The electric vehicle market in Australia is changing quicker than ever and now is the best moment for anyone on a budget to think about switching electric. There are currently a lot of inexpensive models making waves, from indigenous EVs to Chinese imports. In this article, we’ll look at the Top 10 cheapest EVs in Australia. We’ll talk about their pricing, performance, features and how useful they are. These electric vehicles are great for Australian roads because they are innovative and offer good value. You can choose between a hatchback that is good for the city and a tiny SUV that can do a lot of things.
The competition among car companies is fiercer than ever because pricing for entry-level cars are now lower than they used to be. Chinese firms like Leapmotor, Xpeng and BYD are growing quickly and they have changed the list of the cheapest electric cars in Australia. These new electric vehicles have surprising costs and great features, so even well-known brands like Tesla, Hyundai and Cupra are no longer in the Top 10 cheapest EVs in Australia.
We used drive-away prices for private buyers in Victoria to rank these EVs so that they are all the same. Keep take mind that this rating doesn’t include ongoing fees like charging, service, and insurance. This post will go into great detail on each of the Top 10 cheapest EVs in Australia, including their specs and why you should think about buying one.
Top 10 Cheapest EVs in Australia: MG 4
The MG 4 is the best-selling electric vehicle in Australia’s cheap EV market. The Excite 51 model has a special drive-away price of $30,990, which is $3,000 more than its main competitor, the GWM Ora. The MG 4 portfolio features a variety of models to meet different needs, from the mid-range Excite 64 to the long-range Essence 64 and the high-performance XPower.
The MG 4 has a modern look, a useful range and good performance. It has a lithium-ion battery that can hold 51 kilowatt-hours of power and 250 Newton-meters of torque at the rear wheels. It has a claimed range of 350 kilometers under WLTP standards and uses 18.4 kilowatt-hours of energy per 100 kilometers. This makes it a great blend of efficiency and usability.
This small electric car can also go from zero to one hundred kilometers per hour in 7.7 seconds, which is really good and it can be charged at up to 88 kilowatts with DC fast chargers. The MG 4 is one of the Top 10 cheapest EVs in Australia and is great for both city driving and weekend road excursions.
Top 10 Cheapest EVs in Australia: GWM Ora
The GWM Ora is the first EV from Chinese automaker Great Wall Motor to hit Australian shores. Known in other markets as the Ora Good Cat or Ora Funky Cat, this entry-level EV brings a unique mix of style, affordability and everyday usability. Its drive-away price starts at thirty-three thousand nine hundred and ninety dollars for the standard range variant, rising to forty-one thousand nine hundred and ninety dollars for the sportier GT version.
The Ora Standard Range features a forty-eight kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery powering a single front motor with 126 kilowatts and 250 Newton-meters of torque. It is front-wheel drive and weighs fifteen hundred and forty kilograms, achieving zero to one hundred kilometers per hour in 8.4 seconds. With a claimed range of three hundred and ten kilometers and energy consumption of 16.7 kilowatt-hours per hundred kilometers, it provides reliable efficiency for urban and suburban drivers.
Its AC charging rate is eleven kilowatts and DC fast charging supports up to eighty kilowatts, allowing for convenient recharging on longer trips. The GWM Ora combines affordability with a playful design, making it a standout among the Top 10 cheapest EVs in Australia.
Top 10 Cheapest EVs in Australia: BYD Dolphin
The BYD Dolphin is a little electric hatchback from China’s biggest automotive company. It’s a good choice for people who want to save money. BYD hasn’t used hefty promotional pricing like the MG 4 and GWM Ora, but the Dolphin is still one of the 10 cheapest EVs in Australia. The Dynamic version starts at $36,890 before taxes and the Premium version starts at $42,890.
Powered by a forty-four kilowatt-hour LFP battery, the Dolphin produces seventy kilowatts of power and 180 Newton-meters of torque, with front-wheel drive. This model weighs one thousand five hundred and six kilograms and accelerates from zero to one hundred kilometers per hour in twelve point three seconds. Despite its smaller battery, it claims a range of three hundred and forty kilometers with energy consumption of 12.6 kilowatt-hours per hundred kilometers, highlighting its efficiency.
