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Cupra Born

best-used-electric-cars

You'd have had to be living under a rock not to know that, especially since&nbsp;the proposed legislation&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/governments-2030-ban-on-the-sale-of-new-petrol-and-diesel-cars-under-fire-from-mps/n23064">banning the sale of pure petrol and diesel-engined cars in the UK&nbsp;</a>was first announced, the interest in electric cars has seen enormous growth.&nbsp;

Buying a new&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric car</a>&nbsp;can still cost rather a lot of money, though. One solution is to buy one used, where you can dip your toes in the future without spending a fortune.&nbsp;

Here, we've brought together our&nbsp;top 10 favourite used electric cars. Some are stylish, some are sensible, but all have plenty to offer the eco-conscious motorist looking for a bargain.

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

Estate

Porsche is best known as the quintessential sports car maker, but its line-up is increasingly diverse, interesting and successful, from its SUV family to the Panamera hatchback and shooting brake and, in time, a planned family of electric vehicles.

Whatever your choice, What Car?’s testers rate the cars highly; Porsche has an unusually high percentage of five and four-star cars.

Without exception, its sports cars are class leaders or among the class leaders, standing out for combining driving thrills with surprising luxury and comfort. Likewise, its SUVs are among the sharpest handling, as well as offering high levels of practicality and quality. Meanwhile, the Panamera is a true rival to the very best large executive saloons.

Porsche also sees itself as an electric car pioneer and has already enjoyed sales success with its plug-in hybrid range. Its first all-electric sports car is imminent, signalling the firm’s intent to stay relevant for many years to come.

PORSCHE

TAYCAN

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/taycan/saloon/review/n20184">Porsche Taycan</a>&nbsp;is sublime in many areas, from the driving experience to interior quality.&nbsp;You’ll find used Taycans are most affordable in 4S guise, because this mid-range variant was first to market. It has four-wheel drive and, if you find an example with the 93kWh Performance Battery Plus, a power figure of 469bhp (which rises to 523bhp for quick bursts). Prices are wonderfully low now&nbsp;on the used market, but watch out for infotainment-based reliability, which is a little mixed.&nbsp;

"Getting out of the Taycan, the first thought I had was about how amazing it is, while the second was about how expensive it is. Fortunately, the used market has since changed that thought process. Sure, £40k is no small amount, but for what you're getting – wow!" –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/oliver-young/n22317">Oliver Young, used cars reporter</a>

We found:&nbsp;2020&nbsp;Porsche Taycan 4S 93.4kWh Performance Plus, 38,400 miles, £40,490

10: Porsche Taycan

Saloon

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Astonishing to drive, with great performance and class-leading handling</li>
	<li>Luxurious interior</li>
	<li>Reasonably practical</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Good value used, but still pricey</li>
	<li>Some alternatives will go further on a single charge</li>
	<li>Poor reliability</li>
</ul>

Hatchback

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

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/kona/hatchback/review/n18164">Hyundai Kona Electric</a>&nbsp;is practical and easy to live with. There are two power outputs and battery pack sizes available: a 134bhp/39kWh version and a more potent 201bhp/64kWh model. The range is exceptional, with the 64kWh version managing 259 miles on a single charge during real-range resting. That variant also has a fairly speedy 0-60mph time of 7.9sec. It just betters the similar Kia e-Niro&nbsp;(now dubbed the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/niro/estate/review/n24582">Kia Niro EV</a>&nbsp;in its latest form)&nbsp;by having a slightly longer real-world range and being cheaper to buy age for age.&nbsp;

"For a time, the Kona Electric held the top spot in our real range testing, going further than any other electric car we tested. I think that's remarkable." –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/mark-pearson/n1035">Mark Pearson, used cars editor</a>

We found:&nbsp;2020 Hyundai Kona EV Premium 64kWh, 57,000 miles, £11,790

9: Hyundai Kona EV

<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>

The sportiest Seats have long used the&nbsp;Cupra name, but it's now been turned into a standalone sub-brand, in much the same way as Fiat's sportiest models are badged as Abarths.

