Cheapest electric cars in Australia 2026: Top 10 EVs ranked by driveaway price

UPDATED AUGUST 2026

Electric cars in Australia have never been cheaper. A wave of new Chinese brands arrived through 2025 and into 2026 forcing the established players to respond, and the result is a genuinely competitive sub-$40K EV market for the first time. The cheapest electric car in Australia now starts from just over $27,000 driveaway.

Below are the 10 cheapest EVs you can buy in Australia right now, ranked by entry-level driveaway price.

Cheapest electric cars in Australia 2026

How we ranked these cars: Vehicles are ordered by their lowest publicly available driveaway price as of 4 August 2026. Prices may vary by state and include current manufacturer promotions where applicable.

1. BYD Atto 1 - from $27,097 driveaway

BYD Atto 1

The BYD Atto 1 is now Australia’s cheapest electric car - and that alone makes it worth paying attention to.

Starting from just $27,097 driveaway in NSW, it undercuts almost everything on the market including BYD’s own Dolphin. And while it’s clearly built as a budget-first EV, it doesn’t feel like a bare-bones penalty box.

The entry-level Essential gives you around 220km of real-world usable range - just enough for commuting, school runs and daily driving. Step up to the Premium and you get a bigger battery, more power and a much more comfortable 310km range, which makes it far easier to live with.

It’s also more practical than you might expect with a decent boot, folding rear seats and handy features like vehicle-to-load if you want to power devices on the go. Add in wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and it ticks the key boxes most buyers actually care about.

Verdict: It’s not built for long-distance road trips - but as a cheap, easy-to-live-with city EV, nothing else comes close at this price.

See BYD Atto 1 driveaway pricing and specifications →

2. Geely EX2 - from $29,416 driveaway

Geely EX2

The Geely EX2 is the newest arrival on this list - and arguably the most interesting. It was the best-selling passenger car in China in 2025, and its Australian debut immediately slots it into second place on the cheapest EV list.

Two variants are on offer. The entry-level Complete uses a 35kWh battery and 60kW motor for 252km of WLTP range - honest figures for a city commuter. The Inspire steps up to a 47kWh battery and 85kW motor for a much more useful 345km of range.

What makes the EX2 stand out at this price is the spec level. Even the base Complete comes with a 14.6-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay, keyless entry, leatherette seats and power-adjustable front seats - genuinely strong for the money. Boot space is 375 litres expanding to 1,320 litres with the seats folded, and there's a 70-litre frunk as a bonus.

It's also rear-wheel drive - unusual at this price point - and rides on multi-link rear suspension, which should give it a more composed feel than most of its front-drive rivals. Geely backs it with a 7-year unlimited kilometre warranty and 8-year battery warranty.

Verdict: A seriously well-equipped new entrant at a price that challenges everything around it - the frunk, RWD and spec level make it feel like a lot more car than the sticker price suggests.

See Geely EX2 driveaway pricing and specifications →

3. MG4 EV Urban - from $31,990 driveaway

MG4 EV Urban

The MG4 EV Urban has landed in Australia arriving at $31,990 driveaway for the 43kWh entry-level model - a price that undercuts the BYD Dolphin.

This is a bigger car than you might expect. The Urban measures 4,395mm long with a 2,750mm wheelbase - 108mm longer and 45mm taller than the standard MG4 - and is built on MG's new E3 platform with a torsion-beam rear suspension layout.

Boot capacity sits between 382 and 1,266 litres with the rear seats folded - a serious number for this price bracket. The long-range 54kWh variant claims up to 405km. MG's conditional 10-year warranty applies to both.

Verdict: The one most buyers should seriously consider - better range, more space and a more usable all-round package than the cheapest EVs.

See MG4 EV Urban driveaway pricing and specifications →

Read our 2026 MG4 EV Urban review >

4. GAC Aion UT - from $32,990 driveaway

GAC Aion UT

The GAC Aion UT is one of the most interesting new arrivals in the affordable EV space - and it’s already getting a lot of attention.

