Just a decade ago, if you were after the best full electric car in Australia, you wouldn’t find yourself with a whole lot of options to choose from.
With the popularity of fully electric cars (EVs) gaining momentum, however, there’s a whole lot more choice for those who want to find a quality full electric car in Australia.
So here is our hugely helpful list of the Top 10 Best Full Electric Cars in Australia, now updated for 2022. We’ve included cars here for a host of reasons, including value, range, packaging, and innovation, so there should be something across many brands to suit your needs, tastes, and budget.
Tesla Model 3
The full electric car experience
From: $63,900
For many buyers Tesla’s Model 3 is the electric car to have, and it’s not hard to see why. Our first fully electric car on this list, Tesla’s global smash-hit EV is great value with a solid driving range, but it’s more than that. Unlike the Nissan Leaf, Tesla made mainstream electric motoring ooze cool, and the Model 3 is packed to the brim with futuristic tech.
MG ZS EV
The cheapest fully electric car (for now)
From: $44,990
The MG ZS EV was a big surprise from an otherwise fledging automaker, who proved that it’s possible to bring the entry price for electric cars even further down. Sure, the ZS EV has a limited range and most of the drawbacks of the bargain combustion SUV on which it is based, but as the most affordable EV in Australia, it’s made an impact.
Hyundai Kona electric
Outstanding value
From: $54,500
Hyundai’s fully electric Kona quietly entered the fray against Tesla’s Model 3 and Nissan’s Leaf a few years ago and has consistently been tweaked to remain a superb value option. It’s not the cheapest, fastest, nor packed with the best tech, but maintains a carefully curated balance of price, driving range, and familiarity in a tough full electric SUV market.
Polestar 2
A genuine Tesla rival with a twist
From: $59,900
When Swedish Volvo spin-off Polestar announced its launch in Australia, even here at CarsGuide we were expecting another premium play with tall asking prices. It came as a shock to the system when the entry-model was priced to take the fight directly to Tesla’s popular Model 3, backed with innovative Scando design, long range, and great cabin tech.
Porsche Taycan
The ultimate fully electric sports car (for now)
From: $156,300
The price is substantial, but the Porsche Taycan is proof that the German sports car giants will still have plenty to offer once the combustion engine reaches its expiry date. Mind-bending dynamics, great range, as well as the choice of GT (fastback) or Cross Turismo (wagon) bodystyles should keep Porsche front of mind in the EV era.
BMW iX
An electric luxury flagship for a new era
From: $135,900
BMW was an early mover in embracing electric car technology with the flawed but interesting i3, around 10 years ago. The iX is the expression of everything the Bavarian automaker has learned from its head start to offer a stunning electric flagship with one of the longest ranges of any electric car and the driving dynamics to back the badge.
Hyundai Ioniq 5
Moves the game forward
From: $71,900
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is a visual spectacle, losing so little from the cyberpunk-inspired ‘45’ concept car from which it derives, but it’s this car’s incredible new platform and 800V architecture which sets it apart. It represents one of the few vehicles which is futureproofed for when ultra-fast charging is a more common reality.
Kia EV6
A sportier, more affordable version of the already-great Ioniq 5
From: $67,990
Kia’s EV6 shares its capable underpinnings with the aforementioned Ioniq 5, but launched in Australia with a keenly priced Air variant, as well as offering a sportier, driver-oriented package.
Volvo XC40 recharge
The EV value choice in the premium space
From: $76,990
The Volvo XC40 Recharge pure EV is the premium answer to the Hyundai Kona electric. Offering great range and good charging specs, while maintaining all the factors which made the combustion version so great are key to this car’s success.
Nissan Leaf
The pivotal best-seller
From: $49,990
There were a lot of cars we could have included on this list, but few have the provenance of the Nissan Leaf. The world’s best selling EV before the Tesla Model 3 came along, the Leaf is an iconic model for the proliferation of EVs, and while it is no longer the best value offering on the market, it maintains a place as a fleet-friendly option and one of the only EVs thus far to offer two-way charging.
Models to watch in 2022
We will again update this list in due course, but here are some cars you’ll want to pay attention to as they launch:
BYD Atto 3 – This new Chinese player could derail MG’s claim to the most affordable EV
Tesla Model Y – Essentially the SUV version of the popular Model 3, it is likely the Model Y will significantly add to the total number of EVs sold in Australia
Mercedes-Benz EQE/EQS – Mercedes flips the script for the electric era with all-new design
Hyundai Ioniq 6 – The first non-SUV on Hyundai Group’s 800V architecture is one to watch
Other brands to watch in the future
Mercedes full electric cars – There’s more to come than just the E and S from Benz’ EQ brand, including an electrified G Wagen.
Toyota full electric cars – Toyota’s first fully electric model will be the bZ4X mid-size SUV, but its arrival timing is yet to be confirmed for Australia
Audi full electric cars – After the launch of Audi’s answer to the Porsche Taycan, the e-Tron GT, all eyes will turn to its next electric model, the Q4 e-tron mid-sizer.
Skoda full electric cars – Skoda is still tossing up bringing its Enyaq electric SUV to Australia in the next 12 months
Volvo full electric cars – The Volvo C40 will launch before the end of 2022, essentially a small SUV version of the Polestar 2
Kia full electric cars – Kia’s EV6 has made a splash, but the EV9 large electric SUV looks to bring something new to the Australian market
BMW full electric cars – The i4, a car far closer to BMW’s ancestral heart, is set to follow the iX this year
Volkswagen full electric cars – The ID.3 hatch and ID.4 SUV are highly anticipated and best-sellers in Europe, but are still yet to have their arrival timing locked in for Australia
Honda full electric cars – Honda is launching an appealing range of EVs under its new ‘e’ brand, but has stopped short on confirming any for the Australian market
Land Rover full electric SUVs – The flagship Range Rover is slated to go fully electric in 2024, although more plug-in hybrids will arrive before then
Lexus full electric cars – Lexus just launched the UX300e electric small SUV, and while it has been shy on confirming its next fully electric model, we wouldn’t be surprised to see a luxury version of the BZ4X in the works.
Hyundai full electric cars – Put simply, the Ioniq range is set to expand very soon
Peugeot fully electric cars – Peugeot plans to bring its e208 and e2008 electric cars to Australia soon, but is yet to lock in a date
Porsche full electric – What’s next for Porsche after the Taycan? Signs point to an electrified Macan-sized-SUV and 718 sports car. Watch this space.
Nissan full electric cars – Nissan’s next EV, the Ariya mid-size SUV, is promised to be the next big step-up from the Leaf and is set to arrive in Australia in the second half of 2023.
Subaru full electric cars – Toyota’s bZ4X was developed alongside Subaru’s version of the car – the Solterra. The brand is yet to confirm its plans for the Australian market
Keyword: The top 10 fully electric cars in Australia