Best cheapo EV

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greenjp

Joined
May 19, 2004
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Location
Germantown, MD
Considering an EV for our 3rd vehicle (have a Civic and an Odyssey, eldest daughter about to start driving and wife is about to resume commuting) and am thinking that a used EV might be the way to go. The use cases are driving around town running errands and ~20 mile each way commutes, so something small and with a modest range would seem to be OK. Searching Autotrader brings up a lot of 2018-2023 Nissan Leafs (Leaves?) with 30k-60k miles for $10-15k, and Bolts of the same vintage and mileage going for a bit more, $13-17k. Model 3s in this price range generally have much higher mileage, and then there are a smattering of Ioniqs, Niros, Fusions, Souls etc priced like the Leaf and Bolt.

Definitely prioritizing low purchase price and reliability over performance and features, and range is somewhat irrelevant (I would not be looking at any of those sub-100 mile range things like the 500e) so it would seem a Leaf or Bolt would be a good choice but I don't really know anything about them. Similarly dunno anything about Model 3s so not sure if stretching the budget a bit would be worthwhile. Thoughts?

jeff
 
The Model 3 sells 3x the next place EV in America. There's a reason for it. The Tesla charging network is a big plus, but you can get the NACS adapter for the Bolt, etc. People love their Bolts around here. I would step up to a Model 3.

Go drive them.
 
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used and with a [repaired] crash history for sure lowers trade in, so should certainly get you in it for less

Me: Aside from the yet to be released Slate I would not consider any EV other than Tesla and baring some kind of insane lucky find would go Tesla CPO (Even though there is an associated cost with CPO, 100% I trust them to properly inspect/repair and have an actual useful warranty. They will also offer delivery and financing)
 
Bolts are a great option. From my family's experience, their batteries last longer than a Tesla's.

Leaf batteries have been awful. I guess a Leaf could work if you only need 60 miles of range but I'd spend a bit more to get 250 mile range from a Bolt.
 
Check into insurance rates too. Insurance rates on Teslas are generally quite high compared to non-Tesla EVs. I’d bet a Bolt would be much cheaper to insure than a Model 3.

I’d take a Bolt over a Leaf comparing those two. Older Leaf batteries aren’t liquid cooled, so they’re about the only EV whose batteries don’t last a long time.
 
Even an old Leaf with a dying battery can do 20-30 miles, and they're cheap, like $3000 or less.

The i Miev is another good choice. The Spark EV is good too. Honestly, I actually like the compliance cars more, since they're mostly just regular cars that happen to be electric.
 
An aging Leaf seems pretty useless in that it becomes a car dedicated to short trips only.
What if circumstances call for a longer drive?
Then you won't be taking the Leaf, or you'll need to plan on charging it en route.
A used Model 3 bought from Tesla seems like it may be the best bet. They'll list the car's current range and prices are quite reasonable.
Sometimes spending another 20% ends up being the cheaper option over a longer term.
 
greenjp said:
Considering an EV for our 3rd vehicle (have a Civic and an Odyssey, eldest daughter about to start driving and wife is about to resume commuting) and am thinking that a used EV might be the way to go. The use cases are driving around town running errands and ~20 mile each way commutes, so something small and with a modest range would seem to be OK. Searching Autotrader brings up a lot of 2018-2023 Nissan Leafs (Leaves?) with 30k-60k miles for $10-15k, and Bolts of the same vintage and mileage going for a bit more, $13-17k. Model 3s in this price range generally have much higher mileage, and then there are a smattering of Ioniqs, Niros, Fusions, Souls etc priced like the Leaf and Bolt.

Definitely prioritizing low purchase price and reliability over performance and features, and range is somewhat irrelevant (I would not be looking at any of those sub-100 mile range things like the 500e) so it would seem a Leaf or Bolt would be a good choice but I don't really know anything about them. Similarly dunno anything about Model 3s so not sure if stretching the budget a bit would be worthwhile. Thoughts?

jeff
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I'd skip the Tesla if you're not needing alot of miles from an ev. Nissan leafs are cheap as are Fiat 500e (which are quicker and a hoot and cheap).
 
I've seen ID.4s in the $16K range with low mileage and they are much more roomy inside than other listed options.

Downside for me is they don't have 1 pedal driving, but if you're coming from a gas car you probably don't care.
 
Brons2 said:
I've seen ID.4s in the $16K range with low mileage and they are much more roomy inside than other listed options.

Downside for me is they don't have 1 pedal driving, but if you're coming from a gas car you probably don't care.
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I've tried the one pedal driving and couldn't stand it. A newer model s had it and it acted like a light switch no coasting.
 
Model 3s are a dime a dozen around DC suburbs. These are driven by middle class people of diverse occupations and not necessarily high incomes. You don't see them broken down on the side of the road.
 
JeffKeryk said:
I hear those beautiful Audi e-trons have taken quite a drop....
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True they are a lot cheaper but I haven't seen them under $20K, at least not without high mileage 85K+. I did a nationwide search on Autovantage for electric Audis, keyword -1.4T as to not get hybrids, less than 70K miles, $20,000 or less. I got exactly 6 results in the entire country and they're all 2019s. On these the battery warranty would be done next year.

Which if the OP is looking for a bargain basement EV, is probably not the best choice. The other things mentioned you can get with lower mileage and newer years.
 
I would stay away from Leaf unless you get a new one that has liquid cooled battery. Just because it serves you well now it may not in the near future, and why bother buying disposable car just for a small saving if you may need to sell (and can't) later if you need change.

Bolt / Volt are great choice if you don't need a long range. Volt is probably a great car that can let you drive far if you want to just put some gas in it.

If you are trying to save money I wouldn't buy a huge battery EV and let it sit around depreciating as a 2nd vehicle. For your need a bolt would work well, but you will not recoup your money back in a Tesla's depreciation just driving short distance every day over a cheaper Bolt.

Except: if you are trying to discourage your teenager from driving too far or do hooligan in it. Not able to come home after a few burnout would certainly discourage that behavior. Plus it is ok to total a $3k car with a semi dead battery, much better than total a $20k car.
 
Thanks for the inputs everybody. As noted we have a Civic Sport Touring hatchback and an Odyssey for the unlimited mileage & hauling the whole family jobs so this really is just for the endless short trips around town (grocery store, dance, swimming, ninja gym, friends houses, appointments, etc) plus a 20 mile each way commute 3-5x per week. It does seem the pecking order is Leaf -> Bolt -> Model 3. Have only ridden in a Bolt a time or two several years ago and never actually sat in a 3 despite as CleanSump noted them being everywhere around here.

$15-17k seems to get you a standard or long range RWD 3 from 2018-22 with 60-90k miles.

The Leaf seems to have been updated in 2018 so looking at those and newer it's looking like $10-12k for something with 30-50k miles

Bolts split the difference, $14-16k for something with 30-60k miles.

Will have to drive them all to decide.
 
PandaBear said:
Bolt / Volt are great choice if you don't need a long range. Volt is probably a great car that can let you drive far if you want to just put some gas in it.
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I have friends who bought a first gen Volt when it first came out and then got a second gen one when that came out. They live here in Ontario but spend 4 months a year in Fort Myers. Up until last year they would drive the Volt to Florida every fall. When in Ontario and when in Florida they could do almost all of their driving just on electric only (except obviously during the road trip to and from Florida)

They got tired of the long drive there and back so now they fly. But they leave the Volt in Florida and in Ontario they have a Hyundai Ionic 5
 
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