Every electric car under $50K on sale in Australia in 2025

Though Australian new car sales have shown a greater appetite for hybrid cars in recent months, electric vehicles also reached record numbers despite a global cooldown.

Between January and December 2024, 91,292 battery-powered SUVs, as well as passenger and light-commercial vehicles, found their way into garages across Australia – representing a 4.7 per cent increase in comparison to the 87,212 EVs sold in 2023.

While pricing is often cited by consumers as one of the biggest barriers to EV adoption, costs are starting to come down, paving the way for a range of options that compete against popular petrol, diesel and hybrid vehicles.

But which is the right one for you? Drive has compiled a list of every electric car under $50,000 that can be purchased in Australia in 2025.

Disclaimer: The prices listed in this article are a manufacturer’s recommended retail pricing, and do not include on-road costs. Prices can vary at checkout and are dependent on an individual buyer’s circumstances. Prices are accurate as of April 11, 2025.

BYD has become the biggest challenger to Tesla’s monopoly over the EV market – with the Chinese car maker selling the second-most electric cars in the domestic and global market in 2024.

The BYD Seal was the brand’s best-selling model by volume in Australia last year, and the fourth-most popular EV car overall – with BYD finding homes to the 6393 electric sedans it sold.

The BYD Seal range has been revamped in 2025, which includes new standard equipment across the three variants such as a power sunshade for the sunroof, a sunglasses holder, and an NFC and Bluetooth digital key.

The BYD Seal range starts with the Seal Dynamic, which is priced from $46,990, followed by the mid-spec Seal Premium, which starts from $52,990, and the flagship Seal Performance, which carries a $61,990 sticker price.

BYD claims a maximum driving range of 510km for the Seal Dynamic, 650km for the Seal Premium and 580km for the Seal Performance.

Customers needing more room on their commute could consider the BYD Atto 3 SUV, which is priced from $39,990 for the base-spec Essential grade and $44,990 for the Atto 3 Premium variant. The Chinese marque claims a maximum driving range of 410km and 480km respectively.

The electric SUV was a hit among new car buyers in 2024, with BYD accruing 5751 Atto 3 sales and ranking fifth in the list of most sold EVs last year.

Those looking for an affordable electric hatch should consider the BYD Dolphin, which is currently the cheapest electric car on sale in Australia.

The battery-powered hatch is priced from $29,990 for the Dolphin Essential variant, while an extra $7000 can get you the Dolphin Premium, which starts from $36,990. BYD claims a maximum driving range of 410km and 490km respectively.

Chery offers one electric model in the Omoda E5 SUV and is available in two variants. The base-trim Omoda E5 BX starts from $42,990, while one grade above is the $45,990 Omoda E5 EX.

Both variants of Chery’s electric SUV are powered by a 150kW electric motor and 61kWh battery, with the Chinese marque claiming a maximum WLTP driving range of 430km.

For an extra $3000, the Omoda E5 EX adds a few premium features such as a 360-degree camera, heated front and outboard rear seats, and an eight-speaker Sony sound system.

The Chinese marque is currently offering a $6000 discount on the Omoda E5 electric SUV for buyers who purchase the vehicle before April 30, 2025.

For example, a private buyer in Victoria can purchase the Omoda E5 BX for $40,527 drive-away, while the Omoda E5 EX can would cost $43,653.

If you want a full comprehensive breakdown of the Chery Omoda E5, head over to Drive’s previous coverage here.

The latest incomer to the Australian market, Geely has entered the mid-sized SUV market with a bang.

Its EX5 electric SUV comfortably sits below $50K, with the entry-level EX5 Complete variant starting from $40,990, while the EX5 Inspire comes with a $44,990 retail price. Geely claims the EX5 has a maximum driving range of up to 420km based on WLTP testing.

To entice more customers, Geely is offering a seven-year/unlimited kilometre and a further eight-year/unlimited-kilometre cover for its high-voltage battery.

The competitively priced EX5 electric SUV undercuts incoming and established rivals in Australia’s favourite new car segment, with Li Lei, Geely Australia’s CEO, stating it can see the brand compete at the top end of the domestic market.

Before BYD took the throne, GWM previously had the title of the cheapest electric car on sale in Australia with its Ora hatchback. The pint-sized Ora is available in three variants that all fall under $50K, with the line-up starting with the Ora Standard Range ($35,990).

