Your questions answered: Will I be able to buy an EV for $30,000?

This week’s carsales mailbox keeps the EV questions flowing, including someone wondering when used electric car prices will drop to more attainable levels.

Another reader is tossing up between a Toyota LandCruiser and a Land Rover for the Big Lap, while a mini family feud is brewing over whether to choose a diesel- or petrol-powered mid-size SUV.

And there’s plenty of mail on utes – Toyota HiLux price gouging and whether to give up waiting for a Ford Ranger Wildtrak and instead jump to the darker (and more exciting) side of the Raptor.

Question: I’d love an EV but can’t afford a new one. I started looking for second-hand ones recently and the prices on them still seem very high. Will we ever be able to get into an EV for less than $30,000? – Rosie G

Answer: You can pretty much forget about buying a new EV for anywhere close to $30,000. Between the high production costs (batteries are the expensive part of an EV) and inflation, that dream of a sub-$30K EV is slowly but surely slipping away.

But you will eventually be able to get a used EV for that money. Even now, you can easily find a Nissan LEAF for a lot less than $30,000 – check out the listings on carsales.com.au – although most others are well over that. And the really desirable electric cars – Tesla Model 3 and Model S, Hyundai IONIQ 5, Kia EV6, Polestar 2, etc – tend to go for plenty more.

Those used car prices are being driven by a lack of supply. Most car-makers can’t keep up with the current EV demand and there are subsequent waiting lists. That popularity has flowed through to the used car market.

All of which should be relatively short term. Once more supply starts coming into the country (which should happen over the next year), then the heat should come off those used prices.

So hang tight, your (vaguely) affordable EV shouldn’t be too far away. In the meantime, check out our series on

Question:

Answer: It was certainly a controversial move for Tesla to remove the Mobile Connector from its new vehicles. Although in other ways it sort of makes sense. Once most people have owned an EV they’ll likely have a charging solution at home and it’ll generally be attached to the house. So that chunky cable that takes up boot space will be used a lot less.

Still, you need to work out the best solution for your first EV. A wallbox will cost more (they start at around $1500 installed) and provide at least three times more power than one of the portable connectors that plugs into a regular power point. That means it will charge the car in about one-third the time.

That’s handy for people doing big kilometres. But if you’re driving less than about 100km per day then you’d be fine on an overnight charge (10-12 hours) using a regular power point. The advantage of that Mobile Connector (other than costing a fraction of the price) is that you can take it with you if you’re heading to a friend’s house or for a weekend away.

So there’s no perfect solution: you’d likely get away with the power point mobile charger and it’ll be a lot cheaper – as well as being portable. But the wallbox is a neater solution that will make charging that little bit easier.

Question:

Answer: A decade ago diesels were big business, but they’ve really pulled back, at least in the passenger car space. Diesel propulsion still dominates for heavy-duty four-wheel drives and commercial vehicles such as utes. Blame the trend on costs and an emphasis on reducing noxious emissions (diesels are dirtier).

In mid-size SUVs such as the Mazda CX-5 there was previously plenty of buyer interest in diesels, although that’s largely dropped off now.

The diesel engine in the CX-5 is terrific to drive, with loads of torque. That’s a big part of its appeal. But it’s more expensive to get into in the first place.

Diesel engines do their best work cruising on country roads, where they eat up the country kays effortlessly. You’ll also use less fuel in the diesel.

Around town, the petrol version should be nicer in a lot of situations. Plus petrol is cheaper than diesel right now (the price relativity between the two fluctuates), offsetting some of that diesel benefit in lower consumption.

So unless you were doing a lot of kilometres per year (upwards of 30,000km), the petrol will be a better bet.

Question:

Answer: The new Ford Ranger Raptor is one of those very special – and rare – cars that manages to improve on the car it’s based on in almost every way. It’s way better off-road, better in most on-road situations and a lot swifter. It’s also a heap more fun to drive.

There are some drawbacks, such as the lower payload and reduced towing capacity (the Raptor only carries up to 717kg and can tow 2500kg).

For some people that will be a dealbreaker, as will its considerable thirst. The official consumption figure is 11.5L/100km, but you can expect to use plenty more than that if you want to experience the 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6 in its full glory.

All of which adds up to the Wildtrak being the Ranger you buy with your head and the Raptor the one you buy with your heart. We’d be letting the heart do the talking, although in either case you’re buying a great ute.

Whichever way you jump it’d pay to make up your mind soon. Raptors have lengthy queues so you could be waiting a while.

Question:

Answer: It basically comes down to dealers trying to maximise profits. The new cars have a manufacturer’s recommended retail price and dealers usually adhere to that. But once it’s a used car it’s treated differently and prices are determined by market forces. The reality is there are currently people prepared to pay over the new car odds to sidestep the wait times. Hence the sometimes crazy prices.

There’s nothing the vehicle importers/manufacturers can do about it, either, other than encourage their dealers not to register “demonstrators” for the purpose of selling them as a used vehicle for more than they would have as a new vehicle.

It’s not always Toyota dealers doing it, either. In many instances used car dealers are buying cars new and popping them straight on their lots as used cars to try to make a profit. Of course, the strategy only works with very in-demand models. And it all falls over once supply starts to catch up with demand. For now, though, you’re either in for a wait or paying top dollar.

Remember, though, the Rugged X is no longer being made. Toyota has retired the nameplate and will soon replace it with the HiLux GR Sport, which should get a wider track, tougher look and some extra driving spice. We’d be holding out for that over the Rugged X.

Question:

Answer: Same name but very different vehicles. The Corolla Cross is the Corolla you have when you think you may want an SUV. It’s also a way for Toyota to prolong the life and popularity of one of its most famous nameplates.

Blame it on shifting market dynamics. The former top-selling Corolla has been in a sales spiral since everyone decided SUVs were the thing to have. It’s still a popular small car, but not nearly as popular as it once was.

Other than the name, there’s not a lot similar between the Corolla and its Cross sibling. But there are some benefits with crossing over…

As you’ve noticed, there’s a higher hip point, which makes getting in and out that little bit easier. The Corolla Cross also provides a better view of what’s going on courtesy of that higher seating position.

Like the regular Corolla, the Corolla Cross has a compact back seat, although headroom is not too bad. The boot is also compact but useful and the wide tailgate makes it easy to pack bulky things in.

One of the biggest differences with the Corolla Cross is what’s under the bonnet. It’s the first Toyota with the newer-generation hybrid system. That means more grunt from the electric motor and more power once you press the accelerator. While the Corolla Cross is available with a regular petrol engine, the hybrid drivetrain is well worth the $2500 step up.

There’s one final piece of the Corolla puzzle: resale. SUVs are the thing to have these days, so we’d put our money on more people wanting a 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross five years from now over a 2022 Corolla hatch (obviously only time will tell).

So, go for higher ground and jump into the Corolla Cross.

Question:

Answer: Both the cars you’re looking at are accomplished off-roaders that will do the trip in style. The Discovery has more polish and luxury tech, whereas the LandCruiser has a bit more space and outright grunt.

But there’s a broader consideration for you here: reliability. Many Land Rovers can live long and issue-free lives, but there are some that can cause their owners grief. The LandCruiser, on the other hand, has a decades-long reputation for being tough and very well suited to remote Aussie conditions. If there are any issues, you’re also far more likely to find service and parts for a LandCruiser than you are a Land Rover.

So our money would be heading to the LandCruiser for the Big Trip. Enjoy!

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