At long last, I have sold my gas truck. I am committed to an electric future. I’m just not sure which one I want to spend the next few years with. My two-year 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV lease ends in July of 2026, and I’ll need a permanent replacement. Lucky for me, the used EV market has never been better.
Modern EV depreciation is truly abnormal; There’s no reason an EV with 25,000 miles should be a full 50% cheaper than new, considering how rare battery and motor failures are. But most lay people remain afraid of battery degradation, which means the deals are still spectacular. A loaded 2024 Blazer EV LT2 now trades for as little as $25,000. If you have $35,000, you can get a Cadillac Lyriq, Mercedes EQE SUV, BMW i4, Tesla Model 3 Performance, you name it.
Plus, the $15,000 market is finally filling in. You can find Model 3s and Bolts in that range, with base model Ioniq 5s and Kona EVs trading near $20,000. The point is, at every price point, EV consumers have more exciting options than ever.
So, what should I get?
What I Need, And What I Want
Like most American new car shoppers, I want an SUV. I do not strictly “need” one, but I love camping in the wilderness of Southern California, and prefer to do it in an EV. That’s why I leased my Blazer EV, and it’s still my favorite thing I do with it today. Just last weekend, I slept in the back of it with my dog, Kickflip, while we used the heater to shelter us from a mountain windstorm.
I also haul multiple bikes in my SUV, and I’ll be driving cross-country at least once next year. In an ideal world, then, I want something that is comfortable and spacious for long highway trips, while still offering a decent blend of on- and off-road performance. I want to be able to explore rutted forest roads and still feel 100% confident bombing down a winding section of canyon road.
These are the cars I’m keeping an eye on.
2024-2025 Chevy Blazer EVs
This weekend, I slept in the Blazer EV comfortably, then flew down my favorite canyon road at a galloping pace. The Blazer was comfortable, quiet and refined the whole time, with plenty of space for all of the detritus that accumulates on any overnight adventure. Perhaps most importantly, all of this capability is even cheaper than it was a year ago.
You can already find used 2024 Blazer EVs for around $25,000. And considering how aggressively Chevrolet incentivized two-year lease deals, I expect far more used Blazer EVs to hit the market this year. All 2024 models also came standard with a variety of packages that became optional in 2025, so they all have leatherette seats, heated steering wheels, heated seats, adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping.
2025 models were also available with front-wheel drive and Super Cruise, with a top SS trim serving as the performance halo model. I’d happily own a Blazer in front-, all- or rear-wheel-drive (RIP) guise, and all of them offer at least 279 miles of range with room for four full adults. For $25,000, that’s hard to beat.
2024-2025 Cadillac Lyriq
I only have two real complaints about the Blazer: its front-biased AWD system isn’t particularly powerful or fun, and its charging performance is middling. Its Cadillac brother, the Lyriq AWD, addresses both problems. The all-wheel-drive Lyriq uses a rear-biased setup with 515 horsepower, and its larger battery gives it over 300 miles of range with faster, 190 kW charging.
I’m already seeing used Lyriqs trading in the $35,000 range, and I bet there’s more room for them to come down. The cheapest Lyriqs are usually rear-wheel-drive models, which are excellent options if you don’t plan to tackle off-pavement adventures or contend with heavy snow. Plus, the 2024 and 2025 Lyriqs are the only Cadillac EVs to get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
2023-2025 Mercedes EQE SUVs
The Mercedes EQE SUV may have been overpriced and underwhelming when it hit the scene, but the subsequent collapse in used values has turned it into a surprising bargain. For under $35,000, you can get a nearly new Mercedes SUV with lovely driving dynamics, a powerful dual-motor all-wheel-drive system, solid charging specs and nearly 300 miles of range.
Add a height-adjustable air suspension and a world-class audio system and an EQE SUV can be a surprisingly charming daily driver. If you don’t need the capability and can deal with the jellybean silhouette, EQE sedans are cheap, too, and also relatively lovely to be in. I think Mercedes’ next-gen EVs are a quantum leap better, but the EQ cars are cheap today.
2022-2025 BMW iXs
I love the BMW iX. I love its goofy buck-tooth styling, its glassy, unique interior and its cavernous cabin. I love that it is an honest-to-God 300-mile car in almost every circumstance, that it charges well and that it drives like a true BMW. With the air suspension, it also has over 8 inches of ground clearance, giving it more room below its belly than most SUVs.
The iX has just two issues. First, its odd interior has some usability quirks, like awkward cupholder positioning. But more importantly, the iX is just plain expensive. That led to substantial discounting when these were new, which, combined with typical used-BMW depreciation, has made iXs a bargain. I’m already seeing examples for under $38,000, which is a crazy deal for a car that could be over $100,000 new.
2022-2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 AWDs
While used BMW and Mercedes EVs may be great deals, they’re still a stretch for most, including me. That’s why I love the Ioniq 5. Not only is it a great car, but Hyundai sold a boatload of them. There are far more Ioniq 5s out there than Kia EV6s, and the Hyundai also has more space, the same great charging specs and excellent range.
Early used examples are starting to go for around $20,000, which is a spectacular deal for such a great all-around EV.
Tesla Model Ys
After renting two Model Ys in recent months—a stripped-down 2023 Dual Motor from Avis and a brand-new Juniper RWD from Turo—I have confirmed that I do not want a Model Y. I don’t like how these cars feel when they’re new, and I don’t think they age well. The stripped-down cabin works great for some people, but I’m not a fan.
Yet I had to consider them, because the value proposition is unbeatable.
The Model Y is a great-driving car with world-class technology, excellent range and a robust native charging network. The all-wheel-drive model is a do-it-all EV that could satisfy almost anyone, and the Performance model is blindingly fast. It also has some of the best packaging in the industry, offering plenty of space.
For around $25,000 for a good example, the Model Y is tough to argue with. If you like Teslas, a used one is one of the best buys on the market.
What’s on your radar for next year? Sound off in the comments.
Contact the author: Mack.Hogan@insideevs.com
