Are gas prices making your eyes water more than the vapours at the pumps? You’re not alone. Every car owner has been feeling the bank-account burn these past couple of years—that is, everyone but the battery electric vehicle owners. This is causing more Canadians than ever to consider EV ownership.
We took a spin through the CarGurus.ca used car listings and found 10 EVs you can buy as a used vehicle in Canada for under $30,000. Before we begin, we should note there tends to be more selection in the parts of the country that are the friendliest toward EVs, especially Quebec and British Columbia where provincial rebates have been in place the longest. Ontario has a decent selection as well, especially if you’re willing to look outside the largest cities.
The Best Used Electric Cars in Canada
- Nissan Leaf
- Mitsubishi i-MiEV
- Smart ForTwo Electric
- Chevrolet Spark EV
- Chevrolet Bolt EV
- Ford Focus Electric
- Kia Soul EV
- Volkswagen e-Golf
- BMW i3
- Hyundai Ioniq Electric
- FAQs
Nissan Leaf
It’s no surprise that the first EV to go into mainstream mass production is also one of the most widely available and affordable on the used market. The Nissan Leaf first appeared on dealership lots for the 2011 model year, and it’s not unusual to see plenty of early first-generation examples on the used market across the country at a variety of price points, even at times below $10,000. Yes, you’ll have to accept the rather goofy looks and spaceship-like controls that were the norm before the second generation debuted for 2018. The 160 kilometres of range from a full charge of the battery pack in those early model years is far below modern standards and reportedly difficult to attain in typical Canadian conditions. There’s also some concern in the EV community about how much longer the CHAdeMO charging standard used by the Leaf will be available at public charging stations. But for an owner with a home charging station and a short daily commute, an affordable Leaf could make a great entryway to electric power.
Nissan Leaf Overview
Mitsubishi i-MiEV
The Mitsubishi i-MiEV was one of the more maligned EVs of its day. Not only is it puzzling to pronounce—Mitsubishi literature spells out the correct pronunciation as EYE-meev—it’s also very small and sort of goofy in the eyes of North American drivers. Its 66 hp motor and 135 km of range didn’t match up to its $32,000-plus price tag when it was new. That said, we’re now seeing early models kicking around for less than $9,000 on the used market, which might be the right price for a driver with a tolerance for frequent stints at the charger and a desire to drive something quirky. Like the Nissan Leaf, the Mitsubishi i-MiEV uses the CHAdeMO charging standard for which public charging isn’t as widely available.
Mitsubishi i-MiEV Overview
Smart ForTwo Electric
RIP Smart, the brand North America wasn’t ready for. These diminutive two-seaters stood out for their city-friendly footprint available in coupe and cabriolet body styles and, beginning in 2012, the availability of an all-electric powertrain. The 135 to 155 km of range offered at various points in its life cycle wasn’t enough to inspire a stampede of buyers at the time. Today’s drivers looking for an emissions-free and urban-friendly tiny car might consider the Smart ForTwo Electric to be just the ticket. Our research turned up examples for sale via CarGurus ranging from roughly $10,000 to $12,000 for earlier model years to just under $20,000 for cars from the final model year in 2018.
Chevrolet Spark EV
The itty-bitty Chevrolet Spark has been discontinued, but even some of the keenest observers weren’t aware that Chevy offered an electric version of the Spark. It was a fleet-exclusive product for two years until it finally hit the retail market for the 2016 model year. With 131 kilometres of range, 140 horsepower, and 327 pound-feet of torque, it was predicted to do well with everyday consumers. However, its limited availability and pre-rebate pricing of more than $30,000 turned it into a bust. Today, used examples can be found with prices hovering in the $15,000 range.
Chevrolet Spark EV Overview
Chevrolet Bolt EV
We’re pleasantly surprised to see that the first-generation Chevrolet Bolt is now consistently turning up in the CarGurus.ca used car listings for less than $25,000. In terms of user-friendliness and bang for your buck, even the first Bolts were among the best EVs from that early crop. With an estimated 383-kilometre range when new and a fantastic driver interface that provided more information than many drivers knew what to do with, it was an underappreciated early triumph for electric cars. Expect to pay roughly $25,000 for a 2017 to 2020 Chevrolet Bolt on today’s used car market.
