CarSorted Verdict:
- Cheapest: BYD Atto 1 at $19,990 drive-away to 15 December, or the five-seat Geely EX2 at $26,490 RRP.
- Small SUV: Leapmotor B10 from $37,888 for price; Kia EV3 for the lowest running costs.
- Sedan: Tesla Model 3 RWD, $45,900, 572 km.
- Family SUV: Tesla Model Y RWD ($58,900, 854 litres) or the Leapmotor C10 ($49,888, 546 litres).
- Range: Model 3 Long Range, 750 km for $61,900; BMW iX3 goes furthest at 805 km.
- Wait for: the electric C-HR (mid-2027, confirmed) and BMW's i3 sedan (first quarter of 2027, priced).
Tax and incentive figures current as of November 2026
Thresholds, rebates and rules on this page change each financial year. We check them against the ATO, but always confirm the current position with the relevant authority before you sign. The FBT exemption for electric cars turns on the $91,661 fuel-efficient luxury car tax threshold for 2026-27, which is reindexed every financial year. The 2026-27 Budget change to the exemption is a proposal and not yet law. Confirm current ATO figures before you sign.
There's never been more choice in electric cars in Australia, and heading into 2027 it keeps widening at both ends. At the cheap end, BYD put the Atto 1 on a $19,990 drive-away offer and Tesla added a $45,900 Model 3. At the top, BMW's new iX3 claims 805 km. In between, Kia, BYD, Leapmotor, Geely and others now sell five-star electric SUVs under $40,000 to $60,000. So the useful question isn't only “which is best?”. It's also “which is best for what I actually do, and is something better about to land?”.
This guide works from 295 electric cars on sale in our directory on 13 November 2026, from 125 nameplates and 46 makes, every body type except vans and trucks. Our 2026 electric car guide still has the long ranked list and the brand-by-brand rundown. This one gives you one pick per question, who it suits, what to watch, and a short “buy now or wait” call. The facts, side by side. Your decision.
The picks at a glance
One row per question, with the figure from our row for that car on 13 November 2026 and its price basis. RRP is before on-road costs; drive-away includes them. Detail and runners-up are below.
| Question | Pick | Winning figure | ANCAP on record | Buy now or wait? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheapest (drive-away) | BYD Atto 1 Essential | $19,990 drive-away | 5 stars (2025) | Now; offer to 15 Dec |
| Cheapest five-seater (RRP) | Geely EX2 Complete | $26,490 RRP | 5 stars (2026) | Now |
| Cheapest five-star SUV (RRP) | Leapmotor B10 Style | $37,888 RRP | 5 stars (2025) | Now |
| Small SUV, cheapest to run | Kia EV3 Air Standard Range | $47,600, about $585 a year | 5 stars (2025) | Now |
| Cheapest sedan (RRP) | Tesla Model 3 RWD | $45,900, 572 km | 5 stars (2025) | Now |
| Family SUV under $60k (RRP) | Tesla Model Y RWD | $58,900, 854 L | 5 stars (2025) | Now |
| Longest range under $80k (RRP) | Tesla Model 3 Long Range | 750 km for $61,900 | 5 stars (2025) | Now |
| Longest range overall | BMW iX3 50 xDrive | 805 km WLTP | 5 stars (2026) | Now |
| Seven seats (RRP) | XPeng X9 Standard Range | $89,900 RRP | 5 stars (2026) | Now |
| Seven seats that tow | Kia EV9 Earth AWD | 2,500 kg, $106,500 RRP | 5 stars (2023) | Now |
Compare these picks side by side
6 of them on 200+ specs, price, safety and running cost in one view.
Each price is that car's stored figure with its basis and check date. Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Buying now or waiting: how to use this guide
Plenty is changing in 2027. Toyota Australia has confirmed an electric C-HR for mid-2027. BMW has priced its electric i3 sedan for the first quarter. Mercedes-Benz lists an electric C-Class and GLA as coming. Lexus has confirmed the three-row TZ. At the cheaper end, Leapmotor's B03X and the smart #5 have been priced and are arriving now, and Mitsubishi has confirmed the ASX VR-e. Electric prices have also been falling: Audi, Hyundai and Polestar have cut prices this year and Tesla has added a cheaper Model 3, per our stories.
Our rule of thumb: buy now when you can charge at home, the car isn't changing, and the price is on the manufacturer's list or on an offer you can use before it ends. Wait when a car in the size you want is confirmed and close. Negotiate when an update is coming and the outgoing car is in stock.
“Confirmed” and “reported” aren't the same, and we keep them apart. Confirmed means the manufacturer has said it on its Australian site or in an Australian release. Reported means Australian motoring media have it, but the manufacturer hasn't put it on its own page.
