First introduced back in 2013, the BMW i3’s futuristic looks mean it still turns heads today. It looks more like a concept car than an actual production model, while its rear-hinged doors and tall dimensions mean it’s surprisingly practical. (It's worth noting, though, that those rear doors don't open unless the front ones are.)

It’s equally modern inside, where you’ll find a floating infotainment screen and space for four adults – impressive, considering its compact size. It’s infinitely more interesting than something like a Volkswagen e-Golf.

In true BMW form, the i3 is a lot of fun to drive. Its electric motor and lightweight carbon fibre body mean it’s surprisingly quick off the line, and very agile around town. It really was the first mainstream EV you would consider as sporty, even if that does mean the ride is on the firm side. 

BMW initially offered two variants of the i3: the standard model and the Range Extender version. The former combined a 170PS electric motor with a 22kWh battery to provide a range of around 80 miles between charges, while the Range Extender engine added a tiny two-cylinder petrol engine for an extra 100 miles before requiring a top-up. Later models had a 33kWh battery, and a 42kWh version was introduced too. Prices are now dipping below £10,000 for older models, while a wide range of i3s can be found for less than £15,000.

You won’t find huge numbers of the Kia Soul EV on the used market – it was never as popular as the Nissan Leaf or Volkswagen e-Golf – but we love its bold styling and practical interior. 

The latest example, pictured here, is extremely well equipped inside. Things like an eight-inch navigation system, a reversing camera and heated seats are all standard kit. There’s plenty of space for the family, too, with only a small drop in practicality compared to a combustion-engined Soul. A £20,000 budget will get you a model with low miles on the clock, not to mention Kia’s transferable seven-year warranty.

Officially, the Kia Soul EV can travel up to 280 miles on a charge. Although you can buy a lesser powered model with a snaller battery and a range of up to 171 miles, it wasn't introduced until 2022, so cost savings won't be dramatic compared to an older, higher-range version. You can also find examples of the previous model, sold from 2014 to 2019, which will be more affordable but has a smaller range.

• Best cars with a seven-year warranty

Tesla was already successful when it launched the Model 3, but introducing the most affordable Tesla yet catapulted it to new heights. There have been months since when it's been the best-selling car in Britain, which means there are loads to choose from on the used market.

Prices at the time of writing start at around £20,000 for a three-or-four-year-old model, and even more upmarket models like the all-wheel-drive Model 3 Performance or the Long Range model can be found for less than £25,000. While the Long Range can take you more than 400 miles on a single charge, all Model 3s will manage north of 300 miles, and of course you can take advantage of Tesla's excellent Supercharger network if you need to refill the battery on the move.

Whatever version you go for, you'll find a stylish and minimalist interior that's influenced plenty of rival cars released since. And it's a fun-to-drive car, too, with zippy acceleration and solid, composed handling/

• EVs with the shortest charge time

We reckon that the Kia Niro EV – formerly known as the Kia e-Niro – might be one of the best electric cars you can buy right now. If you're looking for a dependable, spacious family electric car, this could be it. 

The range is impressive. With a 64kWh battery pack, the Kia e-Niro can travel up to a claimed 285 miles between charges, while charging is nice and straightforward as well. If you're using a 7kW home charger you can easily top it up overnight, while a rapid charger out on the road will give the e-Niro a decent boost in juice while you grab a coffee. 

It's also very practical – you can happily get four adults inside and the boot is a decent size as well. Granted the cabin design isn't going to wow passengers, but it does the job and there's no complaints about build quality. 

Launched in 2019 and having proved fairly popular, there's a decent amount of choice on the used market. With a budget of £17,500 you should be able to pick up a 2019 example with less than 30,000 miles covered.  

• Best electric SUVs and crossovers

The Volkswagen Up has been around since 2012 yet it remains one of the best city cars on the market almost ten years on. While that's petrol-powered, there's also an electric version in the shape of the e-Up that arrived back in 2014.

Just as practical as the petrol-powered model because the batteries are cleverly packaged, the original e-Up came with a modest range of up to 83 miles. Newer models had a battery upgrade that saw the 19kWh battery pack swapped out for a much punchier 32kWh pack. That boosts the range to 159 miles. The bigger battery model is more desirable and will likely hold its value better.

There’s lots to like about the Volkswagen e-Up. It’s fun to drive, with compact dimensions, yet surprisingly spacious inside given it's a city car. There’s enough room for four adults and despite being on sale since 2014, it still looks modern and minimalist.

