What's the best electric vehicle under $80k on sale in Australia in October 2021?

From the stalwart Nissan Leaf to Hyundai’s latest IONIQ 5, there’s a great range of battery electric vehicles available in Australia under $80,000.

Most will agree that electric vehicles in Australia are still expensive when compared to their petrol and diesel equivalents on an upfront cost basis, but this difference quickly evaporates over the total ownership period. The upfront purchase price has slowly been falling over the last few years however, as the EV market is becoming more competitive by the month in Australia. With an increasing number of rebates and concessions available across the Australian states and territories, incentives are there for buyers to jump into a BEV, and reduce their initial outlay. Stamp duty is waived on EVs in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and in New South Wales (NSW), while rebates will soon be available in Victoria, Tasmania and NSW up to a set cap of total EV registrations.

So where should your money go if you’re in the market for an electric vehicle in 2021? We’ve set an $80,000 top end limit for this list; Australia’s average annual income is around $90,000 a year, and 19 of the 47 EVs on sale in this country are priced between $40,000 and $80,000 MSRP, accounting for the majority of zero-emissions vehicle sales. Scroll down to see all the models available (in alphabetical order), and which car tops our list.

Hyundai Ioniq

Hyundai’s Ioniq Electric has led the brand’s EV charge since 2017. Image: Hyundai Australia

Price	From $49,970
Battery Size	38.3 kWh
Range (WLTP Combined)	311 km
Efficiency	13.8 kWh/100km
10-80% Charge Time	47 minutes
Power/Torque	100 kW/295 Nm

Hyundai’s Ioniq Electric sedan (not to be confused with the latest IONIQ 5) is the grandfather of this list, and despite a facelift in 2020 jazzing up the exterior styling, the Ioniq Electric is still a little bland, lacking the chutzpah and in-car technology of rivals. That’s not to say the Ioniq Electric is a dud; While it may “only” have a 38.3 kWh battery, Hyundai’s engineers have wrung respectable performance and efficiency out of this car, with a 0-100 km/h time of 9.7 seconds, a WLTP range of 311 km, a real-world range of closer to 273 km, and an energy consumption figure of 13.8 kWh per 100 km. It features a no-nonsense cabin, with good interior quality, and in all honesty, would perfectly suit the needs of a driver who wanted an urban runabout with no emissions. Priced from $49,970, The Ioniq Electric Elite is the second-cheapest EV on sale in Australia, behind MG’s $40,990 ZS EV. For your money, you get a 10.25” touchscreen infortainment system, 16-inch alloy wheels, DAB+ digital radio, parking sensors with reversing camera, Infinity premium audio system, smartphone mirroring, and a smart key with push button start. Hyundai offers a 5 year/unlimited km warranty, and an 8 year/160,000 km battery warranty.

Hyundai IONIQ 5

Hyundai’s IONIQ 5 has just landed in Australia, and there’s nothing like it on the roads. Image: Hyundai Australia

Price	From $71,900
Battery Size	72.6 kWh
Range (WLTP Combined)	451-430 km
Efficiency	17.9-19 kWh/100km
10-80% charge time	18 minutes
Power/Torque	160 kW/350 Nm - 225 kW/605 Nm

The IONIQ 5 represents the latest and greatest in terms of design and technology. With the Australian public able to order the IONIQ 5 from October 12, This chunky retro-SUV — the first vehicle from Hyundai to be based on the new E-GMP modular architecture — makes a bold style statement, and is perfect for drivers looking to stand out from the hoards of Tesla Model 3s in the inner city. Priced from $71,900 for the 160 kW/350 Nm rear-wheel drive variant, the IONIQ 5 features a 72.5 kWh battery pack, and clever electrical architecture that allows the car to charge from 10-80 percent in just eighteen minutes on a 350 kW DC fast charger. WIth a huge wheelbase, “zero gravity” seats, a spacious interior and V2L — the ability to power household devices through the car — The IONIQ 5 deserves your consideration. While 2021’s initial allocation for Australia is already sold out, we expect Hyundai to announce 2022 stock later this year. Read more of our IONIQ 5 coverage here.

Hyundai Kona Electric

Hyundai’s Kona Electric is a fun, fast electric crossover with style and performance, but lacks cargo carrying capacity.

