We’ve seen a huge change in the attitude towards EVs recently. Just in our office, we’ve had a huge increase in car finance applications for EVs.
A mix of rising fuel costs, improved EV performance and a wider range of choices on the market means people are taking them more seriously. In fact, May 2026 was the first month on record where an electric car was the best-selling vehicle in Australia.
On top of that, electric vehicles (including hybrids) made up 46% of the new car sales for the month. So what are the models that people are turning to?
Tesla Model Y
The American car company founded by Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning is often seen as the pioneer of electric cars.
And while we’re seeing more EVs on the market here, a lot of them are coming in at a lower price point. The Model Y remains one of the premium options and it’s this car that was the best-selling (of all vehicles) last month.
With a range of 600km, 266km charge in 15 minutes and an iconic design, many drivers find the driveaway price of $96,204 worth the expense.
BYD Sealion 7
BYD is the champion of Chinese cars and with its Atto range it’s cornered much of the market. However, it’s the Sealion 7 which is the best-selling BYD.
The Sealion 7 has a 450km range, an eight-year battery warranty and a lower price of $54,990.
Zeekr 7X
A new import for 2026, the Zeekr 7X has had an immediate impact on Australian roads.
The 7X has the longest range of the top three EVs at 615km, a 13-minute charge from 10% to 80% and some design features that you’ll only find on the most modern cars.
The cost is similar to the Sealion, with a driveaway price stated from $65,000.
Geely EX5
If you’ve heard that Chinese cars are taking over the EV market, you’re not wrong. One in three cars sold in Australia now is made in China and Geely is one of the biggest car makers there.
The EX5 is its most popular electric model, one of three it currently offers. It has a range of 475km, takes 20 minutes to get from 30% to 80% charged and includes features like flatbed seats to help you break up long drives.
It’s also the cheapest car on the list so far with a driveaway price from $43,460.
Kia EV5
While a lot of the Chinese names on this list may be new to you, Kia is a brand that’s been around in Australia for a long time.
A proud Korean carmaker, Kia has more than 30 models available in Australia. Its electric range features some of its most recent designs and the EV5 has hit the sweet spot with Aussie drivers.
With a driveaway price from $49,990, the EV5 has a driving range of more than 400km (550km on the Air LR version) and all the safety features you’d expect from a Kia.
Buying an EV in Australia
There are several reasons people are turning to EVs at the moment and Australia’s growing EV charging network is making it more and more viable to go down this route.
If you’re thinking about getting one yourself, give us a call to see what we can do about getting you finance for a new EV.
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