CarSorted Manufacturer offer
BYD Australia has an offer on the Atto 1 until 15 December 2026
Offer from BYD Australia, checked 5 Nov 2026
The state of electric cars heading into 2027
The 295 rows split into 207 SUVs, 41 sedans, 24 hatches, 10 people movers, six utes, three wagons, two convertibles and two coupe-SUVs. Kia and Porsche have the most electric variants on our rows (19 each), then MG with 17, but the spread is the real story: 46 makes now sell an electric car here, 76 of the rows come from Chinese brands, and 242 of the 270 rows with a WLTP figure claim 400 km or more.
On safety, 181 of the 295 rows hold five stars from ANCAP on our record, 18 hold fewer and 96 hold no result. Our own launch stories say two of those five-star rows, the HiLux BEV and the electric MG U9, haven't been rated, so treat theirs as unconfirmed. A missing rating isn't a bad result. It's no data, and we won't borrow another model's stars to fill it. A batch of 2021 ratings, including the IONIQ 5, Enyaq and Mustang Mach-E, lapse at the end of 2027.
On tax, the rules work the same way as last year: a battery-electric car under the $91,661 fuel-efficient luxury car tax threshold can be FBT exempt, which is why novated leasing drives so many EV sales. The Budget proposal to change that is still a proposal.
How we picked
Prices. An RRP is before on-road costs; a drive-away price includes them. We never rank one against the other. RRP picks only use prices whose source on our row is the manufacturer's own configurator, price feed, list or release: 138 of the 295 rows. That's the same rule as our 2027 mid-size SUV guide and 2027 Chinese EV guide, so the guides agree. Rows without a named source appear in the tables but don't win a price pick.
Running costs. The same sum as our car pages: 15,600 km a year (300 km a week), the official energy figure and 30 cents a kWh at home. Range is the WLTP figure on our row.
Safety. We show the ANCAP result our row holds and its year. Where we hold none, we say ANCAP hasn't rated it or we have no data. Nothing here is called the safest (ANCAP explained).
CarSorted
Shortlisting already?
Compare any two side by side or see this month's manufacturer deals. Figures come from manufacturers' own published documents.
Cheapest electric car: BYD Atto 1 and Geely EX2
The Atto 1 Essential is $19,990 drive-away on a BYD offer that runs to 15 December 2026 (Atto 1 story), with five stars (2025) and 220 km of WLTP range, but only four seats. On a published RRP, the Geely EX2 Complete is $26,490 with five seats, 252 km and five stars (2026). For more range in a small hatch, the BYD Dolphin Essential is $28,888 drive-away on a BYD offer to 15 December (340 km on our row, five stars 2023), and the GAC Aion UT is $31,990 RRP with 430 km, five stars (2026) and an eight-year warranty.
Our take: the Atto 1 offer is remarkable value if four seats and a short range suit you. If not, the EX2 and Dolphin are the sensible small buys. Our 2027 Chinese EV guide goes deeper on these. Atto 1 vs Dolphin.
Buy now or wait? Buy before 15 December if you want either BYD offer. Hyundai has confirmed it won't bring the IONIQ 3 small hatch here (IONIQ 3 story), so don't hold out for it.
Best small electric SUV: Leapmotor B10 and Kia EV3
For price: Leapmotor B10, $37,888. The B10 Style is the cheapest five-star (2025) electric SUV on a published RRP, the same pick as our mid-size and Chinese EV guides, with a 490-litre boot and 361 km. The BYD Atto 2 is cheaper at $31,990 but ANCAP hasn't rated it on our record.
For running costs: Kia EV3, from $47,600. The EV3 Air Standard Range uses 12.5 kWh/100km on our row, about $585 a year or $11 a week at home, the lowest of any five-star electric SUV we list. It holds five stars (2025), 436 km, a 460-litre boot and Kia's seven-year warranty. The Long Range at $53,315 does 604 km. Also in this size: the Hyundai Inster ($37,500, four stars 2025) and Kona Electric (from $46,000, four stars 2023).
Our take: the B10 for the budget, the EV3 for the long haul; the gap is about $10,000 on RRP and the EV3 claws back roughly $220 a year in charging on our sums. B10 vs Atto 2. Our 2027 small SUV guide covers the petrol and hybrid alternatives.
Buy now or wait? Leapmotor has priced the smaller B03X at $26,990 before on-road costs (B03X story), Mitsubishi has confirmed the ASX VR-e and Toyota has confirmed the electric C-HR for mid-2027 (C-HR story). If you're not in a hurry, those are worth waiting to price.
Best electric sedan: Tesla Model 3, Kia EV4, BYD Seal
Why. Tesla added a new entry Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive at $45,900 before on-road costs, $9,000 under the Premium RWD, per our Model 3 story. It's the cheapest electric sedan on a published RRP on our rows, with 572 km WLTP and five stars (2025). Our base-grade story lists what it gives up against the Premium RWD ($54,900). The Model 3 Long Range at $61,900 is rated at 750 km.
