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The new&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2024-dacia-spring-review/n25967">Dacia Spring</a>&nbsp;may be something of a bargain at&nbsp;£15,000, but did you know that the average price of&nbsp;a new&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric car&nbsp;(EV)</a>&nbsp;is £50,000?

Now, before you set up shop in the Cayman Islands or put that kidney on eBay, first consider the thousands of used electric cars out there.&nbsp;With a Spring-like budget of just £15,000, you'll see&nbsp;used electric cars and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-suvs/n23038">electric SUVs</a>&nbsp;of many&nbsp;shapes and sizes.

We've put together a list of our top 10 favourites, and&nbsp;you can&nbsp;find out more about them via our used reviews and deals. If you want to delve even deeper or find another&nbsp;used electric car, you can check out our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars">used car pages</a>.

Slideshow story: please click the right-hand arrow above to continue, or simply scroll down if you’re reading on your mobile

Best used electric cars for less than £15,000 – cheap EVs reviewed and rated

Hatchback

Nissan turned up early to the SUV party, with its Qashqai paving the way for the countless models we see today. The Qashqai continues to sell in big numbers in the UK, too, and was also our overall Car of the Year in 2014.

Don’t think Nissan is just about SUVs, though. As well as the Qashqai, the smaller Juke and the larger X-Trail, the Japanese brand has the Micra hatchback, GT-R sports car and Navara pick-up truck.

Nissan was also one of the first big car makers to launch a fully electric car, with its latest Leaf being one of the best on the market.

Despite being based in Japan, Nissan has long committed to building cars in the UK, making several of its best-selling models at a huge factory in Sunderland.

NISSAN

LEAF

The&nbsp;original&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/leaf/hatchback/review/n17338">Nissan Leaf</a>&nbsp;was introduced in 2011,&nbsp;but&nbsp;while it steadily improved over the years, it wasn't until this second-generation car arrived that the model became a challenger to a traditional&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/family-cars/n27171">family car</a>.

Sure, it isn't a class leader in any respect, but the Leaf&nbsp;remains&nbsp;a comprehensively decent&nbsp;choice. Our budget allows for the larger, 62kWh&nbsp;battery: the&nbsp;official range is 239 miles, but be warned it has a slightly stiffer ride than the base Leaf. It's nippy, too, with a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/hot-hatches/n17005">hot hatch</a>-like 0-60mph time of 6.9sec.

Space is good up front, but the steering wheel is only adjustable up and down (and not in and out), so some may find it difficult to&nbsp;find the right driving position. Rear head room is a little limited by the swooping roofline – anyone over six feet tall will struggle here. If space is a priority, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/mg5/hatchback/review/n22011">MG5</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/id3/hatchback/review/n21832">VW ID 3</a>&nbsp;are better alternatives.

"The second-generation Nissan Leaf has been around for quite a while now, but I don't think that's such a bad thing. Used prices start from around £6000, which makes it one of the cheapest used electric cars money can buy." –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/mark-pearson/n1035">Mark Pearson, Used Cars Editor</a>

We found:&nbsp;2021 Nissan Leaf 62kWh N-Connecta, 39,948&nbsp;miles, £12,488

10: Nissan Leaf

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Good performance</li>
	<li>Easy to live with</li>
	<li>Well equipped</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Rear head room limited</li>
	<li>Interior could be classier</li>
	<li>Limited steering wheel adjustment</li>
</ul>

Modern Fiats fall into two categories: the retro models and those with more functional designs.

Cars in the first camp appeal to the heart and include the 124 Spider sports car and the 500 series: a hatchback, a convertible, an SUV and two MPVs.

By contrast, the remaining models rely on their practicality and attractive pricing, with the Panda city car, Tipo hatchback and Fullback pick-up truck all prime examples.

Fiat can trace its roots back to the 19th century but is now part of the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles group, along with Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Jeep and Maserati.

FIAT

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/fiat/500/hatchback/review/n84">Fiat 500 Electric</a>&nbsp;may not provide the level of practicality that a lot of buyers are looking for, but it's still a great little car, being stylish, fun to drive and reasonably priced, especially used: on our budget, you'll see a plethora of great examples, many featuring&nbsp;the larger, 42kWh battery (for&nbsp;an&nbsp;official range of 199 miles).

