Electric vehicles have a reputation for being very expensive. This conception has only grown since Tesla and many other high-end auto manufacturers became giants in this industry. Even cheaper EVs are more expensive than their gas or petrol counterparts.
The simple reason why EVs are more expensive is that the EV market hasn’t been around long enough for a backlog of EVs to build up. Drivers have only been driving in zero-emission vehicles for the past decade, so there hasn’t been much opportunity for these cars to lower in value.
However, going electric can be a sound investment for drivers as there are many financial advantages to buying an EV, and they are also very cheap to run compared to petrol or gas vehicles.
More and more drivers are interested in swapping to EVs every day, but high prices might put them off; if this is the case, those drivers might find what they’re looking for in the used car market.
In this article, we hope to show you eight of the cheapest EVs on the market right now, which are reliable, affordable and environmentally friendly. Not all the EVs in this article are super cheap, but they are affordable and comparatively cheap for their specs. Hopefully, one of them will strike your fancy.
While EVs can get quite expensive, driving one has some financial benefits. You are exempt from paying the London congestion charge and road tax and pay a low company car tax with an EV. Charging at public stations is generally cheaper than buying fuel.
If you don’t want to charge at charging stations, you can always get a home charging point installed at your home where you can charge for cheaper. These home charging stations can be paid for and installed with grants, such as the OZEV EV chargepoint grant and the Scottish EST grant.
EVs generally last for between 15 - 20 years, so over time, these benefits can add up, so EVs could end up being better value for money than buying used petrol cars.
In 2030, the sale of new petrol cars will be banned, so you might want to get a head start and get an EV now before everyone else does and many of the benefits of driving an EV expire, such as the road tax and congestion charge exemptions.
Generally, all EVs are more expensive than gas or petrol vehicles, but this isn’t always the case, as a petrol Ferrari will cost more than a zero-emission hatchback. EVs only really began to become frequently seen in the UK between 2010 and 2013. Since then, the number of EVs on the road has slowly increased.
2019 was another important year for EVs. Their ranges increased, making them more practical purchases and boosting sales. As such, most EVs on the market are less than ten years old, and there hasn’t been enough time for many EVs to enter the second-hand market.
Cheaper EVs under £10,000 generally have less impressive specifications than their more pricy counterparts, although they can still do the job. The cheap used EVs will have small ranges and slower charging speeds.
These factors mean the cheapest used EVs are generally best suited for urban commuters who live close to a charging station and regularly drive less than 100 miles a day.
If you’re unsure how many chargers are near you or where the nearest station to your home is, you should use an app like Bonnet, which can help you locate chargers and access them at a lower price.
When looking for a cheap EV, you should look for a vehicle that will get you where you need to go and isn’t a chore to drive. It shouldn’t be too old and outdated, and it’s best to get an EV with the Type 2 and CCS connectors, as these are the standard connectors for charging in the UK.
A good used EV should be cheap to charge, fun to drive and offer you enough range that it should be able to get from your doorstep to work and back again all on one charge. It should also be able to reach decent speeds that won’t leave you creating a traffic jam everywhere you drive.
Looks are an important aspect of zero-emission vehicles. We all have different styles, and our cars should reflect that. Many EVs look futuristic, while others look virtually identical to petrol cars. Ones that look like petrol/gas cars might be the best option for you if you’ve never had an EV before and don’t want to stick out from the crowd.
The VW e-Golf is an understated regular-looking car that looks almost identical to VW’s other cars. Despite this, the e-Golf is a dependable EV that has become very popular in the UK. As such, there are many in the used market.
The VW e-Golf’s unremarkable appearance has been an important factor in its success, as it didn’t alienate VW fans and managed to put at ease many of the concerns of non-EV drivers, enticing them into getting one. Of course, the e-Golf’s bland appearance might put off more experienced EV drivers who like more futuristic designs.
The e-Golf doesn’t just look like an ordinary VW Golf; it also drives like one. It is a composed car with a range of up to 185 miles, depending on your model. It’s got some decent specifications that will suit most drivers and can go from 0 - 62 mph in under 10 seconds.
This great EV has very good real-world performance, which makes it a joy to drive.
You can get a VW e-Golf used for between £10,510 - £23,435, depending on the model and mileage.
The Renault Zoe is an unassuming supermini, about the size of a Dacia Sandero, which has been on UK roads since 2013.
