# New EV Launches Australia: Five Models Moving the Market
Australia’s electric vehicle market is no longer only about premium sedans and early-adopter tech. The newest wave of EVs is arriving in far more familiar shapes: a city hatch, a compact SUV, a value-focused family SUV and a seven-seat flagship built for big households. That shift matters because it gives more Australians a realistic way to test whether an EV fits the school run, the weekly shop, a regional weekend or a longer road trip.
If you want the broader market context first, evee recently covered Australia’s EV tipping point and the momentum behind battery electric vehicles. This guide focuses on the launch models that show where the market is heading next: more choice, sharper pricing and EVs tailored to everyday Australian use.
The quick comparison
| Model | Best suited to | Price position | Claimed range highlight | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BYD Atto 1 | City drivers, first EV buyers and households seeking a second car | From $23,990 before on-road costs | Up to 310 km WLTP in Premium form | It pushes new-EV affordability into small-car territory. |
| BYD Atto 2 | Urban SUV buyers wanting more space without moving into a large EV | From $31,990 before on-road costs | 345 km WLTP | It gives BYD a smaller SUV below the Atto 3. |
| Geely EX5 | Value-focused families comparing mid-size electric SUVs | From $41,990 before on-road costs | Up to 475 km WLTP | It pairs long warranty cover with generous equipment. |
| MG S5 EV | Drivers wanting a practical rear-drive electric SUV replacement for the ZS EV | From $40,490 before on-road costs | Up to 515 km under MG’s stated figure | It is a big step up in refinement and driving quality for MG. |
| Hyundai Ioniq 9 | Larger families and long-distance travellers needing seven seats | From $119,750 before on-road costs | Up to 600 km WLTP | It brings premium three-row EV motoring to Hyundai’s local range. |
BYD Atto 1 makes the cheapest EV conversation real
The BYD Atto 1 is the headline grabber because it reframes what a new EV can cost in Australia. Priced from $23,990 before on-road costs, the city-sized hatch brings a genuinely affordable entry point to electric motoring. The Essential variant uses a 30 kWh LFP battery with a claimed 220 km WLTP range, while the Premium steps up to a 43.2 kWh LFP battery and a claimed 310 km WLTP range.
That makes the Atto 1 especially interesting for commuters, apartment dwellers and families that already own a larger car but want to electrify the day-to-day runabout. Its 10–80 per cent DC fast-charge claim of around 30 minutes also helps make the small-battery format less intimidating for drivers who occasionally need a quick top-up away from home.
The more important point is psychological. A sub-$25,000 starting price puts EVs in front of shoppers who may never have compared them seriously before. It also gives people a lower-risk way to experience EV ownership before committing to a larger family model. If you are still deciding whether an EV suits your lifestyle, booking an electric car through evee for a weekend is one of the easiest ways to test charging, range and daily practicality without buying first.
BYD Atto 2 fills the compact SUV gap
The Atto 2 sits above the Atto 1 and below the Atto 3, which gives BYD a neatly layered local EV line-up. Priced from $31,990 before on-road costs, it targets Australians who want SUV seating height and more boot space without moving into a larger, more expensive electric SUV.
Both local variants use a 51.3 kWh battery with a claimed 345 km WLTP range and DC fast charging from 10–80 per cent in around 38 minutes. The Dynamic grade covers the essentials with LED lighting, a heat pump, smartphone connectivity and active safety technology. The Premium adds a panoramic glass roof, a larger 12.8-inch touchscreen, heated and ventilated front seats and a 360-degree camera.
In plain English, the Atto 2 is the sort of EV that could suit buyers moving from a petrol small SUV such as a Mazda CX-30, Hyundai Kona or Toyota Corolla Cross. It is compact enough for urban parking, but spacious enough to feel like a proper family runabout.
Geely EX5 brings a fresh challenger to the family SUV field
Geely is one of the newer names in Australian EV showrooms, but the EX5 has quickly become relevant because it sits in the busy mid-size SUV zone. For 2026, the EX5 range has moved to a larger 68.39 kWh LFP battery, with claimed WLTP range of up to 475 km in Complete form and 450 km in Inspire form.
Pricing starts from $41,990 before on-road costs for the Complete, while the Inspire sits higher with additional comfort and technology. The standard equipment list is strong for the money, including a heat pump, V2L capability, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 15.4-inch touchscreen, heated front seats, a surround-view camera and a comprehensive driver-assistance package.
The EX5’s pitch is simple: it gives Australian families a well-equipped electric SUV with enough range for weekly commuting and realistic regional weekends. It also arrives with seven-year unlimited-kilometre vehicle warranty cover and eight-year unlimited-kilometre battery warranty cover, which should help reassure buyers who are new to EV ownership.
MG S5 EV shows how quickly mainstream EVs are improving
The MG S5 EV replaces the older ZS EV and represents a noticeable lift in packaging, refinement and driving feel. It is built on MG’s EV-focused platform and uses rear-wheel drive, with a 125 kW and 250 Nm electric motor across the Australian range.
The range starts from $40,490 before on-road costs, with Excite and Essence variants available and 49 kWh or 62 kWh battery options depending on grade. MG quotes a strong maximum range figure of up to 515 km, while the S5 EV also offers 30–80 per cent DC fast charging in under 20 minutes under MG’s stated conditions.
For everyday use, the persuasive details are simpler: a 453-litre boot, a 12.8-inch infotainment screen, wireless smartphone connectivity, vehicle-to-load capability and a five-star ANCAP safety rating. That combination makes the S5 EV feel less like a budget compromise and more like a mainstream small SUV that happens to be electric.
If you are comparing EVs for a weekend away, evee’s Great Ocean Road EV road trip guide is a useful reminder that range and charging are best judged in the context of real routes, not only brochure figures.
Hyundai Ioniq 9 takes the EV family hauler seriously
At the other end of the market, the Hyundai Ioniq 9 shows how far large electric SUVs have come. It is Hyundai’s most expensive local model, starting from $119,750 before on-road costs in Calligraphy AWD form, but it also offers the kind of space, range and charging capability that larger families have been waiting for.
The Ioniq 9 uses a 110.3 kWh battery, a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system with 314 kW and 700 Nm, and a claimed 600 km WLTP range. Hyundai’s fast-charging architecture also supports a 10–80 per cent recharge claim of around 24 minutes when connected to a suitable high-powered charger.
The real appeal is its role as a three-row EV. Seven seats are standard, with a six-seat layout optionally available, and the cabin includes dual 12.3-inch displays, multiple high-output USB-C ports, Bose audio and a heat pump. It is not the affordable end of the EV market, but it matters because it gives larger households a genuine electric alternative to premium diesel or hybrid SUVs.
What these launches mean for Australian drivers
The common thread across these five models is that Australia’s EV market is becoming more complete. A first-time buyer can now look at the Atto 1, a small-SUV shopper can compare the Atto 2 and S5 EV, a family can consider the EX5, and a large household can finally look at a proper three-row EV such as the Ioniq 9.
That breadth changes the EV conversation from “Should I buy an EV?” to “Which EV fits my life?” The answer depends on parking, charging access, weekly kilometres, weekend habits, passenger needs and budget. It is also why trying before buying is so valuable: a day with an EV shows how easily it fits your routine.
If you are curious about one of the latest electric cars, or you simply want to experience EV driving before your next purchase, explore available models on evee. A short trip can make the technology feel familiar, and that familiarity is often what turns EV interest into EV confidence.
