What we know, in plain English.
Reference explainers on the topics that decide whether an EV is the right call: range vs reality, battery health, depreciation, salary sacrifice maths, charging costs, the buying checks every used buyer should run. Updated as the market moves.
- 29 MAY 2026
Used BMW i4: which years to buy, which to avoid
A year-by-year guide to buying a used BMW i4 in the UK. eDrive35 vs eDrive40 vs M50, the recall and "drivetrain malfunction" situation explained, and what to check before signing. Independent and updated for 2026.
- 29 MAY 2026
Used BYD Seal: what to buy, and what the Chinese data tells us
A used buyer's guide to the BYD Seal in the UK: Design vs Excellence AWD, what to check, and what years of Chinese-market quality data actually tell you about reliability. Independent and updated for 2026.
- 29 MAY 2026
Used Genesis GV60: a luxury EV bargain, with strings attached
A used buyer's guide to the Genesis GV60 in the UK. Why it's such strong value, the ICCU and recall situation explained, Premium vs Sport vs Sport Plus, and what to check before signing. Independent and updated for 2026.
- 29 MAY 2026
Used Hyundai Ioniq 9: an early buyer's guide to the electric flagship
An early buyer's guide to the Hyundai Ioniq 9 in the UK. Why its second-generation ICCU matters, what the Kia EV9 tells us about reliability, the trims explained, and whether to buy now or wait. Independent and updated for 2026.
- 29 MAY 2026
Used Kia EV3: the sensible, low-risk used EV pick
A used buyer's guide to the Kia EV3 in the UK. Why it's the sensible, low-risk pick: class-leading range, no ICCU issue, a transferable 7-year warranty, and what to check. Standard vs Long Range explained. Independent and updated for 2026.
- 29 MAY 2026
Used Polestar 4: what to buy, and the truth about the no-rear-window question
A used buyer's guide to the Polestar 4 in the UK. The no-rear-window digital mirror explained honestly, Single vs Dual Motor, what the reliability data really shows, and why it's such strong used value. Independent and updated for 2026.
- 29 MAY 2026
Used Volkswagen ID.3: which years to buy, which to avoid
A year-by-year guide to buying a used Volkswagen ID.3 in the UK. Decoding the battery and trim names, the software era and the 2026 Pro S recall explained, and what to check before signing. Independent and updated for 2026.
- 19 MAY 2026
Used Hyundai Ioniq 5: which years to buy, which to avoid
A year-by-year guide to buying a used Hyundai Ioniq 5 in the UK. The ICCU situation explained, Hyundai's 15-year warranty extension, what to check before signing. Independent and updated for 2026.
- 19 MAY 2026
Used Kia EV6: which years to buy, which to avoid
A year-by-year guide to buying a used Kia EV6 in the UK. The ICCU situation explained, Kia's 7-year warranty advantage, the facelift breakpoint, and what to check before signing. Independent and updated for 2026.
- 19 MAY 2026
Used Polestar 2: which years to buy, which to avoid
A year-by-year guide to buying a used Polestar 2 in the UK. Which years to target, the on-board charger fault to verify, and what to check before signing. Independent and updated for 2026.
- 19 MAY 2026
Used Tesla Model Y: which years to buy, which to avoid
A year-by-year guide to buying a used Tesla Model Y in the UK. Which years to target, the recalls and software fixes to verify, and what to check before signing. Independent and updated for 2026.
- 11 MAY 2026
Why annual mileage matters less than you think (for EV decisions)
Total miles per year is the headline number every buyer fixates on. The number that actually matters is the longest non-stop trip you do regularly. Once you know that, range anxiety stops being a thing.
- 11 MAY 2026
EV battery state of health: the test every used buyer needs
State of health is the single number that decides whether a used EV is worth its asking price. Here's what it means, how to get it measured, and what's normal at one, three, and five years old.
- 11 MAY 2026
BIK and salary sacrifice in 2026/27: the honest maths
For a 40% taxpayer, salary sacrifice on a new EV often comes out cheaper than buying a used one outright. The Benefit-in-Kind rate is the lever; here's exactly how it works in 2026/27 and what changes in 2027/28.
- 11 MAY 2026
EV depreciation in 2026: why this isn't 2023
The used EV market took a brutal hit in 2023 and 2024. The numbers in 2026 look different, and the reason matters for anyone buying used now.
- 11 MAY 2026
The four reasons an EV is the wrong call (and how to tell which apply)
Most of the cases where an EV is genuinely the wrong choice come down to four specific situations. If none of these apply to you, an EV is probably right. If any do, here's how to think about it.
- 11 MAY 2026
Heat pumps in EVs: when to insist, when to skip
A heat pump adds £400 to £900 to the price of an EV and recovers around 15 to 20 percent of winter range. Whether that's worth it depends on how much motorway driving you do in cold weather.
- 11 MAY 2026
Octopus Intelligent Go for EV owners: the real-world guide
Intelligent Go is the most popular EV-specific UK tariff in 2026. Here's how it actually works, what it costs against a standard tariff, the catches nobody mentions, and whether it suits your driving.
- 11 MAY 2026
Tesla VINs: how to tell Berlin from Shanghai (and why anyone cares)
Many UK Tesla Model Ys and Model 3s are built in Shanghai, not Berlin. If country of manufacture matters to you, the VIN tells you in the first three characters. Here's the lookup, and the reasons buyers actually invoke this.
- 11 MAY 2026
The 14-point checklist before you sign for a used EV
What to verify at the test drive, what to demand from the dealer, and what to walk away from. The same list every Compass EV buyer report ends with, generalised.