5 great electric cars you could buy for the cost of a deposit on the Tesla Roadster

The Tesla Roadster certainly wowed the crowd at its unveiling in October, but long-suffering deposit holders still have some time to kill before deliveries start. Elon Musk says production will start in 2028, but then again he also said it would be here in 2020, 2021, 2023 and so on.

So what if you want a super-fast electric car right now? We can’t give you anything with rocket thrusters or the ability to fly, like the Roadster will supposedly have, nor is there anything which will do 0-60mph in under a second, but we’ve got five tempting electric cars for the same price as a deposit on the new Roadster, as well as one wildcard.

1. Porsche Taycan Turbo
2. Polestar 4 Performance
3. Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
4. Tesla Model 3 Performance
5. BMW i4 M60
6. Lotus Emeya 900 Sport Carbon

1. Porsche Taycan Turbo

For £50,000 you could have a used Porsche Taycan Turbo. We found a 2020 model with 39,000 miles on the clock within budget, with a whopping 680hp and a 0-60mph time of 3.2 seconds.

It doesn’t have the best range at 270 miles, nor is it the best EV for rear passengers, but the Taycan is as fun to drive as a Porsche should be. It’s also comfortable on long journeys and feels solid inside.

2. Polestar 4 Performance

We’ve also found a nearly-new Polestar 4 Performance within budget, and if you’re after something fast and luxurious then look no further. It has one of the best interiors in the business, and it’s lovely to drive.

You also get an impressive 367 miles of range, but the lack of rear window won’t be to everyone’s liking. You do get a rear-view camera system so you can see what’s behind you, but it takes some getting used to.

3. Hyundai Ioniq 5 N

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is the sort of performance EV you’d buy if you’re more interested in fun than straight-line speed. Alright, 0-62mph in 3.4 seconds is not to be sniffed at, but this car’s party piece is the simulated gear shifts.

You get engine noise piped in through the speakers, and the car holds back the power to give the illusion of a rev limiter. It adds a layer of involvement which is missing from a lot of electric cars, and used examples can be found for as little as £50,000.

4. Tesla Model 3 Performance

The Model 3 Performance is the fastest Tesla you can buy for less than £50,000. At the time of writing, we found a 2024 example with 5,000 miles on the clock for £43,000, and that gets you 460hp and a 0-60mph time of 2.9 seconds.

The button-free interior may take some getting used to, but then again it’s good practice for future Roadster customers because that car has no physical controls either. The Model 3 is also comfy, fun to drive and spacious inside.

5. BMW i4 M60

It may have been around for a few years, but the BMW i4 is still a cracking luxury EV. We found an M60 version from 20225 with 2,500 miles on the clock for £48,900 at the time of writing, and it’ll do 0-62mph in 3.7 seconds thanks to its 601hp dual-motor setup.

The interior feels more solid and luxurious than a Tesla Model 3’s, but the rear headroom isn’t as generous and it’s about to feel really dated compared to the new BMW i3 saloon car coming soon.

6. Lotus Emeya 900 Sport Carbon

You may not be able to get a new Lotus Emeya 900 for £50,000, but it costs a lot less than the deposit you’ll have to pay for the Tesla Roadster with the rocket thruster package. That car requires you to drop £250,000 up front, whereas this Lotus can be yours for £140,000.

It has 905hp and, and it’ll do 0-62mph in 2.8 seconds. You also get a super-luxurious interior and spacious rear seats, but the boot is shallow and the real-world range sits at around 220 miles according to our tests.

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