The Kia EV4 Air is $49,990 with 456 km, a 490-litre boot, five stars (2025) and a seven-year warranty, and the EV4 Earth does 612 km for $59,190. The BYD Seal Premium is $52,990 with 570 km and five stars (2023).
Our take: the new base Model 3 resets the sedan price point. The EV4 is the one for the longer warranty. Seal vs Model 3 | Polestar 2 vs Model 3.
Buy now or wait? Buy now unless you want a premium badge: BMW has priced the electric i3 sedan from $96,900 for the first quarter of 2027 (i3 story), above the FBT threshold, and Mercedes-Benz lists an electric C-Class as coming (C-Class story).
Ways to buy
For the 4 cars on this page.
Compare 6Finance
From ≈$88/wk(≈$381/mo)
Estimate on the BYD Atto 1 at $23,990 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
Compare real car-loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Novated lease
Electric, with an RRP under the $91,661 fuel-efficient LCT threshold (2026-27): under the ATO's electric cars exemption a novated lease of an eligible electric car attracts no FBT if luxury car tax was never payable on it. The benefit is still reportable.
Lease the BYD Atto 1Best family electric SUV: Tesla Model Y, Leapmotor C10, Kia EV5
Why. The Model Y RWD is $58,900 on Tesla's list, with an 854-litre boot on our row, by far the biggest of any five-star (2025), five-seat electric SUV at or under $60,000 on a published RRP. It has 466 km, a 1,600 kg towing rating and costs about $651 a year to charge at home. The Long Range AWD has 600 km, and Tesla now lists the Performance at $84,900, $4,500 under our previous record (Model Y story).
For less: the Leapmotor C10 Design Long Range is $49,888 with 546 litres, 510 km and five stars (2024). The Kia EV5 Air is $56,770 with 513 litres and five stars (2024). The BYD Sealion 7 ($54,990, 500 litres), Toyota bZ4X ($55,990, 591 km, the cheapest to run of these at about $646 a year) and Zeekr 7X ($57,900, 539 litres) are all five-star too.
Our take: if the boot comes first, the Model Y is hard to beat at the price. The C10 is the value pick, and of these five the bZ4X has the longest range (591 km) and the smallest charging bill on our sums. Sealion 7 vs Model Y | EV5 vs Ariya | IONIQ 5 vs Model Y.
Buy now or wait? Buy now for most. smart has priced the #5 from $58,900 with deliveries from November (smart #5 story), and Lepas has priced the L6 at $47,990 MSRP, so add them to the list if you're shopping this month.
Longest range: BMW iX3, Tesla Model 3 Long Range
The BMW iX3 50 xDrive holds the longest WLTP range on our rows at 805 km, for $109,900 before on-road costs, with five stars (2026) under ANCAP's newest test rules. Under $80,000 on a published RRP, the Tesla Model 3 Long Range leads at 750 km for $61,900. At or under $60,000, the Renault Scenic E-Tech Long Range (625 km, $59,990), Kia EV4 Earth (612 km) and Kia EV3 Long Range (604 km) are the ones to beat. BMW also prices a rear-drive iX3 40 at $89,900, under the FBT threshold, per our iX3 40 story.
Cars in this story
7 cars
Price shown is each car's stored figure with its basis and check date. Images: Kia Australia, Tesla Australia.
See all BYD modelsReal-world range: WLTP vs highway vs cold
WLTP is the official lab test, a mix of urban and higher-speed driving. It's fair for comparing one car with another, but it isn't a promise. At a steady 110 km/h, aerodynamic drag climbs fast and electric cars typically use noticeably more energy than the WLTP figure implies. Cold mornings, the heater, a roof box, a full car or a trailer cut it further. A car rated at 500 km might comfortably do 380 to 420 km on a highway run in summer, and less in winter.
For everyday use it rarely matters: at 300 km a week, even a 250 km car only needs charging a couple of times a week at home. Range matters when you regularly drive between cities or can't charge at home. Our charging guide explains the options.
Charging speed and the charging network
On the peak DC figures our rows hold, the XPeng X9 (up to 542 kW), XPeng G6 Long Range (451 kW) and Zeekr 7X (450 kW) are the fastest-charging electric cars we list; the BMW iX3 is rated at 400 kW. At the other end, the Geely EX2 Complete peaks at 60 kW. A car's peak only counts if the charger can deliver it, and most Australian public DC chargers top out well below 350 kW, so for most buyers anything above about 150 kW makes little real difference. The charging curve, how long the car holds a high rate, matters more than the peak.
