Cheapest new cars in Australia 2026: top 10 ranked by driveaway price
Chinese and Korean value brands have reignited the budget car war in 2026 - here are the 10 cheapest new cars in Australia, ranked by real driveaway price.
Rob Leigh
UPDATED JUNE 2026
We have ranked the 10 cheapest new cars you can buy in Australia right now by entry driveaway price, using The Beep's live pricing data. Each model appears once, at its most affordable variant, with the full variant pricing underneath so you see the real out-the-door cost rather than a list price that climbs once on-road costs land.
The 10 cheapest new cars in Australia 2026
| Rank | Model | From (driveaway) | Body type | Powertrain |
| 1 | MG 3 Vibe | $20,990 | Light hatch | Petrol |
| 2 | Kia Picanto Sport | $22,290 | Micro hatch | Petrol |
| 3 | MG ZS Vibe | $22,990 | Light SUV | Petrol |
| 4 | Chery Tiggo 4 Urban | $23,990 | Light SUV | Petrol |
| 5 | GWM Haval Jolion Premium | $23,990 | Small SUV | Petrol |
| 6 | Mahindra XUV 3XO AX5L | $23,990 | Light SUV | Petrol |
| 7 | Suzuki Ignis GL | $25,135 | Micro SUV | Petrol |
| 8 | Suzuki Swift Hybrid | $25,490 | Light hatch | Mild hybrid |
| 9 | Hyundai Venue | $25,990 | Light SUV | Petrol |
| 10 | Jaecoo J5 Track | $25,990 | Small SUV | Petrol |
1. MG 3 Vibe - $20,990 driveaway
MG3
The MG 3 Vibe is the cheapest new car you can buy in Australia after MG cut the point of entry to win back budget buyers. The Vibe runs a 1.5-litre petrol engine with a CVT auto producing 81kW and 142Nm, and even the base grade includes a 10.25-inch touchscreen and adaptive cruise control. It holds a four-star ANCAP rating, and MG's warranty runs to seven years, or 10 years and 250,000km if you service with the brand.
| Variant | Driveaway |
| MG 3 Vibe | $20,990 |
| MG 3 Excite | $23,990 |
| MG 3 Essence | $25,990 |
| MG 3 Excite Hybrid+ | $28,490 |
| MG 3 Essence Hybrid+ | $30,490 |
2. Kia Picanto Sport - $22,290 driveaway
Kia Picanto
The Picanto holds second place and remains the value benchmark for buyers who want simplicity and a trusted badge. At just 3.6 metres long it is the smallest car here, powered by a 1.2-litre petrol engine teamed to a five-speed manual in cheapest Sport guise. You still get wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a digital instrument cluster and Kia's seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.
| Variant | Driveaway |
| Picanto Sport manual | $22,290 |
| Picanto Sport auto | $23,390 |
| Picanto GT-Line manual | $24,090 |
| Picanto GT-Line auto | $25,190 |
3. MG ZS Vibe - $22,990 driveaway
MG ZS
Buyers who want a high seating position can get into the MG ZS Vibe for $22,990 driveaway, making it the cheapest SUV in the country. It shares the MG 3's 1.5-litre petrol engine and CVT auto, so it is built for easy city driving rather than outright pace. The current ZS carries a five-star ANCAP rating, and the same seven-year warranty applies, extending to 10 years with MG servicing.
| Variant | Driveaway |
| MG ZS Vibe | $22,990 |
| MG ZS Excite Turbo | $25,990 |
| MG ZS Essence Turbo | $28,990 |
| MG ZS Excite Hybrid+ | $29,990 |
| MG ZS Essence Hybrid+ | $33,490 |
Read our 2026 MG ZS Essence Turbo review >
Find a deal on the MG ZS4. Chery Tiggo 4 Urban - $23,990 driveaway
Chery Tiggo 4
The Tiggo 4 has become a runaway success since landing in 2024 and it is easy to see why at this price. The cheapest Urban runs a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine producing 108kW and 210Nm through a CVT, giving it more grunt than the MG twins. It carries a five-star ANCAP rating and a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, and a hybrid version sits higher in the range.
| Variant | Driveaway |
| Chery Tiggo 4 Urban | $23,990 |
| Chery Tiggo 4 Ultimate | $26,990 |
| Chery Tiggo 4 Hybrid Urban | $29,990 |
| Chery Tiggo 4 Hybrid Ultimate | $32,990 |
Read our 2026 Chery Tiggo 4 Hybrid review >
Find a deal on the Chery Tiggo 45. GWM Haval Jolion Premium - $23,990 driveaway
GWM Haval Jolion
The Jolion is one of Australia's most popular small SUVs, and at this price it is effectively a class bigger than most rivals here. The base Premium pairs a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine making 105kW and 210Nm with a seven-speed dual-clutch auto. It wears a five-star ANCAP rating from 2022 testing and is backed by a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, with hybrid grades available further up the range.
| Variant | Driveaway |
| Haval Jolion Premium | $23,990 |
| Haval Jolion Lux | $26,990 |
| Haval Jolion Premium Hybrid | $28,990 |
| Haval Jolion Lux Hybrid | $31,990 |
| Haval Jolion Vanta | $31,990 |
| Haval Jolion Vanta Hybrid | $35,990 |
6. Mahindra XUV 3XO AX5L - $23,990 driveaway
Mahindra XUV 3XO
The XUV 3XO is the only Indian-made car on this list and one of the newest budget entrants. It is well equipped for the money, with a 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine producing 82kW and 200Nm, a sunroof, a surround-view camera and twin 10.25-inch displays. One important caveat for safety-conscious buyers: the XUV 3XO has not been tested by ANCAP and carries no independent safety rating. Mahindra covers it with a seven-year, 150,000km warranty.
