Best used electric car for under £10k named and it's not a Tesla, BMW, or Ford

As the crisis in the Middle East continues to remain unstable and the price of a barrel of oil fluctuates with every day, many people may be considering buying an electric car.

However, one factor that often puts people off is the cost of one. Fortunately the electric car renaissance, that started in the 2000s, has been going on for long enough that there is now a bustling second hand car market with lots of used electric vehicles.

With that in mind, it is now possible to pick up a good electric car for not much money, around £10,000. And automotive experts CarGurus have now helpfully put together a list of the best value electric cars for under £10,000.

Coming in first on their list was the MINI Electric. Put simply this is an electric version of the popular Mini Cooper hatchback. Produced between 2020 and 2024, they can be purchased from around £9,000.

The car itself is small, making it easy to drive around town and, being a MINI, it should be fun to drive. However, one area in which it is let down is the range, with the car capable of around 142 miles. As a result, longer trips may require a bit more planning.

Coming in second behind the MINI Electric was, from £9,000, it's Italian rival the Fiat 500e that continues be built after its launch in 2021. Like the MINI it is small and easy to drive around town, but also like the MINI, it is let down by that size with limited practicality.

Meanwhile, in third, is the slightly bigger Volkswagen ID.3. Priced from £9,000 and produced since 2020, it is larger than the MINI and the Fiat with a larger boot and range, but nevertheless losing out in CarGurus' ranking. They critiised it for not feeling as premium as rivals and coming with a "glitchy and flawed" infotainment system.

Speaking about the state of the used electric car market, editorial director at CarGurus UK Chris Knapman said: "Cars that might well previously have been out of budget when new are available at a discount on the used market as inventory and selection have expanded, making EV motoring accessible to more people than ever.

"Combined with the increasing cost of petrol and diesel, those who've been on the fence about making the switch can now take advantage of these deals before an increase in demand prompts price rises."

However, for those looking to spend even less than £10k, there are options with one motoring expert recommending the Nissan Leaf, examples of which can be found from around £1,700.

Speaking about the model, the RAC's Lawrence Allan said it was possible to get a bargain, but that buyers should be wary of range.

He said: "It's hard to believe that the sort of budget that buys you a rusty, polluting old banger can get you into a smooth-driving, eco-friendly electric car. But the popularity of the original Nissan Leaf means there are plenty around at near rock-bottom prices.

"After well over a decade of use, you could see anything from 100 miles from a charge in stop-start urban driving (where EVs perform best) to below 50 miles on the motorway."