Cheapest Electric Cars Australia 2025 | 2 EVs Under $30,000, 7 under $40,000

The BYD Atto 1 is Australia's most affordable electric vehicle, perfect for urban settings with fast-charging capability.

The BYD Atto 1 will start from $23,990 plus on-road costs, making it Australia's most affordable electric vehicle. Available in two models, the Essential and the Premium, with a 30kWh and 43.2kWh battery respectively, the Atto 1 is perfect for urban settings with fast-charging capability, with DC charging from 10%–80% in approximately 30 minutes, making it ideal for city dwellers and first-time EV buyers.

The Atto 1 is a compact city hatchback, measuring approximately 3,780mm in length, making it one of the smallest EVs available in Australia. Its compact dimensions make it ideal for urban driving and parking, while still offering practical interior space for city commuters and small families.

The Atto 1 is known as the Dolphin Mini in Latin America, Dolphin Surf in Europe, and Seagull in the domestic Chinese market.

Built on BYD's next-generation e-Platform 3.0, the Atto 1 delivers the performance, safety and efficiency expected from BYD's growing EV portfolio. It feature the latest evolution of BYD's Blade Battery and 8-in-1 electric powertrain, with extensive R&D testing for suspension tuning and ADAS specifically for Australian conditions.

The Atto 1 will arrive in Australian dealerships in December 2025, joining BYD's growing lineup alongside the Atto 3, Seal, Dolphin, Shark 6, Sealion 6 and Sealion 7.

The BYD Dolphin features great in-car technology, a high quality interior and good passenger and storage space.

The BYD Dolphin starts from $29,990 before on-road costs, making it Australia's cheapest electric car. Available in two variants: Essential and Premium, with ranges from 340km to 427km WLTP.

The BYD Dolphin represents exceptional value compared to traditional petrol alternatives. At $29,990, it undercuts the Toyota Corolla ZR Hybrid ($38,120) and Mazda 3 G25 Astina ($42,320) while offering zero emissions and lower running costs. The Premium variant's 427km range makes it suitable for both city commuting and weekend trips.

Following the recent introduction of the "Essential" trim, the BYD Dolphin range is now priced from $29,990 before on-road costs (~$32,000 drive-away, depending on the state), making it the cheapest electric car available. All Dolphin variants will be eligible for the various state government incentives and the FBT exemption which is available through a novated lease.

Built on the same dedicated EV platform as the popular BYD Atto 3, both models use BYD's 'Blade Battery' based on lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) technology.

All variants feature a 12.8-inch tablet-style rotatable infotainment system running its own 'DiLink' software and a complete suite of safety assistance systems like adaptive cruise control and a 360-degree camera.

The BYD Atto 2 combines SUV comfort with urban practicality, offering a blend of performance, space, and efficiency.

The BYD Atto 2 will be priced from $31,990 plus on-road costs making is the cheapest electric SUV in Australia. The larger Atto 2 combines SUV comfort with urban practicality, featuring a 51.3kWh battery across both the Dynamic and Premium models. It offers a blend of performance, space, and efficiency, with DC charging from 10%-80% in approximately 39 minutes.

The Atto 2 is a compact SUV that sits between a small hatchback and a mid-size SUV. With dimensions larger than the Atto 1 but smaller than the Atto 3, it offers a practical balance of urban manoeuvrability and interior space, making it suitable for small families and those who need extra cargo capacity without the bulk of a larger SUV.

Together, the Atto 1 and Atto 2 not only redefine affordability for electric vehicles, but also mark one of the first times electric vehicles have reached true price parity - and in some cases, undercut their petrol-powered competitors.

Built on BYD's next-generation e-Platform 3.0, both the Atto 2 feature the latest evolution of BYD's Blade Battery and 8-in-1 electric powertrain, with extensive R&D testing for suspension tuning and ADAS specifically for Australian conditions.

The Atto 2 will arrive in Australian dealerships in December 2025.

The GWM Ora offers distinctive retro styling both inside and out. While storage space is modest, passenger space is generous.

The GWM Ora is priced from $35,990 driveaway with a new 57.7kWh LFP battery offering improved range of 400km. Now manufactured in Thailand for the Australian market with added heat pump air-conditioning.

The updated GWM Ora now features a heat pump air-conditioning system, which significantly improves efficiency in cold weather conditions. The new 57.7kWh LFP battery represents a substantial upgrade from the previous 48kWh pack, offering improved range and faster charging capabilities with vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality.

The Great Wall Motors (GWM) Ora (known as the Ora Funky Cat or Good Cat overseas) debuted in Australia in April 2023, as one of Australia's cheapest new electric cars.

The GWM Ora electric hatch has received a recent update, now sourced from Thailand. It features a new 57.7kWh LFP battery (replacing the previous 48kWh and 63kWh packs), offered in Lux and GT trims with the same battery. A limited run of 30 "Ultra" editions (Aurora Green with black roof, blue/grey interior) will be imported before being discontinued.

The GWM Ora EV is covered by a seven-year, unlimited kilometre vehicle warranty and an eight-year battery warranty.

The MG4 offers good driving dynamics, sleek styling and good interior space.

The MG4 starts from $34,888 driveaway and offers three battery sizes across five variants, providing between 350km to 530km of WLTP range. Built on SAIC's dedicated MSP electric vehicle platform with rear-wheel drive.

The MG4 stands out with its industry-leading 10-year/250,000km warranty, making it one of Australia's best value EVs. The rear-wheel drive configuration provides engaging driving dynamics, while the Long Range 77 variant's 530km range makes it suitable for longer journeys without range anxiety.

Following the cessation of a recent price reduction, the MG 4 still remains one of the cheapest EVs in Australia with prices starting from $36,990 plus on'road costs for the base variant. It is available in three battery sizes and two trims providing up to 530km of claimed WLTP driving range.

It features a 10.25-inch tablet-style touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto, 50-50 claimed weight distribution and rides on SAIC Motor's Modular Scalable Platform (MSP) dedicated EV platform.

All variants will be eligible for the various state government incentives and the FBT exemption which is available through a novated lease.

Price Comparison

The BYD Dolphin Essential at $29,990 (before ORC) is Australia's most affordable EV, followed closely by the MG4 Excite 51 at $34,888 driveaway and the GWM Ora Lux at $35,990 driveaway. All three vehicles represent exceptional value, with pricing that matches or undercuts traditional petrol competitors like the Toyota Corolla and Mazda 3.

Range Options

For maximum range, the MG4 Long Range 77 leads with 530km WLTP, making it ideal for longer journeys. The BYD Dolphin Premium offers 427km, while the GWM Ora provides a consistent 400km across all variants. Entry-level models like the BYD Dolphin Essential (340km) and MG4 Excite 51 (350km) are perfectly adequate for daily commuting and city driving.

Key Differentiators

BYD Dolphin: Australia's cheapest EV, LFP Blade Battery technology, 12.8-inch rotatable screen, strong brand reputation

GWM Ora: Distinctive retro styling, heat pump air-conditioning, new 57.7kWh LFP battery, V2L capability, 7-year unlimited km warranty

MG4: Rear-wheel drive dynamics, industry-leading 10-year/250,000km warranty, widest range of variants, longest range option (530km), dedicated EV platform

All three vehicles are eligible for state government incentives and the federal FBT exemption through novated leasing, making them even more affordable for Australian buyers.