Which new EV to go for with up to €40,000 to spend?
Hi there,
I will be looking at getting a new EV but not until later in the year or possibly early next year.
My budget would probably be up to about €40,000. I'd be open to exploring any deal with good value. The budget would include the value of my Peugeot 2008 which is a 241D with 43,500km on the clock.
My annual mileage would be approx. 20,000km. It would be mainly commuting to work, 50km round trip on M50, and short trips around D15. There would be some trips to Wexford from Dublin to visit family, generally once a month. There would also be trips to the coast or surrounding counties to D15 for days out, but nothing too far, within an hour .
My children are grown up and have their own cars, so most journeys have single or double occupancy. I would want the option to carry four passengers comfortably.
I have no real loyalty to brand. My last three petrol cars have been Peugeot, and I have had no problems with them.
Size wise my current car is ideal. I have gone for hatchbacks with my last three. This has mainly to accommodate a dog in the boot. The dog is elderly now and doesn't travel in the boot but the back seat so I am open to saloons as well, but it would need to have a decent size boot. Saying that I am quite used to the SUV-style car.
My main concerns about EVs are range and resale value. I would be looking for something with a decent range and fast charging. I have always changed car every three years or so and resale value counts towards that. I am not interested in PCP as I will be financing it with cash.
Dom Jenkins (Dublin)Jun 2026 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Dom,
Thanks for such a detailed overview of your needs. We'll add links to our reviews throughout the below to help you make a shortlist.
You have a lot of choice in the market. As you've had a good experience with Peugeot, it's probably a good place to start, especially as a Peugeot dealer is most likely to give you a good deal on your existing car. You could upgrade to the electric version of the 2008, and even the most expensive E-2008 is well within budget.
Or how about the Peugeot E-408 instead? The revised one has only just launched on the market and it's generally a more spacious and impressive car than the 2008, yet it's still within budget and has a 450km range that is more than enough to cover your needs.
All new Peugeots come with a decent five-year warranty, which helps their resale value.
Moving away from Peugeot, another good alternative includes the Renault Scenic, though you'd only just afford the entry-level model. The Renault Megane is more affordable, but we know there's an updated one on the way so perhaps wait to see what that's like and go give it a test drive. It's a comparable size to your Peugeot, which may be of interest.
The new Nissan Leaf is well worth checking out. It is very efficient and generally a lovely car, though for your budget, you wouldn't get into the model with the larger battery. Even so, its official range is still around 440km, which I'm sure is plenty for you.
The MGS5 EV's range of 465km might appeal, and it is a roomier car than most of those mentioned already and well within budget even if you go for the highest-spec one. Something that might really appeal to you is its seven-year warranty.
And if you're focusing on warranty, then you can't ignore Kia and Hyundai. In the latter's wide range of EVs, your best option is probably the Kona Electric with a range exceeding 500km, while both the Kia EV3 and EV4 are within budget. The EV4 is a hatchback rather than an SUV, but a really good one. The EV3 is comparable to your Peugeot in size and concept.
There's already a lot of food for thought there, so do come back to us if you want help narrowing things down further.
We'd highly recommend going to test drive as many cars as possible.
Shane O' Donoghue - Complete Car Advisor