The 500 Electric is ideal&nbsp;for urban driving. With its tight turning circle and super-light steering, it's great for whizzing along narrow streets or darting away from traffic lights. Body control is good, even through tight turns, and there's plenty of grip on offer.&nbsp;

Unfortunately, the 500 Electric didn't feature in our latest reliability survey. But to give you a steer on this, Fiat as a brand finished in 25th place out of 31 manufacturers, which is above Vauxhall but below most of its other rivals, including Skoda, Renault and Mini.

"Unlike some&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/small-cars/n16997">small cars</a>&nbsp;where you sit low, the driving position in the Fiat 500 Electric perches you up quite high. I really like this, because it gives you a great view forwards. You also don't feel towered over by&nbsp;larger cars on the road." –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/george-hill/n23609">George Hill, Used Car Writer</a>

We found:&nbsp;2022 Fiat 500 Electric 42kWh Icon, 24,552 miles, £12,115

9: Fiat 500 Electric

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Good fun to drive</li>
	<li>Reasonable range</li>
	<li>Cheap to run</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Some similarly priced alternatives are more versatile</li>
	<li>Cramped in the rear</li>
	<li>Can be noisy on the motorway</li>
</ul>

Talk about taking an idea and running with it. The big-selling Mini hatchback is still at the core of the firm’s range, but its cute styling and relatively compact dimensions have been spun off into an estate (the Clubman) and an SUV (the Countryman), as well as a convertible.

Despite its small size, the Mini is a firmly premium product, and the three-door hatchback counts the Audi A1 and Volkswagen Polo among its key rivals.

The fact that Mini is owned by BMW brings some big advantages –&nbsp;not least the fact that its infotainment system is based on BMW’s industry-leading iDrive.

MINI

Electric

If we were ranking electric cars on reliability alone, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/cooper/hatchback/review/n26581">Mini Electric</a>&nbsp;would be number one on this list. Indeed, it managed a score of 98.4% in our latest reliability survey, which is better than all of its closest rivals, including&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/e208/hatchback/used-review/n22819">Peugeot e-208</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/zoe/hatchback/used-review/n817">Renault Zoe</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/id3/hatchback/review/n21832#in-the-cabin">VW ID 3</a>.&nbsp;

There are other strengths to the Mini too, including a&nbsp;smart, high-quality interior and a fun, playful&nbsp;driving experience. And, with it being launched in 2020, there are quite a few examples on the used market now for a good price.&nbsp;

So, then, why is it not farther up this list? Well, there are some drawbacks. The most significant is range, because it can only travel 145 miles officially, which is less than most of its rivals. It's also not the most comfortable or practical electric car. But, if you can live with those drawbacks, you will be getting a stylish, fun and reliable car that's great&nbsp;as an&nbsp;urban runabout.

"The Mini Electric's interior is one of the best of any small electric car. I love the fact it has&nbsp;plenty of soft-touch plastics on the dashboard, as well as solid-feeling knobs, switches and stalks. It looks great, too, with a cheerful, retro design – and thankfully it doesn’t compromise on usability." –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/mark-pearson/n1035">Mark Pearson, Used Cars Editor</a>

We found:&nbsp;2021 Mini Electric Cooper SE Level 1, 52,588 miles, £11,799

8: Mini Electric

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Plush interior</li>
	<li>Punchy performance</li>
	<li>Good levels of kit</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Underwhelming range</li>
	<li>Not particularly practical</li>
	<li>Firm ride</li>
</ul>

Hyundai has transformed itself from a maker of oddball hatchbacks that sold in small numbers in the UK, to a major rival to the likes of Ford, Vauxhall and Volkswagen.

The Korean firm’s Ioniq Hybrid is particularly impressive, having beaten the trend-setting Toyota Prius when we tested the cars back to back.

Meanwhile, at the extremes of the Hyundai range you find the tiny i10 city car – a four-time What Car? award winner – and the stylish yet family-friendly Santa Fe SUV.

As a bonus, all of these cars come with the reassurance of a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty, whereas most of Hyundai’s rivals offer only three years and 60,000 miles of cover.

HYUNDAI

KONA ELECTRIC

While the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/kona/hatchback/review/n18164">Hyundai Kona Electric</a>&nbsp;shares many parts with the Kia e-Niro, it's a step below on our list. Why? Well, the Kona Electric is&nbsp;down on interior and boot space, plus it feels&nbsp;a bit cheaper inside than its sibling does.