Like Abarth, some of Cupra's models including the Ateca and Leon are extensively reworked Seats, but models such as the Born and Formentor are exclusive to Cupra.

Whilst Cupras are closely related to equivalent models from Seat and Volkswagen, they are generally tuned to provide a more engaging driving experience.

CUPRA

BORN

The Cupra Born is a more fun&nbsp;and more classy alternative to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/id3/hatchback/review/n21832">Volkswagen ID 3</a>. Both models share a great deal under the skin, but with only a few exceptions, you’ll be hard-pressed to tell the difference. Indeed the only reason the ID 3 finishes higher up this list is because it's cheaper to buy age-for-age.&nbsp;

Mechanically, the Born and ID 3 are very similar, with a choice of 58kWh and 77kWh batteries, delivering official ranges of 264 and 341 miles – although in our real-world tests, the former returned 183 miles (winter) and 219 miles (summer), with the latter managing 235 and 285 miles.&nbsp;

We think the smaller battery makes the most sense because the range should be plenty for many drivers, and these are also the cheapest and most plentiful on the used car forecourts.&nbsp;

"The Born feels very roomy up front, with plenty of handy cubbyholes, while a couple of six-footers will be comfortable in the back,"&nbsp;– Oliver Young, used cars reporter&nbsp;

We found:&nbsp;2022&nbsp;Cupra Born 58kWh V1, 34,000&nbsp;miles, £20,995

8: Cupra Born

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Good range between charges</li>
	<li>Sharp, capable handling</li>
	<li>Remains comfortable, despite its sporty demenour</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Slightly firm ride</li>
	<li>Fiddly touch-sensitive buttons</li>
	<li>Subpar infotainment system</li>
</ul>

IONIQ 5

Its sci-fi&nbsp;looks are arresting enough, but there's plenty more to like about the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/ioniq-5/hatchback/review/n22944">Hyundai Ioniq 5</a>. It's a supremely&nbsp;comfortable and spacious electric SUV, with a surprisingly good range and eager performance to back it up. It's quiet and cosseting, there's loads of room inside and it's quick to charge. Despite all of that,&nbsp;used prices are very competitive – you can pay less than half&nbsp;what you'd need for a new one.&nbsp;

"The space between the Ioniq 5's front and rear wheels – also known as its wheelbase – is larger than that of an Audi A8 limo, so yeah, it's spacious (if I'm to say the least)." –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/mark-pearson/n1035">Mark Pearson, used cars editor</a> 
 
We found:&nbsp;2021&nbsp;Hyundai Ioniq 5 77kWh Premium, 18,381&nbsp;miles, £22,444

7: Hyundai Ioniq 5

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Very quiet and cosseting to drive (on 19in wheels)</li>
	<li>Lots of passenger room, especially in the rear</li>
	<li>Quick to charge</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Woolly handling, more so in regards to pre-2022 cars</li>
	<li>Interior doesn't feel as premium or solid as it looks</li>
	<li>While capacity is good, the boot itself is quite shallow</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.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/ev6/estate/review/n23462">Kia EV6</a>&nbsp;is a brilliant and bang-on-trend electric car with a long range and the ability to charge up very quickly. It’s also plush inside and huge in the back and very good to drive. The cheaper rear-wheel-drive versions make more financial sense than the faster four-wheel-drive models, especially used. You'll also pick up the residue of Kia's excellent seven-year-from-new warranty.

