Last verified: 5 October 2026 · Prices re-verified against manufacturer AU pages monthly.
The ranking, by dollars per kilometre of range
Sort by price or range. Our default order divides drive-away price by WLTP km — the cleanest single measure of EV value — then we flag the cars whose charging speed or warranty punches above that raw number.
| Model | Battery | 10–80% DC | Tow | ANCAP | Warranty | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MG4 Excite 51 Hatch | $33,990 | 51 kWh | 350 km | 39 min | 500 kg | 5 star (2022) | 7yr/unlimited km |
| EX5 Inspire Mid-size SUV | $43,990 | 60.2 kWh | 430 km | 30 min | 1,000 kg | 5 star (2025) | 7yr/unlimited km |
| Atto 3 Extended Small SUV | $44,990 | 60.5 kWh | 420 km | 44 min | 750 kg | 5 star (2022) | 6yr/150,000km |
| EV3 Air Long Range Small SUV | $47,990 | 81.4 kWh | 600 km | 31 min | 1,000 kg | 5 star (2025) | 7yr/unlimited km |
| Kona Electric Premium Small SUV | $54,500 | 64.8 kWh | 505 km | 41 min | 750 kg | 5 star (2023) | 5yr/unlimited km |
| Model 3 RWD Sedan | $54,900 | 60 kWh | 520 km | 27 min | 1,000 kg | 5 star (2023) | 4yr/80,000km |
| Seal Premium Sedan | $54,990 | 82.5 kWh | 570 km | 37 min | 1,500 kg | 5 star (2023) | 6yr/150,000km |
| Sealion 7 Premium Mid-size SUV | $54,990 | 82.5 kWh | 482 km | 32 min | 1,500 kg | 5 star (2025) | 6yr/150,000km |
| EV5 Earth Long Range Mid-size SUV | $56,990 | 88.1 kWh | 555 km | 38 min | 1,250 kg | 5 star (2025) | 7yr/unlimited km |
| Model Y RWD Mid-size SUV | $58,900 | 60 kWh | 466 km | 27 min | 1,600 kg | 5 star (2022) | 4yr/80,000km |
| G6 Long Range Mid-size SUV | $59,900 | 87.5 kWh | 570 km | 20 min | 1,500 kg | 5 star (2024) | 7yr/unlimited km |
| EX30 Extended Range Small SUV | $59,990 | 69 kWh | 476 km | 28 min | 1,600 kg | 5 star (2024) | 5yr/unlimited km |
| 7X Long Range RWD Mid-size SUV | $63,900 | 100 kWh | 615 km | 16 min | 2,000 kg | 5 star (2025) | 7yr/unlimited km |
| ID.4 Pro Mid-size SUV | $66,990 | 77 kWh | 544 km | 28 min | 1,400 kg | 5 star (2021) | 5yr/unlimited km |
| Polestar 2 Long Range Fastback sedan | $68,400 | 82 kWh | 655 km | 28 min | 1,500 kg | 5 star (2021) | 5yr/unlimited km |
| Ioniq 5 Dynamiq Mid-size SUV | $73,500 | 84 kWh | 570 km | 18 min | 1,600 kg | 5 star (2021) | 5yr/unlimited km |
| bZ4X AWD Mid-size SUV | $74,900 | 71.4 kWh | 460 km | 30 min | 1,500 kg | 5 star (2022) | 5yr/unlimited km |
| iX1 eDrive20 Small SUV | $84,900 | 64.7 kWh | 440 km | 29 min | 1,200 kg | 5 star (2022) | 5yr/unlimited km |
| i4 eDrive35 Gran Coupe | $85,900 | 67 kWh | 490 km | 32 min | 1,600 kg | 5 star (2022) | 5yr/unlimited km |
The picks, and why
- Best overall value — Kia EV3 Long Range ($47,990). 600km WLTP under $50k with a 7-year warranty and a real dealer network. Nothing else touches that combination yet.
- Best family SUV — BYD Sealion 7 ($54,990). $4,000 under the Model Y with a bigger battery. Slower DC charging is the honest trade-off.
- Best road-tripper — Zeekr 7X Long Range ($63,900). 615km WLTP and 10–80% in 16 minutes on 800V. The charging speed embarrasses cars $20k dearer.
- Best city EV — MG4 ($33,990). The cheapest real EV in the country, rear-drive, 5-star ANCAP. Buy on a deals week and it's a steal.
- Best tech pick — Xpeng G6 ($59,900). 800V charging, 570km, and an ADAS suite that shames the Germans.
- The safe default — Tesla Model Y ($58,900). Supercharger access, efficiency and resale. Not the cheapest answer; still the easiest one.
How we rank & source this page
Prices come from manufacturer AU pages and dealer quotes, verified on the date shown. Range figures are WLTP lab numbers — expect roughly 80–90% in mixed real-world driving. Rankings weigh cost per km, charging speed, warranty and availability. No brand pays for placement; commercial relationships are labelled and never affect the order. See methodology.
Frequently asked questions
For most buyers, the Tesla Model Y remains the default: best charging access, strong efficiency, proven resale. But the BYD Sealion 7 undercuts it by ~$4,000 with a bigger battery, and the Kia EV3 is our value pick under $50k. "Best" depends on your charging situation — home charging changes everything.
The MG4 Excite 51, frequently advertised under $34,000 drive-away, with the BYD Dolphin Essential close behind. Both are genuine cars, not penalty boxes — but check current deals because the floor moves monthly.
Among mainstream cars, the Polestar 2 Long Range claims 655km WLTP, the Zeekr 7X Long Range 615km and the Kia EV3 Long Range 600km. Remember WLTP is a lab figure: plan around 80–90% of it on highways.
Early Australian evidence says broadly yes — LFP batteries have excellent thermal records, and complaint patterns centre on infotainment quirks, not drivetrains. The real questions are resale value and regional service coverage, which legacy brands still win.
If you can charge at home and your driving pattern fits, the maths already works — running costs are a third of petrol. Prices keep falling, but the FBT exemption, current deals and fuel savings mean waiting has a cost too. Run your numbers through our EV vs petrol calculator.