Balancing the budget is no easy task, so when the time comes for a car that’s safe, reliable, and won’t break the bank as it competes with your other living expenses, it can be hard to know where to start.

This list of Australia’s 10 cheapest medium SUVs can help you get your head around where to start when looking for a budget-friendly new car. All 10 start below $40,000, and Australia’s cheapest medium SUV will even see you leave with change from $30,000.

Just because you’re shopping with affordability in mind doesn’t mean you need to miss out, with two plug-in hybrids on the list. Of course, Chinese brands feature heavily, with six places in the top 10, but you can even get into a Euro-branded (but not built) SUV without breaking the budget.

10. Kia Sportage S

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The Kia Sportage is a great example of an affordable SUV that doesn’t force you to compromise on space or style. From the outside, it has a bold design that looks premium, and on the inside, it has a big boot and space for the whole family.

Pricing starts from $38,490 plus on-road costs for the entry-level Sportage S, which comes with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, a six-speed automatic, and suspension and steering fine-tuned in Australia to ensure the Sportage can handle the worst that Aussie roads have to offer. 

Price: From $38,490 plus on-road costs
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power: 115kW
Torque: 192Nm
Fuel consumption: 8.1L/100km
Warranty: Seven years/unlimited km
Boot capacity: 543L to rear seats

9. Nissan X-Trail ST

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The Nissan X-Trail received an update at the start of 2026 that saw even the base model ST grade equipped with a 12.3-inch infotainment screen, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and a wireless phone charger.

The X-Trail also benefits from a body that’s designed to accommodate seven seats. While the cheapest X-Trail ST is only a five-seater, it gets a huge boot, sliding back seats, and a configurable cargo area that makes it a breeze to live with.

Under the bonnet, you’ll find a 2.5-litre petrol engine and CVT automatic driving the front wheels. Owners may also be eligible for Nissan’s 10-year warranty if service conditions are met.

Price: From $38,140 plus on-road costs
Engine: 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol
Transmission: CVT automatic
Power: 135kW
Torque: 244Nm
Fuel consumption: 7.4L/100km
Warranty: Up to 10 years/300,000km
Boot capacity: 585L to rear seats

8. KGM Torres ELX

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KGM is something of an unsung value champion in Australia, but don’t worry if you’re not familiar with this South Korean brand; you may know it by its previous identity, Ssangyong.

The KGM Torres features styling inspired by bigger and more rugged SUVs from KGM’s past, but rides on a passenger-car style platform, with a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine driving the front wheels via a six-speed automatic.

The Torres is backed by a seven-year, unlimited kilometre warranty. To make purchasing simple, KGM’s entire range features driveaway pricing.

Price: From $38,000 driveaway
Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power: 120kW
Torque: 280Nm
Fuel consumption: 7.4L/100km
Warranty: Seven years/unlimited km
Boot capacity: 465L to rear seats

7. Jaecoo J7 Track

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Jaecoo believes that style need not be expensive, and the Jaecoo J7 delivers handsome Range Rover-inspired styling at a fraction of the price. As a part of the Chinese Chery Group, Jaecoo shares engines and technologies with Chery and Omoda-badged vehicles.

Jaecoo supports the J7 with an impressive eight-year warranty, and equips the base model with features you’d normally expect to find in a range-topping model, like a wireless phone charger, 13.2-inch touchscreen, heated front seats with electric adjustment, and a powered tailgate.

Look out for regular discounts and buyer incentives that make the Jaecoo range even cheaper.

Price: From $37,990 driveaway
Engine: 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic
Power: 137kW
Torque: 275Nm
Fuel consumption: 7.0L/100km
Warranty: Eight years/unlimited km
Boot capacity: 424L to rear seats

6. Geely Starray EM-i Complete

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Geely offers a plug-in hybrid medium SUV at a price that undercuts petrol-powered rivals. The entry-level Geely Starray EM-i Complete starts from $37,490 plus on-road costs.

The Geely Starray has an EV driving range of 83km (WLTP), while official fuel consumption is rated at 2.4L/100km. Although the Starray only comes with five seats, it is slightly longer than seven-seat medium SUVs like the Honda CR-V or Nissan X-Trail, resulting in more space inside.

Price: From $37,490 plus on-road costs
Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder PHEV
Transmission: Dedicated hybrid transmission
Power: 160kW
Torque: 262Nm
Fuel consumption: 2.4L/100km, 83km EV range
Warranty: Sean years/unlimited km
Boot capacity: 428L to rear seats

5. GWM Haval H6 Lux

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GWM’s steady growth in the medium SUV segment stems from the brand’s continual improvement and its ability to respond to Australian buyers. One of the most powerful engines, one of the biggest boots, and a locally tuned suspension set-up give it an edge, even in its cheapest form.

