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It’s fair to say that 2026 is the year that electric vehicles (EV) emerged from the fringes and into the mainstream in Australia.
Though driven by surging oil prices amid political turmoil and economic uncertainty, the vehicles themselves are improving, with more choice, lower prices and better range.
With all bar one coming from China, here are the cheapest EVs across several popular categories.
Chinese EVs with prices near or at Japanese petrol-powered urban hatches.
BYD Atto 1 Essential
From $23,990 before on-road costs/$26,688 drive-away
A striking four-seater city-sized hatch, Australia’s cheapest EV is a stunningly affordable, lively runabout with a minimalist yet well-equipped interior, cushy ride, easy manoeuvrability and a deep boot.
But its charm is challenged by clammy vinyl-like seats that look better than they support, a distractingly fiddly touchscreen when accessing basic vehicle functions and zippy handling that turns nervous at higher speeds.
Plus, the advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) are annoyingly intrusive, underlining a clear lack of Australian-road tuning. No spare wheel, either, unfortunately.
The 65kW/175Nm Essential’s 30kWh battery provides a doable 220km of range (all values are WLTP) with fast-recharging capability, while the 115kW/220Nm Premium’s 43.2kWh upgrade ups that to 310km while adding more muscle and features.
But the latter’s $4000, ahem, premium puts it too close to BYD’s larger and better-resolved Dolphin from $29,990, undermining its value. Still, we admire the Atto 1’s moxie.
Geely EX2 Complete
From $26,490 before ORC/$29,513 drive-away
China’s best-selling vehicle, period, the Toyota Yaris-sized (yet cheaper) EX2 is something genuinely fresh.
Almost unbelievably, this is a shrunken EX5 mid-sized SUV underneath, employing the same sophisticated rear-drive platform with independent rear suspension – a rarity in this segment.
The EX2’s airy interior is spacious and feels premium, emphasising luxury equipment, lots of storage and two sizeable cargo areas. But the heavy touchscreen reliance and no spare wheel may put buyers off.
The 60kW/150Nm Complete lives up to its name, with a 35.5kWh battery providing a sufficient 252km of range. Whether the 345km offered by the 47.1kWh battery in the more powerful (at 85kW) Inspire is worth a $4500 price hike remains to be seen.
Light and nimble around town, the EX2’s chassis set-up and ADAS tune have been altered to better-suit European and Australian consumer tastes. We can’t wait to drive it on local roads.
MG4 Urban Essence 43
From $31,990 drive-away
The MG4 Urban is a different car to the similarly sized MG4 Hatch that continues as a sportier and more-premium rear-drive EV proposition.
It’s also only narrowly more expensive than the smaller EX2, it follows the bigger-is-better principal: bigger packaging, bigger features, bigger outputs.
Underneath the Essence 43 is a 43kWh battery powering a 110kW/250Nm electric motor driving the front wheels, for a 316km range. The 118kW Essence 54’s 54kWh battery ups that to a handier 405km, for $3000 more.
Inside, all Urbans score highly for space and standard equipment, with a 12.8-inch touchscreen, while bringing back (some) buttons for the climate controls and other oft-used vehicle functions.
Enjoyable and relaxing to drive, sour notes include a firm ride around town, some ADAS interference and no spare wheel. Otherwise, the MG4 Urban is a remarkably complete cheap EV.
China leads again, this time for low-priced small SUV EVs.
GWM Ora 5 Lux
From $33,990 drive-away
Currently Australia’s cheapest EV SUV, the Ora 5 is usefully larger than the similar Ora hatch that’s since been discontinued.
Keen to make a splash, the front-drive Lux includes a gutsy, 150kW/260Nm motor and big 58.3kWh battery, offering about 370km of range.
There are also plenty of gadgets to play with, while the $36,990 Ultra gets artificial leather and a glass roof.
Although interior space is sufficient, rear-seat room is limited and boot capacity is tight, partly due to the welcome inclusion of a spare wheel, as a result of feedback from Australia.
GWM also now tunes its vehicles locally to steer and ride better than most Chinese alternatives, with the ADAS tech being noticeably less irritating. But cheap tyres struggle on our wet roads.
Backed up by a generous warranty and low servicing costs, the Ora 5 is a more serious EV proposition than its twee styling suggests.
BYD Atto 2 Dynamic
From $31,990 before ORC/$35,330 drive-away
It’s easy to see why the BYD Atto 2 is resonating with Australians.
Handsomely boxy, it looks good inside and out, with unimpeded entry into a large and bright interior offering a simple, intuitive dash layout. Thankfully, the interface includes buttons as well as the mandatory touchscreen access.
Ample storage, commanding vision, a practical second-row presentation and a generous cargo area are further bonuses. The Atto 2 seems like it was designed from the inside-out. However, no spare wheel is available, sadly.
Both models are fitted with a 130kW/290Nm motor delivering smooth and swift acceleration, as well as a 51.3kWh battery for a range of 345km.
However, while the softly-sprung suspension provides cushy comfort around town, it makes the Atto 2 feel cumbersome at higher speeds, with too much leaning through corners, while the ADAS tech constantly interferes and distracts.
Some Australian-road tuning would greatly improve a promising value proposition.
