The market for pre-owned electric vehicles is no longer a high-priced gamble. Depreciation has hit early adopters extremely hard, leaving an inventory of highly accessible options for buyers on the secondary market. Finding the best cheap used electric car, like a Nissan Leaf, is not as hard as it used to be, and these are the ten most viable budget-friendly electric vehicles (EVs) on sale in the USA today.
Used car values are based on averages at the time of writing; used EV prices will vary based on trim, mileage, and vehicle condition. We considered electric vehicles from the last 10 years for this list.
10
2020 Jaguar I-Pace
Expect To Pay: $17,000
2020 Jaguar I-PACE. All-electric SUV. EV. Motion. On-road. Front, three-quartersJaguar USA
Jaguar’s initial foray into the electric segment was plagued by rapid depreciation, which makes the 2020 I-Pace a compelling target for secondhand buyers today. At around $17,000, you are securing a premium British SUV that originally retailed for over $70,000! The I-Pace delivers all-wheel-drive performance courtesy of a dual-motor setup, and the powertrain generates 394 horsepower and 512 lb-ft of torque. However, prospective owners must keep the vehicle’s charging architecture in mind.
The early models suffer from a slow 90-kW fast-charging capability, which limits the SUV’s viability for long-distance travel. If your drive involves local commuting rather than cross-country road trips, then the I-Pace makes good sense. It remains a capable, cheap used electric car when judged on its driving dynamics and interior refinement. Notably, reliability has not always been Jaguar’s strongest suit, so it’s best to conduct comprehensive pre-purchase inspections of both the vehicle and its battery health before finalizing any transaction. Browse used options here.
9
2023 Hyundai Kona Electric
Expect To Pay: $16,000
2023 Hyundai Kona Electric front 3/4Hyundai
A model this recent hitting the $16,000 mark is a clear indicator of the volatility within the EV market. The 2023 Hyundai Kona Electric is a good option for buyers who want some warranty coverage (or whatever’s left of it) and modern technology over badge prestige. It offers an EPA-estimated range of 258 miles, which is a competitive figure even against brand-new alternatives today. It is powered by a 64-kWh battery.
As one of the best electric used cars on the current market, it features standard driver assistance systems that are fortunately not overcomplicated. The charging speed peaks at 75 kW, though, which is unimpressive for its production year but sufficient for overnight home charging routines. You acquire a Kona Electric because you want to go green with a newer car that, statistically speaking, won’t demand an ‘investment’ on failing mechanicals.
8
2020 Hyundai Ioniq Electric
Expect To Pay: $15,000
2020 Hyundai Ioniq Electric front 3/4Hyundai
Efficiency is the solitary metric that justifies buying the 2020 Hyundai Ioniq Electric over its modern competitors. With a fairly diminutive 38-kWh battery pack, the total driving range is 170 miles under optimal conditions. It’s not a lot of miles, but the car’s aerodynamic teardrop design and lightweight construction make for incredibly low energy consumption, typically averaging over four miles per kWh. And, of course, this means lower operational costs when charging from home.
Locating a cheap used EV that does not suffer from rapid battery degradation is difficult, but Hyundai’s EVs have proven structurally sound over extended time periods. The interior is characterized by hard plastics and basic infotainment software, which is indicative of its budget-oriented market positioning. The Ioniq Electric is an unpretentious, transactional appliance designed solely to move you between two points with absolute minimal financial output.
7
2018 Tesla Model 3
Expect To Pay: $13,000
2018 Tesla Model 3 White Front Angled ViewTesla
Securing a 2018 Tesla Model 3 at $13,000 plays with your mind when it comes to pricing logic, but you are purchasing access to the extensive Supercharger network and seamless software integration. Finding the best cheap used EV usually means compromising on public charging convenience, but this platform does not come with that stress, thanks to the Supercharger network.
Early production runs were notorious for inconsistent panel gaps, poor paint finishes, and cabin rattles that rivaled basic economy cars. Be that as it may, the standard range from this era realistically delivers around 200 miles per charge today once you factor in battery degradation. Despite its manufacturing imperfections, the underlying electric powertrain technology is durable. You can browse such models here.
6
2018 Fiat 500e
Expect To Pay: $11,000
2018 Fiat 500e driving front 3/4Stellantis North America
The 2018 Fiat 500e was engineered as a compliance car to satisfy stringent emissions regulations in California, but it inadvertently became a favorite among urban commuters. The 24-kWh battery is tiny, which restricted its practical range to roughly 80 miles on a favorable day. And it cannot utilize fast-charging networks, capping out at Level 2 speeds. But within dense city grids, the dynamics shift in its favor. The instant you hit the accelerator, this lightweight Italian hatchback becomes a swift traffic navigator.
Interior space is compromised, with the rear seats virtually useless for adults, but you buy this car as a secondary household runabout for short errands. Just don’t venture too far from the (charging) nest. Check out used examples like this here.
