an issue for you then you can upgrade to the Cooper SE, which does 250 miles thanks to its larger battery.

Elsewhere, we like the Mini's eye-catching interior, which mixes retro styling with modern technology, but while front passengers won't struggle for space, the Cooper Electric's rear seats feel like a token gesture for anyone who's not rather small to begin with.

Read our in-depth Mini Cooper Electric review

Model Techno 87kWh Long Range | List price £40,995 | 36k/3yr resale value £22,250 | Price drop £18,745 | Retained value 54.3%

Welcome to one of the best electric cars around right now – a bold statement, yes, but remember that in a recent group test the Renault Scenic beat both the Kia EV6 and Tesla Model Y. That the Scenic also holds on to its value better than either of those models is only the icing on what is already a very sweet cake, then.

This Long Range model has athletic ability on its side, too, with its 87kWh battery officially able to cover a whopping 379 miles between charges – better than any Model Y can manage, and also out-stripping the rival Hyundai Ioniq 5.

We like that finding a comfy driving position inside the Scenic is easy, because there's lots of adjustment in both the seat and steering wheel, and that even entry-level Techno trim has most of your equipment needs covered. Indeed, it gets luxuries including dual-zone climate control, adaptive cruise control and heated front seats as standard.

Read our in-depth Renault Scenic review

Model GT-Line S | List price £76,025 | 36k/3yr resale value £40,150 | Price drop £35,875 | Retained value 52.8%

The accolades keep coming for Kia's largest and most luxurious electric car. At our most recent New Car Awards, we named the EV9 as the Best Electric Seven-Seater, then at our Tow Car Awards, it also picked up the gong for the Best Electric Tow Car. 

While no version of the EV9 performs poorly in terms of value lost over three years, it's the four-wheel drive AWD model which clings onto its pounds and pence the best. And while this sacrifices some range compared with the rear-wheel drive version – at 315 miles versus 349 miles – it should still be plenty for the needs of most families.

Going for the AWD EV9 adds a second electric motor, too, which drops the official 0-62mph sprint time down to just 5.3sec. That's quick by any standard, and it feels it. Indeed, all six of your passengers will feel pinned back in their seats as you whisk them along a fast road.

Read our in-depth Kia EV9 review

Model 100kWh Long Range Single Motor Plus | List price £59,990 | 36k/3yr resale value £31,275 | Price drop £28,715 | Retained value 52.13%

Polestar clearly knows a thing or two about producing electric cars which hold their value well, because two of its models appear within this list. The first of those is the Polestar 4, a coupé-styled SUV which counts the Audi Q6 e-tron and BMW iX3 among its key rivals, as well as the Porsche Macan Electric which features further up this list.

It's the entry-level Long Range Single Motor version which performs best if depreciation is your top concern. This gets a respectable 268bhp and can hit 62mph from a standing start in 7.1sec. The Dual Motor version doubles that power and slashes the 0-62mph sprint time to 3.8sec, but costs more to buy in the first place.

The Dual Motor model also sacrifices some range, being able to officially cover 367 miles between charges compared with the Single Motor's 385 miles. The Single Motor version, then, can take you a little further than the Macan 4 between charges.

Inside, the 4 has a beautifully crafted interior which offers a great driving position and an infotainment system that's easy to get along with. And while you'll get more luggage into the boot of the Macan Electric, your rear passengers can enjoy stretching out in truly palatial surroundings.

Read our in-depth Polestar 4 review

Model 107kWh Long Range Single Motor | List price £69,900 | 36k/3yr resale value £36,425 | Price drop £33,475 | Retained value 52.11%

As you can see, the Polestar 3 electric SUV follows hot on the heels of its Polestar 4 sibling in terms of keeping hold of its value – so much so that there's only 0.2% difference between them.

As you might expect, too, the 3 offers many of the same attributes as the 4, including a long range of up to 390 miles between charges, and the kind of performance which is usually the preserve of sports SUVs.

We were especially impressed with the Polestar 3's handling ability when we test drove it – with its air suspension set to firm, this large and heavy SUV stayed remarkably flat through corners, while its quick and well-weighted steering allowed us to place the car exactly where we wanted it. Yet it can also be extemely relaxing when you're not pressing on – just put the suspension into its Standard setting, and the 3 practically wafts along the motorway with the relaxed gait of a luxury car.

Read our in-depth Polestar 3 review

Model RWD | List price £44,990 | 36k/3yr resale value £23,375 | Price drop £21,615 | Retained value 51.2%

Essentially an SUV version of the Tesla Model 3 executive car, the Model Y offers a higher driving position, a more practical, hatchback-style boot opening and even stronger resale values.

It's not a better all-rounder, though, suffering from an unsettled ride and more road and suspension noise than its sibling. RWD versions don’t have headline-grabbing ranges, either, covering an official 283 miles between charges, whereas Long Range models can do 331 miles. 

At least owning one grants you access to Tesla’s Supercharger network of ultra-reliable and ultra-fast charging stations, which consistently rank among the best in our real-world charging provider tests.

Read our in-depth Tesla Model Y review

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