Jaecoo J5 Summit EV FWD
From $36,990 drive-away
With its Range Rover Evoque-aping design, Chery sub-brand Jaecoo’s J5 has a presence that has made it a big drawcard worldwide. The stylish, minimalistic yet luxuriously equipped interior also plays a part, with comfy seats, excellent build quality, and the inevitably long list of standard gear along with a generous warranty.
Power comes courtesy of a 155kW/288Nm motor, providing plenty of go, while a 58.9kWh battery averages 402km range, further boosting the J5’s appeal.
However, as with other EVs, the heavy focus on the touchscreen can be distracting. The considerable power outputs can overwhelm the front wheels, and the steering and handling characteristics are not as smooth as most rival SUVs.
Additionally, the suspension rides over some bumps too sharply. The ADAS tune can be aggressive in its interference. And there is no spare wheel fitted.
Still, for styling and presentation, the J5 EV looks like a much-more expensive SUV. But it is far from premium to drive.
Here’s the first stop for buyers seeking a family-friendly EV SUV.
BYD Atto 3 Essential
From $39,990 before ORC/$44,143 drive-away
Starting it all for BYD, the Atto 3 is now getting on. Yet there’s still much to like, starting with the inoffensive design.
That’s in contrast to the dated and over-styled interior, with its heavy-handed ocean-inspired details, oddball shapes and guitar-string door panels.
Looking past those, it does remain thoughtfully packaged, with decent interior space, high equipment levels and plush seating. But there’s too much reliance on the fiddly touchscreen. Storage is poor and there’s no spare wheel.
Driving the front wheels is a punchy, 150kW/310Nm electric motor, while the standard battery is 50kWh providing a 345km range. For another $5000, the Premium increases that to 420km thanks to a 60kWh battery.
A tyre upgrade to far-superior Continentals also means the Premium steers, handles and rides better than the Essential on cheap Atlas Batman tyres.
With minimal ADAS interference as well, the more-expensive BYD makes for a better buy.
Geely EX5 Complete
From $41,990 before ORC/$46,600 drive-away
The first modern Geely in Australia, the EX5 is a Mazda CX-5-sized SUV with plenty of sophisticated engineering (some courtesy of in-house sub-brand Volvo).
Contemporary and high-tech, the spacious and inviting interior has a premium sheen, with cushy seats, stacks of features and a large central display that can be a bit confusing to navigate.
Under the bonnet is a 160kW/320Nm electric motor driving the front wheels, fed by a 68.4kWh battery with a 475km range. That drops by 50km if the heavier but more fully-equipped Inspire grade is chosen.
The EX5 accelerates rapidly, offering plenty of effortless performance, but Geely tuned the chassis for comfort and ease, rather than outright sportiness, so it doesn’t really revel in corners due to soft suspension. The ADAS can be annoying and there’s no spare wheel.
Still, as an easy, undemanding EV for the family, the EX5 shapes up as an enticing buy.
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Kia EV4 Air FWD
From $49,990 before ORC/$52,990
The only non-Chinese built vehicle in our list, the EV4 sedan is the Korean brand’s only mid-sized sedan, and a memorable one to boot.
Like most modern Kias, the interior is brilliant, combining big-screen modernity with logical buttons. Supportive seats, lots of space, heaps of features and storage galore further increase our admiration for this EV.
The base Air Standard Range is equipped with a 150kW/283Nm motor, powered by a 58.3kWh battery with a 456km range. If that’s not enough, the Long Range’s big 81.4kWh alternative, costing nearly $10,000 more, soars to 612km.
That’s due to the sharp design’s ultra-sleek aerodynamics, boosting efficiency whilst making the EV4 a fast, enjoyable and cosseting sports sedan, bringing an agility, control and comfort most SUVs can only dream of.
The boot is disappointing, as is the lack of a spare tyre, but the Kia sedan’s pace, refinement, user-friendliness and warranty make this EV an unexpected pleasure.
Mazda 6e GT
From $49,990 before ORC/$54,938 drive-away
Based on Changan’s Deepal SL03 but with a front and rear-end redesign by Mazda, the 6ebadge references Mazda’s medium-sized sedans with roots going back to the 626 of 1978.
Yet this Chinese-made five-door liftback looks forward, with a 190kW/290Nm electric motor and 78kWh battery combo sending considerable outputs through to the rear wheels, for stirring performance, or up to 560km of range if preferred.
Dynamically this hits the mark with balanced handling and a supple ride, though the steering can feel too light for keener drivers. And the interruptive ADAS tech needs finessing as well.
Stepping inside, there’s enough space, but the seats are a little flat, and the 14.6-inch touchscreen interface is needlessly complicated (more buttons are needed), but there’s plenty of standard features and the frameless doors are a nice touch.
Attractive, beautifully presented and fast, the 6e is a lot of EV for the money.
Honda Super One
Honda is releasing a sub-$35,000 pint-sized EV from August as an urban runabout with a modest battery for rapid charging and Japanese Kei-car coolness.
Mazda CX-6e
Due in October, this is the SUV version of the 6e sedan, with a 190kW/290Nm motor, 78kWh battery for 484km of range and price tag from $53,990.
Leapmotor B05
On sale by September, the B05 is a Toyota Corolla-sized five-door hatchback starting from $35,990 drive-away, with a 56.2kWh battery offering a 401km range.
Lepas L6
Another Chery offshoot due for launch soon, the Lepas L6 is a mid-sized SUV with expected circa-$50K pricing, a 67.1kWh battery for up to 450km of range.