Priced from $31,990 driveaway, it brings some seriously strong numbers for the money. A claimed 430km of range and a 150kW motor put it right at the top of this segment on paper.

More importantly it doesn’t feel like a stripped-out budget option. The cabin is roomy for its size, there’s a usable 321 litre boot and it comes well equipped across the range - all things that matter in everyday use.

It’s also backed by one of China’s largest automotive groups, giving it a more established foundation than many new entrants hitting the market.

Verdict: Huge range and performance for the money make this one hard to ignore - and a serious disruptor in the budget EV segment.

See GAC Aion UT driveaway pricing and specifications →

Read our 2026 GAC Aion UT review >

5. BYD Dolphin - from $33,277 driveaway

BYD Dolphin

The BYD Dolphin was Australia’s cheapest EV until its smaller sibling arrived - and it still represents exceptional value.

It’s an easy car to recommend. The entry-level version offers enough range for everyday use, while stepping up brings a noticeable jump in both performance and range, making it far more flexible beyond just city driving.

More importantly it feels like a complete package. The interior is well finished, the tech is easy to live with, and features like the large rotating touchscreen and BYD’s Blade Battery tech help it stand out at this price point.

For most buyers wanting a practical electric hatchback without spending big, the Dolphin remains one of the safest choices in the market.

Verdict: A safe, well-rounded choice in the affordable EV space - offering proven tech, solid range and strong everyday usability, even as newer rivals start to push the value further.

See BYD Dolphin driveaway pricing and specifications →

6. GWM Ora 5 - from $33,990 driveaway

GWM Ora 5

The GWM Ora 5 takes the retro-styled Ora hatch and reshapes it into a compact SUV, which is exactly what most affordable-EV buyers are actually shopping for.

Priced from $33,990 driveaway for the Lux and $36,990 for the Ultra, it lands right in the mix with small petrol SUVs and light hatches, except it runs on electricity. The rounded, retro-inspired look gives it more personality than most budget EVs, and the higher seating position and 362-litre boot make it easier to live with than a low-slung hatch.

Both grades share a 58.33kWh battery, a 150kW front motor and a claimed 435km of WLTC range, which is plenty for commuting, school runs and the occasional weekend trip. DC fast charging peaks at 120kW, taking the battery from 10% to 80% in around 30 minutes.

Equipment is a strong point. Even the Lux gets a 14.6-inch touchscreen, a 10.25-inch driver display, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 360-degree camera, adaptive cruise and blind-spot monitoring. The Ultra adds a panoramic glass roof, heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel and a nine-speaker stereo. Vehicle-to-load output of up to 6kW means it can also power tools or camping gear.

Verdict: A well-equipped compact SUV that happens to be a cheap EV, with the space and features budget buyers want and enough range for everyday driving.

See GWM Ora 5 driveaway pricing and specifications →

7. BYD Atto 2 - from $35,337 driveaway

BYD Atto 2

The BYD Atto 2 sits just above the cheapest EVs, offering a more polished and better-equipped package without moving too far up in price.

It doesn’t try to reinvent anything - it just builds on what BYD already does well. You get more performance, more range and a nicer interior than the entry-level options, making it easier to live with day to day.

It’s not dramatically bigger than the smaller hatchbacks, but it does feel like a step up in overall refinement and usability. For buyers who want something a bit more complete without jumping straight into $40K+, it makes a lot of sense.

Verdict: A more refined and better-equipped alternative to the cheapest EVs - offering stronger performance and range, though it starts to push beyond true budget pricing.

See BYD Atto 2 driveaway pricing and specifications →

8. Leapmotor B05 - from $35,990 driveaway

Leapmotor B05

The Leapmotor B05 is Australia's cheapest rear-wheel-drive EV and for a little while at least, that's a genuine talking point.

Priced from $35,990 driveaway, it undercuts the MG 4 and lands close to petrol hatches like the Toyota Corolla. The catch is the crown won't last, with Geely's sub-$30,000 EX2 due within weeks.