"A previous What Car? Car of the Year, the Kia EV6 feels suitably futuristic but doesn't resort to the extreme minimalism found inside&nbsp;the Model 3 (something I sometimes struggle to get my head around):&nbsp;I like that the EV6 has a well-built, logically laid-out interior." –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/mark-pearson/n1035">Mark Pearson, used cars editor</a> 
 
We found:&nbsp;2022&nbsp;Kia EV6 77.4kWh GT-Line, 12,000 miles, £23,995

6: Kia EV6

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Impressive range</li>
	<li>Fast-charging capability</li>
	<li>Spacious inside</li>
	<li>Long warranty</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Firm ride</li>
	<li>Shallow boot</li>
	<li>Headroom not great</li>
	<li>Reliability mixed</li>
</ul>

Munich-based BMW is most famous for its sports saloons, in particular the 3 Series and 5 Series. However, it actually builds almost every type of car imaginable: everything from two-seat convertibles to seven-seat MPVs.

The cheapest model in the BMW range is the 1 Series hatchback, which is a rival to the Audi A3, Mercedes-Benz A-Class and Volkswagen Golf. Meanwhile, at the other extreme is the M8&nbsp;grand tourer, which costs more than £120,000.

BMW was also quick to capitalise on the rise of the SUV and now has ten in its range: the X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, X6, X7 and XM, plus the electric iX3 and iX.

All of this makes it one of the big three German prestige brands, along with Audi and Mercedes-Benz.

From its driving experience to its build&nbsp;quality, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/ix3/4x4/review/n22236">BMW iX3</a>&nbsp;is a class act. It's well-rounded and in our eyes devoid of any major weaknesses. And the good news is you can now pick one up for a very healthy discount off the price you'd pay for one new.&nbsp;Part of its appeal is the way it drives. For a car as heavy and tall as the iX3, it has remarkable agility and composure in the bends. It feels well-screwed together&nbsp;and has lots of dense, squishy materials in the most important places.&nbsp;

"I love the way the iX3 drives. As electric SUVs go, it's one of the sharpest and most fun out there. I also found it rather comfortable." –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/oliver-young/n22317">Oliver Young, used cars reporter</a>

We found:&nbsp;2021 BMW iX3 80kWh Premier Edition, 43,665 miles, £26,500

5: BMW iX3

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Longer range than most direct rivals</li>
	<li>Great infotainment system</li>
	<li>Well equipped</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>A fair few alternatives are faster</li>
	<li>An Audi E-tron or Mercedes EQC will cost you less to buy</li>
	<li>The Tesla Model Y can go further on a single charge</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

Launched in 2020, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/id3/hatchback/review/n21832">Volkswagen ID 3</a>&nbsp;was the first-born child of the manufacturer’s ever-expanding all-electric ID series. It's good to drive, with nippy performance, it has plenty of range and it comes with a spacious and practical interior. True, the overall quality of the interior is a little underwhelming, and the infotainment system can be fiddly, but overall the ID 3 is now one of the best used electric cars you can buy.&nbsp;

"I can't say the ID 3 is an exciting machine, at least in my opinion. However, objectively it is very good – and in a variety of areas – so it's very easy to recommend." –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/oliver-young/n22317">Oliver Young, used cars reporter</a>

We found:&nbsp;2021&nbsp;Volkswagen ID 3 Pro Performance 58kWh Life, 51,000 miles, £13,250

4: 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>

E-NIRO

The&nbsp;Kia e-Niro&nbsp;might not look like a revolution, but it was one of the first pure&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-electric-cars-2022/n17000">electric cars&nbsp;</a>offered at a reasonable price that came with a terrific on-paper range. It's handily sized outside and roomy inside, and it comes with a range that will embarrass many more expensive electric cars. In one of our real range tests, it achieved 253 miles in real-world use. Look for '3' trim which has the 64kWh battery, because it's quicker, has a much longer range, is better to drive and gets an upgraded infotainment system.