Price	From $62,000
Battery Size	39.2 kWh - 64 kWh
Range (WLTP Combined)	308km - 485 km
Efficiency	14.3 -15.4 kWh/100km
10-80% charge time	50 min (SR), 44 min (ER)
Power/Torque	100-150 kW/395 Nm

The Kona Electric compact SUV is a familar sight on Australian roads, and the electric variant underwent a facelift earlier this year. While the Kona isn’t the most spacious small SUV, it’s contemporary styling, great performance, and 5 year/unlimited kilometre warranty make it a compelling option for those partial to an elevated driving position. Unfortunately the interior of the Kona wasn’t afforded the same refresh as the exterior, with a slightly dated feel, but the Kona is a comfortable place to be, and offers a digital instrument cluster, Android Auto and Apple Carplay, and features like heated and cooled seats, LED headlights and a head up display on the top-spec Highlander model. Hyundai’s Kona Electric is impressively accurate with its range estimates too; you’ll have no problems squeezing 400 kilometres of driving out of this 64 kWh battery. Hyundai has also just launched an entry-level 39.2 kWh model, giving buyers the option of a 308 km range Kona Electric for $54,500 plus on road costs.

Kia Niro Electric

The Kia Niro EV is a competent all-rounder with plenty of space and excellent on-road dynamics.

Price	From $62,590
Battery Size	64 kWh
Range (WLTP Combined)	455 km
Efficiency	14.9 kWh/100km
10-80% charge time	45 minutes
Power/Torque	150 kW/395 Nm

Kia’s Niro EV drives and performs much the same as its sister from the Hyundai family, but with a longer wheelbase and body, the Niro Electric is more suitable as a family hauler. Though buyers must sacrifice a bit of style for this pragmatic crossover, The Kia is capable and offers enough space for a young family. We found the ride to be a bit firmer than that of the Kona Electric, But the interior is still a comfortable place to be. Two models are available; a Niro EV S and an EV Sport. Both offer the same 150 kW/395 Nm motor of Hyundai, and bettering Hyundai, the Niro EV comes with a 7 year unlimited kilometre warranty, and an 8 year battery warranty. Check out our review of the Niro EV here

Mazda MX30 E35 Electric

Mazda’s MX30 E35 Electric is a design-driven crossover, but with limited range and an asking price of $65,490.

Price	From $65,490
Battery Size	35.5 kWh
Range (WLTP Combined)	200 km
Efficiency	15.0 kWh/100km
10-80% charge time	42 minutes
Power/Torque	107 kW/271 Nm

Mazda’s MX30 is a bit of an odd one; with a smaller battery capacity than all vehicles in this list bar Mini’s Electric city car, its 200km range and $65,490 price will likely relegate it to a niche product (within an already niche segment). It’s not all bad news though; if one is willing to stump up this cash, one will discover a very design-focused compact crossover, brimming with Mazda DNA, technology, and cool details. In fact, Mazda sees most buyers for the MX30 will be fans or current owners of the brand. Is that confidence in its product positioning? Or acceptance of limited consumer interest? Truth be told, the 200km WLTP range of the MX30 is probably enough for most Australians’ commutes and errands for a few days, but we can’t help but think this small battery offering would be much more compelling close to the MG ZS EV’s price point. And don’t mention the reverse-opening rear door. Mazda offers a 5 year/unlimited km warranty in Australia, and an 8 year/160,000km battery warranty.

Mercedes-Benz EQA 250

The Mercedes-Benz EQA 250 should attract well-heel buyers, and encourage more to dip their toes into the world of EVs.

Price	From $76,800
Battery Size	79.8 kWh
Range (WLTP Combined)	398 km
Efficiency	15.6 kWh/100km
10-80% charge time	30 minutes
Power/Torque	140 kW/375 Nm

The EQA from Mercedes-Benz is a charged-up version of the petrol-engined GLA, and is similarly sized to Hyundai’s Kona Electric and Kia’s Niro EV with a 2,729mm wheelbase. Unfortunately, the EQA is a bit of a porker, tipping the scales at 2,040kg. This results in a relaxed 0-100 km/h time of 8.9 seconds, but the 375 Nm of torque should still provide ample get-up off the traffic lights. It carries the distinctive Mercedes-Benz EQ design DNA quite well, though we’d much rather an electrified A-Class than a high-riding crossover. While the design is quite restrained, that dinner plate-sized emblem and gloss-black front will command attention. On the inside, It’s typical Germanic quality, with the EQA carrying over Mercedes’ twin-screen MBUX dashboard. Mercedes-Benz now offers a 5 year/unlimited km warranty in Australia, and an 8 year/160,000 km battery warranty.

