Best Used Electric Cars In 2022

Is the environment on your mind? Or perhaps you want to keep up with the trends and try out an electric car for yourself, just don’t know where to start? Fret no more, here is our handy list of the best used electric cars in 2022.

1. Vauxhall Corsa-e

If you’re keen on getting a small electric car, but don’t particularly feel the need to tell the world how revolutionary you are, then the Vauxhall Corsa-e could be for you. With a claimed range of up to 209 miles between charges, the Corsa-e has a neat exterior design, with a bold grille and snazzy LED headlight clusters at the front, as well as some sharp creases along the sides and rear. There are a few ‘e’ badges along the side and at the back that mark this is an electric car. There’s a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system that is pretty sharp; it comes with sat nav, or you can use Apple CarPlay and/or Android Auto if you prefer to use your smartphone apps. The Corsa-e has a 136hp electric motor, powerful enough to give it nippy performance. To fully charge the car, expect to pay around £8.25 if you top up at home, though this varies depending on how much you pay for your electricity. It’s still cheaper than a Corsa with a petrol or diesel engine to go the same distance, however. If you have a 7kW wall charger, it will take you over 7 hours to charge the Corsa-e from empty to full. Oh, and Vauxhall will install a wall charger at your home for free. You’ll only need 30 minutes or so to boost the Corsa-e batteries from flat to 80% fully charged using a public rapid charge point.

2. Nissan Leaf

Nissan released its second-generation Leaf a few years ago, but the first generation was a pioneer that you can now pick up for peanuts – as little as £4k for early examples, and you’ll bag the very best for low teens. As an affordable, functional and spacious way into EV ownership, it’s a head-over-heart champion. 30kWh battery worth holding out for if budgets allow. Earlier Leafs are among the least expensive used electric cars and they’re a fine choice if you want a family-friendly car that’s good to drive and requires little or no compromise if you’re switching from a petrol or diesel car. These versions have an official maximum battery range of between 124 and 155 miles, depending on spec. The all-new Leaf was launched in 2018. You can tell it apart from the previous model by its extra black trim around the front, back and roof. Although you’ll pay more for a post-2018 Leaf, these models have a more premium feel, more space and an official maximum range of between 168 and 239 miles, depending on model.

3. Hyundai Kona

Hyundai is unusual in offering its Kona crossover in hybrid and pure petrol versions as well as with an EV option, but the EV version’s stats might just tempt late-adopters from the petrol pump: a range of almost 300 miles, fast charging times plus more than adequate performance. We’re big fans of the rugged looks and comfortable driving experience, if not so much some of the interior plastics. Plenty of funky colours available, so don’t be shy. It’s just as appealing to buyers of used cars thanks to an official battery range of between 180 to 279 miles, depending on which of the two models you choose. Both are zippy around town and more than able to deal with motorways. The Kona’s simple dashboard is easy to use, while its interior is solid and roomy enough for four adults and their luggage. While you’ll also find used Konas with petrol, diesel and hybrid power, the electric version is the one to go for if you want to keep your running costs lower and your environmental footprint to a minimum.

4. Kia e-Nero

Kia and Hyundai are Korean companies joined at the hip, and the Niro is a kind of Kia take on the Hyundai Kona – a compact crossover that can be had with petrol or a plug or a combination of the two. The twist is the Niro trades the Kona’s funk for something more mature and it’s also a little bigger too, making it the more useful car for growing families. But the charge times, impressive range and more-than-adequate performance are all comparable. Don't forget that industry-leading seven-year warranty too. If you want maximum battery range for your money it’s hard to look beyond the Kia e-Niro. With an official figure of up to 282 miles between charges, chances are you’ll be able to avoid ‘range anxiety’ altogether. The e-Niro has plenty more to recommend it, too. It’s smooth and enjoyable to drive, for starters, and since it’s only been around since 2019 you can enjoy the majority of Kia’s market-leading seven-year warranty if you buy a used one. Every version is very well equipped, too, with sat nav and support Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. The interior has a high-quality feel and is spacious enough to make it a proper family car, with lots of headroom and legroom and a huge (451-litre) boot.

5. Renault Zoe

Despite the potential battery leasing costs, the Renault Zoe is still one of the more affordable electric cars on the market and, thanks to an improved battery from 2015 onwards, the range is really decent, too. It's also good to drive and a solid performer, with instant shove from a start and low noise levels. Being similar in dimensions to a Clio, the Zoe can also be more than just a second car. There's plenty of room front and rear, with enough rear-seat room for a couple of children, and the boot is a decent size and can accommodate a pushchair without issue. Charging times for the earlier cars from flat vary between eight hours on a 7kWh home charger point to two hours and 40 minutes from a fast charger. There are even some Zoes with rapid charging if you need to travel further afield. The Renault Zoe is everything a French supermini should be – small, practical, affordable and fun to drive. It also just happens to be an electric car and has been on sale since 2013, so there’s a good selection of used models to choose from. Whichever version you choose, the Zoe is excellent value for money. It’s also surprisingly spacious, with good legroom and a large boot for a car this size. And to top it all, it’s enjoyable to drive, with nippy acceleration and a smooth ride.

6. BMW i3

Its futuristic looks make the BMW i3 one of the most distinctive electric cars around. It’s one of the best, too, offering excellent performance and an interior that combines sleek minimalist design with a high-quality feel. The rear-hinged back doors offer good access to the five-seat interior and every version is well equipped. Its carbon-fibre safety cell means it’s fairly light, so performance is impressively rapid, especially in town. The ride is on the firm side, but if you focus on the positives – such as the futuristic looks of the cabin – the i3 looks like a great used EV buy.

Battery range varies from 81 miles in early versions to 115 miles for cars built after 2016. While some newer rivals offer a longer range, an i3 REx (range-extender) model was sold until 2018. It has a small petrol engine that can top up the battery when its charge runs low, giving you a range of up to 200 miles. The updated i3 (launched in 2018) gained a longer battery range of up to 153 miles, as well as a new ‘S’ version with a sportier look and feel. The i3 is one of the best electric cars because it's cheap at around £10,000 used, yet has an interior that looks like it came from a £50,000 car. It's spacious enough and fun to drive, so appeals to drivers who love great engineering and innovative cars.

 7. Vauxhall e-Golf

Here’s an electric car that doesn’t shout about its zero-emission tech – only the most eagle-eyed VW fans will notice the blue highlights and aerodynamic alloys that set it apart from the standard petrols and diesels. At launch, the e-Golf had a 113bhp electric motor driving the front wheels, and energy came from a 24.2kWh battery. Early models have a 118-mile official range, although in the real world 100 miles is more realistic. That’s more than enough to function as a second car in a household, or as a daily commuter – exactly the conditions under which it excels. Updates in 2017 pushed these numbers to 134bhp and 35.8kWh respectively. This brought slightly improved acceleration and, crucially, a 185-mile official range. Earlier models start from around £14,000, and because of the type of journeys they do, mileages tend to be low. 

8. Jaguar I-Pace

The I-Pace, Jaguar’s first electric car, gives you all the luxury and sportiness you expect from the brand along with thrilling performance, zero emissions and sleek, futuristic styling. It’s a very impressive debut. Few electric cars are as enjoyable to drive as the I-Pace. It can accelerate quicker than many sports cars and it’s responsive and agile for such a big car. It’s smooth and comfortable too, while standard four-wheel drive provides reassurance in slippery conditions. The interior is very spacious and mixes high-tech features with luxurious materials, while the maximum official battery range is just eight miles shy of 300.

Check out our range of nearly new and used cars, or you can contact us directly with any questions you may have. To learn more about electric cars, have a look at our helpful page.