If you're searching "electric car reviews," you're after a straight read on which EVs are actually worth buying in Australia today, what they cost, and how far they really go. So here it is: the affordable end of the EV market has exploded, and the sweet spot right now sits between about $24,000 and $43,000 before on-road costs. In that band you've got real 400km-plus range options, genuine five-seat family SUVs, and tiny city runabouts that cost less than a mid-spec petrol hatch. Below I've gone through 28 EVs on sale, drawn from our own database, and sorted them by who they actually suit. Each figure is read from the row for that grade, last checked on 5 November 2026.
A quick note before we start: 17 of the 28 prices below are RRP, which is before on-road costs, so add rego, stamp duty and dealer delivery on top (usually a few grand). The exceptions are the GWM ORA models, GAC Aion UT, Chery E5, Leapmotor B05 and MG MG4 Essence 64, whose brands list a drive-away price (the MG4 Urban Essence 54 has no price basis in our data). The drive-away prices already include on-road costs, so don't compare them one-to-one with an RRP.
The longest range under $45k
If range is what you're shopping on, the $42,590 GAC Aion V Premium is the standout. It's a five-seat SUV with 150kW and a 510km EV range, the longest figure of any EV we list under $45k. That matters more than it sounds: 510km on paper usually means a genuine 400km-plus in the real world, so you're charging once a week at most if you're a typical commuter. ANCAP 5 safety too.
If you want similar space but a bit less money, the Geely EX5 Complete at $41,990 gives you 160kW, a 475km range and five seats. It undercuts the Aion V slightly and still clears the 450km mark, which puts it ahead of the cheaper SUVs here, none of which is listed above 435km. Both of these are the EVs I'd point a family at if range anxiety is the thing stopping you buying electric.
The cheapest EV for the city
- BYD Atto 1 Essential | $23,990 | 4 seats | 65kW | 220km range | ANCAP 5
This is the cheapest EV in our data, $2,500 under the next one, and for a second car or a city-only runabout it makes a lot of sense. The catch is honest: it's a four-seater with just 220km of range and only 65kW, so it's slow and short-legged. Step up to the BYD Atto 1 Premium at $27,990 and you get 115kW and a far more usable 310km range, which is the version I'd actually buy.
The Geely EX2 Complete at $26,490 is another genuinely cheap option, a five-seat hatch with 252km range and rear-wheel drive. Its sibling, the Geely EX2 Inspire at $30,990, bumps that to 85kW and 345km, which is a much better all-rounder for not a lot more.
For small families who want a hatch and more range for the money, the BYD Dolphin Essential at $29,990 gives you five seats and 340km under $30k, and that's hard to argue with. The BYD Dolphin Premium at $36,990 lifts power to 150kW and range to 427km if you want the quicker, longer-legged version.
Small electric SUVs
This is where the market is thickest, so there's real choice.
- GWM ORA 5 Lux | $30,900 | 5 seats | 150kW | 435km range | tows 750kg
- GWM ORA 5 Ultra | $33,650 | 5 seats | 150kW | 435km range | tows 750kg
- Chery E5 Ultimate | $34,550 | 5 seats | 155kW | 430km range | ANCAP 5
- Jaecoo J5 EV Summit | $35,990 | 5 seats | 155kW | 402km range | tows 1250kg
- BYD Atto 3 Essential | $39,990 | 5 seats | 150kW | 345km range | tows 750kg | ANCAP 5
The GWM ORA 5 Lux is the pick for value here. $30,900 for a five-seat SUV with 150kW, 435km range and a 750kg tow rating is genuinely strong, and it is cheaper than the other four SUVs in that list. If you tow anything at all, the Jaecoo J5 EV Summit is worth a look because it's rated to 1250kg, the highest braked tow figure on this entire list, though its 402km range is a touch behind the ORA.
The BYD Atto 3 Essential at $39,990 is the familiar name here, and it's a solid, proven family EV. But be clear-eyed: its 345km range is noticeably shorter than the cheaper ORA 5 and Chery E5. You're partly paying for the brand's reputation and dealer network. The newer BYD Atto 3 EVO Dynamic at $41,990 stretches range to 420km, which is the version I'd choose if you're set on an Atto 3.
