You can now buy an EV for $25,000 and there’s a wide range of electric cars and SUVs for less than $45K from BYD, MG, GWM, Chery and other brands. Here are the cheapest EVs to buy in Australia right now.
Motoring
Research and compare new cars under $35,000 on sale today in Australia
Research and compare hybrid and PHEV cars on sale: brands, models, prices, specs, running costs & safety
Research and compare hybrid SUVs on sale today in Australia
Research and compare family SUVs on sale – hybrid, EV and conventional engines
The cheapest hybrid and PHEV cars in Australia for 2026
Here are the cheapest and best affordable new hybrid and plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) SUVs, hatchbacks, sedans, wagons and utes on sale in Australia in 2026 for fuel savings.
Cheap and fuel-efficient new hybrid cars are high on the agenda for Australian car buyers in 2026 as people look to get a better deal at the showroom and save money when filling up at the petrol pump.
Affordable battery-electric vehicles (EVs) are also drawing lots of attention, but hybrids remain highly attractive to buyers as intense competition and tough new emissions regulations encourage brands to launch new models and keep prices down to a level that’s comparable with traditional petrol-powered cars.
This guide covers the cheapest full hybrid and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) across Australia’s key vehicle segments, including small, medium and large family SUVs, traditional hatchbacks, sedans and wagons, and dual-cab utes. Vehicles with ‘mild’ hybrid systems, which offer more modest fuel saving benefits, are not included.
There are several hybrids here priced from less than $30,000 drive-away and many more in brackets below $40,000 and $50,000 (all based on current national or Victorian private buyer drive-away figures). We have capped large seven-seater SUVs and dual-cab utes at $65,000 drive-away. Prices and availability can change quickly, so buyers should always check the latest offers before making a decision.
We’ve also included links to RACV Car Match throughout the listings, where you can compare prices, features, fuel economy, energy consumption, indicative running costs and more.
More: Research and compare new cars, SUVs and utes on sale today in Australia
In this article
- Cheapest hybrid cars and SUVs in Australia under $35,000
- Cheapest hybrid small SUVs in Australia under $40,000
- Cheapest hybrid medium SUVs in Australia priced below $40,000
- Affordable hybrid medium SUVs priced from $40,000 to $50,000
- Cheapest hybrid large family SUVs under $65,000
- Cheapest hybrid hatchbacks and small sedans under $35,000
- Cheapest hybrid family sedans and wagons under $45,000
- Cheapest hybrid dual-cab utes in Australia under $65,000
- Hybrid car fuel savings: brand claims vs real world testing
Cheapest hybrid cars and SUVs in Australia under $35,000
Here are the cheapest new hybrid vehicles on sale in Australia, covering a mix of compact hatchbacks to small SUVs and even a medium family SUV – and all priced from less than $35,000 drive-away:
1. MG3 Hybrid city hatch – from $28,490 drive-away
2. GWM Haval Jolion Hybrid small SUV – from $28,990 drive-away
3 eq. Chery Tiggo 4 Hybrid small SUV – from $29,990 drive-away
3 eq. MG ZS Hybrid small SUV – from $29,990 drive-away
5. Toyota Yaris Hybrid city hatch – from $33,217 drive-away
6 eq. Chery Tiggo 7 PHEV medium SUV – from $34,990 drive-away
6 eq. Hyundai i30 Hybrid sedan – from $34,990 drive-away
Note: These models appear in other categories below based on body style.
Research and compare new cars under $35,000 on sale today in Australia
Cheapest hybrid small SUVs in Australia under $40,000
Small SUVs are the second most popular market segment in Australia next to medium SUVs and competition is strong between the major brands. This has led to high-value hybrid car offerings from fast-growing Chinese brands, as well as long-serving brands such as Toyota, Honda and Hyundai.