MG ZS EV

The MG ZS EV is a great looking EV bargain, priced from $40,990. Image: MG Australia

Price	From $40,990
Battery Size	44.5 kWh
Range (WLTP Combined)	263 km
Efficiency	18.6 kWh/100km
10-80% charge time	50 minutes
Power/Torque	105 kW/353 Nm

The MG ZS EV is a real headline grabber in the Australian EV market; sure, it is a compact crossover like the Hyundai Kona Electric, and “only” offers 263 km WLTP range, but it holds the crown for cheapest battery electric vehicle on sale in Australia, priced from $40,990. MG Motor is a subsidiary of Chinese automotive behemoth SAIC, and has surprised many with the quality, refinement and engineering of its vehicles, despite the attractive entry prices. The ZS EV includes limited information on charging and efficiency for those of us EV nerds, but offers many creature comforts, including an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with phone mirroring, heated front seats, parking sensors with a reversing camera, 17-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic sunroof, adaptive cruise control with stop-go functionality and more. It also offers a five star Euro NCAP rating, with active safety systems including forward collision waring with autonomous braking, lane keeping/lane departure assist, and rear cross traffic alert. Sadly, the ZS EV still features halogen headlights; an odd cost saving measure when LEDs are far more efficient in the lighting department. The ZS EV also charges at 50kW peak rate, taking 45 minutes to reach 80 percent charge. MG Motor Australia offers a seven year/unlimited km warranty across its vehicle range, which also covers the lithium ion battery.

Mini Electric

Mini’s Electric combines the style and refinement of the Mini range, with a battery electric drivetrain. Image: Mini Australia

Price	From $54,800
Battery Size	32.6 kWh
Range (WLTP Combined)	233 km
Efficiency	15.6 kWh/100km
10-80% charge time	28 minutes
Power/Torque	135 kW/270 Nm

What’s not to like about an electric Mini? Combining the style and quality associated with BMW’s retro hatch with an electric drivetrain is a great concept, and while the Mini Electric is a fine car, it’s not all the EV it could have been.

Rather than a dedicated electric vehicle platform and drivetrain, BMW has chosen to retrofit the BMW i3 drivetrain and battery into a Mini body, resulting in a car that quite literally uses yesterday’s technology. While not awful, the Mini is hamstrung by its price of $54,800. It’s not a cheap city car, but only offers a WLTP range of 233km from its 32.6 kWh battery supplied by CATL. The Mini tops out 50 kW when DC fast charging, so it’ll take a good 30 minutes to charge from 10-80 percent. It’s a little tubby for a Mini too at 1,440 kg, but still offers a 0-100 km/h time of 7.3 seconds thanks to its 135 kW 270 Nm front-mounted motor.

For the money, you do get a choice of five colours, a choice of 3 different 17 inch alloy wheel designs, rear view camera with parking assistant, LED headlights, wireless Apple Carplay and MINI navigation, a digital radio and home charging cable.

We’re sure the Mini Electric will still have a cabal of fans in Australia — those who must have the classic Mini style in a zero-emissions package — but those fans will have to have overlooked more spacious and more efficient EVs with better performance in the name of style. Mini offers a 3 year unlimited km warranty on the Electric model in Australia.

Nissan Leaf/Leaf e+

The Nissan Leaf has been the inspiration for many battery electric vehicles, and now comes in two variants. Image: Nissan Australia

Price	From $49,990
Battery Size	40-62 kWh
Range (WLTP Combined)	270 - 385 km
Efficiency	13.3-14.5 kWh/100km
10-80% charge time	52 minutes
Power/Torque	110 kW/320 Nm - 160 kW/340 Nm

The Nissan Leaf is of course the stalwart of the electric vehicle scene in Australia. Loyal, dependable, always in the background of electric vehicle media announcements and launches, without ever really capturing much attention (or many sales). It’s style is driven by practicality — good aerodynamics, visibility and interior cabin space/comfort are the basis for its uneventful design. Priced from $49,990 in standard guise, the Leaf offers 270 km WLTP range from its 40 kWh battery. Buyers can upgrade to the Leaf e+ for $60,490, upping the WLTP range to 385 km from a 62 kWh battery. This provides similar usability to a Tesla Model 3 for the price. Unfortunately for the Leaf, Nissan has stuck with an older air-cooled battery design, rather than opting for liquid cooling. This ultimately affects the longevity of the Leaf’s batteries, as stable thermal management is key to long-term durability. The Leaf range also takes around 52 minutes at a rate of 50 kW to charge, utilising the CHAdeMO Japanese plug. While CHAdeMO is still found at most DC chargers, the Combined Charging System (CCS) plug seems to be the standard most manufacturers are adopting. Nissan Australia offers a 5 year/unlimited km warranty with the Leaf, and an 8 year/160,000 km warranty on battery defects.

Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus/ Long Range

Tesla’s Model 3 is a competent all rounder, priced from $59,990. Image: Tesla

Price	From $59,900
Battery Size	55-82 kWh
Range (WLTP Combined)	440-567 km
Efficiency	14.2.-16.5 kWh/100km
10-80% charge time	25-34 minutres
Power/Torque	211 kW/375 Nm - 420kW/660Nm

The Tesla Model 3 doesn’t need much introduction; It’s the wunderkind of the Tesla range, single-handedly driving sales and revenue for the US automaker, and familiarising millions of people with battery-electric vehicles at the same time. The price of the Model 3 range has fallen since its introduction to Australia in 2019, and both the Standard Range Plus ($59,990 MSRP) and Long Range ($73,400 MSRP) make our sub-$80k list. They offer 440 km and 567 km of WLTP rated range respectively, more performance than you really need, and Tesla’s trademark spartan interior. While the Model 3 does have a steep learning curve, we feel the trade-off is a net positive for drivers; one of the best user interfaces in the business, seamless vehicle control from your mobile phone, allowing you to schedule charging, check vehicle status, and set the cabin temperature, constant over-the-air (OTA) updates, and a supercharger network (in Australia and globally) that provides peace of mind on any road trip. Tesla offers a 4 year/80,000 km warranty in Australia, alongside an 8 year/240,000 km battery warranty. You can check out our full review here.

Volvo XC40 Electric

Volvo’s XC40 Recharge is a 300 kW family SUV. Image: Volvo UK

Price	From $76,990
Battery Size	78 kWh
Range (WLTP Combined)	400 km
Efficiency	28.8 kWh/100km
10-80% charge time	33 minutes
Power/Torque	150 kW/330 Nm

300 kW of power and 650 Nm of torque from Volvo’s XC40 Recharge SUV. Let that sink in for a moment. Volvo’s most powerful car, well, ever is a 2 tonne-plus family SUV that hits 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds. There’s only one drivetrain and battery choice, pairing a 78 kWh battery with twin electric motors and all wheel drive. Volvo states a WLTP combined range of 418 km, and the XC40 Recharge can charge at 150 kW maximum speed. Although there’s little to differentiate the all electric XC 40 from its hybrid and petrol siblings, that’s also a good thing; inside you’ll find Volvo’s usual high quality interior, equipped with the new Android Automotive infotainment system (shared with the Polestar 2), keyless entry and start, LED headlights, digital radio and satellite navigation, and heated seats all round. There’s autonomous front and rear emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, rear cross-traffic alert and hill descent control. Priced from $76,990, we think it’s pretty good value considering inclusions and performance, and while the XC40 design is familiar, it is certainly aging well. Volvo offers a five year/unlimited km warranty in Australia, and an eight year battery warranty.

Verdict

In our eyes — although not necessarily the vehicle that the EV Brief family would purchase — Tesla’s Model 3 in Standard Range + guise is a compelling package that offers performance, technology, efficiency, range and practicality, all at a comparatively reasonable price. Starting from $59,900 MSRP in Australia (around $64,000 drive away) the Model 3 is a spacious family sedan with 400km real-world range that provides an ownership experience sure to convince Australians that the future is electric. In fact, we’d argue the Model 3 has already achieved price parity in its market segment when comparing it to similarly equipped entry-level cars from the likes of BMW and Audi; It’ll cost you around $70-75,000 to get into a BMW 330i or Audi A4 45 TSI.

The impression of good design, value, and practicality are all incredibly subjective when it comes to the automobile of course, hence why there is so much choice for consumers at the moment. While the Mazda Mx-30 or Hyundai Kona Electric may offer little to die-hard Tesla fans, there are others who will be charmed by the design, features and driving experience on offer from the Japanese and Korean brands.