The public network keeps growing along highways and in regional towns, from several networks with their own apps and prices. Home charging on a standard tariff is still far cheaper per kWh than a public fast charger, and charging overnight or on solar is cheaper again. If you live in an apartment without a charger, test the public options near you before you buy.
Seven seats: XPeng X9, Kia EV9, Hyundai IONIQ 9
The XPeng X9 people mover is the cheapest electric car with six or more seats on a published RRP at $89,900, with 535 km and five stars (2026). Among seven-seat SUVs, the Kia EV9 Air is $97,000 (five stars 2023, 443 km), above the $91,661 threshold. The EV9 Earth AWD tows 2,500 kg. The Hyundai IONIQ 9 is rated at 600 km and 2,500 kg, from $113,205 on our rows, and the Volvo EX90 from $106,990. Our 2027 seven-seat hybrid and electric guide has the full comparison.
Buy now or wait? Lexus has confirmed the three-row TZ for 2027 with no price (TZ story), and the Kia PV5 Passenger is reported as approved for sale (PV5 story). Tesla's six-seat Model Y L is on sale from $74,900 per our Model Y L story, though we don't list it as a row yet.
Towing and electric utes
The highest towing ratings on our rows are 3,500 kg, for the Porsche Cayenne Electric (from $167,800) and the MG U9 EV dual-cab ute ($78,990 before on-road costs, on MG's figures). The Kia EV9 AWD, Hyundai IONIQ 9 and BMW iX are rated to 2,500 kg, and the Tesla Model Y to 1,600. Towing a heavy trailer can roughly halve range, and most fast-charging bays need the trailer unhitched.
Electric utes are still few: the KGM Musso EV from $60,000 drive-away (ANCAP hasn't rated it on our record), Toyota's HiLux BEV from $76,490 before on-road costs as a pick-up ($74,990 as a cab-chassis), for fleets (our HiLux BEV story has its towing cut to 1,600 kg and a 240 km WLTP range) and the MG U9 EV, whose launch story says the electric version hasn't been rated by ANCAP.
Check a 1,500 kg trailer against electric picks that publish their masses: the rig check compares the trailer with each car's tow rating, payload and gross combination mass.
Sitting out: the Tesla Model Y RWD (no kerb weight, GVM or GCM on record), the Kia EV9 Earth AWD (no kerb weight, GVM or GCM on record), the Hyundai IONIQ 9 Calligraphy AWD 7-Seat (no kerb weight, GVM or GCM on record) and the Leapmotor C10 Design Long Range BEV (no kerb weight, GVM or GCM on record).
Not enough rows hold the figures this tool needs, so it is not shown here.
FBT exemption: the buy-side maths
Under current law, an employer doesn't pay fringe benefits tax on a battery-electric car it provides for private use when the car meets the ATO's conditions, including a value for luxury car tax purposes at first sale under the fuel-efficient LCT threshold: $91,661 for 2026-27. Most people use it through a novated lease, where it can make an electric car much cheaper per week than its sticker suggests. Plug-in hybrids stopped qualifying from 1 April 2025, per the ATO. Our row prices are a guide only; the test is the car's LCT value, so ask your packaging provider.
On our rows, 194 of the 263 priced electric cars sit under $91,661, from the Atto 1 up to about $91,000 (the Lexus RZ 500e); the Model Y Performance at $84,900 is one of them. Several sit just above it, including the Kia EV9 Air ($97,000) and BMW's new i3 ($96,900). The 2026-27 Budget announced a change that would phase the full exemption down to a discount; it is a proposal, not law, and the ATO's own page says so. Our FBT-exempt cars guide has the detail.
Pick two
Any two of the picks, side by side
Tap two to compare price, energy use, range and safety.
| Spec | Geely EX2 | BYD Dolphin |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $26,490RRP, before on-roads | $29,990RRP, before on-roads |
| Fuel use | N/Abattery electric, no fuel figure | N/Abattery electric, no fuel figure |
| Driving range | 252 km | 340 km |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Braked towing | No data | No data |
| ANCAP | 5 starstested 2026 | 5 starstested 2023 |
| Warranty | 7 yrunlimited km | 6 yr150k km |
| Service interval | No data | 20,000 km |
Figures come from our car database, which is built from Australian manufacturer documents. A blank field reads “No data” rather than a zero or a dash.