The most affordable hybrid small SUVs priced below $40,000 drive-away are:
1. GWM Haval Jolion Hybrid – from $28,990 drive-away
2 eq. Chery Tiggo 4 Hybrid – from $29,990 drive-away
2 eq. MG ZS Hybrid – from $29,990 drive-away
4. Toyota Yaris Cross Hybrid – from $36,135 drive-away
5. Honda HR-V e:HEV Hybrid – from $39,900 drive-away
6. Hyundai Kona Hybrid – from $39,990 drive-away
The Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid (from $42,020 drive-away) is just $20 above our $40,000 threshold, while new hybrid models are also coming soon for the Kia Seltos and Jaecoo J5, to name just two.
Research and compare hybrid and PHEV cars on sale: brands, models, prices, specs, running costs & safety
Cheapest hybrid medium SUVs in Australia priced below $40,000
There is no other segment that’s as big, or competitive, as medium SUVs and here are five price-leading hybrids – full hybrid and PHEV – priced from less than $40,000 drive-away. See our next section for a bigger net of mid-size SUVs priced from $40,000 to $50,000.
The most affordable hybrid medium SUVs priced below $40,000 drive-away are:
1. Chery Tiggo 7 PHEV – from $34,990 drive-away
2. BYD Sealion 5 PHEV – from $37,583 drive-away
3. GWM Haval H6 Hybrid – from $37,990 drive-away
4. MG HS Hybrid – from $38,990 drive-away
5. KGM Torres Hybrid – from $39,990 drive-away
Research and compare hybrid SUVs on sale today in Australia
Affordable hybrid medium SUVs priced from $40,000 to $50,000
There is today a broad selection of full hybrid and PHEV medium SUVs from various brands below $50,000, with $41,000-$45,000 drive-away the clear sweet spot. Chinese brands are carrying the torch, but carmakers such as Kia, Honda and Hyundai have also rejigged their hybrid line-ups with more affordable variants.
The most affordable hybrid medium SUVs in Australia priced from $40,000 to $50,000 drive-away are:
1 eq. GWM Haval H6 PHEV – from $40,990 drive-away
1 eq. Jaecoo J7 PHEV – from $40,990 drive-away
3. Geely Starray EM-i PHEV – from $41,033 drive-away
4. MG HS PHEV – from $42,990 drive-away
5. GWM Haval H7 Hybrid – from $43,990 drive-away
6. Kia Sportage Hybrid – from $44,490 drive-away
7 eq. Hyundai Tucson Hybrid – from $44,990 drive-away
7 eq. KGM Actyon Hybrid – from $44,990 drive-away
9. BYD Sealion 6 PHEV – from $46,961 drive-away
10. Leapmotor C10 PHEV – from $48,840 drive-away
11. Honda CR-V e:HEV Hybrid – from $49,900 drive-away
The just-launched new-generation 2026 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid narrowly misses the cut, starting at $50,931 drive-away for Victorian private buyers. The inaugural PHEV version of the new RAV4 is positioned further afield, from $65,027 drive-away.
Stretching the budget into the low-$50,000s is also required to secure hybrid versions of the popular Subaru Forester (from $52,033 drive-away) and Nissan X-Trail (e-Power from $53,625 drive-away). The upgraded GWM Haval H6GT PHEV, featuring the carmaker’s latest-generation Hi4 all-wheel drive plug-in hybrid powertrain, is also now available for $52,990 drive-away.
Cheapest hybrid large family SUVs under $65,000
Large family hybrid SUVs, often with three rows of seating and strong towing credentials, have also become a battleground among the Chinese brands, which are now offering highly equipped models from as low as $45,990 drive-away with advanced PHEV powertrains. The most spacious of these affordable seven-seater large SUVs are priced around $60,000, where hybrids from the major South Korean brands also feature.
