Cheapest Electric Cars in Australia 2026

The cheapest electric car in Australia is the BYD Atto 1 Essential, currently from $19,990 promotional drive-away (order by 15 December 2026, deliver by 31 December 2026; metallic paint extra). The model price on the configurator BYD's site links to is $23,990 before on-road costs. It is not the only new car at that price: MG advertises the petrol MG 3 Vibe at $19,990 drive-away after a $1,000 cashback, on cars sold and delivered between 1 November and 31 December 2026.

The reason is a wave of Chinese brands arriving through 2025 and 2026. BYD, Geely, GAC, Leapmotor, Chery and Jaecoo have all launched affordable models in Australia, and the established players have been forced to answer. The result is the first genuinely competitive budget EV market this country has had.

This guide is a priced shortlist of 15 of the cheapest electric cars on sale in Australia, not a strict cheapest-first ranking, because some brands publish drive-away prices and others only prices before on-road costs. It also shows how to work out what an EV costs to charge. Prices were checked on 7 November 2026.

Cheapest electric cars in Australia 2026 at a glance

Prices checked 7 November 2026 from manufacturer websites, offer pages and media releases. Drive-away offers can be state, colour or stock specific and time limited, and they are not the same as list prices, which exclude on-road costs. Prices before on-road costs cannot be compared directly with drive-away prices, or with the final drive-away price in your state, so the order of this table is a guide only and not a drive-away ranking.

¹ BYD Driveaway Campaign (bydautomotive.com.au/offers) for retail customers: order 15 September to 15 December 2026, deliver by 31 December 2026; metallic paint and options extra; excludes demonstrators; cannot be combined with other promotions; subject to stock and allocation. Prices before on-road costs for BYD models are the model prices shown on the dealer-group configurator that BYD's Build & Price link opens, and match published list prices; BYD's own site does not label them as list prices. ² MG $2,000 cashback deducted at sale on cars sold and delivered 1 November to 31 December 2026 at participating dealers; excludes fleet, government and rental buyers. ³ GAC national drive-away offer for orders placed 1 October to 31 December 2026 with a $1,000 deposit; prices may vary by state and colour. ⁴ GWM price for private buyers in Victoria. The 2026-build Ora 5 Lux is $32,990 if you take GWM's $1,000 discount instead of its finance offer, which ends 30 November 2026. ⁵ Lightning Yellow cars purchased and delivered by 31 December 2026. ⁶ Hyundai offer (hyundai.com/au/en/offers/inster) on new stock with no added options, purchased and delivered 1 October to 31 December 2026 while stock lasts; excludes fleet, government and rental buyers; not combinable with other offers. The $37,500 Standard Range list price (including GST, before on-road costs) is from Hyundai's official calculator (hyundai.com/au/en/shop/calculator#/inster). The Inster Cross with sunroof is $41,990 drive-away under the same offer. ⁷ New stock ordered 1 to 30 November 2026, no metallic paint. ⁸ Price Chery announced on 8 April 2026 for the MY26 E5 Ultimate; an updated E5 is listed as coming soon, so confirm pricing on remaining stock. ⁹ Leapmotor's official Australian B10 page, offers page and MY26 buyer's guide (leapmotor.net/en-au/models/b10, leapmotor.net/en-au/offers) show no current price for the all-electric B10; its current offer on electric B10s is a complimentary wall charger, not a price, and the $38,990 on the offers page is for the B10 Hybrid EV. For historical reference only, Leapmotor's media release of 6 February 2026 quoted $38,990 drive-away for the Style and $41,990 for the Design. ¹⁰ MG drive-away offer ending 31 December 2026.

How we compare prices

Most cheap EV lists mix two different numbers, so a single cheapest-first ranking can mislead.

Some brands quote a list price, which excludes stamp duty, registration, CTP and dealer delivery. Others, including GWM, GAC, MG and Leapmotor, quote drive-away pricing only. Comparing a list price against a drive-away price makes the drive-away car look several thousand dollars more expensive than it is, so we show the two in separate columns and do not rank one against the other. The models are listed in a rough price order only; a car shown with a price before on-road costs may cost more or less than a neighbouring drive-away price once on-road costs for your state are added.

On-road costs typically add $2,500 to $4,000 to a car in this bracket, though EVs get a meaningful break in some states. More on that below.

Many of the lowest drive-away prices are time-limited offers with conditions, which we list under the table. Always get a written drive-away quote for your postcode before you sign.

BYD Atto 1, from $19,990 promotional drive-away

The Atto 1 Essential is Australia's cheapest electric car on BYD's current national promotional drive-away of $19,990 (order by 15 December 2026 and take delivery by 31 December 2026; metallic paint costs extra; retail only). The configurator BYD's site links to shows a $23,990 model price before on-road costs. At the promo price it undercuts BYD's own Dolphin, which is $28,888 drive-away under the same campaign.