Electric car comparison table
The picks and the main rivals, read live from each linked row. The figures update when the manufacturer's price or specification changes.
| Electric car | RRP | Drive-away | Energy use | Range (WLTP) | Boot | ANCAP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BYD Atto 1 Essential | $23,990 RRP | $19,990 drive-away (VIC) | 15.5 kWh/100km | 220km | 308L | 5 stars (2025) |
| Geely EX2 Complete | $26,490 RRP | no drive-away price on record | 15.9 kWh/100km | 252km | 375L | 5 stars (2026) |
| BYD Dolphin Essential | $29,990 RRP | $28,888 drive-away (VIC) | 15.2 kWh/100km | 340km | 345L | 5 stars (2023) |
| GAC Aion UT Premium | $31,990 RRP | no drive-away price on record | 16.4 kWh/100km | 430km | 321L | 5 stars (2026) |
| Leapmotor B10 Style | $37,888 RRP | no drive-away price on record | 17.2 kWh/100km | 361km | 490L | 5 stars (2025) |
| Hyundai Inster | $37,500 RRP | no drive-away price on record | 14.3 kWh/100km | 327km | 280L | 4 stars (2025) |
| Kia EV3 Air | $47,600 RRP | no drive-away price on record | 12.5 kWh/100km | 436km | 460L | 5 stars (2025) |
| Tesla Model 3 RWD | $45,900 RRP | no drive-away price on record | no data | 572km | no data | 5 stars (2025) |
| Kia EV4 Air | $49,990 RRP | $52,990 drive-away (VIC) | 14.3 kWh/100km | 456km | 490L | 5 stars (2025) |
| BYD Seal Premium | $52,990 RRP | no drive-away price on record | 14.6 kWh/100km | 570km | 400L | 5 stars (2023) |
| Leapmotor C10 Design LR | $49,888 RRP | no drive-away price on record | 16.5 kWh/100km | 510km | 546L | 5 stars (2024) |
| BYD Sealion 7 Premium | $54,990 RRP | no drive-away price on record | 19.9 kWh/100km | 482km | 500L | 5 stars (2025) |
| Toyota bZ4X FWD | $55,990 RRP | no drive-away price on record | 13.8 kWh/100km | 591km | 452L | 5 stars (2025) |
| Kia EV5 Air | $56,770 RRP | no drive-away price on record | 18.2 kWh/100km | 400km | 513L | 5 stars (2024) |
| Tesla Model Y RWD | $58,900 RRP | no drive-away price on record | 13.9 kWh/100km | 466km | 854L | 5 stars (2025) |
| Tesla Model 3 Long Range | $61,900 RRP | no drive-away price on record | 14.1 kWh/100km | 750km | 682L | 5 stars (2025) |
| Hyundai IONIQ 5 RWD | $68,200 RRP | no drive-away price on record | 16 kWh/100km | 570km | 520L | 5 stars (2021) |
| XPeng X9 Standard Range | $89,900 RRP | no drive-away price on record | 20.2 kWh/100km | 535km | 721L | 5 stars (2026) |
| Kia EV9 Air | $97,000 RRP | no drive-away price on record | 19.5 kWh/100km | 443km | 333L | 5 stars (2023) |
| BMW iX3 50 xDrive | $109,900 RRP | no drive-away price on record | 15.1 kWh/100km | 805km | 520L | 5 stars (2026) |
“No data” means our row doesn't hold the figure yet, not that the car lacks it.
Running costs: electric vs hybrid vs petrol, per week
Energy only, on our arithmetic from each row on 13 November 2026: 15,600 km a year, the official figure, 30 cents a kWh at home, and $1.95 or $2.10 a litre for the three reference cars at the bottom.
| Car | Type | Price | Energy or fuel | A year (est.) | A week (est.) | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BYD Atto 1 Essential | Electric | $23,990 RRP | 15.5 kWh/100km | $725 | $14 | 6yr / 150,000 km |
| Geely EX2 Complete | Electric | $26,490 RRP | 15.9 kWh/100km | $744 | $14 | 7yr / unlimited km |
| BYD Dolphin Essential | Electric | $29,990 RRP | 15.2 kWh/100km | $711 | $14 | 6yr / 150,000 km |
| GAC Aion UT Premium | Electric | $31,990 RRP | 16.4 kWh/100km | $768 | $15 | 8yr / unlimited km |
| Leapmotor B10 Style | Electric | $37,888 RRP | 17.2 kWh/100km | $805 | $15 | 6yr / 150,000 km |
| Kia EV3 Air Standard Range | Electric | $47,600 RRP | 12.5 kWh/100km | $585 | $11 | 7yr / unlimited km |
| Hyundai Inster | Electric | $37,500 RRP | 14.3 kWh/100km | $669 | $13 | 5yr / unlimited km |
| Tesla Model 3 Premium RWD | Electric | $54,900 RRP | 13.8 kWh/100km | $646 | $12 | 5yr / unlimited km |
| Kia EV4 Air | Electric | $49,990 RRP | 14.3 kWh/100km | $669 | $13 | 7yr / unlimited km |
