Electric Vehicle Comparison Australia
Key takeaways
- EVs have hit price parity with petrol cars in 2026, with the cheapest models now starting under $25,000 and several undercutting equivalent petrol hatches.
- The biggest savings come from running costs, with home charging at roughly $25–$40 versus $80–$120 for a tank of petrol, plus far less servicing.
- An EV makes the most sense if you can charge at home and drive mostly around town, while the FBT exemption on novated leases (under government review from April 2027) is the single biggest saving for eligible salary-packaged buyers.
Buying an electric car used to mean paying an early-adopter premium and doing a lot of homework.
In 2026, the homework is mostly "which one", not "should I". EVs made up around 13% of new cars sold in Australia last year, the cheapest models now start under $25,000 and a handful of them undercut the petrol hatch you were probably going to buy anyway.
Electric cars compared at a glance
Here's a cross-section of the EVs Australians are actually buying in 2026, from the cheapest city runabout to a full-size family hauler. Range figures are the manufacturer's WLTP claim (more on what that means below), and prices are for the lowest variant, so you'll pay more for bigger batteries and all-wheel drive.
| Model | Body type | Range (WLTP) | Price from (driveaway) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BYD Atto 1 | Micro hatch | ~300–420km | $27,100* | The cheapest way into an EV |
| BYD Dolphin | Small hatch | ~340–427km | $33,300* | The safe, well-rounded city pick |
| MG4 Urban | Small hatch | ~316–405km | $31,990 | Petrol-rivalling price |
| GWM Ora | Small hatch | ~400km | $33,990 | Style on a budget |
| BYD Atto 3 | Small SUV | ~420km | $43,600 | First-time family EV |
| Hyundai Inster | Micro SUV | ~327–360km | $38,990 | A legacy-brand small EV |
| Geely EX5 | Mid SUV | ~430km | $45,600 | Value mid-size SUV |
| BYD Sealion 7 | Mid SUV | ~456–482km | $59,300 | A sharp Model Y rival |
| Kia EV5 | Mid SUV | ~400–555km | $49,990 | Family space and long range |
| Tesla Model Y | Mid SUV | ~466–600km | $64,180 | The all-rounder benchmark |
| Tesla Model 3 | Sedan | ~520km | $59,980 | Drivers who want a car, not an SUV |
| Kia EV9 | Large SUV | ~512km | $106,600 | Seven seats, premium feel |
Figures are indicative starting prices for the entry variant, checked at the time of writing. EV prices change often and drive-away totals shift by state, so always confirm with the manufacturer before you buy.
How to compare electric cars: the five things that matter
Spec sheets throw a lot of numbers at you. Most of them don't change your day-to-day. These five do.
1. Range (and the WLTP asterisk)
Range is how far the car goes on a full charge. The headline number is almost always a WLTP figure, short for the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure.
It's a standardised lab test that lets you compare cars fairly. The catch: real-world range is usually 10–20% lower, more in winter or at highway speed.
A good rule of thumb is to treat WLTP as a best case and knock off a fifth. For most Australians, even a "small" 350km EV covers a week of city driving on a single charge.
2. Charging speed
Two numbers, two very different situations.
- AC charging (typically 7–11kW) is what you'll do at home overnight: slow but cheap and effortless.
- DC fast charging is the public-network speed that matters on road trips, usually quoted as the time to go from 10% to 80%. Most affordable EVs do that in around 30 minutes, and the quickest can manage a useful top-up in 15.
If you mostly charge at home, fast-charging speed barely matters. If you can't charge at home, it matters a lot.
3. Battery size
Measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh), this is the "fuel tank". B
igger battery, more range, but also more weight, more cost and a longer charge. Don't over-buy: a 50kWh battery that comfortably covers your commute is cheaper to buy and to charge than an 80kWh one you'll rarely empty.
4. Running costs
This is where EVs quietly win back their price premium, and it's covered in full below. The short version: charging at home costs a fraction of a tank of petrol, and there's far less to service.
5. Real drive-away price
The headline price and the price you actually pay are rarely the same. "Before on-road costs" leaves out registration, stamp duty and dealer delivery. Always compare on drive-away totals, and factor in any state concessions and current offers, which can swing the maths by thousands.
Electric cars by budget
Under $40,000
This bracket didn't really exist a couple of years ago. Now it's crowded.
The BYD Atto 1 has dropped the floor to around $23,990, the BYD Dolphin and GWM Ora sit comfortably under $40,000 and the MG4 Urban lands at $31,990 drive-away, which makes it genuinely competitive with a mid-spec petrol hatch like a Toyota Corolla or Mazda 3.
