Australia's budget EV field reshaped as sub-$32,000 models crowd the market

The new price floor: BYD Atto 1 and its drive-away special

The BYD Atto 1 has taken over as Australia's cheapest new electric car, listing from $23,990 plus on-road costs. At the time of writing, cartell.tv reports BYD is running a $19,990 drive-away special on the base Essential variant, making it the first EV sold in Australia to crack $20,000 on the road. The publication describes it as a small city hatch suited to town driving and easy parking rather than long trips, but a reset of what 'cheap' means for a first EV or a second car. ²

Specification details for the entry car are consistent across sources. The Essential carries a 30kWh LFP battery (listed as 30.1kWh in zecar.com's database, synced from manufacturer specifications) and is rated at 220km WLTP, according to zecar.com and dmarge.com. Gridly adds that the Premium variant costs about $28,990 drive-away, uses a larger 43.2kWh LFP battery and lifts WLTP range to 310km, and that both variants carry a 6-year/150,000km battery warranty. ⁴⁶⁵

Finder's comparison page, updated in early October 2026, lists an indicative drive-away price of $27,100 for the entry Atto 1, describing the figures as starting prices checked at the time of writing that shift by state. That is a different basis from cartell.tv's $19,990 drive-away special and zecar.com's $23,990 RRP, so buyers comparing sources should confirm the current drive-away figure with a dealer, as cartell.tv itself advises given that prices at this end move monthly. ¹⁴²

Geely EX2 arrives to challenge the bargain basement

The Geely EX2 is the standout newcomer. Cartell.tv reports it lists from $26,490 plus on-road costs, landing at about $29,800 drive-away, and describes it as a well-equipped small hatch with a long warranty from a brand new to Australia. Zecar.com's database lists the EX2 (Complete and Inspire grades) at $26,490 RRP with a 35.4kWh battery, 252km WLTP range and 140 Wh/km efficiency. ²⁴

Cartell.tv's view is that the EX2 proves the Atto 1 will not have the bargain basement to itself, running it close on the road. It positions the EX2 as the cheapest on-road option among the fresh challengers, while noting that Geely is still establishing itself locally. ²

Dolphin, MG4 and Atto 2: the $30,000-$32,000 tier

Just above the price floor, the BYD Dolphin starts at $29,990 plus on-road costs, according to cartell.tv, which calls it the car that made cheap EVs credible in Australia and the pick for buyers wanting a genuine small hatch with a roomier cabin and more range rather than a city runabout. Zecar.com lists the Dolphin (Essential and Premium) at $29,990 RRP with 340km WLTP range from a 44.9kWh battery. ²⁴

The MG4 Urban now opens at $31,990 drive-away, a figure cartell.tv notes is a genuine on-the-road price rather than a sticker, and it judges the MG4 the best to drive of the budget crowd, being rear-wheel drive and properly sorted. Dmarge.com's review details the Urban at 4395mm long with a 2750mm wheelbase and a 480-litre boot, a 43kWh battery good for 323km WLTP (with a 54kWh option reaching 415km), 10-80% DC charging in around 30 minutes, a 12.8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay, a 360-degree camera, seven airbags and a conditional 10-year, 250,000km warranty. ²⁶

The BYD Atto 2 rounds out the tier at $31,990 plus on-road costs, according to cartell.tv, which recommends it for buyers who want the higher-riding small SUV shape at this price. Zecar.com lists the Atto 2 (Dynamic and Premium) with 345km WLTP range from a 45.1kWh battery. The GAC Aion UT also lists at $31,990 in zecar.com's database, with 430km WLTP range from a 60kWh battery, the longest claimed range of any car at this price point in the list. ²⁴

Beyond the headline five: the wider budget field

Several more models sit just above $32,000. Zecar.com lists the GWM Ora 5 SUV at $33,990 RRP with 430km WLTP range, the Leapmotor B05 at $35,888 RRP with 482km from a 65kWh battery, and the GWM Ora hatch (Lux and GT) at $35,990 RRP with 400km. Cartell.tv separately reports the GWM Ora from $33,990 drive-away and Finder lists the Ora at $33,990 drive-away with about 400km; the figures differ in basis and date, with zecar.com's 8 October 2026 update the latest listed position, so the current drive-away price should be checked directly. ⁴²¹

Cartell.tv's extended list includes the Hyundai Inster from $39,000 plus on-road costs, the updated BYD Atto 3 Evo from $41,990 plus on-road costs, the Geely EX5 at the same price, the MG S5 EV from $42,990 plus on-road costs and the Kia EV3 from $47,600 plus on-road costs. Gridly's guide adds the Chery E5 (formerly sold under the Omoda name) from $36,990 before on-road costs with 430km WLTP, and the MG ZS EV Excite at $34,990 drive-away with 320km, noting the ZS EV is being phased out in favour of the MGS5 EV. ²⁵

Market context and running costs behind the shift

The affordable end has expanded quickly. Emu Money's guide reports there are now 15 electric cars available in Australia under $40,000 and two under $30,000, where two years ago buying an EV typically meant $60,000 or more for a Tesla or a premium for limited choice. It cites a record 103,270 battery electric vehicles sold in Australia in 2025, 8.3% of all new vehicle sales, according to Electric Vehicle Council data it references. ³

Gridly cites Electric Vehicle Council data from January 2026 putting EV market share at 13.1% in 2025, up from 9.6% in 2024. The two share figures are not directly comparable, as emu money's 8.3% refers specifically to battery electric vehicles as a share of all new vehicle sales, and both should be read against their respective sources' definitions. ⁵³

Running costs are a key part of the pitch. Emu Money calculates that at fuel prices above $2 a litre, a typical petrol car at 7L/100km costs about $14-$16 per 100km, while an efficient EV using about 15kWh/100km costs roughly $3.75-$5.25 depending on the electricity rate, saving roughly $1,500-$1,800 a year over 15,000km. Zecar.com estimates annual home-charging energy costs of $310-$324 for the MG4 Urban, Atto 2 and Dolphin, assuming 12,000km a year at 20c/kWh off-peak. Finder notes a full home charge costs roughly $25-$40 versus $80-$120 for a tank of petrol. ³⁴¹

Purchase timing has a tax dimension. Finder reports that under the federal Electric Car Discount, eligible EVs priced under the 2026-27 fuel-efficient LCT threshold of $91,661 remain fully FBT-exempt on novated leases until 31 March 2027, with proposed changes from the 2026-27 Budget to apply a reduced 25% discount to EVs over $75,000 from 1 April 2027 and to all eligible EVs from 1 April 2029, and existing leases expected to be grandfathered. Finder stresses these changes are proposed, not law, and recommends professional tax advice. Gridly reports the same exemption timeline, noting every car on its budget list qualifies. ¹⁵