| Variant | Driveaway |
| XUV 3XO AX5L | $23,990 |
| XUV 3XO AX7L | $26,990 |
7. Suzuki Ignis GL - $25,135 driveaway
Suzuki Ignis
The Ignis is a light, frugal micro-SUV that has been a budget favourite for years thanks to its low weight and easy city manners. It is the elder statesman of this group, so the cabin and tech feel simpler than the newer Chinese rivals, but Suzuki's reputation for reliability counts for a lot at this end of the market. It is backed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.
| Variant | Driveaway |
| Suzuki Ignis GL | $25,135 |
| Suzuki Ignis GLX | $26,490 |
| Suzuki Ignis Shadow | $27,690 |
8. Suzuki Swift Hybrid - $25,490 driveaway
Suzuki Swift Hybrid
The Swift is an iconic light hatch, now in its fourth generation and fitted with a 12V mild-hybrid system. A 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine produces 61kW and 112Nm, and combined fuel use of around 4.0L/100km is among the best here. The cheapest Swift comes with a manual gearbox, with an auto available for more. The Swift arrived with a one-star ANCAP rating that was later upgraded to three stars following front-end reinforcements.
| Variant | Driveaway |
| Suzuki Swift Hybrid manual | $25,490 |
| Suzuki Swift Hybrid auto | $27,990 |
| Suzuki Swift Hybrid Plus | $29,490 |
| Suzuki Swift Hybrid GLX | $31,490 |
9. Hyundai Venue - $25,990 driveaway
Hyundai Venue
The Venue is Hyundai's most affordable model and a reminder that choosing a manual is still one of the easiest ways to save on a new car. The cheapest version pairs a 1.6-litre petrol engine making 90kW and 151Nm with a six-speed manual. It is a little older than some rivals and its previous four-star ANCAP rating has now lapsed, but it benefits from Hyundai's dealer network and a recently extended seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.
| Variant | Driveaway |
| Hyundai Venue base manual | $25,990 |
| Hyundai Venue base auto | $27,990 |
| Hyundai Venue Active | $29,990 |
| Hyundai Venue Elite | $32,490 |
10. Jaecoo J5 Track - $25,990 driveaway
Jaecoo J5
The Jaecoo J5 rounds out the top 10 as one of the freshest faces in the budget SUV class. Jaecoo is Chery's more design-led sister brand, and the J5 leans on bold styling and cabin presentation to set itself apart from the cheaper Tiggo 4 it shares its mechanicals with. The Track runs a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine producing 108kW and 210Nm through a CVT, with front-wheel drive and combined fuel use of 7.5L/100km. It comes with Chery's seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty, though it has not yet been rated by ANCAP, so it carries no independent safety rating.
| Variant | Driveaway |
| Jaecoo J5 Track | $25,990 |
| Jaecoo J5 Summit | $29,990 |
Which cheapest new car should you buy?
The cheapest new car in Australia in 2026 is the MG 3 Vibe at $20,990 driveaway, but the right budget buy depends on what you need from it.
City drivers chasing the lowest possible price are well served by the MG 3 or the smaller Kia Picanto, while anyone who wants a high-set SUV can get into the MG ZS Vibe, the cheapest SUV in the country, from $22,990 driveaway.
If turbocharged performance and a longer features list matter more, the Chery Tiggo 4 and GWM Haval Jolion make a strong case at $23,990 driveaway, and buyers focused on running costs should look at the mild-hybrid Suzuki Swift.
Ready to plug in instead? See our guide to the cheapest electric cars in Australia 2026. If your budget stretches further, compare the best electric cars under $50,000 or the best hybrid SUVs in Australia 2026.
Cheapest new cars: frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest new car in Australia in 2026?
The MG 3 Vibe is the cheapest new car in Australia, priced from $20,990 driveaway. The Kia Picanto follows from $22,290 driveaway.
What is the cheapest SUV in Australia in 2026?
The MG ZS Vibe is the cheapest new SUV in Australia, priced from $22,990 driveaway, ahead of the Chery Tiggo 4 Urban, GWM Haval Jolion Premium and Mahindra XUV 3XO at $23,990 driveaway.
What is the cheapest electric car in Australia in 2026?
The BYD Atto 1 is the cheapest electric car in Australia, priced from $27,097 driveaway. See our full guide to the cheapest electric cars in Australia 2026.
Are there any new cars under $20,000?
No. The sub-$20,000 new car has disappeared in Australia, with rising build, compliance and shipping costs pushing the entire budget segment upward, so no mainstream new car now wears a driveaway price starting with a "1". The cheapest option is the MG 3 Vibe from $20,990 driveaway. The upside is that today's budget cars are far better equipped and safer than the bargains of the past, with large touchscreens, active safety systems and long warranties now standard even at the bottom of the market.
Related guides
Rob Leigh
Co-founder & Director
Rob Leigh is Co-founder and Director of The Beep based in Melbourne, Australia. He has 15+ years inside a major automotive OEM, specialising in product planning, pricing and vehicle strategy.
About Author