One grade above is the Ora Extended Range ($40,990) before the line-up tops out with the Ora GT, which comes in at $46,990.

GWM claims a maximum WLTP-tested driving range of up to 420km depending on the Ora variant customers opt for.

The Chinese carmaker is offering a $2000 and $4000 discount on the Ora Standard and Extended Range respectively. The offer is eligible to private buyers who purchase the electric hatch until June 30, 2025.

If you're a private buyer in Victoria, the Ora Standard Range carries a $33,990 drive-away sticker, while the Ora Extended Range can be had for $36,990.

American carmaker Jeep previously launched its mid-sized electric SUV, the Avenger, in Australia late last year.

Though the Jeep Avenger is available in three grades, the base-spec Avenger Longitude form is the only variant that comes in under $50K due to its $49,990 price point.

Powering the small battery-powered SUV is a 51kWh battery and a single front electric motor with a 115kW/260Nm power output. Jeep claims the Avenger Longitude has a maximum driving range of 396km based on European WLTP testing.

South Korean car giant Kia has been busy ramping up its electric line-up in Australia, and its latest addition, the Kia EV3, is looking to compete with other key rivals in the small SUV segment.

Though the Kia EV3 comes in four different variations, the base-spec EV3 Air Standard Range is the only model that fits the $50K cap, with prices starting from $47,600.

The Kia EV3 Air Standard Range has a maximum claimed driving range of 436km based on WLTP testing and is powered by a 58.3kWh battery and a 153kW/283Nm electric motor.

If you want a full breakdown of the entire Kia EV3 range, visit Drive's price and specifications story here.

One of the newest kids on the block, Leapmotor's first Australian model – the C10 electric SUV – is available in two variants, with both falling under the $50K mark.

The range opens with the Leapmotor C10 Style which comes with a $45,888 retail price tag, while its C10 Design premium counterpart costs an extra $4000 at $49,888 before on-road costs.

The Leapmotor C10 is powered by a 160kW electric motor coupled with a 69.9kWh battery, with the Chinese car maker claiming the battery-powered SUV has a maximum WLTP driving range of 420km.

If you want to know how the Leapmotor C10 performs on Australian roads, visit Drive's review of the electric SUV here.

MG has two different electric vehicles it offers in Australia. Buyers looking for a small battery-powered vehicle could choose the MG 4 city hatch.

The MG 4 is available in four variants, with three trims falling under the $50K bill. The range starts with the MG 4 Excite 51 at $37,990, while one grade up sees customers potentially spend $7000 more for the MG 4 Essence 64 ($44,900) – with MG claiming both variants have a maximum driving range of 405 and 505km respectively.

A step above the Essence 64 is the MG 4 Long Range 77, which comes with a $50,990 sticker tag and a claimed 590km maximum driving range.

Those with a bigger budget have the option of the flagship MG 4 XPower ($55,990), which MG claims has a maximum driving range of 460km.

The discontinued MG ZS EV and its three variants would have made the list, but the car maker has cleared all remaining stock of the electric SUV to make room for its new successor in the form of the S5 electric SUV, which is due to arrive in Australian showrooms "imminently".

Though prices are yet to be confirmed by its local arm, the MG S5 is available in the Excite and Essence variants, both of which are powered by a 125kW/250Nm electric motor.

As previously reported by Drive, customers have the option of two batteries for the MG S5, with MG quoting a 415km and 410km maximum driving range for the 49kWh variants of the S5 Excite and Essence respectively.

If customers opt for the larger 65kWh battery, the marque claims a maximum driving range of 515km for the S5 Excite and 510km for the S5 Essence.

Of note, the claimed maximum driving range is based on the less stringent NEDC cycle as opposed to the stricter and more common WLTP testing method used by other car makers in Europe.

Ethan Cardinal graduated with a Journalism degree in 2020 from La Trobe University and has been working in the fashion industry as a freelance writer prior to joining Drive in 2023. Ethan greatly enjoys investigating and reporting on the cross sections between automotive, lifestyle and culture. Ethan relishes the opportunity to explore how deep cars are intertwined within different industries and how they could affect both casual readers and car enthusiasts.

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