Hyundai Ioniq 5 named Used Car of the Year, from about £13,000

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 has been named the best used car you can buy in 2026, the first time an electric car has won Auto Express’s overall Used Car of the Year award. Launched in 2021, the Ioniq 5 can now be bought from a little over £13,000, and Auto Express says every version will comfortably do more than 200 miles on a charge.

The timing is no coincidence. Diesel has passed £2 a litre at some forecourts, and the RAC put the average at 199.05p on 21 October, with petrol at 174.04p, according to the Express. “With fuel prices at an all-time high, one of the finest fiscal decisions you can make is to trade in your petrol or diesel car for an electric car,” Auto Express said. Here is why the Ioniq 5 won and what to check before buying one.

Why did the Ioniq 5 win?

Auto Express praised almost every part of the car:

• Design. “The futuristic styling is a big draw, but that beauty is more than skin deep.” Its boxy, concept-car looks still feel fresh five years on.
• Space. “The long wheelbase ensures there’s plenty of room for the entire family.” Auto Express says buyers coming from a Nissan Qashqai, or even an Audi or BMW SUV, will be “blown away by the space and kit on board”.
• Equipment. The cabin is “packed with equipment”.
• Handling. “All versions, even those with a single motor driving the rear wheels, handle well.”
• Range. “Every model will comfortably do north of 200 miles on a charge.”
• Warranty. “Many Ioniq 5s will have part of their original, five-year manufacturer warranty still intact.”

It was chosen from five category winners across 13 classes covering the whole market.

How much does a used Ioniq 5 cost?

From a little over £13,000, according to Auto Express. That is for early, higher-mileage cars. Expect to pay more for:

• Newer cars, especially the updated version with a bigger battery.
• Higher trims, with more equipment.
• Dual-motor, all-wheel-drive versions, which are quicker but use a little more energy.
• The Ioniq 5 N, the high-performance version, which sits well above the rest.

Auto Express notes that “used values have been bolstered by rising fuel costs, but there are still bargains to be had”. That matches the wider market, where used EV prices are rising while diesels fall, as we cover in our used EV values report.

What range and charging should you expect?

Range depends on the battery and version. Auto Express says all models do more than 200 miles on a charge, while updated cars “good for 300 miles or more” are available if you spend extra. Real-world range will be lower in cold weather and at motorway speeds.

Charging is a strength. The Ioniq 5 uses an 800-volt electrical system, and Auto Express says updated versions can charge from 10% to 80% in under 20 minutes on a suitable rapid charger. Even early cars charge quickly by EV standards on high-powered chargers.

At home, charging overnight on an off-peak tariff costs a fraction of fuel. ChargeUK and YouGov estimate home off-peak charging at just over 2p a mile, against more than 20p a mile for a diesel at around £2 a litre. Our home charging cost calculator can work out your figures.

What else won?

Auto Express’s other picks show the range of ways to cut running costs:

Car	Why it was picked	Notes
Hyundai Ioniq 5	Overall Used Car of the Year	Electric, from just over £13,000
Renault Clio	Accomplished small car, hybrid option	Manual petrol should return 50mpg or more
Volvo XC90	Space for seven, premium feel	Plug-in hybrid suggested; prices from under £20,000
Polestar 2	Stylish electric executive car	A strong alternative to the Tesla Model 3

The Polestar 2 is a particularly interesting used buy. Auto Express says its quality and sustainable materials stand out, and new Polestar 2s have been heavily discounted this year, which feeds through into used prices.

What should you check before buying a used Ioniq 5?

A used EV needs some different checks from a petrol car. For the Ioniq 5:

1. Battery health. Ask for a state-of-health report. Our guide to getting a battery health certificate explains how.
2. Warranty. Check how much of Hyundai’s five-year warranty remains, and the separate high-voltage battery warranty. Hyundai’s battery cover runs longer than the main warranty, but confirm the terms for the specific car.
3. Software updates. Make sure recall and software campaigns have been completed by a Hyundai dealer.
4. Charging. Test both AC and rapid DC charging if you can, and check the charging cables are included.
5. Tyres and brakes. EVs are heavy and quick, so check tyre wear, and look for corrosion on brake discs that may not get much use thanks to regenerative braking.
6. Service history. EVs need less servicing, but a stamped history still matters for warranty claims.

Our 15-point used EV buying checklist goes through everything.

Is a used EV right for you?

A used Ioniq 5 makes most sense if you can charge at home, cover a reasonable mileage and want a roomy family car. If you rely entirely on public rapid chargers, the running cost saving is much smaller, because public charging costs around ten times more per mile than off-peak home charging.

If you are on a tighter budget, our guide to used EVs under £15,000 covers other options, and our used Nissan Leaf and Renault Zoe comparison looks at smaller, cheaper cars.

Which Ioniq 5 should you buy?

The Ioniq 5 has been on sale since 2021, so there are several versions on the used market. The main differences to look for are:

• Battery size. Earlier cars came with smaller and larger battery options. Later, updated cars have a bigger battery, which Auto Express says gives 300 miles or more. If range matters, the battery is the single most important spec to check.
• Single or dual motor. Rear-wheel-drive single-motor cars are the most efficient and, Auto Express says, still handle well. Dual-motor all-wheel-drive cars are quicker and better in slippery conditions but use a little more energy.
• Trim level. Higher trims add equipment such as larger wheels, upgraded seats and more driver assistance features. Larger wheels can reduce range slightly.
• The Ioniq 5 N. The high-performance version is a very different car, with far more power, and is priced well above the standard models.

If you mainly drive locally, an earlier rear-drive car with the smaller battery could be the best value. If you regularly do long trips, look for the larger battery or an updated model.

What makes the Ioniq 5 good to live with?

Several things stand out for owners:

• 800-volt charging. The Ioniq 5 was one of the first mainstream EVs with an 800-volt system, which means fast charging on high-powered chargers. Updated cars can go from 10% to 80% in under 20 minutes on a suitable charger.
• Space. Its long wheelbase gives a flat floor and generous rear legroom, more than many SUVs that look bigger from the outside.
• Vehicle-to-load. Many versions can power external devices from the battery, useful for camping or work.
• Warranty. Hyundai’s five-year warranty means many used cars still have cover left, and the battery has separate, longer cover.

How do used EV prices compare with petrol?

The gap has closed. Autotrader has said it sees plenty of examples of three to five-year-old electric cars priced the same as or below similar petrol models. With diesel near £2 a litre, used EV demand rose 40% year on year in September 2026, pushing asking prices up 2.8%, while used diesel values fell. Our used EV values report explains the trend.

That means the best used EV bargains may not last. Auto Express notes that “used values have been bolstered by rising fuel costs, but there are still bargains to be had.”

How much can a used EV save you?

The savings depend on how you charge. As a rough guide, charging at home on an off-peak tariff costs just over 2p a mile, according to ChargeUK and YouGov research, while a petrol or diesel car costs well over 15p a mile at today’s prices. Over 10,000 miles a year, that could mean saving more than £1,000 on fuel. Servicing is usually cheaper too, because EVs have fewer moving parts. Our cheapest EVs to maintain guide has more.

Our view

The Ioniq 5 is a deserving winner. It was one of the best new EVs of its generation, and as a used car from around £13,000 it offers more space, technology and charging speed than almost anything at the price, electric or not. That an EV has finally won the top used car award says a lot about how the market has changed in 2026. Buy carefully, check the battery and warranty, and a used Ioniq 5 can cut your running costs dramatically.