The Dolphin can charge AC up to seven kilowatts and DC fast up to sixty kilowatts, so it’s great for both daily commutes and weekend excursions. The BYD Dolphin is still one of the Top 10 cheapest EVs in Australia because it is small and affordable.
Top 10 Cheapest EVs in Australia: Nissan Leaf
A pioneer in Australia’s EV market, the Nissan Leaf has remained a consistent option for entry-level electric car buyers. Although the current model dates back to 2017, drive-away offers have reduced the starting price to thirty-nine thousand nine hundred and ninety dollars, with the Leaf e+ beginning at forty-nine thousand nine hundred and ninety dollars.
The Leaf features a thirty-nine kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery powering a single front motor producing 110 kilowatts and 320 Newton-meters of torque. It weighs one thousand five hundred and ninety-four kilograms and accelerates to one hundred kilometers per hour in 7.9 seconds. Its claimed range is three hundred and eleven kilometers, with energy consumption of 17.1 kilowatt-hours per hundred kilometers.
The Leaf has a regular Type 2 AC port, but it also has a CHAdeMO DC fast-charging port, which is something that sets it apart. This makes it one of the more flexible budget EVs for charging infrastructure in Australia. Nissan is projected to have a new high-riding replacement for the Leaf by March 2027. This will keep the company in the running for the Top 10 cheapest EVs in Australia.
Top 10 Cheapest EVs in Australia: MG ZS EV
The MG ZS EV is the cheapest electric SUV in Australia, and it still has a good market position even if it lost the title of cheapest EV. The Excite model costs $43,299 in Victoria, while the Long Range model costs $50,593.
Built on the platform of the petrol-powered ZS, the current MG ZS EV dates back to 2018 and received a facelift in 2021. Its fifty-one point one kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery powers a single front motor producing 130 kilowatts and 280 Newton-meters of torque. The ZS EV weighs fifteen hundred and seventy kilograms, accelerates from zero to one hundred kilometers per hour in 8.2 seconds, and has a claimed range of three hundred and twenty kilometers.
AC charging is supported up to eleven kilowatts, while DC fast charging reaches seventy-five kilowatts. The MG ZS EV combines the practicality of an SUV with affordability, securing its place among the Top 10 cheapest EVs in Australia.
Top 10 Cheapest EVs in Australia: Chery Omoda E5
The Chery Omoda E5 is an electric version of the petrol-powered Omoda 5 SUV, available in Australia for nearly two years. The BX variant starts at forty-two thousand nine hundred dollars before on-roads, while the EX variant costs forty-five thousand nine hundred dollars.
This electric SUV is powered by a single front motor generating 150 kilowatts and 340 Newton-meters of torque. Its sixty-one point one kilowatt-hour LFP battery offers a claimed range of four hundred and thirty kilometers, with energy consumption of 15.5 kilowatt-hours per hundred kilometers. The vehicle weighs one thousand seven hundred and seventy-six kilograms and can accelerate to one hundred kilometers per hour in 7.6 seconds.
You can charge it with AC power at 6.6 kW for single-phase settings and 9.9 kW for three-phase systems, or with DC power at up to 80 kW. The Chery Omoda E5 is one of the Top 10 cheapest EVs in Australia since it has a good amount of space, a long range and is affordable.
Top 10 Cheapest EVs in Australia: BYD Atto 3
The BYD Atto 3 is one of the most recognized Chinese EVs in Australia. The Standard Range starts at forty-four thousand four hundred and ninety-nine dollars, while the Extended Range costs forty-seven thousand four hundred and ninety-nine dollars before on-roads.
With a forty-nine point nine-two kilowatt-hour LFP battery powering a single motor with 150 kilowatts and 310 Newton-meters of torque, the Atto 3 weighs one thousand seven hundred and fifty kilograms and accelerates to one hundred kilometers per hour in 7.9 seconds. It offers a claimed range of three hundred and forty-five kilometers with energy consumption of 16 kilowatt-hours per hundred kilometers.