Tesla’s Model 3 does however do everything so well, and as the poster child of the electric vehicle age, should inspire confidence in battery-propelled technology for those looking to transition from ICE vehicles. Tesla Model 3 owners have access to DC rapid chargers across Australia from companies like Evie, Chargefox, and the NRMA, but crucially they also have access to Tesla’s brilliant proprietary (for now) plug-and-play Supercharger network, with around 43 Australian sites at the time of writing.

For those unfamiliar, the latest Tesla Superchargers can add around 120 km (75 miles) of range in five minutes from a low state of charge, and are linked to a Tesla owner’s account, meaning that there’s no signing up to charging apps or paying with credit cards. If your car is eligible to charge on the network, it will perform a ‘handshake’ with Tesla’s charging software and the juice will start flowing in seconds.

Which other vehicles should be on my EV shopping list?

The Polestar 2 will hit Australia in January 2022. Image: Polestar

Kia’s EV6 will rival the likes of Tesla’s Model 3 and Hyundai’s IONIQ 5. Image: Kia Motors.

Although Polestar Australia has released pricing for the upcoming Polestar 2, we’ve excluded it from this article as customer vehicles won’t be available until January. Big things are expected from Chinese brand BYD, as Australian importer Nexport readies a raft of models. The e6 minivan has landed in Australia, but at this stage is only a low-volume import. BYD’s Dolphin hatchback is expected to be released in Australia in 2022. Kia’s EV6 will also be one to consider; look out for more information on this vehicle towards the end of 2021. The Lexus UX 300 e is expected to launch in Australia this November, and we think it will be priced competitively against the Volvo XC 40 Recharge and Mercedes-Benz EQA 250.

For more information on battery electric vehicles on sale in Australia, check out our spreadsheet here

Australian Electric vehicle range comparison - how do these 5 EVs stack up against their WLTP ratings?

Australian consumers are pretty familiar with fuel economy ratings, but things are a little less clear when it comes to the emerging EV market. There are three main standards used around the world; EPA, WLTP, and NEDC. You can find a bit more information regarding the different testing standards on our EV pricing page.

Overnight, the Chasing Cars team shared a video comparing five of the most popular electric vehicles on the Australian market against their advertised WLTP range ratings. The vehicles tested included the Hyundai Kona Electric, the Tesla Model 3 Long Range Dual Motor, Nissan’s Leaf, MG’s ZS EV, and Audi’s e-tron 55 quattro.

The judges established a set of test criteria to eliminate variables and maintain fairness; all vehicles would start the test from 100 percent charge, cruise control and energy recuperation would be activated, “eco” drive modes were enabled, and air conditioning was set to 24 degrees.

The Nissan Leaf was the first casualty, achieving 226km in the test. Image: Chasing Cars via YouTube

Highway roads outside Australia’s capital, Canberra were chosen for the test, with a combination of country roads and dual-carriageway highway, featuring speed limits between 90-110 km/h (56-62 mph). These roads are representative of the regular type of driving Australian motorists undertake, travelling between capital cities and regional centres.

The Nissan Leaf travelled 226 km (140 mi) against a WLTP rating of 270 km (168 mi), while MG’s ZS EV — the cheapest vehicle on the test — managed to achieve 191 km (119 mi against a rating of 263 km (163 mi).

The most expensive (and energy-hungry) vehicle on the test, Audi’s e-tron 55 quattro, claims a 436 km (271 mi) WLTP range, and managed to achieve 392 km (244 mi), while Tesla’s Model 3 Long Range achieved an impressive 508 km (316 mi) against a WLTP rating of 580 km (360 mi).

Hyundai’s Kona Electric and Tesla’s Model 3 Long Range proved the most impressive on the test. Image: Chasing Cars via YouTube

Perhaps the most surprising result was from Hyundai’s Kona Electric, beating its claimed 449 km (279 mi) WLTP range (just), and achieving 450 km. The Kona Electric has always been known for its impressive efficiency, and this result should give reassurance to Hyundai buyers (and those looking at the Kona’s sister vehicle, the Kia Niro Electric) that this crossover can comfortably come close to its range claims.

The Kona Electric has actually just received a mid-life update for 2021, and the WLTP combined range figure has been upped to 484 km (301 mi). The new Kona electric will join the EV Brief garage in July, and we look forward to bringing you a range test shortly after that.

Source: Chasing Cars