You can pick up a nearly-new example for around £23,000, meaning the latest model with its larger battery pack is well within reach, but if you're looking for an affordable electric car to bimble around town in, then there are plenty of older examples under £13,000. 

• Best small electric cars 

The Model S is the car that really kickstarted Tesla's sales success in the UK, and even eight years after it was introduced it's still an excellent electric car. The length of time it's bneen on sale means there are plenty of models to choose from at a range of budgets, but all offer excellent range, performance and access to an unrivalled international charging network.

Tesla's minimalist styling isn't everyone's cup of tea but the number of other manufacturers that have since copied it suggests it's doing something right. When it was introduced it was very different to anything that went before, and although that's less the case now, it still feels fresh. A big central touchscreen controls just about everything, from temperature controls to gimmicks like Caraoke. There's plenty of space for five and a big boot, and early cars were even available as seven seaters.

Depending on the model you go for, you'll have a battery range in excess of 300 miles, and pushing 400 on later models.  Tesla's excellent Supercharger network has locations around the UK and abroad, and can top up your battery to 80% charge in around 30 minutes.

When the Hyundai Ioniq went on sale in 2016, it took the unusual step of offering customers the choice of hybrid, plug-in hybrid or fully electric variants. The latter’s a rival to the popular Nissan Leaf, appealing to family buyers thanks to its high levels of practicality and a transferable five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty. 

It's a significantly better car than the early Leaf, however, with a nicer interior design, more space and a more composed all-round driving experience. Its fairly under-the-radar look will also appeal to those who don't feel the need to shout about their car's green credentials. 

As is usually the case with Hyundai models, the Ioniq Electric is very well equipped. Standard equipment on a mid-spec model, for example, includes heated and ventilated leather seats, front parking sensors and 16-inch alloy wheels.

A 2018 example with the 28kWh battery will set you back around £13,000 and upwards and give you around around 127 miles between charges. However, the more powerful 38kWh model isn't much more, so keep an eye out for those. You should get up to 193 miles per charge from one of these. Like most electric cars, the Hyundai Ioniq is pleasant and easy to drive, with impressive levels of refinement.

• Best hatchbacks

The Nissan Leaf was the first mainstream electric car that could be seriously considered a rival to a petrol Ford Focus or Volkswagen Golf. A £6000 budget should get you an early example of this pioneering electric car, while around £12,500 will get you a three or four-year-old Leaf.

The cheapest models will have a 24kWh battery, which could take you up to 124 miles between charges according official tests. In reality, you probably won’t get further than around 90 miles (or less if the battery has degraded on a high-mileage model) but it should still be enough to get you around town.

Unlike the Volkswagen e-Up, the Leaf is practical enough to be a replacement for your family car. It’s just as usable as a Volkswagen Golf or Ford Focus, as long as you don’t need to travel to the other side of the country on a whim. Check out the new Nissan Leaf as well, which has greater technology and a better driving experience. 

For newcomers to electric vehicles, the Volkswagen e-Golf is a great option. It’s just like a normal Golf, meaning you get an upmarket interior with plush materials and oodles of ‘feel-good’ factor. It’s just as practical, too, with a more useable boot than smaller electric cars like the Renault Zoe or Volkswagen e-Up.

By replacing the petrol or diesel engine with an electric motor, the e-Golf is even more refined than a standard Golf. It’s more fun to drive, too, with instant responses and darty handling, thanks to the positioning of the batteries under the car’s floor. Despite that, it's comfortable with a refined ride. 

A five-year-old example will be in reach with a budget of £13,000. The standard e-Golf can officially cover up to 186 miles on a charge, although Volkswagen admits that around 125 miles is more realistic. Look for a car with the optional heat pump if you wish to travel further. This recycles heat from ambient air and waste heat from the drivetrain, reducing the heating system’s electric power consumption.

Is the Renault Zoe the perfect city car? It’s got a punchy electric motor, nimble handling and compact dimensions (which make it a breeze to park), so it certainly ticks all the urban runabout boxes. 

While it feels a bit of its depth on the motorway, the Zoe’s great to drive around town, with an eager motor and an official range of up to 130 miles between charges. It might not be as big as the likes of the Nissan Leaf or Kia Soul EV, but that actually goes in the Zoe’s favour when you’re trying to thread it down a tight back street or into a congested car park.

A £6000 budget should get you an early example, although you’ll have to pay a monthly fee to hire the battery. This is a good thing, though – you won’t have to buy a new battery when the car gets older because Renault will replace it when the capacity and range drops below a certain point. The monthly fee could still be less than you’d ordinarily pay for petrol, too.