The cheapest hybrid large SUVs in Australia priced below $65,000 drive-away are:
1. Chery Tiggo 8 PHEV 7-seater – from $45,990 drive-away
2. GWM Tank 300 PHEV 5-seater off-roader – from $55,990 drive-away
3. GWM Tank 300 Hybrid 5-seater off-roader – from $56,990 drive-away
4. Chery Tiggo 9 PHEV 7-seater – from $58,274 drive-away
5. Kia Sorento Hybrid 7-seater – from $59,490 drive-away
6. Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid 7-seater – from $59,990 drive-away
7. BYD Sealion 8 PHEV 7-seater – from $61,549 drive-away
Just missing the cut is the Omoda 9 PHEV (from $66,484 drive-away), and while PHEV rivals from legacy brands are becoming more affordable, they still hover around $70,000: Kia Sorento PHEV (from $69,990 drive-away) and Mazda CX-80 PHEV (now also from $69,990 drive-away), for example.
Research and compare family SUVs on sale – hybrid, EV and conventional engines
Cheapest hybrid hatchbacks and small sedans under $35,000
SUVs might have overtaken traditional small cars on the sales charts, but hatchbacks and compact sedans are still popular with many buyers, who are increasingly looking for hybrid options.
The most affordable hybrid small cars in Australia priced below $35,000 drive-away are:
1. MG3 Hybrid city hatch – from $28,490 drive-away
2. Toyota Yaris Hybrid city hatch – from $33,217 drive-away
3. Hyundai i30 Hybrid sedan – from $34,990 drive-away
The Toyota Corolla Hybrid hatch and sedan are priced above our $35K threshold, starting at $36,471 and $36,963 drive-away respectively.
More: The best used cars, SUVs and utes in Australia under $10,000
Cheapest hybrid family sedans and wagons under $45,000
Disruptive brands, led by BYD, are now offering hybrid family cars at value prices, breathing new life into flagging segments. The medium sedan and wagon class is a case in point, where the just-launched BYD Seal 6 combines affordable pricing with a high spec and a plug-in hybrid powertrain, throwing down the challenge to the dominant Toyota Camry Hybrid.
The most affordable hybrid family cars priced below $45,000 drive-away are:
1. BYD Seal 6 PHEV sedan – from $38,625 drive-away
2. BYD Seal 6 Touring PHEV wagon – from $43,835 drive-away
3. Toyota Camry Hybrid sedan – from $44,679 drive-away
More: The most fuel-efficient cars, SUVs and utes in Australia
Cheapest hybrid dual-cab utes in Australia under $65,000
Traditional diesel engines have dominated the dual-cab ute market for decades, but plug-in hybrid powertrains are making a breakthrough with buyers – again, thanks to well-regarded brands such as BYD. In an effort to remain competitive, the Ford Ranger PHEV has taken a significant price cut.
The most affordable hybrid utes priced below $65,000 drive-away are:
1. GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV – from $54,490 drive-away
2. BYD Shark 6 PHEV – from $61,609 drive-away
3. Ford Ranger PHEV – from $62,000 drive-away
For the record, the new 2026 BYD Shark 6 Performance starts from $66,744 drive-away, while other fresh entrants coming soon include the JAC Hunter PHEV and still-to-be-named Chery diesel PHEV.
More: BYD Shark 6 vs Ford Ranger PHEV comparison
Hybrid car fuel savings: brand claims vs real world testing
Claimed fuel consumption figures from car brands are based on laboratory tests to meet Australian Design Rules (ADR 81/02), so while providing a benchmark to compare against other vehicles, they don’t usually reflect real-world driving. To get a more informed understanding of potential fuel savings when choosing a hybrid car compared to other powertrain types, see the results at the AAA’s Real-World Testing Program.
More: Does your SUV, ute or car match its fuel consumption claim?
The information provided is general advice only. Before making any decisions please consider your own circumstances and the Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determinations. For copies, visit racv.com.au. As distributor, RACV Insurance Services Pty Ltd AFS Licence No. 230039 receives commission for each policy sold or renewed. Product(s) issued by Insurance Manufacturers of Australia Pty Ltd ABN 93 004 208 084 AFS Licence No. 227678.
