Best used electric cars in 2025

First introduced back in 2013, the BMW i3’s futuristic looks mean it still turns heads today. It looks more like a concept car than an actual production model, while its rear-hinged doors and tall dimensions mean it’s surprisingly practical. (It's worth noting, though, that those rear doors don't open unless the front ones are.)

It’s equally modern inside, where you’ll find a floating infotainment screen and space for four adults – impressive, considering its compact size. It’s infinitely more interesting than something like a Volkswagen e-Golf.

In true BMW form, the i3 is a lot of fun to drive. Its electric motor and lightweight carbon fibre body mean it’s surprisingly quick off the line and very agile around town. It really was the first mainstream EV you would consider as sporty, even if that does mean the ride is on the firm side. 

BMW initially offered two variants of the i3: the standard model and the Range Extender version. The former combined a 170PS electric motor with a 22kWh battery to provide a range of around 80 miles between charges, while the Range Extender engine added a tiny two-cylinder petrol engine for an extra 100 miles before requiring a top-up. Later models had a 33kWh battery, and a 42kWh version was introduced too. Prices are now dipping below £6,000 for older models, while a wide range of i3s can be found for less than £10,000.

While the first car from the Volvo EV offshoot, the expensive, left-hand-drive-only Polestar 1, was a niche choice (there are only four registered in the UK), the more conventional Polestar 2 has really made a mark. With Polestar shifting some 30,000 in Britain since the car was launched in 2020, there are loads to choose from on the used market. 

Many are now below £20,000, offering a well-built, stylish EV with a decent range for a modest outlay. Battery options have changed over the years, as has the motor layout (more recent single motor 2s are rear-wheel drive rather than front), which is worth bearing in mind when shopping for one of these EVs. 

If you're sticking to the cheaper end of the market, it'll be either a 64kWh battery in the Standard Range Polestar 2 or a 78kWh pack in the Long Range. We'd definitely opt for the latter to give greater flexibility - the official range figure is up to 317 miles, so even with a mix of driving conditions, you should be able to get around 250 miles without needing to plug in. 

Tesla was already successful when it launched the Model 3, but introducing the most affordable Tesla yet catapulted it to new heights. It's frequently topped the list of best-selling cars in Britain, which means there are loads around on the used market.

Prices at the time of writing start at around £14,000 for a three-or-four-year-old model, and even more upmarket models like the all-wheel-drive Model 3 Performance or the Long Range model can be found for not much more. While the Long Range can take you more than 400 miles on a single charge, all Model 3s will manage north of 300 miles, and of course, you can take advantage of Tesla's excellent Supercharger network if you need to refill the battery on the move.

Whatever version you go for, you'll find a stylish and minimalist interior that's influenced plenty of rival cars released since. And it's a fun-to-drive car, too, with zippy acceleration and solid, composed handling.

We reckon that the Kia Niro EV – formerly known as the Kia e-Niro – might be one of the best electric cars you can buy right now. If you're looking for a dependable, spacious family electric car, this could be it. 

The range is impressive. With a 64kWh battery pack, the Kia e-Niro can travel up to a claimed 285 miles between charges, while charging is nice and straightforward as well. If you're using a 7kW home charger you can easily top it up overnight, while a rapid charger out on the road will give the e-Niro a decent boost in juice while you grab a coffee. 

It's also very practical – you can happily get four adults inside and the boot is a decent size as well. Granted the cabin design isn't going to wow passengers, but it does the job and there are no complaints about build quality. 

Launched in 2019 and having proved fairly popular, there's a decent amount of choice on the used market. With a budget of £15,000, you should be able to pick up a 2019 example with a modest amount of miles on the clock.

While some cars on this page, like the BMW i3, like to shout about being an EV, some fly under the radar. One of those is the Peugeot e-208. It doesn't really look any different from the regular petrol-powered 208 (and that's to say, very handsome indeed), and is much the same inside. As such, it's a non-intimidating way into the world of electric cars. 

The range from the 50kWh battery pack is respectable but not spectacular, with up to 225 miles available. If you aren't going to be doing longer trips regularly, though, that should be more than enough. You can also pick one up for around £10,000, while a budget of £15,000 will give you plenty of choice. 

