Source: Riz Akhtar
The electric vehicle landscape in Australia is changing rapidly in 2023 , with a huge boost in sales, the Model Y becoming the best selling SUV of any kind, and now two new EV offerings priced – for the first time – below $40,000.
Today, The Driven looks at top affordable EV picks, and how these cars will enable more drivers to make the switch.
The BYD Dolphin was announced just last week as Australia’s most affordable EV to enter Australia. With a starting price beginning with a three in front of it – $38,890 before on-roads, it will win thousands of buyers across Australia in the coming months.
This electric hatchback in its entry-level Dynamic variant is equipped with a 70 kW motor that can deliver up to 180 Nm of torque. This allows BYD Dolphin Dynamic to sprint to 100 km/h in 12.3 seconds.
This powertrain is paired with a 44.9 kWh battery pack capable of delivering up to 340 km of estimated WLTP range. DC Charging is also on offer and is expected to peak at 60 kW.
Externally it measures 4,290 mm in length which is less than 100 mm shorter than the Toyota Corolla hatchback.
On the interior, there is a large 12.8-inch rotatable screen in the centre console along with a smaller screen behind the steering wheel.
The Dynamic variant of the Dolphin is available in four colours. It can be ordered now online with first deliveries expected to arrive before October.
With a variety of safety features on offer, the BYD Dolphin is gearing up to be a good hatchback with a price that will attract many new drivers to consider one as their next new car.
MG surprised many last week by revealing the entry-level MG4 Excite 51 kWh variant. This variant is $38,990 plus on-road costs and comes with a 125 kW motor. It can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 7.7 seconds.
The 51 kWh battery can deliver up to 350 km of WLTP range and can charge at up to 117 kW at the right DC charger.
Length wise it’s 4,287 mm long and is only 3 mm shorter than the BYD Dolphin.
On the inside, it comes with a 10.25-inch infotainment screen with Apple Carplay and Android Auto as standard.
Safety is also big on the MG4 with the MG Pilot safety suite available on the base variant as well.
The MG4 Excite is offered in seven colours. It’s expected to arrive in the next couple of months and interested buyers can secure their place by registering online.
MG4 will be the second car to join the most-affordable EV club. Having more options can only be a good thing, especially in the electric hatchback segment of the market which had not seen too many new entrants in recent years.
GWM Ora Cat has been one of the lesser-known affordable electric cars in the market with a starting price tag of $43,990 before on-road costs.
For this price, you get the Ora Cat Standard Range variant with a powertrain that includes a motor that can deliver up to 126 kW of power and 250Nm of torque.
This is fed by a 48 kWh battery pack which can offer up to 310 km of WLTP range. The battery pack can be charged at a DC charger with speeds of up to 64 kW.
The Ora Cat is 4,235 mm in length, making it shorter than both the BYD Dolphin and the MG4 electric hatchbacks.
Interior wise you get a 10.25-inch infotainment screen with Apple Carplay as standard.
When it comes to safety, there is a whole range safety features on board helping the Ora Cat achieve a five-star ANCAP rating.
The first shipment of the Ora Cat was originally expected to land in April but until May 2023 according to FCAI vFacts, only 2 sales have been recorded. This is expected to ramp up in the months that follow. Interested buyers can enquire online and schedule a test drive.
BYD has taken Australia by storm after delivering first customer cars back in August last year. Since then over 10,000 Australian-bound Atto 3 SUVs have been shipped with a starting price today of $48,011 before on-roads.
For this price, you get a 150 kW front-mounted motor that’s able to get 310 Nm or torque. This helps get the Atto 3 Standard Range from 0-100 km/h in 7.3 seconds.
Battery-wise, the Atto 3 Standard Range is equipped with a 49.9 kWh and can deliver up to 345 km of WLTP range. It can also be fast charged officially at up to 80 kW of DC fast charging speeds.
Given it’s the first SUV on the list of The Driven’s affordable picks, it is also the longest car of the bunch, coming in at 4,455 mm.
Like the Dolphin, a 12.8-inch infotainment screen is on offer. This time though it not only comes with Apple Carplay but also Android Auto.
On the safety front, the Atto 3 comes equipped with many active and passive safety features which awarded it a five-star ANCAP rating.
The Atto 3 is offered in five colours. It can be ordered online with deliveries within a couple of weeks as the supply of these ground-up electric SUV improves to an all-time high.
Given the Atto 3’s SUV credentials, it is the only larger affordable EV under $50,000 which offers great value to those looking for a car that’s bigger than the other hatchbacks found in The Driven’s picks.
The MG ZS EV was one of the first few EVs to be offered under $50,000 back in early 2021. Now it’s onto it’s second generation with the base model ZS EV Excite now coming in at $43,990 before on-road costs.
A 130 kW motor can produce up to 280 Nm of torque. This helps the MG ZS EV Excite sprint from 0-100 km/h in 8.2 seconds, slightly slower than the Atto 3.
This drivetrain is paired with a 49 kWh battery pack which can offer up to 320 km of WLTP range. It can also be fast-charged with speeds of up to 75 kW.
Length-wise the MG ZS EV is 4,323 mm long, coming in only slightly longer than the BYD Dolphin and MG4 hatchbacks.
On the inside, a generous 10.1-inch display is on offer with Apple Carplay and Android Auto available.
For the MG ZS EV Excite, MG Pilot is available for the safety suite but not a five-star ANCAP rating. Although in Europe, the 2019 variant has received a five-star rating previously.
The MG ZS EV can be ordered online with deliveries following not too long after that.
If 2022 was the year for the first ground-up EV under $50,000, then 2023 has taken things to the next level by making EVs even more affordable – now under $40,000.
With more affordable options and better supply to follow in the market, many more drivers would be willing to consider an EV over replacing a car with another ICE vehicle.
With all EVs in this list offering over 300 km of WLTP range and reasonable fast charging speeds for when taking these EVs on road trips, it’s becoming easier for many to consider an EV with lower running costs and not ending up at a petrol station every week.
Riz is the founder of carloop based in Melbourne, specialising in Australian EV data, insight reports and trends. He is a mechanical engineer who spent the first 7 years of his career building transport infrastructure before starting carloop. He has a passion for cars, particularly EVs and wants to help reduce transport emissions in Australia. He currently drives a red Tesla Model 3.
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