5
2016 BMW i3
Expect To Pay: $10,500
2016 BMW I3 Orange/Black Front Angled ViewBMW
Constructed around a bespoke carbon fiber passenger cell, the 2016 BMW i3 remains a fascinating engineering exercise rather than a mass-market success. The radical material choices lowered the curb weight in a big way, which counteracted the limitations of early battery density. For around $10,500, you acquire an incredibly stiff, rear-wheel drive platform that corners with surprising agility. On the inside, the interior employs recycled materials and exposed carbon weave to create an environment that feels architectural rather than vehicular.
Buyers must verify the configuration they’re eyeing, because the pure electric versions top out around 80 miles of range from their 22-kWh pack. There are some variants that include a tiny gasoline range extender (the REX models), which introduces maintenance liabilities around fuel lines and combustion components. Nota: the 33-kWh and 42.2-kWh models were introduced in 2017 and 2019, respectively. Some examples can be found here.
4
2019 Chevrolet Bolt EV
Expect To Pay: $10,000
2019 Chevrolet Bolt EV driving front 3/4Chevrolet
General Motors caused a major disruption when the Chevrolet Bolt EV originally launched, delivering over 238 miles of range at a previously unheard-of price bracket. Today, depreciation has reduced its valuation to around $10,000, cementing its status as perhaps the most logical purchase on this entire list. The 60-kWh battery pack provides genuine travel capabilities without inducing severe range anxiety. However, the charging architecture is archaic and is restricted to 50 kW peak during DC fast charging.
If you’re after the Bolt EV, triple-check that the vehicle received its battery replacement under the massive recall campaign addressing manufacturing defects. If that hardware replacement was successfully completed, you are essentially purchasing a depreciated chassis containing a brand-new battery pack. As for the previous owners, they got up to $1,400 as a “sorry” from GM. Browse used options here.
3
2019 Volkswagen e-Golf
Expect To Pay: $9,000
2019 Volkswagen e-Golf front 3/4Volkswagen
Volkswagen approached electrification with extreme conservatism, simply retrofitting an existing combustion-engine chassis with a battery rather than designing a dedicated platform. That’s what the VW e-Golf was. The resulting product is virtually indistinguishable from a standard Golf, which remains its greatest asset. The build quality, acoustic insulation, and suspension damping mimic those of the gas-powered Golf, and it retains the refined driving dynamics that made the internal combustion variant a global benchmark.
The 35.8-kWh battery is integrated awkwardly into the floorpan, yielding a maximum range of just 125 miles. At $9,000, it is ideal as a second vehicle for the weekly A-to-B grind, but it is not recommended as a long-distance traveler. Notably, the thermal management relies solely on passive air cooling, meaning that repeated fast charging sessions will drastically throttle your charging speeds and degrade the cells. Look at these listings for used options.
2
2017 Nissan Leaf
Expect To Pay: $5,500
2017 Nissan Leaf front 3/4Nissan
At $5,500, this first-generation 2017 Nissan Leaf is no longer about advanced features, but a cheap way to get around without a fuel bill. The original Leaf design suffers from an issue pertaining to battery longevity: Nissan used passive air cooling for the 30-kWh pack, which left the cells vulnerable to thermal degradation. If the vehicle operated in hot climates, it could cause permanent capacity loss to the battery. The issue persists in 2026, and a model originally rated for 107 miles might barely achieve 60 miles today.
Prospective buyers must pay close attention to the dashboard display, because the 12 small capacity bars adjacent to the main charge indicator reveal battery health. The fewer bars are illuminated, the bigger the chance of the battery being in poor condition. Then, the Leaf utilizes the CHAdeMO fast-charging standard. This is a technology that is currently being phased out across commercial charging networks nationwide. You can browse used options here.
1
2017 Kia Soul EV
Expect To Pay: $5,000
2017 Kia Soul EV front 3/4Kia
Holding the lowest price point on our data matrix at $5,000, this boxy 2017 Kia Soul EV is the lowest point of entry to the EV game. The exterior styling mimics the highly successful combustion version; however, the technical specifications are undeniably primitive by modern automotive standards. The 30-kWh battery pack was officially rated for just 93 miles when new. So when you factor in nearly 10 years of continuous cell degradation, buyers should realistically expect 50 to 60 miles per charge in temperate weather conditions. Freezing winter temperatures will drop the range further.
Like the Leaf, the Soul EV utilizes the obsolete CHAdeMO plug, which restricts public charging access as networks systematically decommission those specific stations. You must approach this vehicle with intense realism. It is basically a glorified golf cart for the city and short grocery runs. Browse used options here.
Sources: BMW, Chevrolet, Fiat, Hyundai, Jaguar, Kia, Nissan, Tesla, Volkswagen
