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

Yes, you really can buy a used Tesla Model 3 for the same price as a new Dacia Spring. And for the money, you're getting one of the best electric cars around. 

Indeed, the Model 3 is great to drive, with all versions offering quick performance, sharp handling and impressive refinement. It's also a very 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 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 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 more 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 moving up the ranks in our reliability survey, with it finishing in ninth place out of 18 cars in the electric car category this year." – George Hill, Used Car Writer

We found: 2020 Tesla Model 3 Standard Range RWD, 61,620 miles, £14,995

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At 289 miles, the Kia e-Niro has the longest official range of any car on this list. In a summer real-range test, it managed 257 miles, which was remarkable given its price point when new. It's even more impressive given the price today. 

The e-Niro is available with some desirable luxuries for the money. For example, First Edition cars get heated front seats, a heated steering wheel and a wireless phone charger, while entry-level '2' cars get 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 plenty of room in the front and back seats, and the boot is a good size. Overall, it's a fantastic, well-rounded buy and we can certainly see it rightfully making people's electric car shortlists, if anything for the range alone.

"I could quite happily do many 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, it does smooth out nicely on the motorway." – Mark Pearson, Used Cars Editor

We found: 2019 Kia e-Niro 64kWh First Edition, 45,190 miles, £14,878

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If range and interior space are top priorities, then take a good look at the Volkswagen ID 3. With the 58kWh battery, the ID 3’s official range stands at 265 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 Volkswagen Golf. It's down one carry-on suitcase on the Renault Zoe, but it's 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. Handling and comfort levels are decent too, making it a good car for doing plenty of miles in. 

"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." – George Hill, Used Car Writer

We found: 2020 Volkswagen ID 3 Pro Performance 58kWh Life, 43,180 miles, £13,199

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The Peugeot e-208 is a bargain used. For around £10,000, you can expect a 2020 model with less than 50,000 miles on it. There's a variety of trims to choose from, too. Our favourite Allure trim comes with 17in alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control and 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, propelling the car, in our tests, from 0-60mph in a spritely 7.5sec – it’s comfortably quicker than a Renault Zoe. Handling is good, too, even though it isn't super sharp. The suspension is on the softer side for an electric car, but we don't mind, because that helps create the e-208's comfortable ride. 

The e-208 has a good 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 Fiat 500 can manage. So far, it's proving more reliable than a VW ID 3 and MG4, but not the Zoe. 

"Peugeot introduced a larger 51kWh battery with a longer a 248-mile official range to the e-208 range in 2024. If I were doing high miles and regular long journeys, I would be tempted by that version, even though they are a bit more expensive than the 45kWh models." – Mark Pearson, Used Cars Editor

We found: 2020 Peugeot e-208 50kWh Allure, 47,000 miles, £10,495

Read our full used Peugeot e-208 review

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Here we have an electric estate car – something you don't hear all that often. The MG5 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 reliability survey. That's better than the VW ID 3 and Hyundai Ioniq 5, but not as good as a Nissan Leaf. What is concerning, however, is MG's overall reputation for reliability; it finished in last place out of 31 manufacturers in the brand reliability section of our survey. 

"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." – George Hill, Used Car Writer

We found: 2022 MG5 61.1kWh Exclusive, 30,356 miles, £13,299

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The Renault Zoe might lack the Peugeot e-208's upmarket feel and level of refinement, but it's the one to choose if you need 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. In our own independent real-world range tests, on a warm July day, we saw an impressive 208 miles on a charge. You should still see 160-170 miles from a charge in winter times, too. 

The Zoe beats the electric Fiat 500, the Mini Electric and the e-208 for rear passenger space, even if taller individuals might still feel a little cramped. The Zoe has a surprisingly big boot. It's really deep: we managed to fit six carry-on suitcases below the parcel shelf – only one fewer than the larger and generally more expensive Nissan Leaf managed. 

With £15,000 to spend, there are lots of Zoes 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, later models don’t come with all of the safety equipment you might expect, most notably automatic emergency braking (AEB).

"I really like the Zoe's smooth and nippy nature. There's an uninterrupted stream of power as you accelerate and it makes the Zoe a relaxing and enjoyable car to drive around town. Ride comfort isn't its strongest suit though, especially on faster roads." – Mark Pearson, Used Cars Editor

We found: 2022 Renault Zoe R135 EV50 52kWh GT Line+, 14,301 miles, £11,990

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While the Hyundai Kona Electric shares many parts with the Kia e-Niro, but it's a step below on our list. Why? Well, the Kona Electric is down on interior and boot space, plus it feels 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 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. 

There's also a smaller 39kWh battery – allowing for 189 miles of travel, officially – 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. 

"The Kona Electric is better to drive than the MG ZS EV, but I find the Kia e-Niro to be a bit more polished. For example, the Kona doesn't handle as well as its sibling and it suffers from greater levels of wind and road noise on the motorway." – George Hill, Used Car Writer

We found: 2020 Hyundai Kona Electric 64kWh Premium SE, 55,000, £12,490

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If we were ranking electric cars on reliability alone, the Mini Electric 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 Peugeot e-208, Renault Zoe and VW ID 3. 

There are other strengths to the Mini too, including a smart, high-quality interior and a fun, playful driving experience. And, with it being launched in 2020, there are quite a few examples on the used market now for a good price. 

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 as an urban runabout.

"The Mini Electric's interior is one of the best of any small electric car. I love the fact it has 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." – Mark Pearson, Used Cars Editor

We found: 2021 Mini Electric Cooper SE Level 1, 52,588 miles, £11,799

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The Fiat 500 Electric 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 the larger, 42kWh battery (for an official range of 199 miles).

The 500 Electric is ideal 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. 

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 small cars 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 larger cars on the road." – George Hill, Used Car Writer

We found: 2022 Fiat 500 Electric 42kWh Icon, 24,552 miles, £12,115

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The original Nissan Leaf was introduced in 2011, but 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 family car.

Sure, it isn't a class leader in any respect, but the Leaf remains a comprehensively decent choice. Our budget allows for the larger, 62kWh battery: the official range is 239 miles, but be warned it has a slightly stiffer ride than the base Leaf. It's nippy, too, with a hot hatch-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 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 MG5 and VW ID 3 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." – Mark Pearson, Used Cars Editor

We found: 2021 Nissan Leaf 62kWh N-Connecta, 39,948 miles, £12,488

Read our full used Nissan Leaf review

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