New Car Buyer's Guide: Five Best EVs

It was far from the first brand to offer a performance EV, but Hyundai was the first to truly transform the go-fast electric experience. The N division manufactured mechanical fakery here, such as engine noise, engine braking and gear shifts, to mimic an authentic petrol-powered experience like never before. And it works a treat.

However, nothing remains stagnant, and rivals are starting to make the $115,000 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 5 N look expensive. And yet, even EVs from European marques have failed to thrill through corners, and not just in a straight line, like the Korean offering. It handles and excites like a 2200kg crossover has no right to.

Aiding this is a host of electronic trickery, simulated shifts and N driving modes. All-wheel drive and grippy tyres help too, although it remains breathtakingly rapid in a straight line (0-100km/h takes 3.4s) with launch control and 478kW/770Nm underfoot.

It’s safe to say the performance justifies the price, whereas the interior doesn’t quite meet the billing. It’s pragmatic, even family-friendly with a big back seat and boot. N touches are everywhere to remind you you’ve bought something special and the screens are vast… but the cabin isn’t why you’re buying the N version.  

For all its dynamic brilliance, the IONIQ 5 N suffers from the same overbearing active safety systems as all Hyundais, with audible warnings that must be switched off each and every journey. Hyundai’s seven-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty applies, while the battery is covered for the industry-standard eight years/160,000km.

2026 Hyundai IONIQ 5 N at a glance:
Price: $115,000 (plus ORCs)
Powertrain: Two permanent magnet motors (478kW/770Nm)
Range: 448km (WLTP); 84kWh battery
Warranty: Seven years/unlimited kilometres; eight years/160,000km battery
Servicing: Six years of pre-paid servicing ($1875)
Safety: Not tested

Getting the electrified mix right within a brand’s lineup is a tough task. Going too hard on charge and relying on early adopters is risky, but failing to go with the times can leave you behind. Yet Kia has artfully managed to play both sides of the fence.

The 2026 Kia EV3 is one of the Korean marque’s fresher EV arrivals, and easily one of its best. The styling is ‘hunny I shrunk the EV9’ on purpose; slab sided and rounded out with cuboid wheel designs, but the aesthetic straddles the line between conventional and futuristic well.

For a legacy brand fighting cut-price Chinese alternatives, the EV3 is on the expensive side if you opt for the top-spec GT-Line at $63,950 plus on-road costs, however the $47,600 Air Standard Range is a more agreeable entry point. The sweet spot is likely the Earth Long Range given its high level of equipment and big battery.

All EV3s are powered by a single 150kW/283Nm motor and are front-wheel drive – for now. Range varies from 436km to 604km (WLTP) and when using a 350kW DC public charger, the EV3 can replenish its battery from 10 to 80 per cent in 29 minutes.

Inside, the EV3 is infused with Kia’s latest design language. It’s a funky vibe. Tech is abundant and the dual 12.3-inch screens are intuitive and functional. The steering column gear selector is an acquired taste, but the cabin is cloaked in plush materials. Just don’t expect too much rear-seat space.

A five-star ANCAP safety rating applies across the board, as does an impressive warranty and low servicing costs.

2026 Kia EV3 at a glance:
Price: $47,600 to 63,950 (plus ORCs)
Powertrain: Single permanent magnet motor (150kW/283Nm)
Range: 436 to 604km (WLTP); 58.3kWh and 81.4kWh batteries
Warranty: Seven years/unlimited kilometres; eight years/160,000km battery
Servicing: Five years of capped-price servicing ($1308)
Safety: Five-star (ANCAP 2025)

As the poster child for bringing electrification to the masses, Tesla has the runs on the board. From the quirky and hamstrung Lotus Elise-based Tesla Roadster of 2008, the pioneering brand gradually adopted more mainstream body styles like the Model S.

While the family-focused Model X SUV returned to add inclusions with gullwing doors, the 2026 Tesla Model Y reinstates normalcy and convention. Well, until you hop inside and slide behind the small steering wheel and are faced with a button-free dashboard.

There’s no head-up display. Not even a gear lever. All controls are housed within the central 16-inch touchscreen, and you can’t use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Yet it doesn’t really matter, because once you get used to the Tesla’s abruptly different ways, it becomes second nature.

As for the optional Full Sell-Driving (Supervised), that requires a new world of trust, but it does work… for the most part. Although it isn’t cheap at circa-$10,000.

A revised steering calibration reduces the edginess while the ride quality is now slightly more forgiving after the mid-life ‘Juniper’ update. Power remains ludicrous in the dual-motor, all-wheel drive Performance (461kW/741Nm) halo, but the single-motor, Rear-Wheel Drive variant (255kW/450Nm) is really all you need.