Like the VW e-Golf, the Zoe is a regular-looking car that blends into the traffic, which might make it the perfect car for new EV drivers. It’s quite roomy for a small car and can easily seat four people, plus it has a large boot.
The Zoe is a really nice car to drive and makes for a comfortable ride no matter what you’re doing. The Zoe has a battery size of 22 - 52 kWh, depending on the model. EVs with the 22 kWh battery will probably be the cheapest ones you’ll find.
These batteries will give a range of between 100 - 240 miles. Most Renault Zoes can charge up to 80% power in under an hour if charged at their max speed.
The Renault Zoe is one of the cheapest EVs we recommended. You can find it for between £7,000 - £27,000.
Many Renault Zoes might come with a battery lease, which means you will have to pay a monthly fee to Renault. Renault did this to make their EVs cheaper for buyers. The lease isn’t very expensive but can be an unwanted expense.
Not all Renault Zoes will come with a battery lease, but some will. Double-check if one does when looking at used Zoes.
The Mazda MX-30 is a plug-in hybrid best suited for cities due to its range and battery size. The Mazda MX-30 is a new car, so its price hasn’t yet dropped too significantly, but it is still relatively affordable. In the future, it will be a good car to look for in the used markets.
The MX-30 has some great features, such as parking sensors, rear-hinged rear doors, plenty of space in the car and a decent-sized 366-litre boot. It doesn’t have particularly impressive specifications, with a small 36 kWh battery that provides 124 miles of range. But the MX-30’s limited range makes it suitable for commuting.
As a plug-in hybrid, it isn’t a full EV, but this does come with some benefits, such as not having to worry so much about charging station locations.
The Mazda MX-30 was produced in 2020, so there hasn’t been much time for prices to drop. As such, you can usually find a decent MX-30 for around £20,718.
The Nissan Leaf was one of the first mainstream EVs in the UK and has since garnered a loyal fanbase thanks to its reliability and comfort. The Nissan Leaf, once the best-selling EV in the world, has been around for long enough that plenty of used models are sold.
Many of the Nissan Leafs in the used market will be early models, which are comfortable, reliable and easy to run. The best cheap Nissan Leaf is the second generation with an improved battery, making it perfect for urban commuters with access to chargers.
There are plenty of Nissan Leafs on the market, and you can find some very good options for under £5,000, including ones with low mileage.
The Nissan Leaf isn’t the most visually appealing car, but it does have a roomy interior and a good boot size. It isn’t thrilling to drive, but this clever EV is very reliable. The Nissan Leaf is arguably the best used EV you can buy on a limited budget.
The Nissan Leaf is perhaps the cheapest used EV you’ll find. The Leaf’s affordability is due to its longevity and popularity. You can find a good used Nissan Leaf for between £3,085 - £17,805, depending on which model you’re interested in.
The Vauxhall Corsa-e is another new car which could be one to keep an eye on. It’s not cheap, but if you can get your hands on one, you’ll have a great ride. It’s much more affordable than some technically similar EVs, like the Peugeot e-208.
The Vauxhall Corsa-e has impressive specifications for its price. It has a 50 kWh battery that provides 200 miles of range. If you’re looking for an impressive used EV, the Corsa-e might be perfect for you.
As the Vauxhall Corsa-e is relatively new, there hasn’t been enough time for them to appear frequently in the used markets. That said, you can probably still find one for just below £20,000.
Upon release, the BMW i3 was not a huge success. The commercial disappointment was partially blamed on its odd futuristic look and high launch price. However, the BMW i3 has experienced a second wind as a second-hand car and is one of the best cheaper EVs you can find on the used market.
The BMW i3 is a futuristic-looking vehicle with odd windows, rear-opening backdoors and a stubby bonnet. All these aspects made for bad sales figures upon release, but they also made for an eye-catching vehicle with a high-tech interior and a unique personality.
It’s a groundbreaking car that is good to drive and cheap to run. It can reach 0 - 62 mph in just over 7 seconds. Early models have a range of 100 miles, which was extended to 125 in early 2017.
The BMW i3 is perhaps the best value-for-money used EV you can find. If you’re interested in one, you can find a used one for between £8,270 and £32,375.
Smart EQ ForTwo/ForFour is an EV available since 2013, with new versions in 2017 and 2020. However, despite the different models, the city car remains relatively unchanged.
It’s a compact car with two versions, one with two seats and one with four, hence the different names. It’s a relatively unremarkable but reliable car best used by commuters or those who live or work close to charging points.
