What used EV for less than $45,000 is right for my family?

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I’m looking to purchase a reliable, used electric vehicle that’s a good general-purpose family vehicle for two adults, one kid and one medium-size dog. I commute into town two days a week and live in an Ontario snowbelt city, so all-wheel drive is a necessity. We’re a one-car family, as my spouse and school-age child both walk to work and school.

We would like a comfortable vehicle with a good range for occasional road trips. My spouse and I tend to gravitate toward fun, often European, hatchbacks but we accept that we might need to purchase a compact SUV this time around for the full family. Our budget is around $35,000-$45,000. If we really liked a brand new model, we might consider purchasing or leasing it. We are definitely not interested in any Tesla models.

I should also mention that I have about an 80-kilometre round-trip commute and we have a home charger. – Alexandra

Mark Richardson: Before we answer Alexandra’s question, hello Miranda! Welcome back to contributing to this column. Petrina Gentile now has other commitments at Globe Drive, so let’s get straight to it.

Miranda Lightstone: Thanks Mark. It’s good to be back and I can’t wait to see how reader questions have changed over the years since we last collaborated in 2018. Just like Alexandra’s query here.

Richardson: I think Alexandra is very representative of a new type of Canadian driver. She has a medium-length commute into the city, perhaps on occasionally challenging roads, and she recognizes that an electric vehicle is a smart choice. But she also doesn’t want to spend $60,000 or more on getting around.

Lightstone: While it pains me to admit straight away, you’re right. Canadians are more and more curious about EV ownership, but the lack of general knowledge surrounding it is what holds most back. From charging times to range limitations in different weather scenarios, to a lack of home chargers, and even overall cost of ownership, it can all seem rather overwhelming.

Richardson: Fortunately, Alexandra’s budget of up to $45,000 is quite realistic for buying a used EV.

Lightstone: Also, she’s in a good position with a manageable round-trip distance and a home charger – which is key, especially with our winters.

Richardson: I wonder why she already has a home charger? Perhaps this is not her first electric vehicle. Or maybe she’s new to her home or she just invested at the right time to take advantage of a good offer from the charger supplier.

Lightstone: Some homeowners install chargers for resale value even if they don’t own an EV and I think it’s a brilliant idea. For home charger pricing, national EV charge company FLO estimates it can cost between $1,000-$3,000 for a Level 2 system installation, from inspection to potential rewiring to actual unit cost.

Richardson: What about government rebates? Are those still available and can they be applied to a home charger only?

Lightstone: There are, but they differ from province to province – some offer a percentage off while others offer a fixed cash amount back. But luckily, Alexandra doesn’t have to worry about all that.

Richardson: The first EV I’d recommend for her would be the Volkswagen ID.4. It has everything she’s looking for and it’s been around since the 2021 model year. Used models are selling on AutoTrader for $30,000 to $40,000, so it’s right in her budget.

Lightstone: I know Alexandra said she liked European, so the ID.4 is the most obvious choice to start, but the real-world range testing might make their road-trip adventures difficult in the winter: 330 kilometres on a “full tank” can be limiting.

Richardson: A friend of mine owns an ID.4 and he loves it. His is a 2023 without a heat pump, and his maximum range is about 400 kilometres. He says he got a range of 270 kilometres when it was minus-16 Celsius, and that’s farther than he usually drives in a day. Farther than Alexandra usually drives, too.

Lightstone: Valid points, but why not start with a vehicle that has at least 400 kilometres of initial range on a full charge, like the Ford Mach-E Premium AWD? Used Mach-Es on AutoTrader fall into Alexandra’s budget, and I also think the styling is much cooler than the ID.4.

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Richardson: The Mustang is a sportier drive than the ID.4, but it’s still not really a Mustang, and it’s not really an SUV either, regardless of what Ford’s marketers say. It might be a bit tight in the back for Alexandra’s medium-sized dog. The price will be right, though.

Lightstone: It’s definitely not a Mustang, but it is a practical family hauler (furry members included). The Mach-E is only about one litre smaller in cargo space than the ID.4, so while it may not look as bulbous, it has similar storage and is actually quite spacious inside.

Richardson: The Mustang is more fun to drive than the more pedestrian ID.4. Both can charge at a speed around 150 kilowatts, depending on the battery that’s installed, but this is meaningless at a Level 2 home charger. It doesn’t mean much when you’re looking for a Level 3 public fast charger either. I’ve never experienced one that’s charged at its rated capacity.

Lightstone: More big chargers are popping up across the nation, but Alexandra will likely charge at home almost all the time anyways. If we’re talking about a truly dynamic and fun-to-drive EV, we can’t forget to mention the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N.

Richardson: Are you nuts? Remember, we’re looking at used here, Miranda. The Ioniq 5 N is practically brand new, and it’s $80,000.

Lightstone: She did mention they would be willing to buy new if needed, and it has 650 horsepower, zero-to-100 kilometres an hour in just 3.4 seconds and all-wheel drive. Oh – and a total range of more than 400 kilometres.

Richardson: Alexandra didn’t ask for a boy-racer EV. I’m not sure the kids and family dog would appreciate it.

Lightstone: Then next on my list would be the Kia EV6. Of all the electrics on the road today, it is by far the best looking, inside and out, but may run above her budget.

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Richardson: There aren’t many used EV6s listing for less than $40,000 before taxes, but I do think it’s better looking than the Hyundai Ioniq 5 that shares its platform. The Hyundai has a bit more space inside and has always been a good buy; the Kia is sleeker and sportier, though. They’ve both proven themselves reliable.

Lightstone: I think we’ve given Alexandra some decent EV options here. She has lots to think about in terms of what she’s really looking for, from practical, like the ID.4 and Mustang Mach-E, to dynamic and stylish, like the Ioniq 5 N and EV6.

Richardson: It’s worth pointing out that none of these vehicles are made in Canada. The Mustang Mach-E is made in Mexico, with its batteries manufactured in Michigan. The ID.4 is built in both Germany and Tennessee, and both the EV6 and Ioniq 5 are made in Korea and in separate plants in Georgia. Used models would have been made in the U.S., but new models may come from overseas now with our tariff turmoil.

Lightstone: Another added layer to the car-buying conundrum.

Richardson: Here’s another idea, out of left field: The Jaguar I-Pace. Yes, it was an expensive, premium car and there may not be a Jaguar dealer nearby to service it conveniently. But it was the Canadian SUV of the Year in both 2019 and 2020, chosen by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada, and it’s not expensive to buy used.

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Lightstone: I know. It’s the fastest depreciating car in North America, according to iSeeCars.com. They looked at 800,000 five-year-old cars sold in the last year, and the I-Pace had lost more than 72 per cent of its value.

Richardson: That’s not an award any automaker wants to have. It’s just as well Jaguar doesn’t make the I-Pace any more.

Lightstone: Despite that, the Jaguar does offer a smooth ride and an upscale interior, as you’d expect from the make, and a range close to 500 kilometres. It’s a niche purchase and will get the neighbours looking.

Richardson: Even so, I’d suggest Alexandra looks first at a Volkswagen ID.4, but also takes a test drive in the Mustang. She needn’t be tempted to pay more for greater range, because even the smallest of those batteries will be plenty for her family’s general use.

Lightstone: If she can test drive them back-to-back on the same day so she really feels the difference between the two, that’s ideal. It’s a good thing I’m here to spice up these vehicle option choices, Mark – as I’m sure Alexandra will agree.

What car should you buy? Write to Mark and Miranda at globedrive@globeandmail.com and use ‘What car’ as part of your subject line. Emails with different subject lines may not be answered.

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