Speaking of 'choice', the vast nature of the Stellantis Group which owns Peugeot means there are myriad cars that use the same architecture as the e-208 including the DS3, Vauxhall Corsa Electric and Jeep Avenger, so if you fancy a different badge and/or look, there's bound to be something else to tickle your fancy. 

The Tesla Model S is the car that really kickstarted US brand's sales success in the UK, and all these years after it was introduced it's still an excellent electric car. The length of time it's been on sale means there are plenty of models to choose from at a range of budgets, but all offer excellent range, performance and access to an unrivalled international charging network.

Tesla's minimalist styling isn't everyone's cup of tea but the number of other manufacturers that have since copied it suggests it's doing something right. When it was introduced it was very different to anything that went before, and although that's less the case now, it still feels fresh. A big central touchscreen controls just about everything, from temperature controls to gimmicks like karaoke. There's plenty of space for five and a big boot and early cars were even available as seven-seaters.

Depending on the model you go for, you'll have a battery range in excess of 300 miles, and pushing 400 on later models. Tesla's excellent Supercharger network has locations around the UK and abroad, and can top up your battery to 80% charge in around 30 minutes.

The MG4 had an attention-grabbing new price when launched, so it should be no surprise that it's become one of the best-value EVs on the used market. You'll need to just pay careful attention to the battery sizes when you're shopping around, as there are three to choose in a wide variety of capacities, which makes a big difference to how far you can go on a full charge.

The entry-level car makes do with a 51kWh battery pack, giving an official range of 214 miles, although in reality, you probably won't get it near 200 miles. The 64kWh Long Range MG4 with its 281 miles of range is a better bet, or if you want more still, the Trophy Extended Range offers a 77kWh pack for an impressive 323 miles of range. 

There's also a spicy MG4 xPower on the menu, but these are still reasonably fresh and thus still quite pricey on the used market. In any case, all versions of the MG4 drive well, with a surprisingly sporty drive that does slightly compromise the ride comfort. 

• Best hatchbacks

As mentioned, premium electric cars have suffered significantly in terms of depreciation, and if you're going to take advantage of that with any performance EV, we reckon it should be the Porsche Taycan. It's one of the best-driving EVs around, blending incredible straight-line pace with an involving drive and a decent amount of luxury. 

We've seen some high-mileage Taycan examples drop below £40,000, but you'll have more choice of less well-used models if budgeting more like £50,000. The 4S is a great bet, offering more than enough performance for most, but if you want proper pin-you-in-your-seat acceleration, spending a bit more than £50k means you should be able to buy the outrageously fast Taycan Turbo. 

Just bear in mind that these earlier Taycan models pale in comparison to the recently updated version in terms of range, and for the same money, a Model S will take you much further. But for the way it drives and the badge kudos, the Taycan is unbeatable at this price.  

The Nissan Leaf was the first mainstream electric car that could be seriously considered a rival to a petrol Ford Focus or Volkswagen Golf. A £3000 budget should get you an early example of this pioneering electric car, while £6,000 and up will get you into a second-generation Leaf. 

The cheapest models will have a 24kWh battery, which could take you up to 124 miles between charges according to official tests. In reality, you probably won’t get further than around 90 miles (or less if the battery has degraded on a high-mileage model) but it should still be enough to get you around town.

Unlike the Volkswagen e-Up, the Leaf is practical enough to be a replacement for your family car. It’s just as usable as a Volkswagen Golf or Ford Focus, as long as you don’t need to travel to the other side of the country on a whim. 

For newcomers to electric vehicles, the Volkswagen e-Golf is a great option. It’s just like a normal Golf, meaning you get an upmarket interior with plush materials and oodles of ‘feel-good’ factor. It’s just as practical, too, with a more useable boot than smaller electric cars like the Renault Zoe or Volkswagen e-Up.

By replacing the petrol or diesel engine with an electric motor, the e-Golf is even more refined than a standard Golf. It’s more fun to drive, too, with instant responses and darty handling, thanks to the positioning of the batteries under the car’s floor. Despite that, it's comfortable with a refined ride. 

Early, higher-mileage examples start at £8,000, while £10k - £12k is enough for much fresher e-Golf. The standard car can officially cover up to 186 miles on a charge, although around 125 miles is more realistic. Look for a car with the optional heat pump if you wish to travel further. This recycles heat from ambient air and waste heat from the drivetrain, reducing the heating system’s electric power consumption.