It has an unimpressive 17 kWh battery, providing a low 81 miles of range. While this might be seen as a negative by some, it could be the perfect choice for those who travel little, as it is quick to charge.
Smart EQ’s EV is a great zero-emissions car for people who live in the city and have no need for excessive storage or high specifications.
If you’re interested in purchasing one of Smart EQ’s EVs, you will find used models from around £11,000.
Hyundai’s Ioniq range has been one of the most successful EV ranges in the UK. An understated member of this range is the Hyundai Ioniq Electric, which lives in the shadow of some of the better-known Ioniq cars like the Ioniq 5. But it is a great EV that undercuts other Ioniq cars’ prices while offering many of the same positives.
This medium-sized family car is unassuming and conventional, which might be a relief for drivers who’ve never owned an EV before. It has five doors and room for five people, loads of storage and a decent-sized boot.
The aerodynamic family-friendly car has battery sizes of between 28 - 38.3 kWh, depending on which model you get. The standard model (28 kWh) will provide a range of just below 200 miles. It has a max charging speed of 50 kW, which can charge the Ioniq from 0 - 80% in under an hour.
Hyundais come with a five-year warranty when bought new, meaning many of the models you’ll find in the market will still have years’ worth of warranty cover remaining. If you’re interested in the Hyundai Ioniq Electric, you should expect the price to start at around £20,000.
Hopefully, one of these EVs will suit your desires and price range. More and more EVs are being sold daily, and in a few years, there will certainly be a wider variety of EVs in the used market.
While used EVs are more expensive than gas or petrol cars; you might be able to make them last longer as EVs generally last for around 15 - 20 years. Electric cars can be good value for money, as charging is cheaper than petrol, which could save you money in the long term.
One of the biggest handicaps with cheap used cars is that they tend to come with a very limited range, making it very important to know your nearest charging stations.
If you’re ever looking for the perfect charging stations, you should download Bonnet.
The Bonnet app allows EV drivers to charge at thousands of charging points with just one download. You don’t need to clutter your phone with countless network apps to get great charging; you just need Bonnet.
We’ve partnered with some of the best public charging networks in the UK to provide our customers with diverse charging options at different speeds and prices. Chargers from across the country work with our app.
We have a membership option called Bonnet Boosts that can save you up to 15% off all your charging within our partners’ charging networks. Bonnet Boosts can save you hundreds of pounds across the year.
If you’re interested in finding the perfect charger and making charging stress-free, download Bonnet today.
You can buy a Nissan Leaf for around £3,000 second-hand. The Nissan Leaf is a very reliable EV, perfect for urban commuters. It is arguably the cheapest EV you’ll find on the market.
Yes. As more and more EVs enter the market, there will be a greater supply of cars for sale, and prices will drop over time. By 2025 to 2027, they are expected to cost similar prices to petrol or gas cars. Beyond that, it is expected they will be cheaper than petrol or gas cars in the years following 2030.
EVs are expensive to produce, so their prices are high. Electric cars are relatively new, so there hasn’t yet been enough time for second-hand EVs to drop in price. It is expected that they will get cheaper in the next few years.
Electric cars’ batteries generally last between 100,000 - 200,000 miles before they need to be replaced. Depending on how much you drive, this amounts to roughly 15 - 20 years of driving.
Electric vehicles have a reputation for being very expensive. This conception has only grown since Tesla and many other high-end auto manufacturers became giants in this industry. Even cheaper EVs are more expensive than their gas or petrol counterparts.
The simple reason why EVs are more expensive is that the EV market hasn’t been around long enough for a backlog of EVs to build up. Drivers have only been driving in zero-emission vehicles for the past decade, so there hasn’t been much opportunity for these cars to lower in value.
However, going electric can be a sound investment for drivers as there are many financial advantages to buying an EV, and they are also very cheap to run compared to petrol or gas vehicles.
More and more drivers are interested in swapping to EVs every day, but high prices might put them off; if this is the case, those drivers might find what they’re looking for in the used car market.
In this article, we hope to show you eight of the cheapest EVs on the market right now, which are reliable, affordable and environmentally friendly. Not all the EVs in this article are super cheap, but they are affordable and comparatively cheap for their specs. Hopefully, one of them will strike your fancy.
While EVs can get quite expensive, driving one has some financial benefits. You are exempt from paying the London congestion charge and road tax and pay a low company car tax with an EV. Charging at public stations is generally cheaper than buying fuel.
