Ranking the six cheapest electric cars currently on sale

So, you’re following all the doom and gloom in the news, and you’re pondering that weekly petrol spend and watching the numbers slowly climb. 

Electric vehicles have always been the subject of plenty of market curiosity, particularly amongst those wanting to ease or cease their weekly spend at the pump. And the week’s recent events have prompted some punters to consider swapping their petrol or diesel car for something fully electric.

It wasn’t long ago that the industry was making a big hubbub about new EV prices finally breaking under the $50,000 marker. Nowadays, there are plenty of intriguing fully electric vehicles you can get for conventional hatchback money. Here’s our short, sharp thoughts on the country’s six cheapest BEVs. 

Donfeng Box

Priced from $26,990 (introductory price)

Range: 317km (WLTP)

Launched late last year, the Dongfeng Box is the amusingly named first model to market from Chinese carmaker Dongfeng. A giant in its homeland, the brand has quickly fired three different electric nameplates into our market. And the Box is the cheapest. 

Its retail price is actually meant to be $32,990, but the model is subject to both a temporary introductory price offer that reduced the cost to $29,990 plus on-roads, as well as a current ‘model year 2025 clearance’ that sees its price drop further to $26,990.

In the plus column, the Box gets cutesy styling, an enormous list of features (automatic parking in a new sub-$30k car is unbelievable), and a surprising amount of charm. It has a larger footprint than its key rival from BYD, and a better range number, too. 

It does sadly have one quite clear downside. The Box’s safety chops have been repeatedly called into question, first following a disappointing showing during its Euro NCAP testing, and then the confirmation that the local iteration of the model would be ‘unrated’ by the NZTA. It’s also a slightly ropey steer, for those craving a bit of engagement. 

BYD Atto 1

Priced from $29,990

Range: 220–310km (WLTP)

Well, lookee here … another diminutive, brightly coloured electric vehicle from China. 

The BYD Atto 1 was launched in New Zealand earlier this year, and is technically the country’s first sub-$30k new EV. Building on BYD’s strong local reputation, it’s expected to be a significant player in the dedicated plug-in segment soon enough. 

The Atto 1 is a hoot to drive and, although it is quite a small thing (it’s less than 4 metres long and 1.8 metres wide) there is a handy amount of room in either row of seats. Build quality inside is solid for a cheap, small car. And you can get it in highlighter yellow or beige.

As for downsides, the Atto 1’s only real asterisk is that the base model misses out on a larger battery. The 220km of range will be plenty for some customers, but could spook some people wanting an affordable, small family workhorse. You need to opt for the higher spec $35,990 Premium to get the bigger 43kW battery pack and its 310km range number.

GWM Ora

Priced from $36,990

Range: 400km (WLTP)

When it first came out, it’s safe to say that the GWM Ora was probably overshadowed a little by its similarly timed MG4 and BYD Dolphin rivals. But whilst the MG4 continues to receive discounts and the Dolphin is quietly phased out, GWM’s Ora marches on. And, amongst the company on this list, it comes out looking fairly strong.

It’s a little more expensive than the Box and Atto 1, but the GWM is also a bit larger and comes with a considerably bigger range claim. Most people I’ve talked to about the Ora rather like its quirky, retro-flavoured exterior styling, whilst its cabin feels well put together. 

On the flipside, the Ora’s advanced driver assistance systems can occasionally be a bit too ‘enthusiastic’. The eager driver monitoring system and the lane-keep assistant are particularly grating in our experience — although to be fair, I haven’t sampled an Ora in around two years.

Omoda E5

Priced from $36,990

Range: 430km (WLTP)

By the skin of its teeth, the Omoda E5 is New Zealand’s cheapest electric SUV. This was one of the very first models to be introduced into the market by Chery, which offers Omoda, Jaecoo, and its self-titled Chery brand here. 

Something all of Chery’s brands have shown themselves to be good at is interior build quality and finish, and the E5 is no exception. It does not look or feel like a ‘budget’ car on the inside, with plenty of nice surfaces and materials. And the flagship $40,990 variant comes loaded with kit, including heated seats in both rows and a panoramic glass sunroof.

What does the E5 not do so well at? Well its 380-litre boot space is fairly unremarkable for a car of its size, and it can also occasionally feel a little overwhelmed by its 150kW/340Nm electric motor.

Dongfeng Vigo

Priced from $37,990 (introductory price)

Range: 310km (WLTP)

Right up the backside of the Omoda E5 is another electric SUV, the Dongfeng Vigo. Launched to the market just this year, this is Dongfeng’s first local entry to the SUV market. The nameplate currently benefits from an introductory price of $37,990, which lasts until the end of April before reverting to the model’s standard $39,990 pricing.

The Vigo has plenty of interesting features that aim to separate it from the sea of other plug-in compact crossovers in its class. It features a Range Rover–style split tailgate and a handy camping mode that can enable the car’s climate control to remain on and power your appliances whilst you sleep inside it (the model is offered with a mattress as a factory accessory). 

Whilst it comes with some interesting interior features, the Vigo also lacks standard wireless Android Auto. Dongfeng offers the technology, but currently only in the form of a $390 optional extra plug-in dongle. Its range figures are also no match for those of the Omoda E5 or the similarly priced BYD Atto 2.

Fiat 500e

Priced from $37,990

Range: 321km (WLTP)

Last on the list is the sole non-Chinese contender, Fiat’s fizzy little 500e. 

The fully electric 500e is an excellent little car for several reasons. Unlike the other retro-inspired cars on this list, the 500e carries its old-school looks with a bit more authenticity. It’s a properly charming little thing that feels more expensive than it is. It’s also considerably better to drive than its petrol counterpart. 

Where the 500e is lacking is in its technology. The 321km range from its 42kWh battery is fair at this price, but with seemingly each waking day a new cutting edge, affordably priced new EV from China is landing here with a more advanced and efficient powertrain and battery.