The entry Essential runs a 30kWh LFP battery for a claimed 220 km of WLTP range, with 65kW and 175Nm driving the front wheels. That is a city car range, honestly stated. School runs, commuting, errands. Not road trips.

Step up to the Premium at $27,990 before on-road costs and you get a 43.2kWh pack, 310 km of range and a much healthier 115kW. For many households that is the difference between a second car and a only car.

At 3,990mm long with a 308 litre boot it is genuinely small, but you still get vehicle to load for powering camping gear, wireless smartphone mirroring and a five star ANCAP rating. BYD backs it with a six year 150,000 km vehicle warranty and an eight year 160,000 km battery warranty.

Best for: the cheapest possible entry into EV ownership for city driving.

Geely EX2, from $26,490 before on-road costs

The newest arrival on this list and one of the most surprising. The EX2 was the best selling passenger car in China in 2025.

Two variants are offered: the Complete at $26,490 and the Inspire at $30,990, both before on-road costs. Geely's drive-away price depends on your state. The Complete pairs a 60kW motor with a 35.3kWh battery for 252 km of WLTP range. The Inspire steps up to 85kW, a 47.1kWh battery and 345 km.

What makes it stand out at this price is the specification and the layout. Even the base car gets a 14.6 inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay, keyless entry and power adjustable front seats. It is also rear wheel drive with multi link rear suspension, which is almost unheard of under $30,000, and there is a 70 litre frunk under the bonnet. Boot space is 375 litres. Warranty is seven years unlimited kilometres.

Best for: buyers who want the best equipped car under $30,000.

BYD Dolphin, from $28,888 promotional drive-away

The Dolphin held the cheapest EV title until the Atto 1 arrived, and it remains one of the safest choices in the segment. The Essential is $28,888 drive-away under BYD's national campaign (order by 15 December 2026, deliver by 31 December 2026; metallic paint extra), against a $29,990 model price before on-road costs on the configurator BYD's site links to.

The Essential uses a 44.9kWh Blade battery for 340 km of WLTP range with 70kW and 180Nm. It is tuned for calm commuting rather than quick overtakes, with a 12.3 second sprint to 100 km/h. The Premium at $36,990 before on-road costs brings a 60.5kWh pack, 427 km of range and 150kW, which drops that sprint to seven seconds.

At 4,290mm long with a 345 litre boot expanding to 1,310 litres, it is a genuinely practical hatchback. The main caveat is AC charging at 7kW, slower than the 11kW several rivals offer, so home top ups take longer.

Best for: buyers who want proven technology and a well finished cabin.

MG4 EV Urban, from $31,990 drive-away

The MG4 Urban is the most sensible pick in the sub $35,000 bracket and probably the one most buyers should shortlist.

It is bigger than the price suggests at 4,395mm long on a 2,750mm wheelbase, with a boot between 382 and 1,266 litres. The 43kWh Essence 43 is $31,990 drive-away and claims 316 km, and the 54kWh Essence 54 at $34,990 drive-away stretches that to 405 km. MG's $2,000 cashback on cars sold and delivered between 1 November and 31 December 2026 brings those to $29,990 and $32,990.

Critically, it charges faster than almost everything cheaper. DC fast charging peaks at 150kW for a 10 to 80 percent top up in about 30 minutes, where the Atto 1 manages 65kW. MG's warranty runs to 10 years when the car is serviced through the dealer network.

Best for: the best all round balance of range, space and price.

GAC Aion UT, from $31,990 drive-away

On paper the Aion UT is the value champion of this list. GAC's $31,990 national drive-away price applies to orders placed between 1 October and 31 December 2026, with a $1,000 deposit, and the Luxury is $35,990 drive-away.

A 60kWh LFP battery delivers a claimed 430 km of WLTP range from a 150kW motor, with energy use rated at 16.4kWh per 100 km. Nothing else near this price offers that combination of range and power.

Run the numbers and it becomes clearer. At $31,990 drive-away for 430 km, the Aion UT delivers 13.4 km of range per $1,000 spent, the best ratio among the cars in this guide. Even at its $19,990 promotional price, the BYD Atto 1 manages 11.0 km per $1,000.

You also get a 321 litre boot expanding to 689 litres, 905mm of rear legroom, 3.3kW vehicle to load and 30 to 80 percent DC charging in under 24 minutes.

Best for: maximum range per dollar.

