10 of the Best Electric Cars to Buy Used

2014 nissan leaf white ・ Photo by Nissan

The best electric cars to buy used are the ones with the most battery capacity left. You might not know that if you have to replace an EV’s battery pack, it can cost thousands of dollars to replace it. But don't fret, checking the battery capacity is as simple as plugging the car into an onboard diagnostic tool. It’s the kind of thing a dealer experienced with EVs should have right on hand. You also can get do-it-yourself scanners that work with smartphone apps and cost less than $50.

In either case, a good benchmark comes from the leading EV makers: They guarantee their battery packs will maintain at least 70 to 75 percent of their capacity even after eight years in service. We've compiled a list of the best electric cars to buy used to help get you started on your EV shopping journey.

2018 Tesla Model 3

Sometimes, the best electric cars to buy used are the same as the best electric cars to buy new. Consider the Tesla Model 3. While the latest edition is a leading choice for new-car buyers, the 2018 Model 3 is becoming increasingly popular in the pre-owned marketplace. And why not, when any Model 3 can deliver hundreds of miles of all-electric driving on a single charge.

The most efficient 2018 Model 3, for example, has a 310-mile driving range and efficiency grades of 136 MPGe city/123 MPGe highway/130 MPGe combined. Yet the car also stands out as a surprisingly practical high-tech sport sedan. You can enjoy a 15-inch touchscreen, a 15-cubic-foot trunk capacity, and the ability to sprint from 0-60 in 3.3 seconds.

Photo by Tesla

2016 Nissan Leaf

The compact 2016 Nissan LEAF is one of the best electric cars to buy used when you’re on a budget. To put that into context, that just-mentioned Tesla Model 3 can be priced north of $75,000, but you can get into a 2016 Leaf for under $19,000.

The 2016 model year also is an especially notable one for Nissan shoppers. The Leaf was available with two battery sizes in 2016, allowing you to focus on either pricing or range. The less-expensive 24-kWh battery pack was certified as providing an 84-mile driving range in 2016, and the bigger 30-kWh unit extended that to 107 miles. Other highlights range from standard Bluetooth technology to 23.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats.

Photo by Nissan

2017 BMW i3

Yes, the 2017 BMW i3 is available with a range-extending gas engine, but the all-electric model has advantages of its own. Enough advantages, in fact, that we’re adding the i3 to our list of the best electric cars to buy used.

Like the aforementioned Leaf, the 2017 BMW i3 is the first to offer a choice between two battery packs. BMW’s 21.6-kWh battery setup delivered 81 miles of all-electric driving according to the 2016 EPA ratings. With the 33.2-kWh battery, the car’s range is listed at 114 miles. The i3 also shows off the kind of sporty driving dynamics and premium ownership experience you'd expect from the BMW brand.

Photo by BMW

2017 Chevrolet Bolt

Looking for a Tesla-style driving range without a Tesla-style price? For that, the best electric cars to buy used include the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt. Per the EPA, Chevy’s small hatchback can travel up to 238 miles on a single charge of electricity, and it can be less than half the cost of a Model 3. Next, although the Bolt isn’t quite as quick as the Tesla, it can still scoot from 0-60 in fewer than 7 seconds.

The Bolt also features advanced technologies like a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, automatic forward emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, and a camera-based digital rearview mirror. To seal the deal, the car is equipped with fold-down rear seats for a total cargo capacity of 56.6 cubic feet.

Photo by General Motors

2017 Hyundai Ioniq

Hyundai also has one of the best electric cars to buy used with the 2017 Hyundai Ioniq Electric. Part of a family that includes hybrid and plug-in hybrid models, the all-electric version combines an EV driving range of 124 miles with urban efficiency ratings that are high even for an electric vehicle. To be exact, the Ioniq Electric scored EPA marks of 150 MPGe city/122 MPGe highway/136 MPGe combined.

The Ioniq Electric also is a practical car, with plenty of standard and available technology. As a result, you can benefit from 23.8 cubic feet of storage behind the back seats, along with standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Automatic emergency braking is a top Ioniq option.

Photo by Hyundai

2016 Volkswagen e-Golf

VW is going all-in on EVs, promising to ditch internal-combustion engines entirely by 2026. If you’re shopping for the best electric cars to buy used right now, however, the brand serves up the Volkswagen e-Golf. The 2016 lineup is particularly appealing, since it includes a lower-cost SE trim. When both were new, that model undercut the MSRP of the 2015 e-Golf by more than $6,000, which should translate into a similar difference for used-car shoppers.

That said, the driving range for both model years is an identical 83 miles. The range-topping model - still offered for 2016 - does have more standard content, but both trims come fresh from the factory with content such as Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, and push-button start.

Photo by Volkswagen

2015 Fiat 500e

For serious savings, the 2015 FIAT 500e is among the best electric cars to buy used: The price on these cars can slip into four-figure territory. But despite being at the bottom of our list for cost, the 500e offers more range than the base models for the Nissan LEAF or the BMW i3.

Fiat’s small-yet-stylish EV earned an 87-mile range rating when it was tested for 2015. The 500e also builds on its Italian design flair with standard upscale features like heated front seats and a 276-watt audio system. So what’s the catch here? Well, like many vehicles in today’s gallery, the 2015 500e was only available in a few states as a new car - which will limit its availability as a used one, too.

Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

2017 Ford Focus Electric

The availability issue also raises its head with the best electric cars to buy used from other brands. So, like the aforementioned Fiat 500e, the 2017 Ford Focus Electric may be a bit hard to track down for customers. But those on the market are affordably priced, and they offer a significant boost in driving range compared to earlier models.

Thanks to its bigger battery, the 2017 Focus Electric can travel for up to 115 miles without recharging - 51 percent farther than the 2016 version. The newer car comes standard with a DC fast-charger, too, for when you do need to plug in. Also available for the Focus Electric are popular technologies like Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, a SYNC 3 infotainment system, and a Sony audio system.

Photo by Ford

2015 Mercedes-Benz B-Class

The best electric cars to buy used from the luxury brands also include the 2015 Mercedes-Benz B-Class. A compact hatchback, the B-Class relies on a 28-kWh battery pack that originally was rated for an 87-mile EV driving range in 2015. This makes it ideal as an upscale option for around-town driving.

Indeed, the B-Class can boast features like LED daytime running lights, heated leather seating, real-wood cabin trim, a driver-attention monitor, and a Harman Kardon sound system. Further helping matters: Despite its nimble dimensions, the B-Class can punch above its size class with 51.4 cubic feet of cargo space. You won’t have to take a major hit to your bank account either, since the used 2015 B250 has pricing in the high teens.

Photo by Mercedes-Benz

2016 Tesla Model S

Today’s gallery of the best electric cars to buy used finishes off much like it started, with a high-performance sedan from Tesla. The 2016 Tesla Model S is the bigger sibling to the Model 3, stretching an extra foot in length and supplying increased cabin space to match.

The 2016 Model S also goes the extra mile - or five - with a driving range of up to 315 miles. Actually, the Model S has the edge on the Model 3 in a lot of ways, from its 17-inch touchscreen to its 0 to 60 time of just 3.1 seconds. The top Tesla sedan builds on those benefits with 30 cubic feet of cargo space and a small third row of seating that’s suitable for kids.

Photo by Tesla