Electric cars are one of the greenest ways to travel. It’s also one of the best ways to avoid the rising petrol prices, be more environmentally conscious, and it’s cheaper to maintain with so many incentives and rebates offered by State and Territory Governments.
With so many benefits, electric cars continue to gain popularity in Australia. And it doesn’t seem like the demand for it is stopping anytime soon. In 2022 alone, there were over 33,000 electric cars sold in the country—a whopping 94% increase on 2021 sales.
But electric cars aren’t all expensive luxury Porsches or shiny Teslas. You can still get all the benefits of an electric car without breaking the bank.
Here’s a list of the most affordable electric cars in Australia:
Hyundai KONA Electric
Type of Car: SUV
Range: 305km to 484km
Price: Starts at $57,449
Recommended for: City driving
If you’re looking for the best car to drive daily into the city, the Hyundai KONA Electric is for you. It’s a small SUV with a powerful 64kwH battery and 150kW motor. It has an impressive driving range per charge given its size.
Performance-wise, this small-type SUV is equipped with incredible features such as brisk point-to-point acceleration, a suite of Hyundai SmartSense safety features, a digitised cockpit, and great audio system. The interior is complete with satin silver accents giving it that extra posh finish.
This is perfect for running errands all over town or for your daily commute to work. You can also do the occasional road trip too (although it might be a bit of a squeeze). It’s a compact but comfortable car. And it comes complete with all the important features you expect from a modern electric car.
Mini Cooper SE
Type of Car: Hatchback
Range: 200 km to 233 km
Price: Starts at $55,650
Recommended for: City driving
The Mini Cooper SE has everything motorists love about the classic Mini Cooper but fitted with all the electric vehicle must-haves. The car is a classic three-door hatchback with a 233km range and a 32.6kWH battery.
Inside, you’ll enjoy an 8.8-inch multimedia wide touchscreen with mini navigation system, a wireless phone charger, and a six-speaker Hi-Fi system. The interiors also have dual-zone climate control and a heat pump to help regulate battery temperature. Drive in style and comfort with the Mini Cooper SE.
Although the Mini Cooper SE is just that—mini. You won’t be going on countryside road adventures with the Mini Cooper SE, but it is great for quick city driving. It’s sleek, charming, sophisticated, and has great resale value because of its brand.
Nissan Leaf EV
Type of Car: Hatchback
Range: 270 km to 385 km
Price: Starts at $53,535
Recommended for: Families and one-car households
This is one of the most sought-after and affordable electric cars in Australia. The 2023 Nissan Leaf EV has received a few nice upgrades with its new digital rear-view mirror and fresh exterior styling.
Aside from that, you can expect high-tech features like an eight-inch touchscreen navigation system, a seven-speaker premium Bose sound system, and seven-inch driver supervision display. The interiors are designed for the utmost comfort too. Find leather accented seat trim with Ultrasuede inserts, heated front and rear seats, and a heated steering wheel.
It also has a host of safety and driver-assistance features such as rear cross traffic alert, intelligent cruise control, and other features from the Nissan Intelligent Mobility suite. Drive safely and efficiently with all these incredible modern features.
BYD Atto 3
Type of Car: SUV
Range: 345 km to 420 km
Price: Starts at $48,011
Best for: Families and road trips
The Atto 3 comes from Chinese manufacturer Build Your Dream (BYD). This medium-sized SUV is a roomy five-seater that can fit the whole family. If you’re looking for a great family car with good range, then this is the electric car for you.
It has an impressive range of entertainment features like a 12.8-inch rotating touchscreen display that’s compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and eight-speaker Dirac sound system. There’s also a six-way driver and four-way front passenger power adjusted seats.
This extremely affordable electric car has a 50.1 kWh battery, and AC/DC charging ports and 220v emergency charging cable. The two-battery configuration is available for the standard and extended ranges. It has an estimated 45-minute charge time with an approved super charger.
The BYD Atto 3 has a specially designed Blade Battery which is said to be safer, more robust, and energy dense compared to the typical electric car batteries.
MG ZS EV
Type of Car: SUV
Range: 263 km
Price: Starts at $46,990
Best used for: Families and city driving
The most affordable electric car in Australia is the MG ZS EV. Just because it’s cheap doesn’t mean it lacks in quality. The ZS EV by MC Motor has everything you need to get you wherever you need to go.
This SUV has three driving modes which are Eco, Normal, and Sport equipped with MG Pilot Driver safety technology. Other innovative features include i-SMART app connectivity, Wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system.
Dubbed as one of the most family-friendly electric cars out there, the interior is extremely comfortable and spacious. It can fit everyone in the family plus extra storage capacity. Drive around town or take the whole family out for a road trip in this stylish yet practical electric car.
More affordable electric cars coming to Australia this 2023
Keep an eye out for these in these affordable electric cars coming to Australia later this year:
- BYD Dolphin
- Fiat 500e
- MG 4
- Ora Good Cat
- Ford E Transit Custom
These affordable electric cars are speculated to run around the $40,000-range, but still aren’t on the market yet. If you’re in no hurry to get your new electric car, then you can sit tight and wait until these hit the market so you have more options.
What you can do now though is prepare for your electric car purchase. Enquire now to learn more about car loans and find out what best suits your needs.