GWM Ora 5, from $33,990 drive-away in Victoria

The Ora 5 takes GWM's retro hatch and reshapes it into a compact SUV, which is what most affordable EV buyers are actually shopping for. The Lux is $33,990 drive-away for private buyers in Victoria, or $32,990 if you take GWM's $1,000 discount instead of its finance offer before 30 November 2026. The Ultra is $36,990 drive-away.

A 58.33kWh battery and 150kW front motor give a claimed 435 km on the WLTC cycle, the figure GWM quotes, which is not directly comparable with WLTP ratings. DC charging peaks at 120kW for 10 to 80 percent in around 30 minutes. The higher seating position and 362 litre boot make it easier to live with than a low hatch.

Equipment is strong even on the Lux: a 14.6 inch touchscreen, 360 degree camera, adaptive cruise, blind spot monitoring and wireless smartphone mirroring. Vehicle to load runs up to 6kW, enough for power tools or camping gear.

Best for: SUV practicality at hatchback money.

GWM Ora, from $33,990 drive-away in Victoria

The original Ora hatch is still listed on GWM's website as the Lux, from $33,990 drive-away for private buyers in Victoria, with a claimed 400 km of WLTP range. GWM's current model menu now shows only the Ora 5 SUV, and the motoring press reports the hatch is being phased out, so availability depends on remaining stock.

Power is 126kW and 250Nm through the front wheels. Boot space is the weak point at 228 litres seats up, though that expands to 858 litres folded. The retro styling gives it more personality than most budget EVs.

Best for: buyers who want distinctive styling over outright practicality.

BYD Atto 2, from $31,990 before on-road costs

The Atto 2 is the next rung up from the Atto 1, longer and taller at 4,310mm with a 380 litre boot that suits prams and bigger grocery runs. The Dynamic is $31,990 and the Premium $35,990 before on-road costs, on the configurator BYD's site links to, and BYD has no retail drive-away campaign on it.

Both variants share a 51kWh LFP battery, front wheel drive and 130kW with 290Nm, good for 7.9 seconds to 100 km/h. WLTP range is 345 km across the range. The caveat is charging: DC tops out at 82kW and AC at just 7kW, slower than the cheaper Atto 1 on paper.

Best for: Atto 1 buyers who need more space and a bigger range buffer.

Leapmotor B05, from $35,990 drive-away

The B05 is one of the cheapest rear wheel drive EVs in Australia, and the driving experience is the point. Leapmotor's $35,990 drive-away price applies to the Style in Lightning Yellow, purchased and delivered by 31 December 2026; other colours cost more.

Leapmotor tuned the chassis in Italy with Stellantis and gave it a 50:50 weight balance, so the rear drive layout is a genuine feature rather than a spec sheet line. The entry Style has a 56.2kWh battery for a claimed 361 km WLTP. The Design LR brings a 67.1kWh pack, 434 km WLTP and 168kW DC charging; Leapmotor's website does not show its price.

A 14.6 inch touchscreen, wireless smartphone mirroring and a 360 degree camera are standard across the range. Servicing runs through the Stellantis network.

Best for: anyone who cares how a cheap EV actually drives.

Hyundai Inster, from $35,990 drive-away

The Inster is one of the few affordable EVs here from an established non Chinese brand.

The Standard Range uses a 42kWh battery for 327 km WLTP and is $35,990 drive-away under Hyundai's current offer. The Inster Cross with sunroof, which uses the 49kWh Extended Range battery for 360 km, is $41,990 drive-away under the same offer. Both offers are for new stock with no added options, purchased and delivered between 1 October and 31 December 2026 while stock lasts; they exclude fleet, government and rental buyers and cannot be combined with other offers. Hyundai's official calculator lists the Standard Range at $37,500 (manufacturer's list price including GST, before on-road costs); the drive-away offer is a separate price and the two should not be subtracted to work out a saving. We have not confirmed a list price for the Inster Cross. Standard equipment includes a 10.25 inch touchscreen and satellite navigation.

Two trade offs. It is a four seater rather than five, and at $35,990 drive-away it is no longer the budget pick it once was, with rivals at this price offering considerably more space.

Best for: buyers who want a mainstream brand and dealer network.

The rest of the shortlist

Jaecoo J5 EV Summit, $36,990 drive-away. That is Jaecoo's offer price on new stock ordered between 1 and 30 November 2026, without metallic paint. A proper compact SUV with a 58.9kWh battery, 402 km of range and 155kW. DC charging up to 130kW is among the best here. Heated and ventilated front seats, a 13.2 inch touchscreen and a 360 degree camera are standard.