Still, you can expect a similar range between charges with the Kona Electric – officially, the 64kWh version&nbsp;can go 279 miles before running out of juice. Used prices are similar, too. Although, on our budget, there are actually more of these to choose from than there are e-Niros, so there's a point in the Kona's corner.&nbsp;

There's also a smaller 39kWh battery – allowing for 189 miles of travel, officially –&nbsp;if range isn't your top priority and you'd like to save some money. Mind you, in our eyes, the saving isn't large enough to warrant the downgrade.&nbsp;

"The Kona Electric is better to drive than the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/zs/hatchback/review/n20171">MG ZS EV</a>, but I find the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/e-niro/estate/used-review/n22663">Kia e-Niro</a>&nbsp;to be a bit&nbsp;more polished. For example, the Kona doesn't handle as well as its sibling and&nbsp;it suffers from greater levels of wind and road noise on the motorway." –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/george-hill/n23609">George Hill, Used Car Writer</a>

We found:&nbsp;2020&nbsp;Hyundai Kona Electric 64kWh Premium SE, 55,000, £12,490

7: Hyundai Kona Electric

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>250-miles-plus range in real-world driving (64kWh version)</li>
	<li>Strong acceleration</li>
	<li>Even the base trim level is well-equipped</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Rear seat space and boot is limited</li>
	<li>Doesn't ride as well as the Kia e-Niro or Peugeot e-208</li>
	<li>Owners report mixed reliability</li>
</ul>

Hatchbacks, SUVs, hybrids, electric cars: Renault makes them all, in a variety of shapes and sizes, meaning&nbsp;it has a line-up designed to tempt pretty much everyone.

From the roadside, the standout feature of all its cars is design, with them instantly recognisable as members of the Renault family, without being so similar that they fall&nbsp;into the Russian doll trap. However, in terms of ability they're a mixed bag,&nbsp;ranging&nbsp;from very good to no better than average.

Models that fall into the former camp include the Clio small hatchback and Megane E-Tech electric car, while the smaller Zoe electric car is also impressive in most respects; it's just a pity Renault omits key safety kit.

On the other hand, the Captur, Arkana and Austral SUVs are all outclassed by several rivals.

Renault has some exciting new models planned, including a new Scenic (this time it will be an electric SUV instead of a conventionally powered MPV) and two cars that reimagine classic Renaults: the 4 and 5.

RENAULT

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/zoe/hatchback/review/n152">Renault Zoe</a>&nbsp;might lack the Peugeot e-208's upmarket feel and level of refinement, but it's the one to choose if you need&nbsp;more range at this price point. Get a Zoe with the 52kWh battery (which you can easily do within budget) and the official range is 238 miles.&nbsp;In our own independent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-car-real-range-which-electric-car-can-go-farthest-in-the-real-world/n18159">real-world range tests</a>,&nbsp;on a warm July day, we saw&nbsp;an impressive 208 miles on a charge.&nbsp;You should still see 160-170 miles from a charge in winter times, too.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;Zoe beats the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/fiat/500/hatchback/review/n84">electric Fiat 500</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/electric/hatchback/review/n20910">Mini Electric</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;e-208&nbsp;for rear passenger space, even if taller individuals&nbsp;might still feel a little&nbsp;cramped.&nbsp;The Zoe has a surprisingly big boot. It's really deep:&nbsp;we managed to fit six carry-on suitcases below the parcel shelf – only one fewer than the larger and generally more expensive&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/leaf/hatchback/review/n17338">Nissan Leaf</a>&nbsp;managed.&nbsp;

With £15,000 to spend, there are lots of&nbsp;Zoes&nbsp;and plenty of trims, including range-toppers, to choose from. For instance, GT Line+ gets heated seats, front and rear parking sensors, as well as a rear-view camera, automatic headlights, blind spot monitoring and a digital driver's display. That's a lot of kit, but on the contrary,&nbsp;later&nbsp;models don’t come with all of the&nbsp;safety equipment&nbsp;you might expect, most notably&nbsp;automatic emergency braking (<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-aeb-and-how-does-it-work/n3283">AEB</a>).

"I really like the Zoe's&nbsp;smooth and nippy nature. There's an&nbsp;uninterrupted stream of power as you accelerate and it&nbsp;makes the Zoe a relaxing and enjoyable&nbsp;car&nbsp;to drive around town. Ride comfort isn't its&nbsp;strongest suit though, especially on faster roads." –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/mark-pearson/n1035">Mark Pearson, Used Cars Editor</a>

We found:&nbsp;2022 Renault Zoe R135 EV50 52kWh GT Line+, 14,301 miles, £11,990

6: Renault Zoe

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Cheap to buy and run</li>
	<li>Quiet and easy to drive</li>
	<li>Good range (for a car of its size and price)</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>So-so performance</li>
	<li>Quality is lacking in places, namely in its interior</li>
	<li>Some safety equipment was not standard from new</li>
</ul>

Estate

MG has a long heritage in the UK, and while these days it is owned by Chinese firm SAIC, it is slowly but surely beefing up its model range.

