Choosing and Buying a Used EV in 2026 Simon's Story
Why and What
I’ve been watching the used EV market for years, waiting for the right moment. By 2026, it finally felt like the time to buy, so I pulled together what I learned along the way.
The biggest worry for most people is EV range and the dreaded “range anxiety”. There’s a lot of misinformation about short ranges and long charging times, but most of it doesn’t reflect real‑world use. Used EVs list their WLTP range, a standardised test done in controlled conditions. Actual range varies with weather, driving style and battery age, and batteries typically degrade by around 1–1.5% per year.
After speaking to friends and family who’ve driven EVs for years, I realised I only needed under 100 miles of range for 99% of my driving. The average UK driver covers just 117 miles per week, which really puts things into perspective. With that in mind, I knew I could rely on a mains “granny charger” overnight without worrying about speed.
My initial criteria were simple: a small EV, under five years old, fewer than 50,000 miles, around £10,000, and at least 150 miles of range. Autotrader.co.uk became my main hunting ground. Three cars made my shortlist:
The Choices
Hyundai Kona – Good warranty (5 years mechanical, 8 years/100k miles battery), but it didn’t suit me physically. At 6'4", I struggled with the driving position, so I ruled it out.
VW ID.3 – Easy to get in and out of, great acceleration, comfortable, and universally praised by owners. Warranty: 3 years mechanical, 8 years/100k miles battery.
MG4 – Excellent value with a 7‑year warranty, but it didn’t give me the same driving joy as the ID.3, even though owners I spoke to loved theirs.
I chose the VW ID.3. Early software issues caused heavy depreciation, making used models fantastic value. I originally aimed for a five‑year‑old 58kWh Life model (£10k, WLTP 267 miles). Even with 11% battery degradation, it would still offer around 237 miles.
Life with my ID.3
Then the US–Iran conflict triggered a fuel crisis, and used EV listings dropped from thousands to just over 400. Realising how good the ID.3 value proposition was, I increased my budget by £5,000 and focused on newer, lower‑mileage cars. I eventually bought a 2023 Performance Pro Family ID.3 with plenty of extras.
Real‑world performance exceeded expectations. I’d expected around 3.5 mi/kWh, but achieved up to 5.1 mi/kWh in Eco mode. My average is 4.4 mi/kWh (about 255 miles), dropping to 220 miles on motorways.
Charging at home on a 21p/kWh fixed tariff costs about £12 for a full charge, though in practice you rarely charge from empty. If you need faster charging or have multiple EVs, a 7.4kW home charger is worth the investment—just check tariff compatibility.
A couple of issues cropped up: the infotainment system was still linked to the previous owner and required a dealer reset (£120 out of warranty). Also, I’d forgotten about luxury car road tax—£220 due to the original list price. Thankfully, the threshold rises to £50k in 2026 and will be backdated.