If you don’t want to charge at charging stations, you can always get a home charging point installed at your home where you can charge for cheaper. These home charging stations can be paid for and installed with grants, such as the OZEV EV chargepoint grant and the Scottish EST grant.
EVs generally last for between 15 - 20 years, so over time, these benefits can add up, so EVs could end up being better value for money than buying used petrol cars.
In 2030, the sale of new petrol cars will be banned, so you might want to get a head start and get an EV now before everyone else does and many of the benefits of driving an EV expire, such as the road tax and congestion charge exemptions.
Generally, all EVs are more expensive than gas or petrol vehicles, but this isn’t always the case, as a petrol Ferrari will cost more than a zero-emission hatchback. EVs only really began to become frequently seen in the UK between 2010 and 2013. Since then, the number of EVs on the road has slowly increased.
2019 was another important year for EVs. Their ranges increased, making them more practical purchases and boosting sales. As such, most EVs on the market are less than ten years old, and there hasn’t been enough time for many EVs to enter the second-hand market.
Cheaper EVs under £10,000 generally have less impressive specifications than their more pricy counterparts, although they can still do the job. The cheap used EVs will have small ranges and slower charging speeds.
These factors mean the cheapest used EVs are generally best suited for urban commuters who live close to a charging station and regularly drive less than 100 miles a day.
If you’re unsure how many chargers are near you or where the nearest station to your home is, you should use an app like Bonnet, which can help you locate chargers and access them at a lower price.
When looking for a cheap EV, you should look for a vehicle that will get you where you need to go and isn’t a chore to drive. It shouldn’t be too old and outdated, and it’s best to get an EV with the Type 2 and CCS connectors, as these are the standard connectors for charging in the UK.
A good used EV should be cheap to charge, fun to drive and offer you enough range that it should be able to get from your doorstep to work and back again all on one charge. It should also be able to reach decent speeds that won’t leave you creating a traffic jam everywhere you drive.
Looks are an important aspect of zero-emission vehicles. We all have different styles, and our cars should reflect that. Many EVs look futuristic, while others look virtually identical to petrol cars. Ones that look like petrol/gas cars might be the best option for you if you’ve never had an EV before and don’t want to stick out from the crowd.
The VW e-Golf is an understated regular-looking car that looks almost identical to VW’s other cars. Despite this, the e-Golf is a dependable EV that has become very popular in the UK. As such, there are many in the used market.
The VW e-Golf’s unremarkable appearance has been an important factor in its success, as it didn’t alienate VW fans and managed to put at ease many of the concerns of non-EV drivers, enticing them into getting one. Of course, the e-Golf’s bland appearance might put off more experienced EV drivers who like more futuristic designs.
The e-Golf doesn’t just look like an ordinary VW Golf; it also drives like one. It is a composed car with a range of up to 185 miles, depending on your model. It’s got some decent specifications that will suit most drivers and can go from 0 - 62 mph in under 10 seconds.
This great EV has very good real-world performance, which makes it a joy to drive.
You can get a VW e-Golf used for between £10,510 - £23,435, depending on the model and mileage.
The Renault Zoe is an unassuming supermini, about the size of a Dacia Sandero, which has been on UK roads since 2013.
Like the VW e-Golf, the Zoe is a regular-looking car that blends into the traffic, which might make it the perfect car for new EV drivers. It’s quite roomy for a small car and can easily seat four people, plus it has a large boot.
The Zoe is a really nice car to drive and makes for a comfortable ride no matter what you’re doing. The Zoe has a battery size of 22 - 52 kWh, depending on the model. EVs with the 22 kWh battery will probably be the cheapest ones you’ll find.
These batteries will give a range of between 100 - 240 miles. Most Renault Zoes can charge up to 80% power in under an hour if charged at their max speed.
The Renault Zoe is one of the cheapest EVs we recommended. You can find it for between £7,000 - £27,000.
Many Renault Zoes might come with a battery lease, which means you will have to pay a monthly fee to Renault. Renault did this to make their EVs cheaper for buyers. The lease isn’t very expensive but can be an unwanted expense.
Not all Renault Zoes will come with a battery lease, but some will. Double-check if one does when looking at used Zoes.
The Mazda MX-30 is a plug-in hybrid best suited for cities due to its range and battery size. The Mazda MX-30 is a new car, so its price hasn’t yet dropped too significantly, but it is still relatively affordable. In the future, it will be a good car to look for in the used markets.
