Motoring26.03.2024

Cheapest second-hand electric cars in South Africa

By Myles Illidge

The most affordable second-hand electric vehicles (EVs) in South Africa include the Nissan Leaf, BMW i3, Mini Hatch Cooper SE, GWM Ora 03, Volvo XC40, and Jaguar I-Pace.

EVs often carry hefty prices in South Africa, making the transition to EVs challenging for the country’s residents. However, several more affordable pre-owned options are available on car classifieds platforms.

MyBroadband searched used car platforms like AutoTrader and Cars.co.za to find the most affordable pre-owned EVs in South Africa.

Our findings align relatively closely with the best-selling second-hand EVs in South Africa.

AutoTrader’s 2023 Annual Car Industry Report revealed that the Volvo XC40, BMW i3, and Mini Cooper SE Hatch were the best-selling EVs on its platform in 2023.

Its data shows that the Volvo XC40 Recharge was the most-sold EV on the platform in 2023, with an average price of R1,154,666 with under 6,000km on the clock.

The discontinued BWM i3 took second place, while the Mini Cooper SE Hatch took third.

Most affordable second-hand EVs

Where possible, we calculated the average mileage from the five cheapest options for each model. However, this was not possible for the Nissan Leaf, which had only one model listed.

It is the most affordable option at R239,995. The second-hand Nissan Leaf is roughly ten years old, and it offers an approximate range of 195km on a single charge.

The next most affordable second-hand EV in South Africa is the BMW i3, with numerous options listed.

The electric BMW was discontinued in July 2022, and the cheapest second-hand options available are models from 2014 to 2016.

Pre-owned pricing for the BMW i3 starts at R329,950, and the five cheapest options have an average mileage of 87,853km.

The EV produces 125kW, 250Nm, and offers a range of up to 290km on a single charge. It should be noted that the base BMW i3 provides a range of 130km to 160km.

However, the REx model — of which two were included in the five cheapest options — offers an extended range of up to 290km.

There are also several Mini Hatch Cooper SEs listed on second-hand car platforms, with the cheapest priced at R440,000.

The electric mini offers slightly better power figures than the BMW i3 at 135kW and 270Nm.

It also offers a similar range to the BMW i3 eDrive REx at 270km. The average mileage across the five cheapest options works out to 31,000km.

Dealerships and private sellers have listed a new entrant to the South African EV market — the GWM Ora 03 — on second-hand car platforms.

As the vehicle was only recently launched in South Africa, the options listed in the car classifieds are nearly new.

The average mileage across the five cheapest options works out to just 3,430km, with prices starting at R686,950.

The GWM Ora O3 produces 126kW, 250Nm, and offers a range of up to 400km on a single charge. However, the 400km range is only offered with GWM Ora 03 400 models.

There were two of these listed, with the remaining three being GWM Ora 03 300 models, which offer a range of up to 310km on a single charge.

South Africans can get a pre-owned Volvo XC40 Recharge P6 Plus Single-Motor for R849,900, with the five cheapest options clocking up an average of 9,327km.

The five cheapest second-hand Volvo XC40s were all registered in 2023.

Lastly, those looking for a more thrilling driving experience may be interested in the Jaguar I-Pace EV400 AWD, which produces 294kW and 696Nm.

However, the options listed are older, with the five cheapest options being registered between 2019 and 2021. The most affordable listing costs R879,000.

We have listed some of the cheapest second-hand EVs currently on sale in South Africa with specs and pricing below.