| BYD Seal Premium | Electric | $52,990 RRP | 14.6 kWh/100km | $683 | $13 | 6yr / 150,000 km |
| Tesla Model Y RWD | Electric | $58,900 RRP | 13.9 kWh/100km | $651 | $13 | 5yr / unlimited km |
| Kia EV5 Air | Electric | $56,770 RRP | 18.2 kWh/100km | $852 | $16 | 7yr / unlimited km |
| Toyota bZ4X FWD | Electric | $55,990 RRP | 13.8 kWh/100km | $646 | $12 | 5yr / unlimited km |
| BYD Sealion 7 Premium | Electric | $54,990 RRP | 19.9 kWh/100km | $931 | $18 | 6yr / 150,000 km |
| Leapmotor C10 Design LR | Electric | $49,888 RRP | 16.5 kWh/100km | $772 | $15 | 6yr / 150,000 km |
| Zeekr 7X RWD | Electric | $57,900 RRP | 17 kWh/100km | $796 | $15 | 5yr / unlimited km |
| Tesla Model 3 Long Range | Electric | $61,900 RRP | 14.1 kWh/100km | $660 | $13 | 5yr / unlimited km |
| BMW iX3 50 xDrive | Electric | $109,900 RRP | 15.1 kWh/100km | $707 | $14 | 5yr / unlimited km |
| XPeng X9 Standard Range | Electric | $89,900 RRP | 20.2 kWh/100km | $945 | $18 | 7yr / unlimited km |
| Kia EV9 Air | Electric | $97,000 RRP | 19.5 kWh/100km | $913 | $18 | 7yr / unlimited km |
| Hyundai IONIQ 9 Calligraphy | Electric | $113,205 RRP | 20.6 kWh/100km | $964 | $19 | 5yr / unlimited km |
| KGM Musso EV 2WD | Electric ute | $60,000 drive-away (VIC) | 23 kWh/100km | $1,076 | $21 | 7yr / unlimited km |
| Toyota HiLux BEV SR | Electric ute | $76,490 RRP | 20.2 kWh/100km | $945 | $18 | 5yr / unlimited km |
| MG ZS Vibe (petrol) | Petrol | $22,990 RRP | 6.7 L/100km | $2,038 | $39 | 10yr / 250,000 km |
| Toyota Corolla Cross GX (hybrid) | Hybrid | $37,440 RRP | 4.2 L/100km | $1,278 | $25 | 5yr / unlimited km |
| Toyota RAV4 GX Hybrid (hybrid) | Hybrid | $45,990 RRP | 4.5 L/100km | $1,474 (95 RON) | $28 | 5yr / unlimited km |
The pattern: electric passenger cars here cost about $11 to $19 a week to charge at home on our sums, against $25 to $28 for the two hybrids and $39 for the petrol ZS. The utes cost more, at $18 to $21. A Kia EV3 saves about $14 a week over a Corolla Cross Hybrid, roughly $690 a year, but costs about $10,000 more on RRP, so on energy alone it takes many years to pay back. Buy an EV because it suits how you drive and charge, and price the novated lease if you can use one.
On warranty, MG offers 10 years or 250,000 km on its MG4, MGS5 and S6 rows; GAC and Jaecoo eight years; Kia, Chery, GWM, Geely and KGM seven; BYD and Leapmotor six years or 150,000 km; and Tesla, Toyota, Hyundai, BMW and most European brands five. Battery warranties are usually separate and often longer.
Weekly fuel cost at a glance
Put in your own week: commute, school run, weekend trips. The calculator prices the same driving in the EV3, Model Y, Model 3 and B10. Cars without the figure it needs sit out rather than run on a made-up one.
Sitting out: the Tesla Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive (no energy-use figure on record).
- Kia EV3 Air Standard Range
$357 a year, rated 125 Wh/km (stored figure)
$7 a week
Lowest - Tesla Model Y RWD
$397 a year, rated 13.9 kWh/100km (stored figure)
$8 a week
- Leapmotor B10 Style BEV
$491 a year, rated 17.2 kWh/100km (stored figure)
$9 a week
Assumes 20 km each way, 10 trips a week, mild weather and the official combined road mix; unleaded at $1.95/L, home charging at 27c/kWh (VIC reference price (Victorian Default Offer, Jemena flat rate (the middle of the five Victorian zones, 25.96c to 31.98c))). Plug-in hybrids are costed with the battery not charged. Fuel only.
Repayments at a glance
What three of the picks cost a week on finance. The rate and term are assumptions you can change, not a quote or advice, and a novated lease works differently.
- Leapmotor B10 Style BEV
$37,888 RRP, ≈$152 a week
≈$659/mo
Lowest - Tesla Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive
$45,900 RRP, ≈$189 a week
≈$820/mo
- Tesla Model Y RWD
$58,900 RRP, ≈$249 a week
≈$1,080/mo
Assumes $5,000 deposit over 5 years at an assumed 7.5% p.a. Estimate only, not an offer of credit or a quote; your rate and repayments will differ.
