9 Electric Cars with the Worst Resale Value

It may sound like a dream: a silent EV with a clean conscience, flashy screens, LEDs, and plenty of speed. But when it’s time to sell the dream, many EV owners wake up fast.

Some electric cars lose value like an old Nokia in an iPhone world – and it hurts your wallet. Here are our picks.

Nissan Leaf (older generations)

The Leaf was a pioneer but suffers from a reputation for low range and outdated battery tech. The result? A 2018 Leaf can lose up to 60% of its original price in under five years.

BMW i3

It looks cool and edgy, but the unconventional shape and short range scare off many potential buyers. Weak battery performance and limited space hit its resale value hard.

Renault Zoe

The Zoe struggled with a battery lease model and early quality issues. It’s cheap when new – but even cheaper used.

Fiat 500e (first generation)

This charming little Italian was electric before it was trendy – but not in a good way. The range was embarrassingly low, and parts weren’t cheap. The used market reflects that.

Jaguar I-Pace

It’s priced like a premium SUV but loses value like a budget car. The exclusive British EV suffers from software issues and a confusing market position, making it hard to resell.

Tesla Model S (2016-2018)

Believe it or not – Tesla’s former flagship is dropping in value fast. Newer models with longer range and better interiors push down prices on older ones. And let’s be honest: a car without a yoke and running 2016 software feels dated now.

Hyundai Ioniq Electric (pre-Ioniq 5)

Efficient, but a bit too anonymous. The Ioniq gets the job done, but it’s not a car anyone dreams of buying used. That puts pressure on its resale value – especially now that the Ioniq 5 has stolen the spotlight.

Smart EQ ForTwo

Small is good? Not quite. The tiny city car is fun for about 10 minutes but useless for families or commuters. Its limited audience makes it hard to sell – and that shows in the price.

Peugeot e-208 (first generation)

It looks great and feels modern, but early versions struggled with buggy battery software and lower real-world range than advertised. That combination makes it hard to fetch top dollar on the used market.

Our team may have used AI to assist in the creation of this content, which has been reviewed by our editors.