"Another previous What Car? Car of the Year, the e-Niro came as a bit of a game changer – here's an electric car that was reasonably priced and that went very far on a single charge. And now, when used, it's more reasonably priced than ever before" –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/mark-pearson/n1035">Mark Pearson, used cars editor</a>

We found:&nbsp;2020 Kia e-Niro 64kWh First Edition, 55,512 miles, £14,399

3: Kia e-Niro

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Terrific range</li>
	<li>Spacious interior</li>
	<li>Well equipped</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>One or two rivals are cheaper</li>
	<li>Doesn't charge as quickly as some rivals</li>
</ul>

One of the greatest success stories in the car world of recent decades is Skoda’s rise to become a hugely credible mainstream maker of good-value, good-sense cars.

Central to that success has been its place within the VW Group, alongside the Volkswagen brand itself, plus the likes of Seat and Audi. That has given it access to exactly the same underpinnings for its cars as the other brands, and it has complemented this by adding its own developments, from the way the cars drive and ride through to the features they have and the pricing.

The result is a range that extends from a city car to a large executive saloon, with family and large seven-seat SUVs too. There’s a wide variety of petrol and diesel engines, all of which are competitive for the class.

As a result, Skoda has a range of cars that is almost entirely class-leading or among the class leaders, and it has enjoyed long-time success at the What Car? Awards as a result.

SKODA

ENYAQ

The<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/enyaq/4x4/review/n22909">&nbsp;Skoda Enyaq</a>&nbsp;may look rather conventional next to one or two of its modern<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-suvs/n23038">&nbsp;electric SUV</a>&nbsp;rivals, but don’t be put off: it’s one of the best around, new or used, regardless of size. It’s good to drive, comfortable, practical, extremely refined and comes with a decent range.&nbsp; The iV 60 version has a 58kWh battery and a decent official range. Bought used, it’s also great value. It could be all the car you’ll ever need.&nbsp;

"The Enyaq was one of the first electric cars I ever got behind the wheel of. Still, even to this day, I find myself impressed with how practical, comfortable and well priced it is (new and used)." –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/oliver-young/n22317">Oliver Young, used cars reporter</a>

We found:&nbsp;2021 Skoda Enyaq iV 60 63kWh Nav Suite, 45,000 miles, £17,485

2: Skoda Enyaq

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Extremely spacious</li>
	<li>Well equipped</li>
	<li>Plush ride</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>So-so performance by electric car standards</li>
	<li>Some rivals are more adept at handling</li>
	<li>Infotainment isn’t as responsive as rival systems</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

Launched in 2019, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-3/saloon/review/n19010">Tesla Model 3</a>&nbsp;has&nbsp;been a runaway worldwide sales success. It has state-of-the-art tech, great performance and an excellent&nbsp;range&nbsp;all wrapped up in a relatively&nbsp;affordable package. Of earlier models, the Standard Range Plus is WLTP-certified for 254 miles of claimed range and the Long Range steps that up to 348 miles. The Performance officially does 329 miles. All Model 3s come with plenty of luxuries, and the best news of all is that used prices have now fallen to an extremely tempting low. &nbsp;

"The Model 3 has – and continues to be – a bit of a no-brainer for many electric car buyers and I can certainly see why. You get&nbsp;lots of range, lots of tech and that Tesla Supercharger network takes away a lot of the hassle of electric car charging." –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/mark-pearson/n1035">Mark Pearson, used cars editor</a>

We found:&nbsp;2019&nbsp;Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus, 41,918 miles, £17,000&nbsp;

1: Tesla Model 3

<h3>Strengths</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Tremendous performance</li>
	<li>Long range</li>
	<li>Surprisingly practical</li>
</ul>

<h3>Weaknesses</h3>

<ul>
	<li>Build quality could be better</li>
	<li>Ride and handling not up to top ICE rivals</li>
</ul>

Electric cars can be expensive, but if you buy used you don’t need to spend a fortune. Here we list our top 10 favourites, from urban runarounds to luxury SUVs

NEW REVIEWS:

Best used electric cars

Electric cars can be expensive, but if you buy used you don’t need to spend a fortune. Here we list our top 10 favourites, from urban runarounds to luxury SUVs...

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