The MX-30 has some great features, such as parking sensors, rear-hinged rear doors, plenty of space in the car and a decent-sized 366-litre boot. It doesn’t have particularly impressive specifications, with a small 36 kWh battery that provides 124 miles of range. But the MX-30’s limited range makes it suitable for commuting.
As a plug-in hybrid, it isn’t a full EV, but this does come with some benefits, such as not having to worry so much about charging station locations.
The Mazda MX-30 was produced in 2020, so there hasn’t been much time for prices to drop. As such, you can usually find a decent MX-30 for around £20,718.
The Nissan Leaf was one of the first mainstream EVs in the UK and has since garnered a loyal fanbase thanks to its reliability and comfort. The Nissan Leaf, once the best-selling EV in the world, has been around for long enough that plenty of used models are sold.
Many of the Nissan Leafs in the used market will be early models, which are comfortable, reliable and easy to run. The best cheap Nissan Leaf is the second generation with an improved battery, making it perfect for urban commuters with access to chargers.
There are plenty of Nissan Leafs on the market, and you can find some very good options for under £5,000, including ones with low mileage.
The Nissan Leaf isn’t the most visually appealing car, but it does have a roomy interior and a good boot size. It isn’t thrilling to drive, but this clever EV is very reliable. The Nissan Leaf is arguably the best used EV you can buy on a limited budget.
The Nissan Leaf is perhaps the cheapest used EV you’ll find. The Leaf’s affordability is due to its longevity and popularity. You can find a good used Nissan Leaf for between £3,085 - £17,805, depending on which model you’re interested in.
The Vauxhall Corsa-e is another new car which could be one to keep an eye on. It’s not cheap, but if you can get your hands on one, you’ll have a great ride. It’s much more affordable than some technically similar EVs, like the Peugeot e-208.
The Vauxhall Corsa-e has impressive specifications for its price. It has a 50 kWh battery that provides 200 miles of range. If you’re looking for an impressive used EV, the Corsa-e might be perfect for you.
As the Vauxhall Corsa-e is relatively new, there hasn’t been enough time for them to appear frequently in the used markets. That said, you can probably still find one for just below £20,000.
Upon release, the BMW i3 was not a huge success. The commercial disappointment was partially blamed on its odd futuristic look and high launch price. However, the BMW i3 has experienced a second wind as a second-hand car and is one of the best cheaper EVs you can find on the used market.
The BMW i3 is a futuristic-looking vehicle with odd windows, rear-opening backdoors and a stubby bonnet. All these aspects made for bad sales figures upon release, but they also made for an eye-catching vehicle with a high-tech interior and a unique personality.
It’s a groundbreaking car that is good to drive and cheap to run. It can reach 0 - 62 mph in just over 7 seconds. Early models have a range of 100 miles, which was extended to 125 in early 2017.
The BMW i3 is perhaps the best value-for-money used EV you can find. If you’re interested in one, you can find a used one for between £8,270 and £32,375.
Smart EQ ForTwo/ForFour is an EV available since 2013, with new versions in 2017 and 2020. However, despite the different models, the city car remains relatively unchanged.
It’s a compact car with two versions, one with two seats and one with four, hence the different names. It’s a relatively unremarkable but reliable car best used by commuters or those who live or work close to charging points.
It has an unimpressive 17 kWh battery, providing a low 81 miles of range. While this might be seen as a negative by some, it could be the perfect choice for those who travel little, as it is quick to charge.
Smart EQ’s EV is a great zero-emissions car for people who live in the city and have no need for excessive storage or high specifications.
If you’re interested in purchasing one of Smart EQ’s EVs, you will find used models from around £11,000.
Hyundai’s Ioniq range has been one of the most successful EV ranges in the UK. An understated member of this range is the Hyundai Ioniq Electric, which lives in the shadow of some of the better-known Ioniq cars like the Ioniq 5. But it is a great EV that undercuts other Ioniq cars’ prices while offering many of the same positives.
This medium-sized family car is unassuming and conventional, which might be a relief for drivers who’ve never owned an EV before. It has five doors and room for five people, loads of storage and a decent-sized boot.
The aerodynamic family-friendly car has battery sizes of between 28 - 38.3 kWh, depending on which model you get. The standard model (28 kWh) will provide a range of just below 200 miles. It has a max charging speed of 50 kW, which can charge the Ioniq from 0 - 80% in under an hour.
Hyundais come with a five-year warranty when bought new, meaning many of the models you’ll find in the market will still have years’ worth of warranty cover remaining. If you’re interested in the Hyundai Ioniq Electric, you should expect the price to start at around £20,000.
