Electric Cars Under $50K

With advances in battery-electric technology making EVs more accessible, there are now a handful of electric cars priced under $50k here in Australia. 

While initial pricing for electric vehicles was quite prohibitive in their early years, a raft of affordable EVs have popped up on the scene- giving buyers their first slice of battery-electric action for under $50k. 

Let’s take a closer look at the most affordable EVs on sale here in Australia to see which are your best options for an electric car priced under $50k, and then put the GWM Ora, BYD Atto 3 and the MG ZS EV under the spotlight for a direct comparison. 

BYD Dolphin

Australia’s current title holder of the country’s cheapest electric vehicle goes to the recently unveiled BYD Dolphin. 

The Dolphin is positioned as the most affordable battery-electric hatchback you can find, in a three-variant lineup that is priced from just $38,890 before on-roads in the entry-level Dolphin Dynamic. 

The base model picks up a 70kW/180Nm electric motor paired with a 44.9kWh lithium-ion battery pack, while the mid-spec Premium and Sport come powered by a more powerful 150kW/310Nm electric motor and a larger 60.48kWh battery pack. 

Range figures for the entry-level Dolphin Dynamic stand at 340km, rising to 427km in the Premium and Sport. 

Standard equipment for the entry-level BYD Dolphin Dynamic includes 16-inch alloys, LED headlights, a panoramic sunroof, leatherette upholstery with heated front seats, wireless phone charging and a 12.8-inch infotainment display with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto. 

Stepping up to the Premium adds 17-inch alloys and multi-link rear suspension, while the range-topping Sport picks up tuned suspension and a sporty styling kit. 

• Power: 70-150kW
• Torque: 180-310Nm
• Battery Size: 44.9-60.48kWh 
• Claimed Range: 340-427km 
• 0-100km/h Acceleration: 7.0 seconds 
• Boot Space: 345L 
• ANCAP Safety Rating: Unrated
• Warranty: Six-year/150,000km warranty; eight-year/160,000km battery warranty 

MG MG4

MG has been waging a war with BYD to introduce Australia’s cheapest electric car, with the recently-unveiled MG4 sitting well below the mark as an EV priced under $50k. 

Three of the MG4’s four variants come priced under $50k, which means you can get your hands on the MG4 Excite 51kWh, Excite 64kWh and the Essence for under our price cut-off. 

In the base model, the Excite 51kWh offers range figures of 350km, which increase to 450km in the Excite 64kWh and drop down to 435km in the Essence 64kWh, with power supplied by a single electric motor producing 125kW in the base model, increasing up to 150kW in the 64kWh variant. 

Standard equipment for the Excite includes 17-inch alloys, cloth upholstery, adaptive cruise control, keyless entry, a 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.25-inch infotainment display with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto. 

Stepping up to the Essence adds 18-inch alloys, a surround-view camera, leatherette upholstery with heated seats & steering wheel, a two-tone finish with a black roof and rear light bar, as well as a wireless charging pad. 

• Power: 150kW
• Torque: N/A 
• Battery Size: 51-64kWh  
• Claimed Range: 350-450km 
• 0-100km/h Acceleration: 7.0 seconds 
• Boot Space: 363L 
• ANCAP Safety Rating: Unrated; five-star Euro NCAP rating 
• Warranty: Seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty 

BYD Atto 3

The BYD Atto 3 has been quick to make an impression with buyers looking for an affordable EV package here in Australia, and continues to impress in spite of the MG4 and Dolphin undercutting it on price. 

The great news is that buyers can step into the BYD Atto 3 in both standard and long-range format for under $50k, with power supplied by a single electric motor pushing out 150kW/310Nm to the front wheels. 

Juice for the electric motor comes supplied by a 49.92kWh lithium battery pack in the Atto 3 Standard Range, while the Atto 3 Extended Range picks up a 60.48kWh battery pack that increases range figures from 345km to 420km. 

Standard equipment for the Atto 3 range includes a set of 18-inch alloys, LED head, tail and daytime running lights, a powered tailgate lift, panoramic sunroof, wireless charging, adaptive cruise control, a surround-view camera and 12.8-inch infotainment display with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto. 

• Power: 150kW
• Torque: 310Nm 
• Battery Size: 49.92-60.48kWh  
• Claimed Range: 345-420km 
• 0-100km/h Acceleration: 7.3 seconds 
• Boot Space: 440L 
• ANCAP Safety Rating: Five-star 
• Warranty: Six-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty; eight-year battery warranty 

GWM Ora

GWM has cut prices for its pint-sized Ora battery-electric hatch, which means that three of the four variants on offer squeeze under our price cutoff for the best electric cars under $50k. 

This gives buyers access to the entry-level Ora, Extended Range variant and a more premium take on the GWM Ora Extended Range if you’re looking for some special touches and added equipment. 

Power for the range comes courtesy of an electric motor producing 126kW/250Nm, with standard range variants receiving a 48kWh lithium iron phosphate battery pack. 

Stepping up to the Ora Extended Range adds a larger 63kWh battery pack, increasing range figures from 320km in the base models up to 420km on the WLTP test cycle. 

Standard equipment for the base models includes 18-inch alloys, LED headlights, adaptive cruise control, a surround-view camera, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.25-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto. 

Stepping up to the Ora Extended Range Ultra adds a powered tailgate lift, panoramic sunroof, heated steering wheel, power-folding mirror and a set of heated, ventilated and massaging front seats. 

• Power: 150kW
• Torque: 310Nm 
• Battery Size: 49.92-60.48kWh  
• Claimed Range: 345-420km 
• 0-100km/h Acceleration: 7.3 seconds 
• Boot Space: 440L 
• ANCAP Safety Rating: Five-star 
• Warranty: Seven-year/unlimited-kilometre; eight-year battery warranty 

MG ZS EV

MG’s ZS EV has played a pivotal role in getting Australians to make the switch to an electric vehicle, namely thanks to its generous features list and the fact was the first battery-electric SUV package priced under $50k. 

In its latest form, MG offers two-thirds of the ZS EV lineup for under $50k, meaning you can step into the ZS EV Excite and the ZS EV Essence, both of which come powered by an electric motor over the front axle producing 130kW/280Nm. 

Power for the ZS EV Excite & Essence comes supplied by a 50.3kWh lithium-iron-phosphate battery that offered WLTP-certified range figures of 320km, while the out-of-reach ZS EV Long Range can hit the 440km mark thanks to a larger 72kWh battery pack. 

Standard equipment for the entry-level ZS EV Excite includes 17-inch alloys, LED headlights, cloth upholstery with a leather-wrapped steering wheel, adaptive cruise control, a surround-view camera and a 10-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto. 

Stepping up to the ZS EV Essence adds a panoramic sunroof, wireless charging pad, leatherette upholstery with heated front seats, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts and an upgraded six-speaker sound system. 

• Power: 130kW
• Torque: 280Nm 
• Battery Size: 50.3kWh  
• Claimed Range: 320km (up to 440km in long-range) 
• 0-100km/h Acceleration: 8.2 seconds  
• Boot Space: 359L 
• ANCAP Safety Rating: Five-star (expired) 
• Warranty: Seven-year/unlimited kilometre

FAQ: GWM Ora vs BYD Atto 3 vs MG ZS EV Comparison

You can find a direct comparison of the GWM Ora, BYD Atto 3 and the MG ZS EV below; keep in mind that these figures apply to variants priced under $50k here in Australia, with more powerful engines and larger range figures on offer in some variants priced above $50k.

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