The sweet spot is the mid-spec $68,900 Premium Long Range All-Wheel Drive. It can travel 600km on a single charge and can handle up to 250kW of charging current using a Tesla Supercharger.

Tesla has upped the warranty to an industry standard five years/unlimited kilometres for private buyers.

2026 Tesla Model Y at a glance:
Price: $58,900 to $89,400 (plus ORCs)
Powertrain: Single permanent magnet motor (255kW/450Nm); two permanent magnet motors (378kW/493Nm, 461kW/741Nm for Performance)
Range: 466 to 600km (WLTP); 62.5kW and 85kWh batteries
Warranty: Five years/unlimited kilometres; eight years and 160,000km to 192,000 for the batteries
Servicing: Condition based
Safety: Five-star (ANCAP 2025)

The 2026 Zeekr 7X is one of a few models to blow the contemporary saying ‘good for a Chinese car’ out of the water. The Geely-backed 7X is very impressive. It manages to mesh performance, luxury and efficiency into a package that significantly undercuts the price tag of its ilk.

This is especially true of the dual-motor Performance AWD flagship. No, you might not need 475kW/710Nm and to reach 100km/h from rest in 3.8 seconds, but the fact you can while also receiving a back massage and other high-end features for $72,900 (plus ORCs) makes it very appealing.

Two single-motor, rear-wheel drive variants are offered as well, with the appealing mid-spec Long Range endowed with 615km of range. Like the Performance AWD, it’s fitted with a bigger 100kWh battery, and given the 7X utilises an 800V architecture, it can replenish its power source from 10-80 per cent in just 16 minutes (420kW max DC).

While its rapid in a straight line, surprisingly fun through corners and comfortable on the height-adjustable air suspension, the quality if the cabin is remarkable. Plush leather and soft-touch surfaces abound, while the flagship comes with powered doors – like a Rolls Royce.

It’s just part of the tech that’s crammed inside the cabin. Yet it isn’t overwhelming. The 16-inch infotainment touchscreen is quick and intuitive, while the 13-inch instrument cluster is paired with a huge head-up display.

The 7X holds a five-star ANCAP safety rating and its systems are sophistically calibrated. Amenable servicing costs ($2385 for five years) and decent warranty are a bonus.

2026 Zeekr 7X at a glance:
Price: $57,900 to $72,900 (plus ORCs)
Powertrain: Single permanent magnet motor (310kW/440Nm); Two permanent magnet motors (475kW/710Nm)
Range: 480-615km (WLTP); 75kWh, 100kWh batteries
Warranty: Five years/unlimited kilometres; eight years/160,000km battery
Servicing: Six years of pre-paid servicing ($2385)
Safety: Five-star (ANCAP 2025)

The BYD Atto 2 enters the budget EV market with plenty of appeal, starting with an interior that feels far more premium than its price suggests. You’ll find soft-touch materials, felt-lined storage, and metallic accents that create a high-end atmosphere rarely seen in this segment.

Despite its compact 4.3-metre footprint, the cabin feels roomy thanks to a panoramic sunroof and a flat floor that maximises passenger legroom. While the 380-litre boot is modest and lacks a spare tyre, a clever under-floor compartment keeps your charging cables or valuables tucked away while keeping the space tidy.

Like most BYDs, the technology is a major selling point, centered around the brand’s signature 12.8-inch rotating touchscreen that houses wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. That said, the base Dynamic variant has a less impressive central system, so it’s worth testing both.

High-end perks like ventilated seats and a 360-degree camera offer a level of convenience that puts many more expensive rivals to shame, while on the road, a zesty 130kW e-motor delivers remarkable thrust, along with a quiet and refined cabin experience that makes daily commuting effortless. Indeed, it’s remarkably polished for a budget-friendly vehicle, unlike the Atto 1.

While the 345km range is workable rather than class-leading, and the charging speed is modest at just 82kW, the car remains a compelling choice for city and urban buyers.

Although an official ANCAP safety rating is pending, a full suite of active safety tech comes standard.

Ultimately, if you can live with its smaller dimensions, the Atto 2 is a pragmatic, high-value package that genuinely challenges the small EV status quo.

2026 BYD Atto 2 at a glance:
Price: $31,990 to $35,990 (plus ORCs)
Engine: Single permanent magnet motor (130kW/290Nm)
Range: 345km (WLTP); 51kWh battery
Warranty: Six years/150,000 kilometres; eight years/160,000km battery
Servicing: Six years of capped-price servicing ($2126)
Safety: Not tested

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