The BYD Atto 2 Dynamic at $31,990 and BYD Atto 2 Premium at $35,990 slot in below the Atto 3 as smaller SUVs, both with 130kW and 345km range. They're fine, but for the money the ORA 5 and Chery E5 give you more range and power.
Cars in this story
7 cars
Price shown is each car's stored figure with its basis and check date. Images: GAC Australia.
See all BYD modelsRear-wheel-drive hatches: MG4 and Leapmotor B05
- MG MG4 Essence 64 | $39,990 | 5 seats | 140kW | 452km range | tows 500kg | RWD
- Leapmotor B05 Design LR | $35,990 | 5 seats | 160kW | 482km range | RWD
The MG MG4 Essence 64 is rear-wheel drive with 140kW and a strong 452km range, at $39,990 drive-away. We haven't driven it, so we can't tell you how it handles; book a test drive before you commit. The cheaper MG MG4 Urban Essence 54 at $32,990 has 118kW and a 405km range, so if range matters, the Essence 64 is the longer-legged of the two.
The surprise value play is the Leapmotor B05 Design LR. At $35,990 drive-away you get 160kW, rear-wheel drive and a 482km range, which is the second-longest figure in this guide, on a hatch that costs $4,000 less than the MG4 Essence 64. The cheaper Leapmotor B05 Style is the same price but a shorter 401km range, so the Design LR is the obvious pick of the two.
The rest worth knowing about
- GAC Aion UT Premium | $31,990 | 5 seats | 150kW | 430km range
- GAC Aion UT Luxury | $35,990 | 5 seats | 150kW | 430km range
- Leapmotor B10 Style BEV | $37,888 | 5 seats | 160kW | 361km range
- Leapmotor B10 Design LR BEV | $40,888 | 5 seats | 160kW | 434km range
- Hyundai Inster Standard Range | $37,500 | 5 seats | 71.1kW | 327km | ANCAP 4
- Hyundai Inster Extended Range | $42,500 | 5 seats | 84kW | 360km | ANCAP 4
The GAC Aion UT Premium deserves a mention: 430km range and 150kW in a five-seat hatch for $31,990 is excellent value, basically ORA 5 range in a smaller, cheaper body.
The Hyundai Inster comes from Hyundai, a brand with a long Australian history, which some buyers will pay for. But be honest about the trade-offs: it's ANCAP 4 not 5, the Standard Range does just 327km on 71.1kW, and even the Extended Range at $42,500 only manages 360km. You're paying Hyundai money for less range than Chinese rivals thousands cheaper. The counter-argument is dealer coverage, resale and a known quantity, and for some people that's worth it.
How to choose
Start with range, because it's the one spec you can't fix later. If you only drive around town and charge at home, anything from 220km (the Atto 1) up is fine. If you do regular longer trips or want to charge once a week, aim for 450km or more, which brings in the GAC Aion V, Geely EX5, Leapmotor B05 Design LR and MG MG4 Essence 64.
Then think about body and seats. The BYD Atto 1 is a four-seater, so rule it out if you ever carry three in the back. The rest of the list is five-seat where we hold a seat count, but boot space varies a lot between the little hatches and the proper SUVs like the Aion V and Atto 3.
On running costs, EVs win on fuel and servicing, that's the whole pitch. But watch the hidden stuff: home charging usually costs less than public DC fast charging, which adds up fast, and insurance on some newer Chinese brands can be higher than you'd expect. Get quotes before you commit. Also check how long the brand has been here and where your nearest service centre is, because the newest names (Geely, Leapmotor, GAC, Jaecoo) are still building their networks.
My short answer if you want one: the GWM ORA 5 Lux is the cheapest electric SUV on this list and still has a 435km range, the GAC Aion V Premium is the pick if range is your priority, and the MG MG4 Essence 64 is the rear-wheel-drive option, one to test drive for yourself.