Tempted by zero-emissions motoring but not willing to fork out the substantial price commanded by one of the best new electric cars? Well, you’re in luck – because the expansion of the electric car market in the past ten years or so means there’s now a wider array of cheap used electric cars around.
A used electric vehicle (EV) could be a great option, after all, given how things have changed in recent history; you may no longer be commuting long distances, so a clean and inexpensive electric car might be ideal now, or you might be looking to cut down on your motoring expenses with a potentially more cost-effective electric option.
To help you get started on your all-electric used car journey, if a used electric car is a feasible option for you, we’ve picked 10of our favourite EVs that are available for less than £10,000. Just remember that whichever you go for, you’ll need to pay attention to factors such as its battery warranty status, battery health and charging capabilities.
Top 10 used electric cars for under £10,000
Editor’s choice: Renault Zoe (2012-present)
A capable compact electric car, but its safety rating may worry some
Pros:
✅ Decent interior space
✅ Refined and easy to drive
✅ Good range for a small EV
Cons:
❌ Euro NCAP score may concern
❌ Not much fun to drive
The Renault Zoe has long been a popular choice for those wanting an affordable and capable small electric car. Even the original 22kWh version, launched back in 2012, had a claimed range of up to 130 miles. The Zoe is also practical, pleasant to drive, and sensibly equipped.
Two things to bear in mind: originally, the Zoe scored five stars in Euro NCAP crash testing. But, when retested in 2021, it scored zero. This is primarily due to how testing has changed but it might give you pause for thought. Secondly, the battery was not originally included in the purchase price. You’ll need to see if the lease is still active, and account for that, or if the battery has been bought outright.
Read our full Renault Zoe review
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Kia Soul EV (2014-2019)
Kia’s oddball Soul offers up lots of kit and a sensible range
Pros:
✅ Lots of equipment
✅ Quiet and refined
✅ Potential 132-mile range
Cons:
❌ Reduced boot space
❌ Looks won’t be to all tastes
The distinctive Kia Soul is an oft-overlooked choice in the used electric car marketplace. It’s a good buy if you can find one, though, offering a range of up to 132 miles. It comes with plenty of kit, too, including climate control, heated seats, cruise control, solar glass, a heat pump, and an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system.
It also drives in a predictable and comfortable fashion, and it’ll do 0-60mph in a sensible 10.8 seconds. Plug it into a wallbox and it’ll charge up in five hours, or you can top the batteries up to 80% in 33 minutes using a public rapid charger.
Read our full Kia Soul review
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Volkswagen e-Golf (2014-2020)
An easy way to make the leap to electric motoring
Pros:
✅ It’s just like a normal Golf
✅ Quality finish
✅ Great to drive
Cons:
❌ Not as interesting as some alternatives
❌ Compromised by not being bespoke
A Volkswagen Golf is always a pretty good shout, when it comes to car recommendations, and similarly so if you’re looking at used electric cars. The VW e-Golf is just like the conventional Golf, but it’s electric – so as well as being smooth and quiet, it’s also familiar, straightforward, and easy to live with.
At launch, a range of 118 miles was claimed. Like others here, that’ll vary with conditions; if it’s colder, for example, the range will drop significantly. If you’re only intending to do short trips, though, an e-Golf could be a gratifying and effortless way to get about.
Read our full VW e-Golf review
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Nissan Leaf (2011-2018)
The original mainstream electric car
Pros:
✅ Bespoke electric car pioneer
✅ Almost a modern classic now
✅ Thoroughly proven technology
Cons:
❌ Short driving range
❌ Looks and interior unappealing
By far the biggest choice of used electric cars under £10,000 will come from the Nissan Leaf. This original version was the first mainstream consumer electric car, responsible for helping making the electric revolution a reality for many motorists. Purpose built to be an EV, it showed the rest of the motoring world what was possible.
However, the pioneering nature of the Mk1 Leaf means that the driving range of the cheapest ones is tiny (109 miles when new in European testing at the time – or just 73 miles according to tougher US standards), the looks are gawky and it’s a little cheap and awkward inside as well.
Read our full Nissan Leaf Mk1 review
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Nissan Leaf (2018-)
Significantly improved over its predecessor
Pros:
✅ Bigger batteries
✅ Clever technology onboard
✅ Fundamentally dependable
Cons:
❌ Rivals still feel more modern
❌ Clumsy infotainment
Underlining the Leaf’s pioneering status, Nissan is already on its second generation of bespoke electric car when many other carmakers have only just launched their first. And yes, you can find a Mk2 Leaf for under £10,000.
These are based on the same fundamental platform but have a lot of updated technology and slightly more mainstream looks. Bigger batteries mean greater range while innovative features such as the One Pedal driving mode (which enhances energy regeneration to do most almost all of the braking) increase everyday efficiency to help you travel further per charge.
Read our full Nissan Leaf Mk2 review
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BMW i3 (2013-2022)
Still one of the most innovative EVs around
Pros:
✅ Cleverly engineered
✅ Spacious for size
✅ Fun to drive
Cons:
❌ Carbonfibre expensive to repair
❌ Firm suspension
The BMW i3 was an innovative breath of fresh air in the electric car sector when it launched back in 2013. The first compact model from a premium manufacturer it combined exotic materials with interior and exterior design intended to maximise the advantages of the dedicated electric car platform beneath.
The inside is a particular delight, but performance is great too, especially from the 2017-onwards i3S model. Range varies, with the earliest cars managing only 120 miles per charge on their best day. But it still looks ultra-modern now, and as long as it’s been treated well, the electric version should prove reliable. The same can’t be said for the part-electric i3 REx range-extender, which is probably best avoided.
