Best Electric Car 2021: The verdict

As we explained at the outset, the eight short-listed candidates for carsales’ Best Electric Car 2021 represent the best electric cars at the more affordable end of the market in Australia today.

For this inaugural EV mega-test we drew our finalists from model lines priced from no higher than $70,000, enabling them to qualify not only for luxury car tax concessions but purchase rebates and other incentives in an increasing number of states and territories.

Only one prestige brand has made the cut – Tesla – with its most affordable model, the Model 3, which sells at more than twice the rate of all other EVs from every other brand on the market combined.

Our remaining contenders come from mainstream brands that, along with Tesla, have cut a swathe through the masses of combustion-engined cars on a bandwagon that no so long ago was viewed more like a freak show than a hit parade.

The fledgling nature of the market has seen us bring together EVs of various shapes and sizes – from hatchbacks to mid-size sedans and SUVs – but all of them are able to convey four or five occupants safely for at least 200km on a single battery charge.

The Tesla Model 3 is joined by the Nissan LEAF as the only EV in this cohort that was built from the ground up as a dedicated electric vehicle.

The others are all relatively new arrivals, but some are really not so new. The MINI Cooper, for example, was designed more than seven years ago as a regular car powered by an internal combustion engine.

That’s not necessarily a disadvantage when the vehicle in question is well engineered from the outset and carefully reconfigured with a full-electric powertrain.

As we’ve seen, some brands have managed to successfully balance the competing elements of price, specification, size, weight, performance and driving range, while others have more work to do.

As always, the carsales judging panel has drawn from rigorous vehicle testing and data spreadsheets to crunch the numbers against our criteria of more than 100 individual attributes, tailored specifically for EVs.

These attributes span the areas of safety, technology, comfort and convenience, driving performance and ownership costs.

And there’s only one model that stands aloft as the Best Electric Car on sale in Australia today.

Let’s count them down…

At first glance, the 2021 MG ZS EV appears a short-priced favourite as Australia’s cheapest electric car. It’s relative affordability, long warranty and low servicing costs all count favourably.

However, the ZS EV has the poorest resale value here and this pushed down its ranking in ownership costs from the pointy end to merely average.

And with glaring omissions in the spec sheet – from LED headlights and automatic wipers to digital radio and driver fatigue monitoring – it seems like the MG ZS was reaching for the stars but fell short.

Not helping matters is a driving experience that isn’t as accomplished as its key rivals, while the MG’s range is on the shorter side.

How much does the 2021 MG ZS EV cost?
Price: $44,990 (drive-away)
Available: Now
Powertrain: Single AC synchronous electric motor
Output: 105kW/353Nm
Transmission: Single-speed reduction gear
Battery: 44.5kWh lithium-ion
Range: 263km (WLTP)
Energy consumption: 18.6kWh/100km (WLTP)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2019)

The Nissan LEAF is one of the oldest and most recognised nameplates in the business when it comes to EVs in Australia, reflecting the Japanese brand’s pioneering efforts and commitment to the cause.

That is not, however, enough to secure it a position among the lead actors in the EV show that’s now on Broadway.

The new 2021 Nissan LEAF e+ is a decent car in isolation and offers a useful driving range, but lacks sparkle and has several drawbacks in this company.

Its driving performance leaves plenty to be desired and it lacks premium features such as a power-operated driver’s seat and a sunroof that we’d expect from a small hatch costing more than $60,000.

The absence of an ANCAP safety rating erodes an otherwise acceptable safety package, while almost a quarter of its value when new will be lost within 12 months of ownership – the second-highest drop in resale here after the MG ZS (-26%).

How much does the 2021 Nissan LEAF e+ cost?
Price: $60,490 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Powertrain: Single AC synchronous electric motor
Output: 160kW/340Nm
Transmission: Single-speed reduction gear
Battery: 62kWh lithium-ion
Range: 385km (WLTP)
Energy consumption: 18.0kWh/100km (WLTP)
Safety rating: Not rated

Just as we’d hoped from a brand best known for producing cars with unadulterated driving pleasure, the 2021 MINI Cooper SE Yours is one of the most engaging EVs in which to get behind the wheel.

It also scores well for comfort and convenience features and technology.

Yet the MINI Cooper – which first arrived in petrol-engine form in 2014 – is behind the times in terms of safety specification, missing out on blind spot detection, driver impairment monitoring and rear cross traffic alert. It also goes without an ANCAP safety rating.

It rides on expensive tyres and has a very short warranty. And as much as we love the drive, the electric MINI has one the shortest ranges – just 233km – among our Best EV contenders.

How much does the 2021 MINI Cooper SE Yours cost?
Price: $62,825 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Powertrain: Single AC synchronous electric motor
Output: 135kW/270Nm
Transmission: Single-speed reduction gear
Battery: 32.6kWh lithium-ion
Range: 233km (WLTP)
Energy consumption: 18.5kWh/100km (WLTP)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2020)

The 2021 Hyundai IONIQ Electric Premium presents a compelling case for prospective buyers, delivering strong results across areas of technology, comfort and convenience and cost of ownership.