Kicking things off is the MG 3, a rival for affordable hatchbacks such as the Dacia Sandero and Skoda Fabia. Then there’s the ZS small SUV, which faces off against the likes of the Renault Captur and Seat Arona. And at the top of the range is the GS, which goes up against Dacia’s Duster and the Ssangyong Tivoli.

While any future MG products are likely to be introduced in China before coming to the UK, design work is still undertaken in the UK. MG’s design studio is based at Longbridge, where the brand made its name with models such as the MGB GT.

MG MOTOR UK

Here we have an electric&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/estate-cars/n16998">estate car</a>&nbsp;– something you don't hear&nbsp;all that often. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/mg5/estate/review/n22011">MG5</a>&nbsp;a practical choice, being roomier than a lot of cars on this list and going farther on a full charge than some of them, too: officially, you have 250 miles to play with.

The value for money is rather staggering, even if its budget roots do show in some places. For instance, it doesn't conceal its electric motor whine as well as more refined rivals. Its infotainment system is a little low-rent and fiddly to use as well.

On the plus side, it is proving reasonably reliable so far, with a 92% showing in our most recent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/reliability-survey-most-reliable-electric-cars/n26158">reliability survey</a>. That's better than the VW ID 3 and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/ioniq-5/hatchback/review/n22944">Hyundai Ioniq 5</a>, but not as good as a Nissan Leaf. What is concerning, however, is&nbsp;MG's overall reputation for reliability; it finished in last place out of 31 manufacturers in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/reliability-survey-most-reliable-cars-brands/n26159">brand reliability</a>&nbsp;section of our survey.&nbsp;

"I'm six-feet two and I can quite easily fit in the back of the MG5 with room to spare. It's a great option if you regularly carry back seat passengers." –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/george-hill/n23609">George Hill, Used Car Writer</a>

We found:&nbsp;2022&nbsp;MG5 61.1kWh Exclusive, 30,356&nbsp;miles, £13,299

5: MG5

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Decent range</li>
	<li>Good value for money used</li>
	<li>Quite comfy</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Infotainment is fiddly</li>
	<li>Not much fun to drive</li>
	<li>Charging speeds not the quickest</li>
</ul>

Peugeot has its strongest model line-up for some years, with some of its cars now rated by our testers as being among the very best available.

Highlights focus around the firm’s newest SUVs, the 3008 and 5008. The 5008 was named Large SUV of the Year at the 2018 What Car? Awards, thanks to its appealing blend of space, interior quality and low running costs.

That bodes well for future launches, too, because many of the learnings from these cars will be passed on as new versions of existing cars are launched – something that could take many years, because the Peugeot range is so big, ranging from an entry-level supermini with the 108 to an executive saloon with the 508, up into the SUV range and also vans.

Buyers should evaluate some of the lower-rated cars in the range more carefully, though. Some are now quite old, and are subsequently left behind in terms of quality when compared with the opposition, making them below-average buys, in our estimation.

PEUGEOT

Temporary taxonomy to get review live.

ChrisH 01/10/2019

e208

The&nbsp;Peugeot e-208&nbsp;is a bargain used. For around £10,000, you can expect a 2020&nbsp;model with less than 50,000 miles on it.&nbsp;There's a variety of trims to choose from, too. Our favourite Allure trim comes with&nbsp;17in alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control and&nbsp;power-folding door mirrors.

On the road, the e-208 is a punchy performer, especially from a standstill. All models use a 45kWh battery that powers a 134bhp electric motor,&nbsp;propelling the car, in our tests, from 0-60mph in a spritely 7.5sec – it’s comfortably quicker than a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/zoe/hatchback/review/n152">Renault Zoe</a>. Handling is good, too, even though it isn't super sharp. The suspension is on the softer side for an electric car, but&nbsp;we don't mind, because that helps create the e-208's comfortable ride.&nbsp;