Estimates only. Based on standard assumptions. Not financial advice. Individual results vary.
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
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Budget bands: what your money buys
Here's how the set splits by price. We use the manufacturer's RRP where its source is named, otherwise the drive-away figure, so each band mixes the two bases. 32 rows hold no price and sit outside the bands.
| Budget | Rows | Nameplates | Five-star rows | Where to start |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under $30,000 | 5 | 4 | 5 | Atto 1, EX2, Dolphin |
| $30,000 to $40,000 | 21 | 16 | 13 | Aion UT, B10, Inster, Atto 2 |
| $40,000 to $50,000 | 29 | 22 | 20 | EV3, Model 3, EV4, C10, Aion V |
| $50,000 to $60,000 | 40 | 33 | 29 | Model Y, EV5, Sealion 7, bZ4X, Seal |
| $60,000 to $80,000 | 72 | 47 | 60 | Model 3 LR, IONIQ 5, Zeekr 7X |
| $80,000 to $91,661 | 27 | 25 | 18 | Model Y Performance, X9 |
| Over $91,661 | 69 | 37 | 32 | EV9, IONIQ 9, iX3 |
Brand by brand: where each one wins
Tesla wins on sedan price (the $45,900 Model 3) and family boot space (Model Y). Kia has a five-star range from the EV3 to the EV9, with a seven-year warranty and the lowest running costs in small SUVs. BYD owns the cheap end with the Atto 1 and Dolphin offers. Geely, Leapmotor and GAC undercut on RRP with five-star cars and long warranties. Hyundai has the IONIQ 5, whose 2021 rating lapses at the end of 2027, and the IONIQ 9. BMW has the longest range with the iX3. Toyota has the efficient bZ4X now and the electric C-HR next year. Our Chinese EV guide covers the Chinese brands in more depth.
Who should buy what
- Second car, short trips: Atto 1 on its offer, or the five-seat EX2.
- First electric SUV on a budget: Leapmotor B10.
- Lowest running costs in a five-star SUV: Kia EV3.
- Commuter sedan: Model 3 RWD or Kia EV4.
- Family with a pram: Model Y RWD or Leapmotor C10.
- Long country drives: Model 3 Long Range.
- Seven seats and a caravan: Kia EV9 AWD, 2,500 kg.
- Novated lease: anything here under $91,661 that suits you; ask for the LCT value.
The safety calendar: ratings that lapse
ANCAP ratings run for six years, then lapse unless the car is retested. Our records show 2021 ratings running to 31 December 2027 on the Hyundai IONIQ 5, Skoda Enyaq, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Audi Q4 e-tron, Polestar 2, BMW iX, Genesis Electrified GV70 and Fiat 500e, and the Genesis Electrified G80's to the end of 2026.
Below five stars on our rows: four for the Hyundai Kona Electric (2023), Inster (2025), Suzuki e Vitara (2025), CUPRA Tavascan (2024), BMW i4 (2022) and Fiat 500e (2021), and three for the Jeep Avenger (2024). ANCAP hasn't rated, or we hold no result for, 96 rows, including the BYD Atto 2, KGM Musso EV and much of the Porsche range.
Our take: between two otherwise equal cars, the one rated in 2025 or 2026 has passed a tougher test than one rated in 2021. That's a fair tiebreaker for a car you'll keep for years.
What's coming for electric cars through 2027
Confirmed means the manufacturer has said it on its own Australian site or in an Australian release. Reported means it's in Australian motoring media but not yet on the manufacturer's own pages. None of these is in the picks above.
| Coming | Type | Timing and price, as stated | Status and source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota C-HR (electric) | Small SUV, over 500 km targeted | Mid-2027; no price | Confirmed (Toyota Australia), our story |
| BMW i3 sedan | Sedan | First quarter of 2027; from $96,900 | Confirmed (BMW Australia), our story |
| Mercedes-Benz C-Class Electric | Sedan | Orders open; $105,700 before on-roads reported; early 2027 arrivals reported | Listed by Mercedes-Benz Australia; timing reported, our story |
| Mercedes-Benz GLA Electric | Small SUV | No price or date | Marked coming soon by Mercedes-Benz Australia, our story |
| Lexus TZ | Three-row SUV | 2027; no price | Confirmed (Lexus Australia), our story |
| Mitsubishi ASX VR-e | Small SUV | Fourth quarter of 2026 stated; no price | Confirmed (Mitsubishi Motors Australia), our story |
| Leapmotor B03X | Small SUV | From $26,990 RRP; dealers from November | Confirmed (Leapmotor Australia), our story |
| smart #5 | Mid-size SUV | From $58,900 RRP; deliveries from November 2026 | Confirmed (smart Australia), our story |
| Kia PV5 Passenger | Seven-seat people mover | Fourth quarter of 2026 reported; no price | Reported, our story |
| Volvo EX40 (update) | Small SUV | 2027; no price | On Volvo Australia's site; timing reported, our story |
Already here and new since the 2026 guide: the BMW iX3, the $45,900 Model 3 RWD, the Kia EV4 and the Geely EX2. Now ordering, with deliveries in 2027: the updated Renault Megane E-Tech (Megane story) and Audi's cheaper MY27 Q4 e-tron, priced under the FBT threshold (Q4 story). For every body type, see 2027 new cars month by month.