GWM offers a comprehensive list of standard features, like 19-inch alloy wheels, auto lights and wipers, wireless phone charging, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, eight-speaker audio, and 360-degree cameras.

GWM regularly offers further discounts and pricing promotions, too, so depending on special offers, the final price could be even lower.

Price: From $35,990 driveaway
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol
Transmission: Nine-speed dual-clutch automatic
Power: 170kW
Torque: 380Nm
Fuel consumption: 7.4L/100km
Warranty: Seven years/unlimited km
Boot capacity: 560L to rear seats

4. Renault Koleos Evolution

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European cars aren’t always renowned for their affordability, but one of Australia’s cheapest SUVs comes from French brand, Renault. While the design is European, the Koleos is manufactured in South Korea and shares its mechanical package with the previous-generation Nissan X-Trail.

Still, Renault equips the $34,990 (plus on-road costs) Koleos Evolution with leather trim, heated front seats, a powered tailgate, hands-free park assist, walk-away proximity locking, and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty is also included.

Price: From $34,990 plus on-road costs
Engine: 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol
Transmission: CVT automatic
Power: 126kW
Torque: 226Nm
Fuel consumption: 8.1L/100km
Warranty: Five years/unlimited km
Boot capacity: 458L to rear seats

3. BYD Sealion 5 Essence

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Not only is the BYD Sealion 5 one of Australia’s most affordable medium SUVs, but it is also Australia’s cheapest plug-in hybrid of any vehicle type. That’s impressive, and to get there BYD hasn’t cut corners on size or equipment.

BYD claims you’ll cover up to 71km on EV range alone, fuel consumption is rated at 1.2L/100km when charged, or 4.5L/100km once electric range is depleted. BYD offers a six-year/150,000km warranty, and while it’s not the largest in its class, boot space measures a still-useful 463 litres.

Price: From $33,990 plus on-road costs
Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder PHEV
Transmission: Dedicated hybrid transmission
Power: 156kW
Torque: 300Nm
Fuel consumption: 1.2L/100km, 71km EV range
Warranty: Six years/150,000km
Boot capacity: 463L to rear seats

2. MG HS Vibe

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MG has maintained its position as one of Australia’s most accessible brands, with the mid-size HS SUV starting at a lower price than many smaller SUVs from established brands.

The MG HS range is covered by a five-star ANCAP safety rating, and up to 10 years warranty, provided MG’s service conditions are met. MG also ticks boxes with a big 507-litre boot, plenty of interior space, and equipment like a 12.3-inch infotainment screen, auto-on LED headlights, keyless entry and start, adaptive cruise control, driver attention monitoring, and more.

Priced from $33,990 driveaway with a 125kW 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine, the MG HS blends solid on-road behaviour with a surprisingly affordable price. Further discounts and promotions are available, meaning the MG HS can be priced even lower at times.

Price: From $33,990 driveaway
Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic
Power: 125kW
Torque: 275Nm
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
Warranty: Up to 10 years/250,000km
Boot capacity: 507L to rear seats

10. Chery Tiggo 7 Urban

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The most affordable new medium SUV in Australia, the Chery Tiggo 7, starts from a barely believable $29,990 driveaway, putting it on par with much smaller SUVs and city cars.

To get the price so low, Chery has traded off a few headline features, with a tame 108kW/210Nm engine and, unlike when it first launched, the removal of a full-sized spare wheel, a driver’s knee airbag, and a Sony-branded stereo.

Still, the Chery Tiggo 7 keeps a 12.3-inch infotainment screen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 18-inch alloy wheels, LED head- and tail-lights, adaptive cruise control, speed limit information with warning, and second row air vents. A seven-year, unlimited kilometre warranty is also included.

Price: From $29,990 driveaway
Engine: 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol
Transmission: Six-speed dual-clutch automatic
Power: 108kW
Torque: 210Nm
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
Warranty: Seven years/unlimited km
Boot capacity: Not provided

Can I get a discount on a medium SUV?

Along with the recommended retail prices shown here, you may be able to drive a deal on an ex-demonstrator vehicle that’s in stock. At particular times of the year, like the end of the financial year or the end of the calendar year, additional discounts and promotions are also available.

Prices listed in this article may differ where offers apply, and the published prices detailed here are based on manufacturers’ recommended retail prices. In instances where a price excludes on-road costs, or if options are added, your final price may be different.