AC charging can handle seven kilowatts, whereas DC rapid charging can handle seventy kilowatts. Recent improvements have improved both the inside and outside of the BYD Atto 3, making it both attractive and useful. It is now one of the Top 10 cheapest EVs in Australia.
Top 10 Cheapest EVs in Australia: Leapmotor C10
The Leapmotor C10 is set to begin local deliveries in November, marking the Chinese brand’s entry into Australia through a joint venture with Stellantis. Pricing starts at forty-five thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight dollars for the Style variant, extending to forty-nine thousand five hundred and eighty-eight dollars for the Design.
Equipped with a sixty-nine point nine kilowatt-hour LFP battery and a single motor producing 160 kilowatts and 320 Newton-meters, the C10 is front-wheel drive. It has a claimed range of four hundred and twenty kilometers, with energy consumption yet to be fully confirmed. AC charging supports six point six kilowatts, while DC fast charging reaches eighty-four kilowatts.
The Leapmotor C10 combines range, affordability, and Chinese innovation, placing it firmly within the Top 10 cheapest EVs in Australia.
Top 10 Cheapest EVs in Australia: Fiat 500e
The Fiat 500e La Prima is Italy’s contribution to the compact EV segment in Australia, competing with models such as the Mini Cooper Electric and MG 4. Drive-away pricing currently sits at forty-nine thousand nine hundred and ninety dollars.
Powered by a forty-two kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery, the 500e produces 87 kilowatts and 220 Newton-meters of torque. It weighs just one thousand two hundred and ninety kilograms, accelerating to one hundred kilometers per hour in 9 seconds. With a claimed range of three hundred and eleven kilometers and energy consumption of 14.4 kilowatt-hours per hundred kilometers, it is a practical city car with Italian flair.
The Fiat 500e supports AC charging up to eleven kilowatts and DC fast charging at eighty-five kilowatts, making it versatile for city and short regional drives. Its compact dimensions and affordability make it a key contender in the Top 10 cheapest EVs in Australia.
Top 10 Cheapest EVs in Australia: BYD Seal
The BYD Seal is Australia’s most affordable electric sedan offering an alternative to the Tesla Model 3. The Dynamic variant starts at forty-nine thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight dollars, while the Performance version is priced at sixty-five thousand seven hundred and forty-eight dollars.
With a sixty-one point four-four kilowatt-hour LFP battery powering a single motor producing 150 kilowatts and 310 Newton-meters, the Seal weighs one thousand nine hundred and twenty-two kilograms and reaches zero to one hundred kilometers per hour in 7.5 seconds. It has a claimed range of four hundred and sixty kilometers, with energy consumption of 13.8 kilowatt-hours per hundred kilometers. AC charging is seven kilowatts, while DC fast charging supports up to 110 kilowatts.
With robust performance and competitive pricing, the BYD Seal rounds out the Top 10 cheapest EVs in Australia, offering sedan buyers a cost-effective entry into the EV market.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Which is the cheapest EV in Australia?
The MG 4 currently holds the title of Australia’s cheapest EV with a drive-away price of thirty thousand nine hundred and ninety dollars.
Q2: Are Chinese EVs reliable in Australia?
Yes, brands like BYD, GWM, Leapmotor, and Chery have shown solid build quality, warranties, and support, making them viable options for Australian buyers.
Q3: What is the typical range for these affordable EVs?
Most models in the Top 10 cheapest EVs in Australia offer ranges between three hundred and four hundred and sixty kilometers depending on battery size and driving conditions.
Q4: Can these EVs charge at home efficiently?
Yes, all models support AC home charging, with rates from six to eleven kilowatts, making overnight charging practical.
Q5: Will more affordable EVs arrive in Australia soon?
Yes, the market is rapidly expanding, and several new Chinese and European EV models are expected to join the Top 10 cheapest EVs in Australia in the coming years.