Hopefully, one of these EVs will suit your desires and price range. More and more EVs are being sold daily, and in a few years, there will certainly be a wider variety of EVs in the used market.
While used EVs are more expensive than gas or petrol cars; you might be able to make them last longer as EVs generally last for around 15 - 20 years. Electric cars can be good value for money, as charging is cheaper than petrol, which could save you money in the long term.
One of the biggest handicaps with cheap used cars is that they tend to come with a very limited range, making it very important to know your nearest charging stations.
If you’re ever looking for the perfect charging stations, you should download Bonnet.
The Bonnet app allows EV drivers to charge at thousands of charging points with just one download. You don’t need to clutter your phone with countless network apps to get great charging; you just need Bonnet.
We’ve partnered with some of the best public charging networks in the UK to provide our customers with diverse charging options at different speeds and prices. Chargers from across the country work with our app.
We have a membership option called Bonnet Boosts that can save you up to 15% off all your charging within our partners’ charging networks. Bonnet Boosts can save you hundreds of pounds across the year.
If you’re interested in finding the perfect charger and making charging stress-free, download Bonnet today.
Electric vehicles have a reputation for being very expensive. This conception has only grown since Tesla and many other high-end auto manufacturers became giants in this industry. Even cheaper EVs are more expensive than their gas or petrol counterparts.
The simple reason why EVs are more expensive is that the EV market hasn’t been around long enough for a backlog of EVs to build up. Drivers have only been driving in zero-emission vehicles for the past decade, so there hasn’t been much opportunity for these cars to lower in value.
However, going electric can be a sound investment for drivers as there are many financial advantages to buying an EV, and they are also very cheap to run compared to petrol or gas vehicles.
More and more drivers are interested in swapping to EVs every day, but high prices might put them off; if this is the case, those drivers might find what they’re looking for in the used car market.
In this article, we hope to show you eight of the cheapest EVs on the market right now, which are reliable, affordable and environmentally friendly. Not all the EVs in this article are super cheap, but they are affordable and comparatively cheap for their specs. Hopefully, one of them will strike your fancy.
While EVs can get quite expensive, driving one has some financial benefits. You are exempt from paying the London congestion charge and road tax and pay a low company car tax with an EV. Charging at public stations is generally cheaper than buying fuel.
If you don’t want to charge at charging stations, you can always get a home charging point installed at your home where you can charge for cheaper. These home charging stations can be paid for and installed with grants, such as the OZEV EV chargepoint grant and the Scottish EST grant.
EVs generally last for between 15 - 20 years, so over time, these benefits can add up, so EVs could end up being better value for money than buying used petrol cars.
In 2030, the sale of new petrol cars will be banned, so you might want to get a head start and get an EV now before everyone else does and many of the benefits of driving an EV expire, such as the road tax and congestion charge exemptions.
Generally, all EVs are more expensive than gas or petrol vehicles, but this isn’t always the case, as a petrol Ferrari will cost more than a zero-emission hatchback. EVs only really began to become frequently seen in the UK between 2010 and 2013. Since then, the number of EVs on the road has slowly increased.
2019 was another important year for EVs. Their ranges increased, making them more practical purchases and boosting sales. As such, most EVs on the market are less than ten years old, and there hasn’t been enough time for many EVs to enter the second-hand market.
Cheaper EVs under £10,000 generally have less impressive specifications than their more pricy counterparts, although they can still do the job. The cheap used EVs will have small ranges and slower charging speeds.
These factors mean the cheapest used EVs are generally best suited for urban commuters who live close to a charging station and regularly drive less than 100 miles a day.
If you’re unsure how many chargers are near you or where the nearest station to your home is, you should use an app like Bonnet, which can help you locate chargers and access them at a lower price.
When looking for a cheap EV, you should look for a vehicle that will get you where you need to go and isn’t a chore to drive. It shouldn’t be too old and outdated, and it’s best to get an EV with the Type 2 and CCS connectors, as these are the standard connectors for charging in the UK.
A good used EV should be cheap to charge, fun to drive and offer you enough range that it should be able to get from your doorstep to work and back again all on one charge. It should also be able to reach decent speeds that won’t leave you creating a traffic jam everywhere you drive.
Looks are an important aspect of zero-emission vehicles. We all have different styles, and our cars should reflect that. Many EVs look futuristic, while others look virtually identical to petrol cars. Ones that look like petrol/gas cars might be the best option for you if you’ve never had an EV before and don’t want to stick out from the crowd.
