Six of the best: Cheapest EVs

Already one of Australia’s fastest growing new car brands and a fixture on monthly top 10 sales lists, BYD turned up the heat further on rivals late last year with the launch of Australia’s smallest and least-expensive electric car. The Atto 1 is a four-seat compact hatchback that’s priced from just $23,990 plus on-road costs, making it Australia’s cheapest EV while also undercutting small ICE-powered models like the Suzuki Swift, Mazda 2, and Toyota Yaris. The single-motor front-wheel drive hatch comes in two variants with different power outputs and two different size batteries. The entry-level Essential delivers 65kW/175Nm and features a 30kWh battery with up to 220km of range, while the $27,990 Premium steps up to 115kW/220Nm and gets a 43.2kWh battery with a range of 310km (WLTP). Both Atto 1 variants feature a 10.1-inch touchscreen, wireless smartphone integration, synthetic leather seats, and generous boot space, along with six airbags, a 360-degree camera, and BYD’s Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS). DC fast charging is rated at up to 65kW for the Essential and 85kW for the Premium, with the former able to charge from 10-80% in about 30 minutes.

• Price $23,990 (MRLP)
• Battery 30kWh Blade Battery (LFP)
• Motor Single electric, FWD (65kW / 175Nm)
• Range / Consumption 220km (WLTP) / 15.5kWh/100km (WLTP)
• Safety rating Five stars (2025)
• Warranty 6 yrs / 150,000km vehicle; 8 yrs / 160,000km battery & drive unit

Sitting above the pint-sized Atto 1 hatch and slotting between it and the existing Atto 3 small SUV is BYD’s other affordable new model, the Atto 2 compact SUV. With pricing starting at $31,990 (MRLP) the Atto 2 is designed to go head-to-head with value-focused electric rivals including the Chery E5 and MG S5, while also firing a shot across the bow of affordable ICE-powered rivals including the Mitsubishi ASX, Suzuki S-Cross, and Toyota Corolla Cross. The Atto 2 comes in Dynamic and Premium variants, with the latter costing $35,990 (MRLP). They each boast 130kW/290Nm outputs and pack a 51.3kWh Blade Battery with up to 345km of range (WLTP). Peak DC fast charging rate is 82kW, meaning a 10-80% charge takes about 39 minutes. Standard features of the Dynamic include 16-inch alloys, LED lights, heated mirrors, a 10.1-inch rotating touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, 8.8-inch digital driver's display, synthetic leather seats (heated up front), V2L capability, and a digital key. There’s no ANCAP rating yet but there is a comprehensive list of safety kit including AEB, Blind Spot Detection, and Rear Cross Traffic Alert.

• Price $31,990 (MRLP)
• Battery 51.3kWh Blade Battery (LFP)
• Motor Single electric, FWD (130kW / 290Nm)
• Range / Consumption 345km (WLTP) / 17.1kWh/100km (WLTP)
• Safety rating Not rated
• Warranty 6 yrs / 150,000km vehicle; 8 yrs / 160,000km battery & drive unit

Once known as the ‘Funky Cat’ in the UK and Europe and the ‘Good Cat’ in its Chinese home market, GWM’s electric compact hatch has only ever worn more sedate ‘Ora’ badging in the Aussie market, where its retro-modern styling makes it one of the more distinctive looking EVs on our roads. Something of an orphan in a GWM lineup heavily populated by utes, 4x4s and SUVs, the Ora has steadfastly carried the torch as one of Australia’s most affordable EVs since launching here in mid-2023. Available these days in a simple two-variant lineup comprising the Lux ($33,990 driveaway) and GT ($36,990 driveaway), the keen pricing doesn’t mean a ‘poverty pack’ fitout, with even the base variant offering such features as dual 10.25-inch screens, 18-inch alloy wheels, cross-stitched faux leather seats, and a 360-degree camera system. Add to this adaptive cruise control, wireless phone charging, six-way electric driver seat, and a Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) system with 6kW output and you can see why the bug-eyed hatch with its 400km (WLTP) of driving range and five-star ANCAP rating makes for a strong contender in the budget EV market.

