It’s an unwelcome truth, but for most car buyers in the UK, £300 per month is the new £200 per month. And that inflationary pressure has a couple of upsides, in that used cars for sale UK bound, can be quite volatile and in 2023, electric cars have fallen in price quite markedly when compared with 2022’s figures.
That means your £300 per month can get you some surprisingly versatile and powerful used electric cars. It can also – if you have a larger deposit – get you into new EVs from MG or Renault.
New EVs for £300 per month
MG 4 – long-range, stylish EV that’s fun to drive
MG’s previous affordable EVs have been good, but quite obviously built to a price and spec targeting the lower end of the market. The MG 4 is different – it’s built to be good, and affordable through scale and popularity.
It works. Crisp and unusual styling (check out the rear spoiler) meets a very competent chassis. It grips well, feels fun and safe, and it has a very useful range even in winter. A sporty version should do the MG badge justice later in the year, but it’s unlikely to be as affordable.
MG 5 Estate – perfectly practical in every way
Even the idea of an estate car seems slightly unusual these days, which so many SUVs on offer. But the MG 5 has a lot of advantages. It’s low enough to make using a bike rack or roof box easy but still has good ground clearance and suspension travel for bumps and rough roads. It’s got a long, low-loading floor that doesn’t require climbing aboard to reach the corners. And it’s aerodynamic and efficient thanks to that svelte body style.
It’s not the most handsome estate car, with some glittery bling details, but a facelift brings it closer to the MG 4 ahead of the windscreen. And there’s no denying the value, at £31,000 for a 250-mile range, well-equipped new electric car. But you will need a big deposit to get the £300 per month finance.
Renault Zoe – why change when it’s so good?
The Zoe is an old stager of the EV world, one of the first realistically-practical electric cars on sale in the UK. A tall, soft-riding hatchback with lots of room for people and a slightly smaller boot, it’s got a reliably-long range and is very easy to live with. Although the finance deals can offer 0% options, the deposit is still large.
However, the Zoe’s been around so long, £300 per month will get you a recent second-hand model without handing over a huge lump sum upfront.
Great used EVs for £300 per month
Take that monthly figure and look at second-hand electric cars and you’ll find loads to choose from. We recommend focusing on range, rather than spec, and looking for cars that offer DC rapid/fast charging as that will make using public networks much easier and quicker.
BMW i3 – a city car that’s not just smart, it’s genius
Carbon fibre, lightweight, and fun. The BMW i3 is distinctive, but it’s the unique approach to building an EV that weighs the same as a petrol car that makes it so wonderful (unless someone runs into it and you have to get it repaired, at least). The body has more in common with a McLaren than a Nissan, there’s a clever ‘Rex’ range extender for most years, and the i3 S is quick in a hot-hatchback style.
Cars start from £12,000 – well within the budget for most personal loans and car finance.
Volkswagen e-Golf – it’s electric?
VW’s first electric cars looked like, well, VWs. The ID range has definitely broken that spell, but the e-Golf performed a wonderful illusion of looking just like a Golf, inside and out. The range isn’t great, particularly on pre-2017 models, but you’ll get a 2017-on for your budget with fairly low miles too. It drives like a Golf but with an electric song rather than diesel or petrol cacophony.
Fancy something smaller? The VW e-Up performs the same trick in a tiny car. It even has a normal handbrake.
Nissan Leaf – the original EV for the UK
Nissan makes the Leaf in Sunderland, and UK sales reflect the popularity of it as one of the first electric cars on sale. Examples start from less than £5,000 now, but you can get the second-generation Leaf for your £300 per month budget typically, and it has better tech, one-pedal driving and greater range.
Watch out for the odd CHaDeMo charging cables – they come with adaptors, but they can limit access to rapid charging if they are missing.
The Leaf is very sensible, and neutral – perfect for blending in if you don’t want to shout about your EV choice.
Buying a used EV? Quick checks
Make sure it has all the cables with it – including a 10A charger ideally.
Don’t forget to check for accident damage and hidden history. Electric cars are just as likely to be damaged in cities.
Look in service menus for battery condition status if you can.
Make sure you get a test drive that includes time on a public charger to ensure it works – and get an idea of how easily it charges.
Don’t pay over the odds – EV prices are falling, so make sure you get an up-to-date valuation before signing any deals.
