10 cheapest EVs in Australia

Affordable electric cars are an emerging market in Australia - and the timing couldn’t be better.

For years people have been asking ‘when will electric cars be affordable in Australia?’ and now, thanks to a combination of a reduction in the cost of the battery technology, increased competition and slowing interest from customers, car makers have been cutting the cost of electric cars.

Notably, as the cost of conventional, internal-combustion-engine vehicles have risen in recent years (with no model available for less than $20,000 on-road), the most affordable electric cars are now amongst some of the cheaper models on sale regardless of powertrain, even if truly cheap electric cars - that’s to say, sub-$25k - remain unlikely.

While Tesla remains the most popular electric vehicle (EV) brand, the increased competition, especially from Chinese EVs from a number of new-to-market companies, are driving the market down. 

Softening demand in the second half of 2024 has also seen the EV discount become common across multiple brands. Many of the models on our list were being advertised at the time of publication with drive-away pricing to make for a more compelling value argument to buyers.

Inevitably the used electric vehicles market will grow and that will help bring prices down too, but for now we’ve scoured the market to bring you a list of the best value electric cars Australia has on offer today.

Please note these prices are correct at the time of publication but are subject to change as the market is fluctuating rapidly.

10. BYD Seal - $49,684 drive-away

BYD has made a big impact on the Australian market in a short amount of time, and that’s primarily because of its aggressive EV pricing strategy. The Seal may be 10th on this list, but it’s one of three BYD models amongst the cheapest EVs on sale today.

The Seal is BYD’s direct rival to the Tesla Model 3 and clearly has appeal to buyers as it was amongst the best-selling sedans in 2024. For this price you get the entry-level Seal Dynamic, which has a 150kW/310Nm electric motor and 61.4kWh battery that has a claimed range of 460km.

9. Leapmotor C10 - $47,500 drive-away

One of the newest brands in Australia (which is saying something given how many brands have arrived in recent years), Leapmotor has arrived with a bang. Its C10 mid-size SUV is all-electric and very competitively priced to make an impact right away.

The entry-level C10 Style starts at $47,500 drive-away and the higher-grade C10 Design is only $51,500 drive-away, so Leapmotor is giving itself the best chance to woo buyers in an increasingly crowded market.  

In terms of specification, the C10 is powered by a 160kW/320Nm single electric motor which, in a break from the majority of its front-wheel-drive rivals, sends its power to the rear wheels. It mated to a 69.9kWh battery, which Leapmotor claims provides up to 420km of driving range.

8. BYD Atto 3 - $42,434 drive-away

The fact that the Atto 3, which was the cheapest EV for a moment in the not-too-distant past is now in the bottom of the top 10 says a lot about how quickly the market is changing. Even though it started with sharp pricing, BYD has had to add a new trim level, Essential, to help cut the price point even further. Despite the cheaper price it still has the same 150kW/310Nm front-drive single motor and a 49.9kWh battery, which has a 345km range. 

The Atto 3 Essential is $39,990 plus on-road costs, but the website lists it at $42,434 drive-away, making it very competitive for the current state of the small-to-mid-size electric SUV market.

7. Chery Omoda E5 - $40,300 drive-away

Continuing the theme so far, the Omoda E5 is another electric SUV from China. Chery has a range of petrol-engined models too, and the E5 is based on the Omoda 5 petrol-powered SUV but gives buyers more choice. It’s powered by a single electric motor, which makes 150kW/340Nm and is paired to a 61kWh battery that provides a claimed driving range of 430km, which is certainly on par with its keys rivals.

The current $40,300 drive-away price for the entry-grade BX and $43,390 drive-away for the higher grade EX are extremely competitive, but it is worth noting that this was a special at the time of publication. Without the sale the pair would be due to start from $46,390 and $49,390, respectively - still cheap enough to make this list.

6. Hyundai Inster - Sub-$40k (TBC)

While the Hyundai Kona, Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6 have led the charge for the brand, this pint-sized newcomer could have the biggest impact. And not only on Hyundai but the wider car industry, as it has the potential to be the first EV model from a mainstream, established brand to go head-to-head with the Chinese brands on value.

