If you're searching "electric car reviews" you probably want the straight answer on which EVs are actually worth buying right now, what they cost, and how far they go before you're hunting for a charger. So here it is: Australia's cheap-EV market has exploded, and you can now get into a brand-new electric car from $23,990 before on-road costs. The sweet spot for most buyers sits around $30,000 to $42,000, where you get a proper 400km-plus range, a 5-star ANCAP rating and enough space for a family. Below I've gone through 28 real on-sale EVs in CarSorted's database, sorted out which ones are genuinely good buys, and flagged the ones with catches you need to know about before you sign.
Every price here is RRP (before on-road costs) unless I say otherwise, and every spec comes straight from our data.
The cheapest way into a brand-new EV
If budget is the whole story, the BYD Atto 1 Essential is the cheapest new electric car in the country at $23,990 before on-road costs. It's a small hatch with 65kW, a 4-seat layout and 220km of EV range. That range number is the honest catch: 220km is fine for a city runabout and a second car, but it's not a do-everything car. If you only ever drive around town and charge at home overnight, it's brilliant value and it carries a 5-star ANCAP rating.
Spend a bit more on the BYD Atto 1 Premium at $27,990 and you jump to 115kW and 310km of range. That extra 90km makes a real difference to how often you're thinking about charging, and for under $28k that's a genuinely useful little car. Still only 4 seats, though, so a family of five is out.
The other sub-$30k option worth a look is the Geely EX2 Complete at $26,490. It's a rear-wheel-drive sedan with 60kW and 252km range, 5-star ANCAP. It's modest on power, but RWD in this price bracket is unusual and it's a tidy commuter.
The best value picks ($30k to $38k)
This is where most people should be shopping. You get real range, 5 seats and modern safety without stepping into premium money.
- BYD Dolphin Essential | $29,990 | 5 seats, 70kW, 340km range, ANCAP 5. The Dolphin is roomier than the Atto 1 and the base model sneaks under $30k. 70kW is leisurely but adequate around town.
- GWM ORA 5 Lux | $30,900 | SUV, 150kW, 435km range, tows 750kg, 5 seats. One of the standout numbers in this list: 435km range and 150kW for just over $30k, plus it can actually tow a small trailer. Strong all-rounder.
- GAC Aion UT Premium | $31,990 | 5 seats, 150kW, 430km range. Same money as the ORA Lux hatch but with 430km range, this is a lot of EV for the price.
- BYD Atto 2 Dynamic | $31,990 | SUV, 130kW, 345km range, 5 seats. A compact SUV body on a hatch budget. Range is modest for an SUV but the practicality is there.
- MG MG4 Urban Essence 54 | $32,990 | 118kW, ANCAP 5. The MG4 is one of the better-driving cars in the segment and the badge is well established here.
- Leapmotor B05 Design LR | $35,990 | 5 seats, 160kW, 482km range, ANCAP 5, RWD. That 482km is the longest range in this whole bracket, and it's rear-wheel drive, which usually means a nicer drive. Standout value.
- BYD Dolphin Premium | $36,990 | 5 seats, 150kW, 427km range, ANCAP 5. The Dolphin done properly: real power, 427km range, 5-star safety.
The Leapmotor B05 Design LR is the one I'd point most people at in this bracket. 482km of range for $35,990 before on-roads is the best range-per-dollar on this list, and RWD tends to feel more planted than the front-drive crowd. Its sister car, the Leapmotor B05 Style, is the same money but 401km range, so you may as well grab the longer-range version for the same price.
The $38k to $43k bracket: more range, more space
Once you're past $38k the SUVs get bigger and the range numbers get serious.
- MG MG4 Essence 64 | $39,990 | 140kW, 435km range, RWD, tows 500kg, ANCAP 5. The MG4 in its best spec: 435km range, rear-wheel drive, light towing ability.
- BYD Atto 3 Essential | $39,990 | SUV, 150kW, 345km range, tows 750kg, ANCAP 5. The Atto 3 is the family-SUV default for a lot of Aussie buyers. The range is only 345km, which is on the short side for a $40k SUV, so keep that in mind.
- BYD Atto 3 EVO Dynamic | $41,990 | SUV, 150kW, 420km range, tows 750kg. The updated Atto 3 fixes the range problem, bumping it to 420km for $2,000 more. If you're set on an Atto 3, this is the one to get.
- Geely EX5 Complete | $41,990 | SUV, 160kW, 475km range, ANCAP 5. 475km range in a proper 5-seat SUV at under $42k is excellent, and the EX5 has been getting good feedback since launch.
- GAC Aion V Premium | $42,590 | SUV, 150kW, 510km range, ANCAP 5. The longest range on this entire list at 510km. If range anxiety is your main worry, this is the answer in the affordable bracket.
- Hyundai Inster Extended Range | $42,500 | SUV, 84kW, 360km range, ANCAP 4. The Hyundai badge and dealer network are the draw here. But be honest with yourself: 84kW is low, the range is only 360km, and it carries a 4-star ANCAP rating rather than 5. You're paying a premium for the brand.
How to choose the right EV for you
Start with range, but be realistic. The temptation is to buy the biggest range you can afford. In practice, most Australians drive under 50km a day, so a 300km-plus car charged at home is plenty for daily life. Range only becomes critical if you do regular long highway trips, in which case the GAC Aion V Premium (510km), Leapmotor B05 Design LR (482km) and Geely EX5 Complete (475km) are your best-value picks. Don't overpay for range you'll never use.
Charging is the real cost question. The whole value proposition of an EV lives or dies on whether you can charge at home. If you've got off-street parking and a power point, you'll run these cars for a fraction of petrol costs. If you're relying on public DC chargers, your running costs climb a lot and the saving over a cheap petrol car shrinks. Work this out before you buy, not after.
Watch the safety ratings. Most cars here are ANCAP 5-star. The two Hyundai Inster variants, the Standard Range and Extended Range, are ANCAP 4-star. That's not unsafe, but when a $30k Geely or BYD beside it scores 5 stars, it's worth asking what you're paying extra for.
Think about the body you actually need. Hatches like the BYD Dolphin Premium and MG MG4 Essence 64 are cheaper, drive better and are easier to park. SUVs like the Geely EX5 and BYD Atto 3 EVO give you a higher seating position and more boot. You usually pay a few grand extra for the SUV shape, so only buy it if you'll use the space.
Towing matters for some. Most of these EVs tow nothing. If you need to pull even a small trailer or box trailer, your options are the Jaecoo J5 EV Summit (1,250kg, the best tow rating here at $35,990), the BYD Atto 3 pair (750kg) or the GWM ORA 5 models (750kg).
The brand-and-dealer factor. The newer Chinese brands, Leapmotor, GAC, Geely, Chery, offer the sharpest value, and the tech is genuinely good. The trade-off is a shorter track record in Australia and a thinner dealer network than Hyundai, MG or BYD. If resale certainty and a dealer on every corner matter to you, that's worth factoring in even if you pay a bit more.
My short list
If you want one recommendation from each price tier: the BYD Atto 1 Premium at $27,990 for a cheap city car, the Leapmotor B05 Design LR at $35,990 for best all-round value, and the GAC Aion V Premium at $42,590 if range is your priority. All three represent genuinely good buying in today's market.