The VW e-Golf is an understated regular-looking car that looks almost identical to VW’s other cars. Despite this, the e-Golf is a dependable EV that has become very popular in the UK. As such, there are many in the used market.
The VW e-Golf’s unremarkable appearance has been an important factor in its success, as it didn’t alienate VW fans and managed to put at ease many of the concerns of non-EV drivers, enticing them into getting one. Of course, the e-Golf’s bland appearance might put off more experienced EV drivers who like more futuristic designs.
The e-Golf doesn’t just look like an ordinary VW Golf; it also drives like one. It is a composed car with a range of up to 185 miles, depending on your model. It’s got some decent specifications that will suit most drivers and can go from 0 - 62 mph in under 10 seconds.
This great EV has very good real-world performance, which makes it a joy to drive.
You can get a VW e-Golf used for between £10,510 - £23,435, depending on the model and mileage.
The Renault Zoe is an unassuming supermini, about the size of a Dacia Sandero, which has been on UK roads since 2013.
Like the VW e-Golf, the Zoe is a regular-looking car that blends into the traffic, which might make it the perfect car for new EV drivers. It’s quite roomy for a small car and can easily seat four people, plus it has a large boot.
The Zoe is a really nice car to drive and makes for a comfortable ride no matter what you’re doing. The Zoe has a battery size of 22 - 52 kWh, depending on the model. EVs with the 22 kWh battery will probably be the cheapest ones you’ll find.
These batteries will give a range of between 100 - 240 miles. Most Renault Zoes can charge up to 80% power in under an hour if charged at their max speed.
The Renault Zoe is one of the cheapest EVs we recommended. You can find it for between £7,000 - £27,000.
Many Renault Zoes might come with a battery lease, which means you will have to pay a monthly fee to Renault. Renault did this to make their EVs cheaper for buyers. The lease isn’t very expensive but can be an unwanted expense.
Not all Renault Zoes will come with a battery lease, but some will. Double-check if one does when looking at used Zoes.
The Mazda MX-30 is a plug-in hybrid best suited for cities due to its range and battery size. The Mazda MX-30 is a new car, so its price hasn’t yet dropped too significantly, but it is still relatively affordable. In the future, it will be a good car to look for in the used markets.
The MX-30 has some great features, such as parking sensors, rear-hinged rear doors, plenty of space in the car and a decent-sized 366-litre boot. It doesn’t have particularly impressive specifications, with a small 36 kWh battery that provides 124 miles of range. But the MX-30’s limited range makes it suitable for commuting.
As a plug-in hybrid, it isn’t a full EV, but this does come with some benefits, such as not having to worry so much about charging station locations.
The Mazda MX-30 was produced in 2020, so there hasn’t been much time for prices to drop. As such, you can usually find a decent MX-30 for around £20,718.
The Nissan Leaf was one of the first mainstream EVs in the UK and has since garnered a loyal fanbase thanks to its reliability and comfort. The Nissan Leaf, once the best-selling EV in the world, has been around for long enough that plenty of used models are sold.
Many of the Nissan Leafs in the used market will be early models, which are comfortable, reliable and easy to run. The best cheap Nissan Leaf is the second generation with an improved battery, making it perfect for urban commuters with access to chargers.
There are plenty of Nissan Leafs on the market, and you can find some very good options for under £5,000, including ones with low mileage.
The Nissan Leaf isn’t the most visually appealing car, but it does have a roomy interior and a good boot size. It isn’t thrilling to drive, but this clever EV is very reliable. The Nissan Leaf is arguably the best used EV you can buy on a limited budget.
The Nissan Leaf is perhaps the cheapest used EV you’ll find. The Leaf’s affordability is due to its longevity and popularity. You can find a good used Nissan Leaf for between £3,085 - £17,805, depending on which model you’re interested in.
The Vauxhall Corsa-e is another new car which could be one to keep an eye on. It’s not cheap, but if you can get your hands on one, you’ll have a great ride. It’s much more affordable than some technically similar EVs, like the Peugeot e-208.
The Vauxhall Corsa-e has impressive specifications for its price. It has a 50 kWh battery that provides 200 miles of range. If you’re looking for an impressive used EV, the Corsa-e might be perfect for you.
As the Vauxhall Corsa-e is relatively new, there hasn’t been enough time for them to appear frequently in the used markets. That said, you can probably still find one for just below £20,000.