Pricing hasn’t been confirmed yet, but our sources have indicated that it will be less than $40,000, which could put it on the same shopping lists as those looking at the cars below on this list.

We do know the specifications to expect from our international first drive. The entry-level ‘Standard Range’ will have a 71kW/147Nm electric motor coupled to a 42kW battery to deliver up to 300km of range between charging.

5. MG ZS Essence - $36,990 drive-away

The good news is this is an incredibly sharp price for a small SUV in 2025, let alone an electric one. The bad news is this deal applies to examples built in 2023, so it’s older stock.

This is a runout deal as a new electric SUV is due from MG later in ‘25, but it’s not expected to carry the ZS badge anymore. Instead, it’s expected to sit on a new platform and have improved technology, two things that typically lead to a higher price.

As for the ‘current’ ZS EV, it’s powered by a 130kW/280Nm electric motor, which draws power from a 50.3kWh battery. MG claims it has a driving range of 320km, which is notably below what’s offered by its newer, albeit more expensive rivals, that are also on this list, like the Leapmotor, Chery and BYD.

3. Nissan Leaf - $34,990 drive-away

Yes, I know I said that the Hyundai Inster will be the first to go head-to-head with the Chinese brands on value, so why is a Nissan here? Well, to be blunt, this isn’t a direct rival to the cars around it, it’s more like a runout deal on what is a very old and out-dated model.

An all-new, long-overdue, Leaf if reportedly coming in the next year or so, and with increasingly cheaper, better-equipped, more powerful and longer range rivals appearing, Nissan has done the only thing a brand can do in this situation - cut the price.

Or, to put it more accurately, slash the price by a whopping $20k. But given this is largely the same Leaf Nissan launched originally back in 2011 (albeit with a major facelift in the middle) a big price cut is the only way to keep it relevant in the current market.

A look at its specifications show how off the pace it has fallen, with a relatively small 39kWh battery providing a shorter-than-average driving range of 289km but a competitive 110kW/320Nm electric motor driving the front wheels.

3. MG4 - $34,990 drive-away

And so we come to the final three entrants on our list and this trio of Chinese small cars have engaged in a lengthy fight for bragging rights as the ‘most affordable EV Australia offers’ at the present moment. 

The current drive-away deal for the MG4 Excite 51 is actually even cheaper than the initial price when the car first launched here back in 2023 - an incredible achievement in these days of rising prices.

The MG4 offers up good space and respectable range and performance, so you won’t feel like you’re buying a ‘cheap’ quality of car, even if the price is best described as ‘cheap’ by any modern measure. Its single electric motor sends 125kW/250Nm to the rear wheels, while its 51kWh battery is enough for 350km of driving range. 

2. GWM Ora - $33,990 drive-away

If you want proof that the EV market in Australia is getting intensely more competitive, then look no further than the Ora. In the two years since GWM first launched it in Australia the price has come down more than $10k. The initial price was $43,990 plus on-road costs, so the current ask of $33,990 drive-away is a major drop. That’s more than a 25 per cent decrease at a time when car brands are increasing prices by similar margins.

However, this is another ‘special offer’ and the price could revert back to its previous $35,990 drive-away figure in the near-future if GWM decides to give away its advantage over MG.

In terms of what you’re buying, the Ora is powered by a 80kW/250Nm single electric motor, drawing its energy from a 48kWh battery that provides 320km of range - all very reasonable figures at this price point.

1. BYD Dolphin - $29,990 drive-away

The final member of this race-to-the-bottom trio - and current budget-busting EV champion - is BYD’s Dolphin hatch. BYD recently introduced the Dolphin Essential, which ditches luxurious like a panoramic glass roof and wireless phone charging, in order to get a cheaper sticker price.

BYD has also opted for a less powerful motor (70kW/180Nm) and smaller battery (44.9kWh) to cut the cost of the car (but it still has a claimed range of 340km), and the result is the first fully-electric car for a sub-$30k drive-away price in Australia.

Remarkably, after years of debate about ‘price parity’ between EVs and petrol cars, the BYD Dolphin appears to have achieved that. At its current price it’s cheaper than a Toyota Yaris, which starts at $30,900 (plus on-road costs) for the entry-grade model.