Ford Focus Electric
You’ll find lots of Ford Focus Electrics on the CarGurus.ca used car listings. They were a popular option among energy-conscious consumers during the roughly six-and-a-half years they were in production. This is in part because they looked a lot like the rest of the ordinary Ford Focus hatchbacks that were out on the roads at the time. The 2012 model year was the first, which launched with 143 hp, 184 lb-ft of torque, a range of 154 kilometres, and a pre-incentive starting price of almost $42,000. A Ford Focus Electric owner can expect to fetch anywhere from $10,000 to $17,000 or more for a used one, depending on odometer reading and condition.
Ford Focus Electric Overview
Kia Soul EV
The boxy but lovable Kia Soul EV crossover is another long-time mainstay in Canada’s electric vehicle market, meaning that there are plenty floating around to be bought used. The 2015 model year was the first to hit our shores, and while its pricing ranged from $35,000 to $38,000 new at the time, there were robust provincial incentives available. Power figures measured up at 109 horsepower and 210 pound-feet of torque, and the earliest versions had 149 kilometres of range before the long-range versions came to market later on. Although it’s considered a small crossover, it’s the closest thing to an electric SUV on this list for now. For cars in this specification, which ran until model year 2019, buyers cruising the used market can expect to pay somewhere in the $15,000 to $25,000 range. Note that early Kia Soul EVs used CHAdeMO ports for charging, which are becoming less common among public fast chargers.
Kia Soul EV Overview
Volkswagen e-Golf
Volkswagen’s e-Golf was a car sold before its time. Everything about it seemed to hit the right marks. It offered 198 kilometres of range, 134 horsepower and 214 lb-ft of torque from the single electric motor, and most importantly, it looked just like any other Golf. Despite this, its run in Canada didn’t make it to four years as the automaker made room for its new generation of ID electric products. On today’s used EV market, prices in the $15,000 to $20,000 range are currently the norm.
Volkswagen e-Golf Overview
BMW i3
Was the BMW i3 the quirkiest BEV of them all? Some might say so: it didn’t look like any other electric vehicle on the road, and it certainly didn’t look like any other BMW the world had ever seen. A variety of configurations were offered, including a range extender that used a small two-cylinder gas engine to act as a generator so that the battery could maintain a charge when its levels became low. The 2014 model year was the first, which landed with 160 kilometres of range, while the range extender was only briefly offered. The i3 uses a rear-wheel drive (RWD) configuration, which speaks to its peppier character. Used models, with or without the range extender, are currently commanding $15,000 to $20,000 on average for 10-year-old models.
BMW i3 Overview
Hyundai Ioniq Electric
Before the Ioniq 5 or Ioniq 6 became the forefront of Hyundai’s EV subbrand, there was a car called the Hyundai Ioniq. It was sold in hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and battery electric configurations. For the Hyundai Ioniq Electric, its 274 kilometres of electric range on a single charge and 134 horsepower weren’t exactly revolutionary at the time and certainly didn’t push into road trip territory. But what was a big deal about it was the price, which started at just over $40,000 before government incentives were applied. Since it was relatively affordable to begin with, it’s now dipping below $25,000 relatively early on the used car market. Prices in the $15,000 to $25,000 range for model year 2017 to 2019 Hyundai Ioniq Electrics are common on the CarGurus.ca used car listings. Because this is a newer model, you may even find a unit with touchscreen infotainment with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, or a heated steering wheel.
Honourable Mentions
If you can push your budget slightly higher, you may find an occasional Tesla Model 3 under $30,000, but these remain in high demand. There weren’t as many Fiat 500e models sold in Canada as in markets like California, but there are a handful floating around. Pricing on the first-generation Hyundai Kona Electric is just beginning to dip toward the top end of our $25,000 budget.
FAQs
What are the advantages of buying a used electric car?
Buying used can save a bundle versus opting for a brand new car that runs on electric thanks to their lower running costs. Plus, EVs tend to require less maintenance over their lifetimes, and are better for local air quality. And because they have a shorter driving range than average, used electric vehicles also tend to come with a lower number of kilometres on the odometer.
What are the risks of buying a used electric car?
While the price tags on new electric vehicles can be just as eye-watering as gas prices, buying used is an option. There are some risks involved, though. EV batteries that are charged frequently with DC fast charging degrade at a faster rate. It’s impossible to know with certainty how that electric used car you’re considering has been treated during its lifetime. Older EVs also didn’t have as long a range as new EVs to begin with, so you won’t be able to get as far on a charge. Still, many buyers will be willing to take on that risk to stop spending money on gas.
Note: Images may show US models.