These are city-first cars: 300–430km of range, quick enough and cheap to run.
If you've been waiting for EVs to cost the same as petrol, the wait's over.
$40,000–$70,000
This is where most buyers land, and where the choice gets hard.
The Tesla Model Y, BYD Sealion 7 and Kia EV5 are the big three mid-size SUVs, with the Hyundai Elexio, Geely EX5 and Toyota bZ4X crowding in underneath.
You get 400–555km of range, proper family space and fast charging.
The Tesla Model 3 sits here too for buyers who'd rather have a sedan than an SUV.
Differences come down to charging network access, software, resale and how the deal stacks up on the day.
$70,000 and up
Above $70,000 you're paying for badge, performance, luxury fit-out or a third row.
The Kia EV9 offers genuine seven-seat practicality, while European marques like BMW, Polestar and Mercedes-Benz compete on refinement and brand.
Worth knowing: this is also the bracket most exposed to the proposed novated-lease tax changes (below), so the timing of a purchase here can matter more than the discount.
What does an electric car cost to run?
The sticker price is only half the story. Running costs are where the gap really opens up.
- "Fuel": Charging at home costs a fraction of filling up. Most small-to-mid EVs need roughly $25–$40 for a full home charge, versus $80–$120 for a tank in an equivalent petrol car. Earlier Finder analysis put EV charging at well over $150 a month cheaper than the average fuel bill.
- Servicing: Fewer moving parts, fewer trips to the mechanic. Capped or pre-paid plans on popular EVs run anywhere from about $130 a service (GWM Ora) to a few hundred dollars, and some brands stretch the intervals out to two years.
- Incentives: Some states still offer stamp-duty and registration concessions, and the FBT exemption below is the single biggest saving for eligible salary-packaged buyers.
The honest trade-offs: home charging is far cheaper than public fast-charging, so an EV makes the most sense if you can plug in at home. And depreciation varies a lot. Established names like Tesla and Kia tend to hold their value better than the brand-new arrivals, so factor resale into the true cost.
Charging an EV in Australia: the basics
You charge an EV three ways, in roughly ascending order of speed and cost:
- A standard home power point (Level 1): Plug into a normal wall socket. Slow (think a full charge over a day or two) but it needs no special equipment, and it's fine if you drive short distances.
- A home wallbox (Level 2, AC): A dedicated 7–11kW charger installed at home. Most people charge overnight and wake up full. This is the cheapest, easiest way to run an EV and the single biggest reason home-chargers love them.
- Public fast charging (Level 3, DC): The fast chargers you see at service stations and shopping centres. Most EVs go from 10% to 80% in around half an hour, about the time it takes to grab a coffee. More expensive than home charging, but the backbone of longer trips.
The practical takeaway: if you have off-street parking and can install a wallbox, an EV will likely save you money from day one. If you rely entirely on public charging, do the sums carefully first, because the savings shrink.
The tax change that could matter more than any deal
If you're considering a novated lease through your employer, the timing question is bigger than any end-of-financial-year offer.
Eligible battery-electric vehicles priced under the luxury car tax threshold (currently $91,387) are exempt from Fringe Benefits Tax under the federal Electric Car Discount. In practice, that lets you pay for the car and its running costs (charging, rego, insurance and servicing) from your pre-tax salary, which can save salary-packagers thousands of dollars a year.
That break is under government review (running since February 2026 and due to report by mid-2027). Based on changes flagged so far:
- Until 31 March 2027: Nothing changes. EVs under the LCT threshold stay fully FBT-exempt.
- From 1 April 2027: EVs priced over about $75,000 are proposed to move to a reduced 25% FBT discount, while cars under $75,000 keep the full exemption.
- From 1 April 2029: All eligible EVs are proposed to move to the 25% discount.
Here's the part that matters most: existing novated leases are expected to be grandfathered, so a lease you start under today's rules should keep that treatment for its full term. That's the real "lock it in now" argument, especially on pricier EVs.
One important caveat: these changes are proposed, not law, and everyone's tax position is different. We're a comparison site, not your accountant, so treat this as general info and get advice from a qualified tax professional or your salary-packaging provider before you decide.
Is an electric car right for you?
EVs suit a lot of people now, but not everyone. A quick gut-check:
- An EV probably makes sense if you can charge at home, you do most of your driving around town and on regular commutes and you'll keep the car long enough to bank the running-cost savings.
- Think harder if you can't charge at home, you regularly drive very long distances in areas with sparse fast-charging or you change cars every couple of years (depreciation on newer brands can sting).
For a lot of Australian households, the deciding factor isn't range anxiety. It's whether there's a power point near where you park.
Electric cars in Australia: FAQ
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