Hybrids and EVs get most of the attention, but plenty of buyers still want a plain petrol car. There is no battery to think about, no charger to install, you can fill up at any servo, and the purchase price is usually lower than the hybrid version of the same car.
This guide lists the cheapest new petrol only cars you can buy in Australia right now, ranked by the drive away price on each brand's official website. We have left out hybrids, mild hybrids, plug-in hybrids and EVs completely. Every price and offer end date was checked on the brand's own Australian website on 19 October 2026, and most of these offers end on 31 October 2026.
How we chose these cars
Petrol only. Every car here uses a conventional petrol engine with no hybrid system. That rules out cars such as the Suzuki Swift Hybrid, the MG3 Hybrid+ and the Kia Stonic, which Kia now sells as a mild hybrid.
Official drive away prices. We used drive away prices published by the brand itself, not dealer advertisements. Where a price includes a cashback or a time limited saving, we say so.
Offer end dates. We give the end date the brand publishes. If no end date is shown, we say that too.
One entry per model. Where a model has several cheap grades, we cover them together.
If you are open to hybrids and EVs as well, our list of the top 15 cheapest new cars in Australia covers every powertrain, and our guide to new cars under $25,000 drive away focuses on that price ceiling.
Cheapest petrol cars in Australia at a glance
Drive away prices can vary by state, so get a written quote for your postcode. Ask what is included, because some brands quote prices for one state only.
MG3: the cheapest petrol car in Australia
The MG3 Vibe is the cheapest new petrol car on MG's offers page and the cheapest on this list. MG advertises it at $20,990 drive away, or $19,990 with a $1,000 cashback for cars sold and delivered between 1 and 31 October 2026.
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The petrol MG3 has an official combined fuel figure of 6.0 L/100km. If you want more equipment, MG also lists the MG3 Excite at $23,990 drive away and the MG3 Essence at $25,990 drive away, both to 31 October. MG offers up to a 10 year or 250,000 km warranty for private buyers who keep servicing with MG.
Suits: buyers who want the lowest possible price for a brand new five door hatch with a full warranty.
Watch for: the hybrid MG3 Hybrid+ is a different car with a different price. Check that your quote is for the petrol version.
MG ZS: the cheapest petrol SUV
The MG ZS Vibe is the cheapest petrol SUV we found, at $22,990 drive away to 31 October 2026. It uses a 1.5 litre petrol engine with 81 kW, drives the front wheels and rides on 16 inch alloy wheels.
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For more performance, the ZS Excite Turbo has a 1.5 litre turbo petrol with 125 kW. MG lists it at $26,990 drive away, or $25,990 with a $1,000 cashback, also to 31 October. The ZS Essence Turbo is $28,990 with a $500 cashback.
Suits: buyers who want an SUV body and higher seating for close to hatchback money.
Watch for: the ZS range also includes a HYBRID+ version, so check the engine on your quote. The Vibe has a reverse camera, while the Essence and the hybrids get a 360 degree camera.
Kia Picanto: the cheapest petrol micro car
The Kia Picanto Sport automatic is advertised at $23,390 drive away on Kia's offers page. Kia says its drive away prices are valid until 31 October 2026 at participating dealers.
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The Picanto is small, easy to park and simple to own. Kia quotes 5.4 L/100km for the manual and 6.0 L/100km for the automatic. Standard features on the Sport include wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on an 8 inch touchscreen, according to Kia's offers page.
When we checked Kia's website on 16 October, the Picanto Sport manual was advertised at $22,290 drive away. It was not listed on the offers page on 19 October, so ask your dealer whether that price still applies.
Suits: city drivers who want a tiny footprint, low fuel use and a long warranty.
Watch for: the Picanto is a micro car, so rear seat and boot space are tighter than in a light hatch or small SUV.
Haval Jolion: a bigger SUV for the money
The Haval Jolion Premium is advertised at $23,990 drive away on GWM's offers page. GWM says the price is for private buyers in Victoria, includes a $3,000 saving and ends on 31 October 2026.
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The petrol Jolion uses a 1.5 litre turbo petrol engine, and the Premium has cloth seats and a 10.25 inch infotainment screen. The Jolion Lux is $26,990 drive away under the same offer.
Suits: buyers who want a roomier small SUV and are happy to compare offers across states.
Watch for: the $23,990 price is quoted for Victoria. Prices in other states may differ, and the Jolion Premium HEV is a hybrid at a higher price.
