The best electric vehicles coming to Australia in 2024

The best EVs coming to Australia

BYD Seal U

The Toyota RAV4 hybrid rival from BYD will launch in Australia around March or April 2024 as a petrol-electric plug-in hybrid. An all-electric version is under consideration to follow later and shapes as a logical rival for the Tesla Model Y.

What’s not really clear at this point is whether it will be called the BYD Seal U, or adopt another name. In China, it's known as the Song Plus Champion Edition, which is unlikely to be the badge it wears here.

The BYD Seal U is a sizeable vehicle, measuring up at 4785mm long, 1890mm wide and 1660mm tall, making it bigger than the Toyota RAV4, but not taller.

In PHEV form in China, it makes a combined 200kW (approximately) from its 1.5-litre petrol engine, and its e-motor and has a range up to 150km.

As an EV, it launched in Europe with a 168kW single e-motor, but a dual motor option is coming. Range claims are up to 500km.

So far, no word on pricing, but in typical BYD fashion and like the Seal sedan, expect it to be very competitive.

The second generation of the Hyundai Kona Electric has been designed from the ground up for electric power. Image: Supplied

Kia EV5

With the EV9 large SUV rolling out around now to join the EV6, Kia’s electric expansion continues to gain momentum. Next up is the medium five-seat EV5, which is tipped to start in the $60,000 bracket when it arrives some time in 2024 (Kia is being very hazy on timing at the moment).

That pricing would pit it against the leading EV in the Aussie market, the Tesla Model Y, as well as the likes of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and forthcoming Tesla bZ4X and Volkswagen ID.4.

The entry-level EV5 will be single e-motor front-wheel drive, with a range around 530km. The dual motor version will be more powerful, but have about 10 per cent less range.

Styled in an upright traditional SUV style, the EV5 will be built in China for Australia – just like the Tesla Model Y and Polestar 2 – and will come with LFP batteries that are cheaper to make than traditional NMC. 

The Kia EV5 is the company's first model built in China for Australia. Image: Supplied

MG Cyberster

Back in the good old days, MG was a British brand that mainly built small but effective two-door sports cars. Nowadays, it’s a Chinese brand that mainly builds SUVs and small passenger cars, an increasing number of them electric.

The old and new combine in late 2024 when the spectacular MG Cyberster convertible sports car rolls into Australia.

Expected to make 400kW from its dual e-motor set-up and accelerate from 0-100km/h in 2.6 seconds, the Cyberster is in Porsche Taycan performance territory. However, pricing is expected to be close to $100,000, which isn’t cheap, but still offers leading value for money. 

The MG Cyberster looks like it comes from the future. Image: Supplied

Nissan Ariya

The Nissan Ariya has been 'coming to Australia' for a long time, but 2024 now seems to be the plan for the mid-size SUV’s local arrival.

The delays have been attributed to various factors, including international demand and local homologation requirements. Now it’s likely Nissan Australia is holding out for a mid-life facelift that’s due in the not too distant future.

Measuring just under 4.6m long, overseas, it is a five-seat SUV with two front-wheel drive and one all-wheel drive powertrain choices, and range capability up to a claimed 536km.

Pricing is still guesswork, but it will probably sit in the $60,000-$70,000 band, lining up against the likes of the Tesla Model Y, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and other newcomers such as the Kia EV5.

Polestar 4

While the Polestar 3 should arrive in mid-2024, the Polestar 4's arrival soon after is expected to replace the Polestar 2 as Swedish-Chinese start-up’s most popular model both in Australia and globally.

Sleekly styled, the mid-size SUV is expected to have a starting price in the $80,000-$90,000 range. That pitches it up against upper-spec Tesla Model Y and luxury rivals such as the BMW iX3 and another 2024 arrival, the Audi Q4 e-tron.

The Polestar 4 will be offered with the choice of a single or dual-motor drivetrain powered by a big 102kWh lithium-ion battery. The claimed range is as high as 600km.

The 2024 Nissan Ariya is an all-electric SUV. Image: Supplied

Tesla Model 3

The much anticipated 2024 Tesla Model 3 update arrives in Australia in early 2024, retaining the current version’s essentials while adding some styling, mechanical and technology updates. The Model 3 Performance model isn’t part of the new line-up – at least not for now.

The slippery new body is more aerodynamic, boosting the range of both the single-motor base model and the dual-motor Long Range. 

There’s been some suspension work to improve ride and cabin quietness. The latter issue has also been addressed by more sound-proofing and acoustic glass.

Inside, a 15.4-inch touchscreen is still the headquarters for infotainment, but is now run by an all-new operating system. There are no gear or indicator stalks, instead buttons adopt those duties.

Back-seat drivers now get an 8.0-inch display, which allows them to adjust the climate control and entertainment options.

Expect many of these changes to flow in to the Tesla Model Y, although that might not be until 2025.

Both new models are more expensive, but it’s always worth checking the Tesla website, as pricing changes regularly.

The 2024 Tesla Model 3 is expected to start at $61,900 plus on-road costs. Image: Supplied

Toyota bZ4X

Another electric car we’ve been waiting a long time to arrive in Australia, the Toyota bZ4X, finally launches in February 2024.

Pitched in to the medium SUV melting pot, it’s an important EV simply because it comes from the brand that dominates the new car market in Australia.

But if you’re expecting cutting edge tech and performance from the Toyota’s first battery electric vehicle Down Under, you'll be disappointed. While we do get an update – part of the reason for the long wait – it’s nothing too radical.

In fact, things like powertrain, battery size and claimed range of up to 516km are all expected to remain very familiar.

The key numbers we don’t know are for pricing. There should be at least two variants competing against the Tesla Model Y. As this starts at $65,400 at time of writing, this is the expected objective for Toyota on release.