• Price $33,990 (driveaway)
• Battery 57.7kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP)
• Motor Single electric, FWD (126kW / 250Nm)
• Range / Consumption 400km (WLTP) / 16.0kWh/100km
• Safety rating Five stars (2022)
• Warranty 7 yrs, unlimited km vehicle; 8 yrs, unlimited km battery

Distinguished in this company by the fact it drives its rear wheels as opposed to its mainly front-drive rivals, the MG4 is a small electric hatch that has won numerous awards since its launch in 2023. Despite this, MG4 sales fell off a cliff in 2025, possibly due to the arrival of more cut-price competition, with the upside being that the manufacturer has sharpened the pen and there are competitive deals in market ahead of the arrival of the more affordable front-wheel drive MG4 Urban later this year. At the time of writing that included a $4,000 reduction on the $39,219 (MRLP), although such offers are usually dynamic. The MG4 range extends to three battery sizes across four variants but the 51kWh Excite is the most affordable, boasting 350km of range, outputs of 125kW/250Nm and an 88kW peak charging rate. A comprehensive MG Pilot safety suite helps the MG4 snare a coveted five-star ANCAP safety rating, while standard features include 17-inch alloy wheels, Vehicle to Load (V2L), keyless entry and start, reverse camera, rear parking sensors, 10.25-inch touchscreen, 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster, wired Apple Car Play and Android Auto.

• Price $39,219
• Battery 51kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP)
• Motor Single electric, RWD (125kW / 250Nm)
• Range / Consumption 350km (WLTP) / 18.4kWh/100km
• Safety rating Five stars (2022)
• Warranty 7 yrs, unlimited km (vehicle & battery)

Since returning to the Australian market in 2023 Chinese brand Chery has established itself as one of the most value-focused brands around, with a range of price-leading models including the battery-electric E5 SUV. Formerly known as the Omoda E5, this small electrically powered SUV targets EVs including the BYD Atto 3 and MG ZS as well as ICE-powered rivals like the Kia Seltos and Mazda CX-30. Available in entry-level Urban and higher-spec Ultimate grades, both variants feature a 150kW/340Nm electric motor and a 61.1kWh battery delivering a range of up to 430km and a maximum DC charge rate of 80kW. Standard features of the Urban include 18-inch alloys, a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and fabric seats with leatherette bolsters. Safety is well accounted for with a comprehensive suite of seven airbags and driver assistance systems that earnt the E5 a five-star ANCAP rating in 2022. It’s worth noting that the E5 also comes with a full-size spare, something most of its rivals don’t match.

• Price $38,990 (MRLP)
• Battery 61.1kWh LFP (lithium iron phosphate)
• Motor Single electric, FWD (150kW / 340Nm)
• Range / Consumption 430km (WLTP) / 15.5kWh/100km
• Safety rating Five stars (2022)
• Warranty 7 yrs, unlimited km vehicle; 8 yrs unlimited km battery

Having established its brand in Australia in 2025 with the launch of the fully electric EX5 and Starray EM-i plug-in hybrid medium SUV, Chinese car maker Geely will step up its presence in the second half of this year with the launch of the EX2 small car. Built on the same platform as the above-mentioned stablemates but positioned as a compact city car, the EX2 will arrive in Australia following a breakout year in its home market where it racked up over 400,000 sales to become China’s best-selling EV. Targeting younger buyers looking for a first car and boasting an impressively roomy interior and generous boot space, the EX2 is sold in China with a choice of 30kWh and 40kWh batteries with rear-wheel drive motor outputs of 58kW/130Nm and 85kW/150Nm respectively. Geely hasn’t yet confirmed pricing, powertrain or model lineup but expect the newcomer to challenge BYD’s Atto 1 for the title of Australia’s cheapest EV when it arrives. That suggests Geely may offer the smaller battery and lower power output variant as a price leader, alongside the more powerful variant.

• Price $24,000 (estimate)
• Battery 30.12kWh (lithium iron phosphate)
• Motor Single electric, RWD (58kW / 130Nm)
• Range / Consumption 220km (WLTP) / 13.4kWh/100km
• Safety rating Not tested
• Warranty 7 yrs, unlimited km vehicle; 8 yrs, unlimited km battery