Chery E5 Ultimate, $37,990 drive-away. That is the price Chery announced in April 2026 for the MY26 Ultimate, the only MY26 grade. A 58.9kWh battery gives 430 km WLTP, and the E5 has a five star ANCAP rating from 2022. Warranty is seven years unlimited kilometres on the car and eight years unlimited on the battery. Chery lists an updated E5 as coming soon without pricing, so check what stock remains.

Leapmotor B10, current price not published. Leapmotor's Australian website does not currently list a price for the all-electric B10, so confirm pricing with a dealer (see note ⁹ under the table). The roomiest car on this list at 4,515mm long, with 22 storage compartments and a 14.6 inch screen. Leapmotor now quotes 361 km WLTP for the Style and 434 km for the Design LR.

MG4 EV Essence 64, $39,990 drive-away. MG has dropped the Excite 51, so the Essence 64 is now the entry rear-drive MG4. It uses a 64kWh LFP battery with a claimed 452 km WLTP. The $39,990 is MG's drive-away offer price, which runs to 31 December 2026.

BYD Atto 3 Evo, from $41,990 before on-road costs. The updated medium SUV replaces the original Atto 3. The front-drive Dynamic has a 60.48kWh battery and 420 km WLTP, and the rear-drive Premium at $46,990 has a 74.88kWh battery, 510 km and 220kW DC charging. Some dealers still have pre-update Atto 3 Essential stock, which listed at $39,990 before on-road costs.

How to work out what an EV costs to charge

We have not published a single charging cost for each car, because it depends on your electricity rate, how much you drive and where you charge. You can work it out in a minute:

Annual charging cost = kilometres per year ÷ 100 × energy use (kWh per 100 km) ÷ charging efficiency × electricity price ($ per kWh).

Worked example, using illustrative assumptions rather than a measured result: 15,000 km a year, energy use of 15 kWh per 100 km, 90 percent charging efficiency (10 percent lost between the wall and the battery) and electricity at 30c per kWh. That is 15,000 ÷ 100 = 150; 150 × 15 = 2,250 kWh into the battery; 2,250 ÷ 0.9 = 2,500 kWh from the wall; 2,500 × $0.30 = $750 a year, or 5c per km.

Use the energy-use figure on the car's fuel consumption label or in the Australian Government's Green Vehicle Guide, and the rate per kWh on your own electricity bill, including any off-peak or solar rate. Public DC fast chargers usually charge more per kWh than home electricity, so relying on them raises the cost.

Our car service cost guide has a brand by brand breakdown of servicing costs.

Two costs run the other way. EVs are more expensive to insure because they cost more to repair, and heavier kerb weights on wider tyres mean higher tyre bills. Check what your shortlist costs in our car insurance costs by state guide.

For the complete picture across petrol, hybrid and electric, see our guide to the cheapest cars to run in Australia.

EV incentives in Australia in 2026

Most state EV rebates and stamp duty exemptions have ended. What remains is mostly lower duty rates in some states and the federal fringe benefits tax exemption. Rules checked on 7 November 2026 from state and federal government sites.

Federally, an eligible battery electric car provided through an employer, including under a novated lease, can be exempt from fringe benefits tax if its value is below the luxury car tax threshold for fuel-efficient vehicles. That threshold is $91,661 for 2026–27 (ATO), and every car in this guide is priced well below it. If you can access a novated lease, this can be the largest saving available.

Plug-in hybrids stopped qualifying for the exemption from 1 April 2025, unless a binding commitment to provide the car was in place before then, so it now applies to battery electric cars.

Which cheap electric car should you buy?

Cheapest overall: BYD Atto 1 Essential at $19,990 promotional drive-away while the campaign runs (order by 15 December 2026, deliver by 31 December 2026). Nothing else comes close, provided 220 km of range suits your driving.

Best all rounder: MG4 EV Urban at $31,990 drive-away, or $29,990 with MG's cashback until 31 December 2026. More range, more space and faster charging than most cheaper EVs, with a 10 year warranty when serviced by MG dealers.

Most range per dollar: GAC Aion UT at $31,990 drive-away for 430 km, the best ratio among the cars in this guide.

Best SUV: GWM Ora 5 at $33,990 drive-away in Victoria, with 435 km of claimed WLTC range and a proper high seating position.

Best to drive: Leapmotor B05 at $35,990 drive-away (Lightning Yellow, to 31 December 2026), with rear wheel drive and European chassis tuning.

Before you commit, work out your daily kilometres and confirm you can charge at home. Public DC fast charging usually costs more per kWh than charging at home, which reduces the running-cost advantage. A cheap EV without a driveway is a much weaker proposition.

Browse electric cars on AussieMotor or compare two models side by side to narrow your shortlist. If you are still weighing electric against petrol, our cheapest new cars in Australia guide covers the combustion side, and the average new car price guide shows where both sit against the wider market.