I don’t really need a new car but I like car shopping and kinda want a new car, so let’s take a look at what’s on the market in early 2025 that I might want to buy. My only absolute deal breakers are:
- Minimum 430km WLTP range. My 2021 Model 3 SR+ came from the factory with 448km and I don’t want an EV with less range this that.
- No sunroof/panoramic/glass roof due to heat, even if the car has a built-in retractable blind.
- Proper one-pedal driving, must come to a complete stop after letting go of accelerator.
- Stalks for wipers/indicators and gear selectors.
- Absolute max of $60,000 for a new/demo/less than 10,000km used vehicle in VIC drive-away. I’ve included some cars that are over $60,000 because I can probably haggle them down to $60,000.
To get a list of all EVs for sale in Australia, I used the Green Vehicle Guide. Of all the EVs on that list that get at least 430km of WLTP range these didn’t make the cut:
- Merecdes Benz, Audi, BMW, Porsche, Lexus, Rolls-Royce, Genesis - all too expensive, even used.
- Polestar 2 - test drove previously, massive centre console makes it uncomfortable.
- BYD Seal, Ford Mach-E, Zeekr X, Xpeng G6, Volvo C40 & XC40, Smart #1 & #3, Skoda Enyaq, Deepal S07 - glass roof on all models.
- Zeekr 009 & Kia EV9 - too big, massive vehicles.
- Renault Megane E-Tech, Toyota bZ4x & Cupra Born - don’t have proper one pedal driving.
- Hyundai Ioniq 5 - still too expensive for bigger battery versions to achieve desired range.
- Tesla - don’t want another one.
That leaves the following vehicles which meet all my criteria:
- Hyundai Ioniq 6 Dynamiq
- Hyundai Kona Electric (150kW motor, 17" wheels)
- Kia EV5 Air Long Range
- Kia EV6 Air
- MG MG4 Excite 64
- MG MG4 Long Range 77
- Volvo EX30 Single Motor Extended Range