Cheap electric car

Author
Discussion

highet

Original Poster:

27 posts

58 months

Sunday 29th September
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Current car on its last legs - I feel an electric car as a replacement would suit our needs as most journeys since I retired a local with wifes 50 mile round trip commute twice a week about longest drive we do with lots of short trips daily - don't want to spend too much (10 - 12k)so thinking of nissan leaf 40, Mazda mx30, Hyundai ioniq 38?? Could possibly stretch to a few thousand more for an ID3 ?? Any opinions on best one to go for? Thanks

Merry

1,415 posts

195 months

Sunday 29th September
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We had a similar budget and ended up with a Renault Zoe, the 52kwh one - it was only 2 years old with loads of warranty left on it.

Worth looking at e-208s, Corsas and e-C4s. You may also find MG5s and short range ZS in that price range too, I've not looked in a while but the Fiat 500e and Honda E is probably getting into that price range now.

Plenty of BMW i3s too - we'd of had one but I'd didn't quite have enough range (we needed 150 miles) and it only has 4 seats.

Probably worth just popping your requirements into the autotrader filters and seeing what it spits out.

bomster

198 posts

119 months

Sunday 29th September
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Zoe if you don't mind the 0 star NCAP.

ID3 if you do.


samoht

6,286 posts

153 months

Sunday 29th September
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If all you really need is 50 miles range then almost anything will do that reliably year round, the options you mention are good, though no need to stretch to an ID3 unless you really want one.

The earlier 28 kWh Ioniq would be fine too. For real bargain points a pre-04/2017 one will only be £20 pa to tax from next year rather than £180-ish, eg https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202407161...

Also consider the VW e-Up / Skoda Citigo / Seat Mii electric if you want a small car for lots of town use. There's also the VW e-Golf available.

In this bracket are also short-range oddities like the original Kia Soul electric and Mercedes B-class B250e.

If you might ever want to take it on longer journeys, the Stellantis cars (e-208, Corsa, e-C4 etc) have 100 kW charging so charging stops can be fairly brief - some of the older cars in this bracket can be quite slow to charge, but it sounds like that probably doesn't matter to you.

Edited by samoht on Sunday 29th September 11:45

JurassicGTS

1,617 posts

202 months

Sunday 29th September
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If you're not worried about all the latest technology/screens/haptic buttons etc., your first listed option, the Leaf 40 Tekna is a great machine.
We have had 2 for all our local stuff and only moved away from the last due to a crazy offer and 0% PCP deal on a Cupra.

danp

1,624 posts

269 months

Sunday 29th September
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Leaf 30kWh is cheap and cheerful IMO, they’re very solid cars tho’ some did suffer from high battery degradation.

Brother just bought a low mileage late 2016 one (so low tax next year) for £5k, still on 12/12 battery bars which must be rare!




Turtle Shed

1,758 posts

33 months

Sunday 29th September
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First-gen Leaf and £7k change.

For example: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202312164...

Tekna spec worth having IMHO, though Acenta is fine.

Octopus Go tariff and you've got incredibly cheap motoring in comfort.

Very very few occasions when the first-gen 24kW car won't do a 50 mile round trip.

p.s - First-gen but post 2013-ish is what you need. The early cars are easily distinguished by their light interior and electronic handbrake.

Luke.

11,203 posts

257 months

Monday 30th September
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i3 all day long. It's one of my favourite cars, regardless of budget.

gmaz

4,628 posts

217 months

Monday 30th September
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Turtle Shed said:
First-gen Leaf and £7k change.

For example: https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202312164...
That one is showing just 28 miles range with over 50% charge!

Danm1les

836 posts

147 months

Tuesday 1st October
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I have a 2017 Kia Soul, has been spot on, average 4.6 miles per kw, and its been practical. Cost about £7k and does 110-130 miles on a charge.