The entry Style gives you 401km of WLTP range from a 56.2kWh battery, which is plenty for commuting and school runs. Step up to the Design LR and you get a bigger 67.1kWh pack, 482km of range and faster 174kW charging, plus heated power seats, a 12-speaker stereo and a panoramic glass roof.

What sets it apart at this price is the way it drives. Leapmotor tuned the chassis in Italy with Stellantis and gave it a 50:50 weight balance, so the rear-drive layout is a real feature rather than a spec-sheet line. A 14.6-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a 360-degree camera are standard across the range.

Verdict: Not the cheapest EV on this list, but nothing else near the price gives you rear-wheel drive and European chassis tuning.

See Leapmotor B05 driveaway pricing and specifications →

9. Hyundai Inster - from $35,990 driveaway

Hyundai Inster

The Hyundai Inster is one of the more interesting new arrivals in the affordable EV space - and one of the few from a mainstream non-Chinese brand at this price point.

It’s a small car, but cleverly packaged. The Standard Range uses a 42kWh battery for around 327km of WLTP range, while the Long Range stretches that to 360km. It’s also one of the few EVs here that actually feels fun to drive around town.

There are a couple of trade-offs. It’s a four-seater rather than five, and it’s clearly designed with urban use in mind. But the interior is well thought out, it’s packed with Hyundai’s SmartSense safety tech, and it’s easy to live with day to day.

Verdict: A clever, characterful city EV with strong safety tech and Hyundai backing - but at $35,990 driveaway it's no longer the budget pick it once was and rivals at this price offer significantly more space.

See Hyundai Inster driveaway pricing and specifications →

10. Jaecoo J5 EV - from $36,990 driveaway

Jaecoo J5

The Jaecoo J5 is the wildcard on this list - and one of the most interesting options if you want more than just a small hatch.

For the money, this feels like a proper SUV. You’re getting a 58.9kWh battery, up to 402km of WLTP range and a 155kW motor - but more importantly, you’re getting space, presence and a much more substantial car overall.

Inside it’s well equipped too with a large touchscreen, panoramic roof and a clean, modern layout. It doesn’t feel like a budget EV - which is exactly the point.

At $36,990 driveaway this is where the conversation starts to shift from “cheap EV” to “genuinely good car for the money.”

Verdict: A lot more car for the money - offering strong range, solid performance and real SUV practicality, making it one of the most compelling step-up options from the cheapest EVs.

See Jaecoo J5 driveaway pricing and specifications →

Read our 2026 Jaecoo J5 EV review >

The Beep verdict

The BYD Atto 1 is now the cheapest electric car in Australia - and if your driving is mostly city-based, it’s the easiest entry point into EV ownership right now.

But for most buyers, the sweet spot sits just above that.

The MG4 EV Urban stands out as the best all-round affordable EV in 2026, offering more range, more space and a more complete package without stretching too far beyond $30K driveaway.

If maximum range matters, the GAC Aion UT is one to watch, delivering some of the strongest numbers in this segment at a very competitive price.

And if you want SUV practicality, stepping up to models like the Jaecoo J5 EV gives you significantly more space and usability without blowing the budget.

At this end of the market the differences come down to how you’ll actually use the car - city commuting, longer trips or family duties - so it’s worth comparing real driveaway pricing, range and availability before making a call.

Wamt to know which one is best? See our guide to the best electric cars under $50k in Australia.

Frequently asked questions about electric cars in Australia

What is the cheapest electric car in Australia?

The cheapest electric car in Australia in 2026 is the BYD Atto 1, priced from around $27,000 driveaway.

Are electric cars cheaper than petrol cars in Australia?

Electric cars are becoming more affordable with some models now priced similarly to petrol hatchbacks. Lower running and maintenance costs can also make EVs cheaper over time.

What is the best affordable EV in Australia?

For most buyers, models like the MG4 EV Urban offer the best balance of price, range and everyday usability in the affordable EV segment.

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