Aussie car buyers have plenty of affordable EV choices in Australia.
From hatchbacks to city SUVs, there are now several compelling options around the $30,000 mark.
The BYD Atto 1 compact SUV became the cheapest new car on sale in Australia, while the Geely EX2 hatchback has had a surging start on the sales charts.
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Other competitors include the GAC Aion UT hatch and the incoming Leapmotor B03X small SUV, which provide buyers with some further thinking to do.
Here is how the four stack up on the numbers.
Pricing
The Atto 1's $19,990 (drive-away) price tag isn't just the cheapest on this list, it's the cheapest new car currently on sale in Australia. This deal does run out in December, when it will revert to $23,990.
The premium grade of the Atto 1, which adds a bigger 43kWh battery with 310km WLTP range, starts from $27,990 (before on-road costs), which is on par with its rivals.
The B03X starts from $29,990 (drive-away), making it the cheapest small electric SUV in Australia.
Geely's EX2 entered the Australian market in July 2026 at $26,490 (before on-road costs), which pushes the final drive-away price closer to $30,000.
GAC's Aion UT is available from $31,990 (drive-away), but the new Chinese brand will add a cheaper standard range variant in December, 2026.
The MG4 Urban hasn't been included in this list, but the electric hatch is currently available from $29,990 (drive-away) until October 31, courtesy of a $2000 cashback offer.
2026 BYD Atto 1, GAC Aion UT, Geely EX2 and Leapmotor B03X pricing Australia
Set-up
The Aion UT's single electric motor produces 150kW and 210Nm, edging out the B03X's 130kW and 200Nm.
Geely's EX2 produces 85kW/150Nm - closely rivalling the Atto 1's 65kW/175Nm.
The EX2 stands out with a rear-wheel-drive configuration, potentially providing an on-road edge over its front-wheel drive rivals.
The Aion UT's 60kWh battery trumps the rest of the competition, offering a driving range of 430km, however, the incoming and cheaper short range Aion UT will only offer 320km from a 44kWh unit.
The EX2 has a 35kWh unit with 280km, close to the B03X (292km from 40kWh) and besting the Atto 1 (220km from 30kWh).
2026 BYD Atto 1, GAC Aion UT, Geely EX2 and Leapmotor B03X set-ups
Features and dimensions
Inside the cabin, the Aion UT and the Leapmotor B03X have 14.6-inch central touchscreens and 8.8-inch digital drivers displays, but the former boasts synthetic leather seats as standard, instead of fabric.
The EX2 also has synthetic leather seats as standard, but a smaller 12.3-inch central touchscreen and 8.0-inch digital driver display.
The Atto 1 has a 10.1-inch central touchscreen and 5.0-inch digital driver display, with fabric seats as standard.
As an SUV, the B03X has 1325L of storage space, including a 105L storage area under the main boot.
The EX2 offers an impressive amount of storage space for a hatch, with 1320L, which includes a 70L front storage space.
The Atto 1 still has 1037L, despite being the smallest car in this comparison.
The Aion UT provides 689L of total cargo when the rear seats are folded, but this is noticeably less than the rest of the pack.
2026 BYD Atto 1, GAC Aion UT, Geely EX2 and Leapmotor B03X features
2026 BYD Atto 1, GAC Aion UT, Geely EX2 and Leapmotor B03X dimensions
The Atto 1 is the smallest car of the pack, with Aion UT longer than the EX2 and the same length as the B03X. The Aion UT is also the widest of the cars and has the longest wheelbase.
The B03X is the only SUV here and is naturally taller than its hatchback rivals.
Safety
The Atto 1 and EX2 were awarded a five-star Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) safety ratings.
The Atto 1 performed well in crash testing, with 82 per cent adult protection and 86 per cent child protection.
ANCAP assessed the EX2 using its new 'Stages of Safety' criteria. Features like its driving monitoring system and adaptive cruise control guided the EX2 to a 79 per cent safe driving rating.
It rated crash avoidance at 72 per cent, and overall crash protection at 86 per cent.
The GAC Aion UT also received five stars and performed well in all categories.
The Leapmotor B03X remains untested by ANCAP, but it has a suite of active safety features, including auto emergency braking and adaptive cruise control.
Warranty and servicing
The Aion UT wins the warranty battle, with an eight-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty for both the car and its high-voltage battery.
The EX2 also has a strong warranty guarantee, with seven years/unlimited kilometres for the car and eight years for its high-voltage battery.
The Atto 1 and B03X are offered with similar warranties. Both guarantee six years or 150,000km, and an eight-year or 160,000km battery warranty.
BYD does further guarantee the Atto 1's battery will still have at least 70 per cent after eight years.
2026 BYD Atto 1, GAC Aion UT, Geely EX2 and Leapmotor B03X warranty
2026 BYD Atto 1, GAC Aion UT, Geely EX2 and Leapmotor B03X servicing intervals
The Atto 1, EX2 and B03X all need to be serviced every 12 months or 20,000km, while the Aion UT is every 12 months or 15,000km.