As electric vehicles become more affordable, buyers no longer need to spend luxury-car money to make the switch. In Australia, a growing number of budget-friendly electric SUV models are proving that zero-emissions motoring can be attainable without having to spend big bucks.

With SUVs of all types dominating new car sales, it’s little surprise that many of the cheapest EVs on the market also happen to be SUVs. Here are the 10 most affordable electric SUVs on sale in Australia, and how much you’ll need to spend to get behind the wheel of each.

10) MGS5 EV

3

Price: From $42,990 plus on-road costs
Drivetrain: Single-motor electric, 49kWh LFP battery
Power/torque: 125kW/250Nm
Claimed range: 335km (WLTP)

The 10th cheapest electric SUV in Australia is one of our favourites: the MG S5 EV, which builds on the success of the popular MG 4 by wrapping its well-sorted electric underpinnings in a more practical SUV body. Priced from $42,990 plus on-road costs (or currently $41,990 driveaway), it delivers an impressive mix of value, equipment and everyday usability, making it one of the standout buys in the affordable EV segment.

The Excite’s rear-mounted 125kW electric motor gives good performance and it 49kWh battery provides up to 335km of WLTP driving range, though choosing the upper-spec 62kW battery ups the power to 150kW and WLTP range to 450km. Plus, it’s got a spacious cabin, big 453-litre boot and a comfortable, planted driving experience, making the MGS5 EV a great choice for an electric SUV.

9) GAC Aion V

3

Price: From $42,590 plus on-road costs
Drivetrain: Single-motor electric, 75.3kWh LFP battery
Power/torque: 150kW/210Nm
Claimed range: 510km (WLTP)

GAC is one of the most recent brand arrivals into Australia, and its range of products is excellent value for money. Its electric medium SUV, the Aion V is priced from $42,590 plus on-road costs and pairing its sharp pricing with a spacious and good quality cabin, a lot of standard equipment and a healthy driving range.

Power comes from a 150kW/240Nm front-mounted electric motor that’s fed by a 75.3kWh battery that can be DC fast charged at up to 180kW and delivers up to 510km of WLTP driving range. Add in a healthy 427-litre boot, clever interior storage like tray tables on the back of the front seats and a comfortable driving experience, and the Aion V is a solid choice for those looking for a cheap electric SUV.

8) BYD Atto 3

3

Price: From $39,990 plus on-road costs
Drivetrain: Single-motor electric, 49.9kWh LFP battery
Power/torque: 150kW/310Nm
Claimed range: 345km (WLTP)

It might seem like a lifetime ago considering that BYD is such a big brand locally now, but the Atto 3 was actually the first BYD product sold here when it launched in 2022, an it remains one of Australia’s benchmark affordable electric SUVs. Priced from $39,990 plus on-road costs, it offers a lot of standard features and a spacious cabin, despite its relatively compact footprint.

A 150kW/310Nm front-mounted electric motor delivers good performance, while the 49.9kWh battery provides up to 345km of WLTP driving range, which is more than enough range for most people. It’s also comfortable, practical with its 440-litre boot and it also uses BYD’s proven Blade battery technology. It’s easy to see why the Atto 3 continues to be one of the more popular electric SUVs on the market.

7) Hyundai Inster

3

Price: From $39,000 plus on-road costs
Drivetrain: Single-motor electric, 42kWh LFP battery
Power/torque: 71kW/147Nm
Claimed range: 327km (WLTP)

If there were an award for the product with the most personality on this list, the Hyundai Inster would certainly take the gold medal. Priced from $39,000 before on-road costs, Hyundai‘s smallest EV packs an impressive amount of technology, practicality and clever design into a budget-friendly package. The Standard Range model pairs a 71kW/147Nm electric motor with a 42kWh battery, delivering up to 327km of WLTP driving range, which is fine for its intended city usage.

Inside the Inster is a more practical cabin than you might imagine thanks to its awesome sliding and reclining rear seats that allow for either more cargo or rear cabin space, as well as excellent headroom thanks to the tall body. It’s also well equipped across the range, and while other options on this list offer more car for the money, the Inster impresses with its practicality and fun driving experience.

6) Forthing Taikon 5

3

Price: From $38,990 driveaway
Drivetrain: Single-motor electric, 64.4kWh LFP battery
Power/torque: 150kW/340Nm
Claimed range: 427km (WLTP)

Forthing is the latest Chinese brand to launch in Australia with the Taikon 5 as its first product. Unlike most other options on this list, the Taikon 5 is actually classified as a medium SUV, giving buyers more metal for the money than a lot of rivals here. Priced from $38,990 drive-way, it’s Australia’s most affordable midsize EV SUV, yet comes loaded with equipment including a 14.6-inch touchscreen, adaptive cruise control, vehicle-to-load capability and even a massaging driver’s seat.