Upon release, the BMW i3 was not a huge success. The commercial disappointment was partially blamed on its odd futuristic look and high launch price. However, the BMW i3 has experienced a second wind as a second-hand car and is one of the best cheaper EVs you can find on the used market.
The BMW i3 is a futuristic-looking vehicle with odd windows, rear-opening backdoors and a stubby bonnet. All these aspects made for bad sales figures upon release, but they also made for an eye-catching vehicle with a high-tech interior and a unique personality.
It’s a groundbreaking car that is good to drive and cheap to run. It can reach 0 - 62 mph in just over 7 seconds. Early models have a range of 100 miles, which was extended to 125 in early 2017.
The BMW i3 is perhaps the best value-for-money used EV you can find. If you’re interested in one, you can find a used one for between £8,270 and £32,375.
Smart EQ ForTwo/ForFour is an EV available since 2013, with new versions in 2017 and 2020. However, despite the different models, the city car remains relatively unchanged.
It’s a compact car with two versions, one with two seats and one with four, hence the different names. It’s a relatively unremarkable but reliable car best used by commuters or those who live or work close to charging points.
It has an unimpressive 17 kWh battery, providing a low 81 miles of range. While this might be seen as a negative by some, it could be the perfect choice for those who travel little, as it is quick to charge.
Smart EQ’s EV is a great zero-emissions car for people who live in the city and have no need for excessive storage or high specifications.
If you’re interested in purchasing one of Smart EQ’s EVs, you will find used models from around £11,000.
Hyundai’s Ioniq range has been one of the most successful EV ranges in the UK. An understated member of this range is the Hyundai Ioniq Electric, which lives in the shadow of some of the better-known Ioniq cars like the Ioniq 5. But it is a great EV that undercuts other Ioniq cars’ prices while offering many of the same positives.
This medium-sized family car is unassuming and conventional, which might be a relief for drivers who’ve never owned an EV before. It has five doors and room for five people, loads of storage and a decent-sized boot.
The aerodynamic family-friendly car has battery sizes of between 28 - 38.3 kWh, depending on which model you get. The standard model (28 kWh) will provide a range of just below 200 miles. It has a max charging speed of 50 kW, which can charge the Ioniq from 0 - 80% in under an hour.
Hyundais come with a five-year warranty when bought new, meaning many of the models you’ll find in the market will still have years’ worth of warranty cover remaining. If you’re interested in the Hyundai Ioniq Electric, you should expect the price to start at around £20,000.
Hopefully, one of these EVs will suit your desires and price range. More and more EVs are being sold daily, and in a few years, there will certainly be a wider variety of EVs in the used market.
While used EVs are more expensive than gas or petrol cars; you might be able to make them last longer as EVs generally last for around 15 - 20 years. Electric cars can be good value for money, as charging is cheaper than petrol, which could save you money in the long term.
One of the biggest handicaps with cheap used cars is that they tend to come with a very limited range, making it very important to know your nearest charging stations.
If you’re ever looking for the perfect charging stations, you should download Bonnet.
The Bonnet app allows EV drivers to charge at thousands of charging points with just one download. You don’t need to clutter your phone with countless network apps to get great charging; you just need Bonnet.
We’ve partnered with some of the best public charging networks in the UK to provide our customers with diverse charging options at different speeds and prices. Chargers from across the country work with our app.
We have a membership option called Bonnet Boosts that can save you up to 15% off all your charging within our partners’ charging networks. Bonnet Boosts can save you hundreds of pounds across the year.
If you’re interested in finding the perfect charger and making charging stress-free, download Bonnet today.
You can buy a Nissan Leaf for around £3,000 second-hand. The Nissan Leaf is a very reliable EV, perfect for urban commuters. It is arguably the cheapest EV you’ll find on the market.
Yes. As more and more EVs enter the market, there will be a greater supply of cars for sale, and prices will drop over time. By 2025 to 2027, they are expected to cost similar prices to petrol or gas cars. Beyond that, it is expected they will be cheaper than petrol or gas cars in the years following 2030.
EVs are expensive to produce, so their prices are high. Electric cars are relatively new, so there hasn’t yet been enough time for second-hand EVs to drop in price. It is expected that they will get cheaper in the next few years.
Electric cars’ batteries generally last between 100,000 - 200,000 miles before they need to be replaced. Depending on how much you drive, this amounts to roughly 15 - 20 years of driving.