The e-208 has a&nbsp;good&nbsp;official range of up to 217 miles on a full charge. You won't get that far in real-world driving but, based on our tests, 150 miles in winter and 170 miles in the summer is a realistic expectation. That's farther than a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/fiat/500/hatchback/review/n84">Fiat 500</a>&nbsp;can manage. So far, it's proving more reliable than a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/id3/hatchback/review/n21832">VW ID 3</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/mg4/hatchback/review/n24916">MG4</a>, but not the Zoe.&nbsp;

"Peugeot introduced a larger&nbsp;51kWh battery with a longer&nbsp;a 248-mile official range to the&nbsp;e-208 range in 2024.&nbsp;If I were&nbsp;doing high miles and regular long journeys, I would be tempted by that version, even though they&nbsp;are a bit more expensive than the 45kWh models." –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/mark-pearson/n1035">Mark Pearson, Used Cars Editor</a>

We found:&nbsp;2020&nbsp;Peugeot e-208 50kWh Allure, 47,000&nbsp;miles, £10,495

4: Peugeot e-208

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Good to drive</li>
	<li>Modern and well-finished interior</li>
	<li>Used prices start at around £12k</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Steering wheel can obscure the driver display</li>
	<li>A few alternatives have even better electric ranges</li>
	<li>Some rivals are more interior and boot space</li>
</ul>

The VW Group famously spends more money on research and development than any rival – and as a result, perhaps it should be no surprise that our testers rate its cars so consistently highly.

The fact that many of those cars use the same underpinnings also helps, because it means that if they get it right once, they have the foundations to keep on getting it right.

However, the Volkswagen brand faces plenty of tough competition, often from within, because the rapidly rising Seat and Skoda brands that are also part of the group have access to the same technology.

VOLKSWAGEN

ID.3

If&nbsp;range and interior space are top priorities,&nbsp;then take a good look at the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/id3/hatchback/review/n21832">Volkswagen ID 3</a>.&nbsp;With the 58kWh battery, the ID 3’s official range stands at&nbsp;265&nbsp;miles. In real-world summer conditions, we saw 228 miles.

Front and rear passenger space is excellent, with plenty of head and leg room available. The boot is about the same size as the one in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf/hatchback/used-review/n23128">Volkswagen Golf</a>. It's down one carry-on suitcase on the Renault Zoe, but it's&nbsp;fine for the typical requirements of fitting in a buggy, the weekly shop or a couple of reasonable-sized suitcases.

The ID 3 has light steering, so manoeuvring it around town is a breeze. Beyond the urban sprawl, the steering proves accurate and confidence inspiring, so it’s not an unnerving car to thread along B-roads.&nbsp;Handling and comfort levels are decent too, making it a good car for doing plenty of miles in.&nbsp;

"There are many different trim levels to choose from in the ID 3, but I find Life to be the sweet spot of the range. It comes with useful features such as heated front seats, a heated steering wheel and adaptive cruise control as standard." –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/george-hill/n23609">George Hill, Used Car Writer</a>

We found:&nbsp;2020 Volkswagen ID 3 Pro Performance 58kWh Life, 43,180&nbsp;miles, £13,199

3: Volkswagen ID 3

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Good to drive with nippy performance</li>
	<li>Plenty of range</li>
	<li>Spacious interior</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Underwhelming interior quality</li>
	<li>Questionable reliability</li>
	<li>Infotainment system misses the mark</li>
</ul>

Buyers seeking value for money should have Kia towards the top of their shopping list.

Although once a niche brand in the UK, today Kia outsells many more established brands, helped by its market-leading seven-year warranty and a strong reputation for reliability; in fact, Kia regularly finishes towards the top of our reliability surveys.

There are plenty of models to choose from, too, ranging from the small Picanto city car to the Ceed family hatchback and the Sorento large SUV. The Picanto was the first Kia to win its class at the What Car? Car of the Year awards.

E-NIRO

At 289 miles, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/e-niro/estate/used-review/n22663">Kia e-Niro</a>&nbsp;has the longest official range of any car on this list. In a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/range-test-how-far-can-electric-cars-really-go/n24836">summer real-range test</a>, it managed 257 miles, which was remarkable given its price point when new. It's even more impressive given the price today.&nbsp;

The e-Niro is available with some desirable luxuries for the money.&nbsp;For example,&nbsp;First Edition cars get heated front seats, a heated steering wheel&nbsp;and a wireless phone charger, while entry-level '2' cars&nbsp;get&nbsp;part-leather seats, automatic lights and wipers, and adaptive cruise control. The interior feels solid and well-built too, even if the design isn't the most inspiring.

Being an SUV, the e-Niro has&nbsp;plenty of room in the front and back seats, and&nbsp;the boot is a good size.&nbsp;Overall, it's&nbsp;a fantastic, well-rounded buy and we can certainly see it rightfully making people's&nbsp;electric car shortlists, if anything&nbsp;for the range alone.

"I could quite happily do many&nbsp;miles behind the wheel of the Kia e-Niro. It's a pleasant car to drive, with good body control and responsive steering. And while the ride is a little stiff around town, particularly on cars with bigger alloy wheels,&nbsp;it does smooth&nbsp;out nicely on the motorway." –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/mark-pearson/n1035">Mark Pearson, Used Cars Editor</a>

We found:&nbsp;2019 Kia e-Niro 64kWh First Edition, 45,190&nbsp;miles, £14,878

2: Kia e-Niro

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Terrific range for family use</li>
	<li>Spacious interior with plenty of storage options</li>
	<li>Well equipped with modern features</li>
	<li>Plenty of head and leg room for passengers</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Stiff ride in urban conditions</li>
	<li>Handling isn't as exciting as one or two of its rivals</li>
	<li>Limited boot space due to the battery fitment</li>
</ul>

Tesla is a US brand&nbsp;that revolutionised&nbsp;the car industry, putting <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-electric-cars-2022/n17000">electric cars</a> in the limelight&nbsp;for the first time – helped by the personality and profile of boss Elon Musk.

Today, Tesla has a broader&nbsp;line-up than ever, with the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-3/saloon/review/n19010">Tesla Model 3</a> saloon&nbsp;and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-y/hatchback/review/n23624">Tesla Model Y</a> SUV the company's cheapest models. For those with bigger budgets or a need for more space, there's the larger <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-s/hatchback/review/n150">Tesla Model S</a> saloon and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-x/hatchback/review/n161">Tesla&nbsp;Model X</a> SUV.&nbsp;A&nbsp;new Roadster, complete with supercar-beating acceleration, is also in the works.

&nbsp;

TESLA

MODEL 3

Yes, you really can buy a used&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-3/saloon/review/n19010">Tesla Model 3</a>&nbsp;for the same price as a new&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/dacia/spring/hatchback/review/n26964">Dacia Spring</a>. And for the money, you're getting one of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">best electric cars</a>&nbsp;around.&nbsp;

Indeed, the Model 3 is great to drive, with all versions offering quick&nbsp;performance, sharp handling and impressive refinement. It's also a very&nbsp;practical car; despite the sloping roof, two adults should fit easily in the back seats, with enough leg and head room to spare. The Model 3 has a big front and rear boot, too; we managed to fit&nbsp;in 10 carry-on suitcases overall in both.

There are several versions of the Model 3 to choose from, but if you're sticking to the £15,000 budget, you'll mostly likely find Standard Range Plus cars&nbsp;with above average mileage. That's not such as bad thing, because this version has a decent official range of 254 miles. If you want a longer range, there are some Long Range versions available for that kind of money, but these do have&nbsp;more&nbsp;miles on the clock.

"Previously, I found Tesla's reliability record to be concerning, but the company has made big improvements in recent times. The Model 3, for example, has been slowly&nbsp;moving up the ranks in our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars/n27337">reliability survey</a>, with it finishing in ninth&nbsp;place out of 18 cars in the electric car category this year." –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/george-hill/n23609">George Hill, Used Car Writer</a>

We found:&nbsp;2020&nbsp;Tesla Model 3 Standard Range RWD, 61,620&nbsp;miles, £14,995

1: Tesla Model 3

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Tremendous performance in all versions</li>
	<li>Impressive electric range for everyday driving</li>
	<li>Surprisingly practical for its size</li>
	<li>Advanced tech features a boon</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Build quality could be better</li>
	<li>Ride and handling not up to top its best ICE rivals</li>
	<li>Touchscreen can be distracting to use while driving</li>
</ul>

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Sufficient range between charges to fit in with most people’s lifestyles – and in the real world, not on some far-fetched official test </li> <li>Quick charging times and compatibility with the most ubiquitous types of public charging points </li> <li>Priced to be within the grasp of more than just the privileged few </li> <li>As with any car, ride comfort, practicality and ownership costs can’t be ignored</li></ul>

We define an electric car as one that runs purely on battery power and has no tailpipe to puff out nasty chemicals.

The best of the breed offer sufficient range between charges to fit in with most people’s lifestyles – and in the real world, not on some far-fetched official test cycle.

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