A 150kW/340Nm front-mounted electric motor and 64kWh battery deliver up to 427km of WLTP driving range, while the spacious five-seat cabin and long standard safety equipment list is impressive too. The Taikon 5 is a lot of car for the money, and we’re predicting that it will sell well because of that.

5) Chery E5

3

Price: From $37,990 driveaway
Drivetrain: Single-motor electric, 58.9kWh LFP battery
Power/torque: 155kW/288Nm
Claimed range: 430km (WLTP)

The Chery E5 has long been one of Chery’s best value products and the latest model is no different. It’s priced from just $37,990 driveaway, it combines a generous equipment list with a practical five-seat cabin, making it one of Australia’s most attainable electric SUVs. A 155kW front-mounted electric motor and 58.9kWh LFP battery provide up to 430km of WLTP driving range, while DC fast charging can take the battery from 30 to 80 per cent in as little as 28 minutes.

Inside, the dual 12.3-inch displays, wireless phone charging, comfortable seating and – in a move that’s still very rare in the electric car market – a full-sized spare wheel, the E5 offers a level of equipment and excellent comfort that makes it a smart buy in Australia’s growing electric SUV market.

4) Leapmotor B10

3

Price: From $37,888 plus on-road costs
Drivetrain: Single-motor electric, 56.2kWh LFP battery
Power/torque: 160kW/240Nm
Claimed range: 361km (WLTP)

The Leapmotor B10 is proof that fun-to-drive electric SUVs no longer need to be expensive. Priced from $37,888 plus on-road costs, it packs a lot of technology and comfort into a keenly priced package, with premium features including a panoramic glass roof, 360-degree camera and a 14.6-inch touchscreen standard across the range.

A rear-mounted 160kW/240Nm e-motor provides brisk performance, while the 56.2kWh battery provides up to 361km of WLTP range in the entry-level Design model. Its cabin is spacious for five people and it can carry up to 490 litres of whatever in the boot, making it quite a practical choice, despite its small exterior dimensions.

3) Jaecoo J5 EV

3

Price: From $36,990 driveaway
Drivetrain: Single-motor electric, 58.9kWh LFP
Power/torque: 155kW/288Nm
Claimed range: 402km (WLTP)

The Jaecoo J5 EV makes a strong first impression by packing plenty of kit into an aggressively priced package. Launching with a price of $36,990 driveaway, the single-spec Summit combines a long list of features with surprising practicality, making it one of Australia’s best-value electric SUVs.

Power for the J5 EV comes from a 155kW/288Nm e-motor, which is fed by a 64kWh battery to deliver up to 402km of WLTP driving range. The J5’s cabin is spacious for four adults and features cool features for family life, like wipe down seat upholstery and an inbuilt karaoke mode for the huge portrait touchscreen. It features a large 480-litre boot, is otherwise very well equipped and is even covered by a long eight-year/unlimited warranty.

2) GWM Ora 5

3

Price: From $33,990 driveaway
Drivetrain: Single-motor electric, 58.3kWh LFP battery
Power/torque: 150kW/260Nm
Claimed range: 370km (WLTP)

The GWM Ora 5 stands out as one of Australia’s best-value electric SUVs, combining a sharp drive-away price with a generous list of standard equipment. Priced from $33,990 driveaway for the entry-level Lux and $36,990 driveaway for the upper-spec Ultra, it offers impressive bang for your buck without feeling stripped out. In fact, it offers a good quality cabin and a lot of in-car tech.

Power comes from a 150kW/260Nm front-mounted e-motor, delivering a claimed 0–100km/h time of 8.0 seconds, which is more than quick enough. A 58.3kWh battery provides up to 370km of WLTP driving range. Add seating for five, a large 362-litre boot, vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability and a long list of standard features, and the Ora 5 shapes as a compelling budget EV that’s more than just its low price.

1) BYD Atto 2

3

Price: From $31,990 plus on-road costs
Drivetrain: Single-motor electric, 51.3kWh LFP battery
Power/torque: 130kW/290Nm
Claimed range: 345km (WLTP)

The BYD Atto 2 proves that buying an electric SUV no longer requires a big budget. Priced from just $31,990 plus on-road costs, it’s currently Australia’s cheapest electric SUV, undercutting every direct rival while still offering a generous equipment list and excellent practicality. It’s a compelling product and as a result of that and its affordability, it’s selling quite well in Australia this year.

A 130kW/290Nm front-mounted electric motor delivers reasonable performance, while its 51.3kWh battery offers up a healthy claimed WLTP driving range of 345km. Inside, the Atto 2 is spacious especially in the rear seat, and it features a useful 380-litre boot and plenty of technology, like a large 10.1-inch (or 12.8-inch in the top-spec Premium) touchscreen. If you’re seeking an affordable electric SUV, the BYD Atto 2 is currently the cheapest you can buy.

The next five cheapest electric SUVs: