Yahoo Autos Best Used EVs to Take Advantage of the $4000 Federal Tax Credit
If you are considering the purchase of an electric vehicle, good news: It's now possible to get an up-front federal rebate on an EV purchase instead of filing for a tax credit, and that's true of used EVs as well, which can net buyers up to $4000. Instead of waiting until tax time, a customer can request $4000 off the purchase price. For shoppers looking to take advantage of this federal largesse, we've surveyed the landscape and chosen a total of nine EV models (all of which would net buyers the full amount) at three different price points.
To satisfy the rules, a used electric car must be:
2022 model year or older;
priced below the $25,000 cap;
sold by a dealership, not a private seller.
The ones we found are all clean-title, no-accident cars listed nationally in our Car Buying Service. There are additional caveats that could reduce or forfeit this credit, so brush up on our tax credit guide before buying. (And check out our separate plug-in hybrid story, which lists those that give you a tax break.)
$25,000
2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV
You can't get a new Bolt anymore (or, at least, you won't be able to once dealer stocks run dry), as the Michigan factory is converting to electric pickups. Chevy eventually will field a replacement for the Bolt, but likely not until at least 2025. The Bolt is a good choice as a used EV, though, and the larger EUV model is actually a pleasant car to drive. Considering the EUV in top Premier trim cost $38,495 back in 2022 (Chevy cut the price by $5000 for 2023), paying 25 grand is reasonable for a well-equipped two-year-old Bolt with between 6000 and 15,000 miles. Some may have Super Cruise, GM's highly accomplished hands-free highway-driving system. The one bad thing: Charging maxes out at 55 kW, which is only one-third the rate at which many new EVs' batteries can ingest electrons.
2017–2022 Tesla Model 3
More than half of all new EVs are Teslas, and now that the Model 3 has been out for more than six years, the used Tesla market is growing fast. Still the undisputed champ for range, driving performance, and reliable and consistently high charging speeds, the Model 3 cannot be beat for the price. Battery capacity and equipment changed on a near-quarterly basis with this car, so the mileage and model years vary wildly even at the same asking price. You may have to dig into the Tesla forums to determine the true specs. The good thing is that you don't have to spend 50 to 60 grand to get the same Tesla everyone's driving.
2013–2016 Tesla Model S Performance
The Tesla Model S has tanked in value. This is the supersedan that early adopters eagerly bought for $100,000 new—or $136K in the case of our loaded P85D long-termer. Now, you can grab a higher-mileage example for the price of a Hyundai Sonata. And we're talking about the fast versions: the rear-wheel-drive P85 (470 horsepower) and the all-wheel-drive dual-motor P85D and P90D (691 horsepower). They're very fast—although not quite hypercar quick, like the Plaid—and handle well.
$20,000
2019–2022 Hyundai Kona Electric
The first-gen Kona Electric rode more comfortably and accelerated more rapidly than the gas-powered Kona, but 37 grand was a steep ask for a subcompact hatch. Upon its debut, the Kona Electric boasted an EPA range of 258 miles, and we got 160 miles in our 75-mph highway range test (which was hampered by sub-freezing temperatures). This is a tiny SUV that can't fit big people in the back seat, yet it's fun to drive and easy to park. Mileage on a $20K Kona EV will vary depending on trim level and location, but should be roughly between 20,000 and 50,000 miles.