Notable high points include the standard inclusion of heated and cooled front seats, a heated steering wheel, an embedded SIM and the cheapest servicing costs across all eight contenders for carsales’ Best Electric Car 2021.

However, the Hyundai IONIQ is not a particularly engaging EV to drive and didn’t score so well for safety, with its ANCAP result dating back to 2016.

How much does the 2021 Hyundai IONIQ Electric Premium cost?
Price: $54,010 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Powertrain: Single AC synchronous electric motor
Output: 100kW/295Nm
Transmission: Single-speed reduction gear
Battery: 38.3kWh lithium-ion
Range: 311km (WLTP)
Energy consumption: 13.8kWh/100km (WLTP)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2016)

The 2021 Mazda MX-30 Electric Astina proved to be an outstanding entrant when it comes to safety and comfort/convenience.

In particular, we have to applaud the standard fitment of 10 airbags and one of the most comprehensive driver assist safety suites among our Best Electric Car contenders.

This is reinforced by a maximum five-star safety rating under the tough new ANCAP testing regime introduced last year.

That said, Mazda’s first-ever EV was pegged back in other key areas of assessment – technology and, most notably, driving.

The MX-30 Electric is not an inspiring car to drive and the 200km range is the lowest on test, requiring a level of pre-planning (if not anxiety) when tackling journeys outside the city limits.

How much does the 2021 Mazda MX-30 Electric Astina cost?
Price: $65,490 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Powertrain: Single AC synchronous electric motor
Output: 107kW/271Nm
Transmission: Single-speed reduction gear
Battery: 35.5kWh lithium-ion
Range: 200km (WLTP)
Energy consumption: 19.0kWh/100km (WLTP)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2020)

New to the Australian market but arriving late in its current lifecycle, the 2021 Kia Niro EV Sport makes a strong case that’s worthy of a place on the Best EV podium.

It scores well in comfort and convenience, ownership costs and the drive experience, but loses marks for safety and technology – both areas that reflect the fact the current Niro is due to be replaced by an all-new model next year.

Highlights include Kia’s long warranty, cheap replacement tyre costs and reasonable service pricing, plus engaging dynamics you can enjoy over a long driving range on a single charge.

However, the Niro EV has not been tested by ANCAP, and its shortfalls in available technology include wireless Apple/Android smartphone connectivity, wireless phone charging and embedded SIM facility.

How much does the 2021 Kia Niro EV Sport cost?
Price: $65,990 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Powertrain: Single AC synchronous electric motor
Output: 150kW/395Nm
Transmission: Single-speed reduction gear
Battery: 64kWh lithium-ion polymer
Range: 455km (WLTP)
Energy consumption: 15.9kWh/100km (WLTP)
Safety rating: Not tested

The Kona was recently named carsales’ Best Small SUV for 2021, so it comes as no real surprise that the 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric Extended Range Highlander has proven to be one of the Best Electric Car s on the market.

In particular, the Kona Electric achieved excellent scores for ownership costs, technology and driving performance.

It has the longest driving range here at almost 500km, and while it’s engaging to drive, the Kona isn’t the stand-out performer in this department.

Would-be owners might also rue the fact it lacks infotainment technology such as wireless Apple/Android smartphone mirroring and embedded SIM functionality.

How much does the 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric Extended Range Highlander cost?
Price: $64,000 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Powertrain: Single AC synchronous electric motor
Output: 150kW/395Nm
Transmission: Single-speed reduction gear
Battery: 64kWh lithium-ion polymer
Range: 484km (WLTP)
Energy consumption: 14.7kWh/100km (WLTP)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2017)

The Tesla Model 3 is Australia’s most popular electric car by a country mile, and after comprehensive testing of the Standard Range Plus, it’s easy to see why.

Drawbacks with the Model 3 are few and far between, with only its cost of ownership taking a hit due to the US brand’s less-than-average four-year/80,000km new vehicle warranty.

Elsewhere, however, the mid-size luxury sedan is one of the cheapest EVs to service and offers a variety of high-level features not seen elsewhere in this competitive field, from free over-the-air software updates to hands-free park assist and not one but two wireless phone charging pads.

This might be the entry-level car in the Model 3 range, but as a bona-fide prestige brand Tesla has ensured its most affordable EV in Australia – at least until the Model Y comes along – has the most well-rounded comfort and convenience, safety and technology features list of any sub-$60,000 EV available today.

If that’s not enough, the Model 3 is an engaging and highly enjoyable car to drive and dismisses any concern over range anxiety by being able to travel a long distance on a single charge.

Its outstanding performance across the board makes the Tesla Model 3 the clear winner of carsales’ Best Electric Car 2021.

How much does the 2021 Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus cost?
Price: $59,900 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Powertrain: Single AC synchronous electric motor
Output: 190kW/375Nm
Transmission: Single-speed reduction gear
Battery: 50.9kWh lithium-ion polymer
Range: 448km (WLTP)
Energy consumption: 13.2kWh/100km (WLTP)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2019)

Related: More Electric content at www.carsales.com.au/electric