Read our full BMW i3 review
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Volkswagen E-Up (2014-2022)
The best version of this popular city car is electric
Pros:
✅ Great around town
✅ Decent range on later models
✅ Choice of Skoda and SEAT, too
Cons:
❌ Compact size limits practicality
❌ EV lost some safety kit
While not purpose-built electric cars, the VW E-Up and the related Skoda Citogo-e and SEAT Mii Electric make a great case for a less-is-more approach. But while they are excellent around town, with sharp acceleration and easy road manners, an official range of up to around 160 miles means these can travel further afield, too.
That said, if you do intend to buy one of these as an only car, you may be best avoiding the earliest examples – these had a tiny 18.7kWh battery and a range of less than 100 miles per charge. Still a great choice as an urban run-around, though.
Read our full VW E-Up review
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Smart EQ Forfour (2018-)
Baby Mercedes or overhyped Renault?
Pros:
✅ Spacious cabin for size
✅ Tight turning circle
✅ Interesting brand
Cons:
❌ Small battery, small range
❌ Rivals do it better
Another relatively modern EV to now be falling below the £10k mark is the Smart EQ Forfour. This, however, has nothing on the BMW i3 for style nor the Nissan Leaf for capability, and is instead a poshed-up electric conversion of the last Renault Twingo.
Fair enough if the design works for you – and the remarkable turning certainly makes it a doodle to punt about in car parks. But the battery is tiny (16.7kWh) and the driving range very limited (80 miles officially – more like 60 at best in real life), so this is a definitely a town car unless you’ve got a lot of time to kill.
Find our full Smart Forfour review
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Peugeot Ion (2011-2018)
Quirky electric city car can be yours for under £5k
Pros:
✅ Very cheap even for a used EV
✅ Quite fun to drive in their day
✅ Mitsubishi and Citroen versions also
Cons:
❌ Realistically city use only
❌ Very old tech now
Want a really cheap electric car? Then step this way. The Peugeot Ion – a rebranded version of the Mitsubishi i-MEiV and sister car to the Citroen C-Zero – can be found for sale for under £5,000. Which actually isn’t too bad if you can get anything near to the claimed 93 miles of driving range out it.
This is one of the oldest electric cars to be marketed in the UK, however, so you should probably anticipate a little battery degradation in any used example you’re considering – especially since the real-world range was closer to 60 miles when new. Still, these are quite fun to drive and look rather exciting in a Jetsons on wheels kind of way.
Read our full Peugeot Ion review
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Renault Twizy (2012-2021)
Skinny Renault EV is a hoot to drive but doors are extra
Pros:
✅ Attention-grabbing fun
✅ Easy to handle in traffic
✅ Park it anywhere
Cons:
❌ Hard ride, hard interior
❌ Short range, limited speed
Ok, so the Renault Twizy technically isn’t a car – it’s a quadricycle. But this makes it a low-cost way of getting into electric vehicle ownership with a proper badge on the front. The driving experience is well sorted and people will literally stop and stare even now. It’s barely wider than a motorbike, so goes where other electric cars can’t, too.
Practicality might be a problem, though. There’s very little storage space and you had to pay extra for doors, let alone windows. The tandem seating arrangement requires close friendship and trust as well, while the firm ride and short range (officially 62 miles – really more like 40) may limit its appeal.
Read our full Renault Twizy review
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Are there any other cheap EVs worth considering?
As more and more electric vehicles are sold, so more and more reach the used market. And though the prices of secondhand cars have been generally bonkers in recent years (due to a combination of factors but especially supply chain issues related to the covid pandemic, the war in Ukraine and general price rises) this will eventually see additional models fall below the £10,000 mark.
Alternatively, if you just want to cover short urban distances, the Citroen Ami could be worth a look. Another quadricycle like the Twizy but offering slightly more protection from the elements., the Ami is very inexpensive to buy or lease new, but also limited to a maximum of 28mph and basic in every respect.
We have a full list of the cheapest new electric cars for you to consider as well.
What about battery life and condition?
As you’ll know from you phone, rechargeable batteries degrade over time, and there has always been a big worry that this would make used electric cars useless in the space of just a few short years.
In fact, long-standing models such as the Nissan Leaf and Renault Zoe are proving that EV batteries are lasting much better than originally anticipated. So although you might not get the full capacity of a new equivalent, a secondhand EV should still be perfectly useable for some time to come.
If you’re worried, many brands now offer battery certification services that will tell you how the fitted cells are doing – ask the seller if they can provide this. Any remaining battery warranty can provide further peace of mind, these almost always carry on longer than the warranty on the rest of the car.
Any other used electric car buying advice?
There’s lots to consider, but if you’re willing to take the time to learn about electric motoring and adapt to it, a used electric car can deliver relaxing and refined motoring.
Just remember that all electric cars suffer a drop in available driving range in winter – so keep that in mind when calculating whether your potential purchase will go the distance you need.
EV running costs are almost entirely dictated by energy prices, and recent years have shown these can vary tremendously. Look for an energy provider with a dedicated electric car charging tariff if you’re planning to keep it topped up at home (which is far cheaper than using the public charging network, regardless).
You’ve probably already figured out that recharging takes longer than refuelling. But know that with some forward planning you can still undertake lengthy journeys in any of the cars listed above. Ok, so maybe don’t immediately consider the Twizy for that kind of activity, but otherwise you should be fine.
As is always the case when buying a used car, forearmed is forewarned. Once you’ve found a car that interests you, research it comprehensively and, if in doubt, employ a specialist to inspect any prospective purchase – or buy from a reliable dealer, to help provide some protection from any unpleasant surprises that may arise later.