What could change these picks
BYD's Atto 1 and Dolphin offers end on 15 December 2026. When the B03X and smart #5 move to on sale in our directory, the B03X would become the cheapest electric SUV on a published RRP. The electric C-HR's price could reshuffle the small-SUV picks in mid-2027. The 2021 ratings above lapse at the end of 2027. And if the FBT proposal becomes law, the novated-lease maths for cars over $75,000 changes. We'll update this guide when any of these happen, or when a price we quote changes.
Where our listings and the manufacturers disagree
We show what our rows hold and say where we know a manufacturer has moved on. Zeekr now lists the MY27 7X with more power and up to 627 km; our rows still hold the earlier figures. Toyota's HiLux BEV towing figure on our row is higher than the 1,600 kg in our launch story. Tesla's Model Y L and BMW's iX3 40 are on sale or priced but not yet rows. If you see a figure that's out of date, the manufacturer's current price list wins.
Browse the electric cars on CarSorted
The picks above are a starting point. Also in the set, from the variant linked: Hyundai IONIQ 5, Volkswagen ID.4, Skoda Enyaq, Elroq, Volvo EX30, Polestar 2, Audi Q4 e-tron, Nissan ARIYA, GAC Aion V, XPeng G6, Zeekr X, smart #1, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Mercedes-Benz CLA and Volvo EX90. Search the directory to filter all of them by price, range and body.
How to choose an electric car: six checks
- Sort out charging before anything else. Home or work charging makes an EV cheap to run.
- Buy the range you need, not the headline number. Count your furthest regular trip and add a margin for highway speed and winter.
- Check the ANCAP year, or whether there is one. Several 2021 ratings lapse at the end of 2027.
- Compare on one price basis. Get a drive-away quote, and a novated-lease quote if you can use one.
- Read the warranty terms. Vehicle and battery warranties differ in years and kilometres.
- Drive the shortlist. The figures narrow it down; a test drive tells you about the seats, the ride and the software.
Keep reading
Head-to-heads: Sealion 7 vs Model Y | Seal vs Model 3 | IONIQ 5 vs Model Y | IONIQ 5 vs EV6 | IONIQ 9 vs EV9 | EV9 vs EX90 | G6 vs Model Y | B10 vs Atto 2
The brands: Tesla | Kia | BYD | Hyundai | Geely | Leapmotor | Toyota | BMW | MG | XPeng | Volvo | Polestar
More guides: Best Electric Cars (2026) | Best Chinese Electric Cars (2027) | Best Small SUVs (2027) | Best Mid-Size SUVs (2027) | Best 7-Seater Hybrid and Electric SUVs (2027) | Best Electric Utes (2027)
Compare what's on sale now
Head-to-heads with the cars this story is about and their closest rivals on sale now, plus the buying guides that cover them.
- Kia EV3 vs Tesla Model 3
- BYD Atto 1 vs BYD Dolphin
- Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class vs Tesla Model 3
- Tesla Model Y vs BYD Sealion 7
- Tesla Model Y vs Kia EV5
- Kia EV3 vs Hyundai Kona Electric
- Tesla Model Y vs Zeekr 7X
- Kia EV3 vs Geely EX5
Buying guides
- Best Electric SUVs in Australia 2026
- Best 7-Seater Hybrid & Electric SUVs Australia 2027: Buy or Wait?
- Best Electric Luxury SUV Australia 2026
- Best Plug-in Hybrid SUVs in Australia 2027: One Winner Per Question
Or pick any two cars on our compare page, or browse the full car directory.
Shopping for an EV now?
The facts, side by side. Your decision.
Disclaimer: Figures are from the manufacturers' Australian documents as held in the CarSorted directory on 13 November 2026, with prices on the basis stated beside them. Electricity and fuel estimates are our arithmetic on official figures, not your real-world use. Campaign prices change and have end dates. Tax figures are the ATO's for 2026-27 and change each financial year. Timing for coming models is as the manufacturer or Australian media stated it, and can slip. ANCAP results are shown as our rows hold them, with their year. This is general information, not tax or financial advice. Confirm price and specification with the dealer before you buy.
