Discover the Best Affordable EVs in Australia

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The global oil crisis continues to tempt Aussies into cheaper, electric alternatives. But with a wealth of new electric vehicles flooding the market, it’s difficult to know which to consider, and which to avoid.

That’s why we’ve compiled a list of Australia’s best affordable EVs with a price cap of $40,000. We’ll show you the best value EVs on sale in Australia right now, addressing driving range, build quality, charge times and more. 

Why consider an electric car? As prices fall and EV efficiency climbs, the days of 150km range figures and five-year lifespans are long in the past. Ease of ownership, cheaper, simpler vehicle maintenance and environmental reasons are big drawcards for many, too. 

As with internal combustion engine and hybrid vehicles, there are good electric vehicles we recommend and other models that are less impressive.

So here’s the Chasing Cars guide to the best affordable EVs currently on sale in Australia. 

Our top choices

Jump to:

• BYD Atto 1
• MG4 EV Urban
• Hyundai Inster
• Further reading

BYD Atto 1

Body Shape: Small hatchback

Price: From $23,990 before on-road costs

Battery size: 30.0-43.2kWh

Claimed driving range: 220-310km (WLTP)

Claimed rapid DC charge time: 30 minutes

You may have expected, as we did, that Australia’s cheapest electric vehicle would lose out on being a genuine consideration due to key features and poor drivability. The reality? This simply isn’t true. 

While the Atto 1 does promise the shortest EV driving range on this list – marked at 220km for the base Essential and 310km for the Premium – its uncompromised functionality as a zippy city commuter and competent daily driver make up for this in spades. 

We were particularly impressed with the longer range, more powerful Premium, which starts from $27,990 and raises output to 115kW/250Nm (up from 65kW/175Nm ). It offers an excellent level of tech for its price, including a 10.1-inch touchscreen, 7.0-inch instrument cluster, power-adjust front seats and a wireless device charger.

Out on the road, the Atto 1 drives smoothly with predictable handling. It does start to suffer at high speeds however, but in its element the narrow, responsive Atto 1 is brilliant. 

BYD offers other affordable EVs as well including the similar Dolphin, with enjoyable dynamics, great packaging and a larger battery starting from $29,990 before on-road costs. The larger Atto 2 is also worth a mention, having gone on sale most recently.  

For those regularly using the back seat or travelling long distances, BYD’s equally commendable Atto 3 should be on your list. 

Now in its fourth year on sale in Australia, the entry-level Atto 3 Essential features huge interior space, lavish equipment, solid driving dynamics and a highly competitive entry price of $39,990 before on-road costs. It claims a driving range of 345km (WLTP). 

Read more: First Australian Drive of Cheapest New EV!

Read more: BYD Dolphin 2024 review

Read more: BYD Atto 3 Premium 2026 review

MG4 EV Urban

Body Shape: Small hatchback

Price: From $31,990 drive-away

Battery size: 43.0kWh – 54.0kWh

Rated driving range: 316km – 405km

Claimed rapid DC charge time: 28 – 30 minutes

The MG4 Urban continues on an admirable path of small, well packaged electric vehicles released by MG, following in the footsteps of the similarly-named (but rear-drive) MG4 and larger MG S5.

The smaller MG4 Urban is sold in Essence trim with the choice of two battery sizes: a 43kWh unit priced from $31,990 with an output of 110kW/250Nm and EV driving range of 316km (WLTP), and a larger 54kWh unit, priced from $34,990. The larger battery bumps power to 118kW and driving range to 405km.

Charging is nearly identical for both cars – 28 minutes for the 43 (60kW DC peak) and 30 minutes for the 54 (80kW peak). Both vehicles offer exceptional packaging, with a big 381-litre boot and ample rear passenger space despite a compact vehicle length of 4395mm. 

Close relative MG4 offers a slightly better driving range of 452km (WLTP) and driver-focused handling dynamics for a costlier $39,990 drive-away, while the larger again S5 SUV (from $38,990 DA) focuses on delivering all out value and interior space for larger families.

We could confidently recommend any one of these three MG electric vehicles, though the MG4 Urban EV’s value proposition narrowly beats out its forebears. 

Read more: MG4 Urban 2026 review

Read more: MG4 Long Range Essence 77 2023 review

Read more: MG S5 EV Essence 2025 review

Hyundai Inster

Body Shape: Small SUV

Price: From $39,000 before on-road costs

Battery size: 42.0kWh

Rated driving range: 327km (WLTP)

Claimed rapid DC charge time: 30 minutes

The quirky, cartoon-styled Hyundai Inster blends surprising interior space, usable real world range and simplified, useful interior tech with cute, cheerful visuals in a premium package starting from $39,000 before on-road costs. 

Though the Inster is short in length at just 3.8-metres long, its high roof and clever interior results in genuine space for four adults while retaining a functional boot (up to 351L with seats slid forward). 

The Inster has solid dynamics and an extra level of calibration we’ve come to expect from Hyundai products. In testing, we found Inster’s combined output of 71kW/147Nm and real-world range of 232km–327km to be amicable for a vehicle its size. 

For the range-anxious, an extra $3500 buys the Inster Extended Range, which claims an increased power output of 84kW and tested real-world range between 296km–418km thanks to a larger 49.0kWh battery. Rapid charging for both battery packs takes around 30 minutes, peaking at 120kW DC.

Topping off the Inster range is the Cross, which gains additional niceties over the base car including a sunroof, heated and vented seats, additional parking sensors and more. It shares a drivetrain with the Inster Extended Range – our model-grade of choice for those willing to spend extra. 

Read more: Hyundai Inster 2025 review: Australian first drive

Other affordable electric vehicles worth considering:

The above selections are our favourite affordable electric vehicles under $40,000, though we also recommend further reading into the following commendable choices:

• BYD Atto 3
• MG4
• Jaecoo J5 EV
• MG S5
• Chery-Omoda E5
• BYD Dolphin