The cheapest electric cars in Australia (2026)

This guide ranks the cheapest new electric cars in Australia for 2026 using the same price list as our EV prices page, which is built from EVDB Australia and brand pages (prices checked 17 Oct 2026; the cheapest models re-checked 19 Oct 2026). Every car below links to our compare tool, where you can line up range, charging speed, size, safety and warranty side by side.

What is the cheapest electric car in Australia?

Here are the 15 lowest-priced new EV variants on sale, cheapest first. Range is the WLTP figure as listed by EVDB Australia, and ANCAP shows the star rating and the year it was tested, where a rating exists.

Prices marked “drive-away” include registration, stamp duty, CTP insurance and dealer delivery. “+ on-roads” prices are the manufacturer’s list price before those costs, so the amount you pay will be higher and depends on your state. Several of the cheapest drive-away prices are limited-time offers (see below). – means no ANCAP rating in our data; check ANCAP. Prices checked 17 Oct 2026–19 Oct 2026.

The offers behind the lowest prices

• BYD Atto 1 Essential, $19,990 drive-away: BYD cut the price nationwide on 15 September 2026, for orders by 15 December and delivery by 31 December 2026. Before the cut it cost $25,762 to $27,194 drive-away depending on the state. The offer can’t be combined with BYD’s separate 5% novated lease discount (Zecar). CarsGuide reports it will return to $23,990 after the offer ends (CarsGuide). It’s a small four-seat hatch with 220 km of WLTP range.
• BYD Dolphin Essential, $28,888 drive-away: for retail orders between 15 September and 15 December 2026, delivered by 31 December. Metallic paint costs extra. It normally lists at $29,990 plus on-road costs (Zecar).
• Leapmotor B03X Style, $29,990 drive-away: for cars bought and delivered between 1 October and 31 December 2026 in the standard Acorn Brown paint. Otherwise it’s $26,990 before on-road costs. The Design Long Range is $33,990 drive-away under the same offer (CarExpert).
• Geely EX2 Complete, $26,490 + on-roads: this is a list price, so CarsGuide notes the drive-away price ends up closer to $30,000 (CarsGuide).
• MG4 Urban: CarsGuide reported a $2,000 cashback offer bringing it to $29,990 drive-away until 31 October 2026. Our table shows the standard $31,990 drive-away price.

Drive-away vs list price: compare like with like

It’s easy to compare the wrong numbers. A list price (also called MRLP) leaves out stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance and dealer delivery, which together can add a few thousand dollars. A drive-away price already includes them. So a $26,490 list price can cost more on the road than a $28,888 drive-away deal.

• Ask every dealer for a written drive-away quote for your postcode, in the colour you actually want. Premium paint often costs extra and isn’t in the advertised price.
• Check the offer’s order and delivery deadlines. If delivery slips past the date, you may lose the price.
• Stamp duty and registration differ by state, and some states have EV concessions. See what applies to you in our state EV incentive finder.

What is the cheapest EV for each body type?

If you need a certain shape of car, the cheapest option changes a lot. Here’s the lowest-priced variant in each body type on our list:

Small SUVs and hatchbacks are where the real price war is. The cheapest electric SUVs are the Leapmotor B03X vs BYD Atto 2, and for a little more room, the GWM Ora 5 Lux is a medium SUV at $33,990 drive-away. If you’re cross-shopping hatches, compare the BYD Atto 1 vs Geely EX2, the BYD Dolphin vs MG4 Urban or the GAC Aion UT vs MG4 Urban 54.

Which cheap EV has the most range for the money?

The cheapest car isn’t always the best value, because the cheapest variants usually have the smallest batteries. Among the 26 variants under $40,000, these have the longest WLTP range:

• Leapmotor B05 Design LR: 482 km WLTP for $39,990 drive-away
• MG 4 Essence (MY26): 452 km WLTP for $39,990 drive-away
• GWM Ora 5 Ultra: 435 km WLTP for $36,990 drive-away
• GAC Aion UT Premium: 430 km WLTP for $31,990 drive-away
• GWM Ora 5 Lux: 430 km WLTP for $33,990 drive-away

Another way to compare is price per kilometre of WLTP range. Lower is better value:

• GAC Aion UT Premium: about $74 per km of range ($31,990 drive-away, 430 km)
• GWM Ora 5 Lux: about $79 per km of range ($33,990 drive-away, 430 km)
• Leapmotor B05 Design LR: about $83 per km of range ($39,990 drive-away, 482 km)
• GAC Aion UT Luxury: about $84 per km of range ($35,990 drive-away, 430 km)
• BYD Dolphin Essential: about $85 per km of range ($28,888 drive-away, 340 km)

WLTP range is a lab figure. On the highway at 100–110 km/h, in winter or with a full car, expect noticeably less. For a car that does long country drives, a bigger battery and faster DC charging matter more than the last few thousand dollars. Our EV road trip guide explains how to plan around real highway range.

What do you give up with the cheapest EVs?

• Smaller batteries and slower fast charging. The Atto 1 Essential has a 30 kWh usable battery and charges at up to 65 kW on DC. Pricier variants often charge two or three times faster, which matters on road trips but hardly at all if you charge at home.
• Fewer seats or less space. Our data lists the Atto 1 and Hyundai Inster as four-seaters. Check the boot and rear legroom with your own gear.
• Safety ratings vary. Many cheap EVs have five ANCAP stars, but some have four, some ratings are several years old, and some new models haven’t been tested yet. Check the rating and its expiry date on ANCAP.
• Newer brands. Several of the cheapest cars come from brands that are new to Australia. Ask about the local dealer and service network near you, and read the warranty. Battery warranties of eight years are common at this end of the market.

Running costs and novated leases

A cheap EV is also cheap to run. The Atto 1 Essential is rated at about 15.5 kWh/100 km. At 30c/kWh that’s about $4.65 per 100 km, and on an 8c/kWh overnight EV plan about $1.24. Our EV charging cost guide has real electricity prices for every state, and the running-cost calculator works out EV vs petrol for your own driving.

Most cheap EVs charge happily from a normal powerpoint if you drive a typical daily distance, so you may not need a wall charger at all. See our home EV charger installation cost guide before you pay for one.

If your employer offers salary packaging, an eligible EV on a novated lease is currently exempt from fringe benefits tax. Under changes announced for 1 April 2027 (not yet law), EVs costing $75,000 or less would keep the full exemption, and 178 of the 297 variants on our list start at or below $75,000. Read our novated lease EV guide first, and remember some drive-away offers can’t be combined with novated lease discounts.

Cheaper still: used EVs

A used EV can cost much less than any new car on this list. Before you buy, check the battery’s health, the remaining battery warranty, the charging plug (CHAdeMO cars can’t use most new fast chargers) and the service history. Browse private listings on our free used EVs noticeboard.

Want the full list, including the more expensive models? Sort and filter every EV on sale on our EV prices page, or pick any two in the compare tool.