25k+ motorway miles - lowest TCO over four years

[Seventymilesperhour]

I’ve got a project coming up and itmeans 100-mile round trip every day. It is two-lane dual carriageway all the way.

Here’s the rub. I get free charging at work so it has to be electric.

I want it to be comfortable/capable etc but am well aware that 100k miles in 4 years is a total do-over on depreciation so I’m going for lowest TCO at this point. Leasing seems daft at this sort of mileage.

Sensible suggestions, happiest with heated seats/pre-heating (never owned an EV before)…

Budget is sub 15k, remembering lowest total cost of ownership - so if it is near the top of budget then would expect some residual value(!)

Looking forward to seeing what real ppl think as I already have a steer from ChatGPT!

Thanks

[Pit Pony]

Get a BMW I3. Later one with more than 100 mile range.
About £9k for one with low miles.

Or get one with only 55 mile range but a range extender.

About £7k

[6pi]

I'd buy something that already has some "high" mileage and has already depreciated, providing the battery SoH is right of course.

Model 3 would be the usual answer, but a Polestar 2 would also work, as would a Mustang Mach-E.

Edit : if the goal is really to get the lowest TCO but still with a reasonnable range margin you could go for a Vauxhall Corsa.

Edited by 6pi on Wednesday 23 September 21:23

[sixor8]

I've seen Kia e-Niros with just over 100k miles on them and decent battery SOH for sale at under £10k.

[keo]

£3750 a year depreciation to do 25k miles isn’t that bad if your car is worth nothing at the end of the job. It should be worth at least something hopefully, free charging at work in just putting another perspective on it.

I would go for the best Tesla you can find for £15k

[therams]

4 year old Tesla model 3 would work nicely

[ZX10R NIN]

60kwh Megane eTech in Techno spec:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202609115...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202607234...

Iconic:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202608245...

Lexus UX:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202609075...

75kwh Ioniq5 Premium:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202609186...

ID3:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202609206...

MG4:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202609186...

S 75D:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202608265...

If you want a truly leftfield option there's always a Fisker!:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202608275...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202608285...


The cheapest & still decent option is to buy the nicest 62kwh Leaf Tekna you can find:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202608195...


https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202609146...

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Wednesday 23 September 22:13

[irish boy]

A 3k Avensis d4d will be your total overall cheapest. Stupidly reliable, 60 mpg, comfortable and 2k rpm at 70. Find one with 70k miles for 3k and it will be worth 2k with 170k.

[_Rodders_]

I'd get a Model S. Get one that's already broken the 100k barrier and hence done a good chunk of the depreciation.

It'll be one of the most efficient EVs out there at motorway speeds and there's examples with over 400k on the clock so they can take the mileage.

Might not even need the full budget.

[_Rodders_]

irish boy said:

A 3k Avensis d4d will be your total overall cheapest. Stupidly reliable, 60 mpg, comfortable and 2k rpm at 70. Find one with 70k miles for 3k and it will be worth 2k with 170k.

No chance.

He's getting free fuel. That's thousands a year saved over any ICE.

[irish boy]

_Rodders_ said:

No chance.

He's getting free fuel. That's thousands a year saved over any ICE.

Ah missed the bit about the free changing……

[Frimley111R]

_Rodders_ said:

I'd get a Model S. Get one that's already broken the 100k barrier and hence done a good chunk of the depreciation.

It'll be one of the most efficient EVs out there at motorway speeds and there's examples with over 400k on the clock so they can take the mileage.

Might not even need the full budget.

Also it'll be super comfortable and you'll appreciate that if you're doing 100 miles a day!

[SWoll]

Pit Pony said:

Get a BMW I3. Later one with more than 100 mile range.
About £9k for one with low miles.

Or get one with only 55 mile range but a range extender.

About £7k

Great city cars, don't think I'd want to do 100 miles a day of 70mph driving though as not their natural habitat and the range does drop hugely at those speeds in the middle of winter IME..

The lack of maintenance requirements and overall package make this a perfect use case for a Model 3 I'd suggest.



Rich Symons on Youtube has recently done a very good video covering running costs and maintenance on a Model 3 over 250k miles.

[Russet Grange]

62kwh Leaf Tekna, a few out there under £10k

Throw it away when you've finished with it, though you'll probably still get £2k from WBAC.

Edit to add that the Model 3 is a great choice, but my son has one, I have a Leaf, and in terms of comfort mine wins by a mile.

Edited by Russet Grange on Thursday 24th September 08:41

[LayZ]

+1 LEAF. Assume those 62kwh ones have 7kw AC charging?

You don't need the fast charging of more modern EV platforms. I love i3s but they aren't very happy at 70mph.

[ConnectionError]

Tesla Model 3

[ilikejam]

Has to be a Tesla Model 3 really. I got a 2022 Long Range with 60k miles for £15k in April (I also get free work charging!) and it's been great on the couple of road trips we've done so far. More efficient than most other EVs, better range than most, faster than most, better technology than most and practically drives itself on the motorways. Plus Tesla Superchargers are cheaper than any other charging options,

Something like a 320d will feel better built and more insulated, but worth the downsides of the Tesla if you're getting free fuel!

Edited by ilikejam on Thursday 24th September 13:19

[joropug]

the MG5 estate is quite comfy - Think it is an older gen Passat underneath.

Available cheap and quite reliable, have adaptive cruise etc. Friend has one, he doesn't like it, but values it as a tool. He does 100 miles a day too, was a no brainer to switch to EV for it. IIRC there was a fleet company that raved about them and had tons of them doing high mileage from day 1.

We have a 2026 facelift MG4 and it's been superb so far. Can get the older ones quite cheap too,

Presumably if you have free charging at work, you need the car to do 200 miles in all weather. Unless you do a top up at home, many EV's won't do that in winter. Just a word of warning.

My 73kwh, albeit heavy and large, E5008 did 280 miles in summer and 180 miles in winter as a benchmark, more if you tried and rationed the heat however.

[Seventymilesperhour]

Thanks both - yep I was considering diesel 70mpg target but cost of fuel and the fact I get free electricity is pushing the EV agendq

_Rodders_ said:

irish boy said:

A 3k Avensis d4d will be your total overall cheapest. Stupidly reliable, 60 mpg, comfortable and 2k rpm at 70. Find one with 70k miles for 3k and it will be worth 2k with 170k.

No chance.

He's getting free fuel. That's thousands a year saved over any ICE.

[Seventymilesperhour]

Thanks the electric range does worry me but 50miles to and 50 miles from the office means I’m not likely to be going much more than 100 miles between charges anyway.
Amazing that I might be worried about using the heater in winter 🤔 …

joropug said:

the MG5 estate is quite comfy - Think it is an older gen Passat underneath.

Available cheap and quite reliable, have adaptive cruise etc. Friend has one, he doesn't like it, but values it as a tool. He does 100 miles a day too, was a no brainer to switch to EV for it. IIRC there was a fleet company that raved about them and had tons of them doing high mileage from day 1.

We have a 2026 facelift MG4 and it's been superb so far. Can get the older ones quite cheap too,

Presumably if you have free charging at work, you need the car to do 200 miles in all weather. Unless you do a top up at home, many EV's won't do that in winter. Just a word of warning.

My 73kwh, albeit heavy and large, E5008 did 280 miles in summer and 180 miles in winter as a benchmark, more if you tried and rationed the heat however.