Chery Tiggo 4: a cheap small SUV with no published end date
Chery Australia lists the Tiggo 4 from $23,990 drive away on its model menu. Unlike most cars on this list, Chery did not publish an offer end date or offer terms when we checked on 19 October 2026, and its offers page showed no current offers.
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Chery sells the Tiggo 4 Hybrid separately, so the $23,990 price applies to the petrol Tiggo 4.
Suits: buyers who want a small SUV at the same price as a micro hatch.
Watch for: with no published offer terms, get the drive away price and the exact grade in writing. Unverified: we could not confirm which grade the $23,990 price applies to on Chery's website.
Suzuki Ignis: a light hatch run-out
The Suzuki Ignis GL is advertised at $25,135 drive away on Suzuki's offers page. Suzuki says the car must be bought and delivered between 1 and 31 October 2026, and the offer is limited to stock on hand.
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The Ignis is one of the few small petrol cars left in Suzuki's range now that the Swift is sold as a hybrid. The Ignis Shadow is $27,690 drive away.
Suits: buyers who want a tiny, high riding hatch that is easy to park.
Watch for: Suzuki notes that its offers are while stocks last, and Suzuki Australia does not operate in Northern NSW or Queensland, so buyers there need to check with their local distributor.
Jaecoo J5: a newer small SUV under $26,000
The Jaecoo J5 Track is advertised at $25,990 drive away on Jaecoo's offers page. Jaecoo says the price is for new stock ordered from participating dealers between 1 and 31 October 2026, with no metallic paint or options.
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Jaecoo lists this model as the J5 Petrol, and the J5 Summit is $29,990 drive away under the same offer.
Suits: buyers who want a newer design small SUV and plan to order before the end of October.
Watch for: the J5 is also sold as an EV and as the J5 SHS-H hybrid, which cost more. Make sure the quote says J5 Petrol.
Other petrol options worth considering
These petrol cars cost a little more but are worth a look if the shortlist does not suit you. All prices were checked on official brand websites on 19 October 2026.
Car | Grade | Official drive away price | Offer ends |
|---|---|---|---|
Haval Jolion | Lux | $26,990 (Victoria, private buyers) | 31 October 2026 |
Suzuki Ignis | Shadow | $27,690 | 31 October 2026 |
Chery C5 | Entry grade | From $28,990 | No end date published |
MG5 | Essence sedan | $29,990 | 31 October 2026 |
Chery Tiggo 7 | Entry grade | From $29,990 | No end date published |
Petrol running costs compared
Most cheap petrol cars use similar amounts of fuel, so the purchase price matters more than the small differences in economy. These examples use 11,100 km a year, close to the Australian average, and $2.00 a litre. That price is a round example, not a quote.
Car | Official combined fuel use | Yearly fuel cost at $2.00 a litre |
|---|---|---|
Kia Picanto manual | 5.4 L/100km | About $1,199 |
Kia Picanto automatic | 6.0 L/100km | About $1,332 |
MG3 Vibe | 6.0 L/100km | About $1,332 |
We have only included official fuel figures we could confirm. For the other cars, check the official fuel figure on the brand's website or the government Green Vehicle Guide, then use this formula:
Yearly fuel cost: yearly km ÷ 100 × L/100km × price per litre
If running costs matter more to you than the purchase price, see our guide to the cheapest hatchbacks and small cars to run, which compares petrol, hybrid and electric options.
Why choose a petrol car over a hybrid?
Lower purchase price. The petrol MG3 Vibe is $8,500 cheaper on MG's offers page than the MG3 Excite HYBRID+ after cashbacks.
No charging. You never need to plan a trip around a charger.
Simple ownership. There is no hybrid battery or high voltage system.
The trade off is fuel use. A hybrid will use less fuel, especially in town, so if you drive a long way every year the extra purchase price can pay for itself over time.
How to get the best price
Buy before the offer ends. Most of these prices end on 31 October 2026. Some, like Suzuki's and MG's, require delivery by that date as well.
Check your state. Some prices are set for one state, like the Haval Jolion in Victoria.
Confirm the engine. Many of these models have hybrid or electric versions with similar names.
Get a written quote. Ask for the full drive away price, including paint and any options.
The bottom line
The MG3 Vibe is the cheapest new petrol car in Australia at $19,990 drive away with MG's cashback, or $20,990 without it. The MG ZS Vibe is the cheapest petrol SUV at $22,990, and the Kia Picanto, Haval Jolion and Chery Tiggo 4 all sit under $24,000. Most of these offers end on 31 October 2026, so check the brand's website again before you buy.