Electric vehicle (EV) sales continue to rise in Australia, and while there weren’t too many movements among the sales favourites in 2024, there are a handful of models which are staking their claim in the market.
You won’t be surprised to find Tesla still topped the EV sales charts, but there are still a healthy group of more affordable options from Chinese brands rising up the ranks each year.
If you’re in the market for an EV, this article is intended to be an overview of what Australians are buying while providing a brief overview of what you can expect from each of the five best-selling models available right now.
For context, there were a total of 91,292 electric passenger vehicles sold in Australia in 2024, up 4.7 per cent on 2023. These figures are based on data collated by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) and the Electric Vehicle Council.
A snapshot of all the best-selling EVs in Australia in 2024 was published earlier this year, and you can read it here.
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| Make/model | Sales |
|---|---|
| Tesla Model Y | 21,253 |
| Tesla Model 3 | 17,094 |
| MG 4 | 6934 |
| BYD Seal | 6393 |
| BYD Atto 3 | 5751 |
Click on a car’s name in the table above to jump directly to its information on this page, or keep scrolling for the full article
Tesla Model Y
The omnipresent Model Y topped the EV sales charts in 2024, chalking up a sizeable 21,253 deliveries by year’s end.
Though there is a facelifted Model Y arriving this year following months of rumours throughout 2024, buyers still only had the option of three different variants of Tesla’s only SUV in Australia to choose from.
Multiple rounds of price cuts early in the year left the model at a price range of $55,900 to $82,900 before on-roads.
At the bottom is the Model Y RWD, which as the name suggests is rear-wheel drive only with maximum power outputs of up to 220kW for a 0-100km/h time of 6.9 seconds. Tesla, unlike almost every other manufacturer, doesn’t quote full performance or efficiency figures, though the RWD has a claimed WLTP range of 455km.
As such it’s estimated the RWD has a 60kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack compared to the likely 79kWh lithium nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) unit found in the remaining two variants.
The first of those two is the Long Range AWD, which is all-wheel drive, produces up to 378kW of power, and can go from 0-100km/h in 5.0 seconds with a claimed WLTP range of 533km.
At the top of the range is the Model Y Performance AWD, which bumps outputs to 393kW for a 0-100km/h time of 3.7 seconds while trimming WLTP range to 514km. Tesla backs its SUV with a four-year, 80,000km warranty in Australia, while its battery pack is covered for eight years or 160,000km.
You can read our top-scoring 2024 review of the Tesla Model Y RWD here, rated 8.6 out of 10.
Interested in buying a Tesla Model Y? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here
MORE: Everything Tesla Model Y
Tesla Model 3
The second half of Tesla’s Australian one-two punch is the Model 3, which ranked second in 2024 with 17,094 sales but remained well clear of the competition.
Its only change of late was the introduction of the ‘Highland’ update in late 2023, but like the Model Y it’s only available in three variants that range in price from $54,900 to $80,900 before on-roads.
The range-opening variant is the RWD, powered by a 208kW electric motor for a 0-100km/h time of 6.1 seconds. It’s fed by a 60kWh LFP battery for a claimed WLTP range of 513km.
Next is the Long Range AWD, which adds a second electric motor for a total power output of 366kW, helping it from 0-100km/in 4.4 seconds. Unlike the RWD it features a 79kWh NMC battery pack and has a claimed WLTP range of 629km.
Topping the range is the Performance AWD, which outputs a colossal 461kW of power for a 0-100km/h time of just 3.1 seconds. It uses the same battery as the Long Range AWD, but WLTP range is reduced to 528km.
Like the Model Y it’s backed by a four-year, 80,000km warranty, while the battery is covered by an eight-year, 160,000km warranty (eight years,192,000km for the Long Range and Performance).
You can read our top-scoring 2024 review of the Tesla Model 3 here, rated 8.4 out of 10.
Interested in buying a Tesla Model 3? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here
MORE: Everything Tesla Model 3
MG 4
The (significantly) cheaper of MG’s two electric-only nameplates is the MG 4 hatch, which recorded 6934 sales across 2024.
There are six variants in the MG 4 lineup, which currently ranges in price from $34,990 drive-away to $55,990 before on-road costs – thanks to a deal in place now until February 28 for the base-spec Excite 51. Typical pricing is $37,990 before on-roads.
That base model is powered by a rear-mounted motor with 125kW of power and 250Nm of torque, with energy coming from a 51kWh battery for a WLTP range of 350km. All MG 4 models use lithium-ion batteries.
Three MG 4 variants utilise a 64kWh battery, two of which are the Excite 64 and Essence 64 with WLTP ranges of 450km and 435km respectively, but the same outputs of 150kW and 250Nm. The third is the range-topping XPower, which is the only AWD MG 4 and produces 320kW and 600Nm with a claimed range of 400km.
The longest-travelling variant is the Long Range 77, which uses a 77kWh battery for a claimed WLTP range of 530km. MG backs its lineup with a 10-year, 250,000km warranty, which includes its battery.
You can read our top-scoring 2024 review of the standard MG 4 here, rated 8.4 out of 10.
Interested in buying an MG 4? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here
MORE: Everything MG 4
BYD Seal
BYD’s Seal sedan, which surpassed the Toyota Camry on monthly sales for the first time in December 2024, managed 6393 total sales for the year.
Like the Tesla Model 3, BYD sells its Seal in three variants in Australia, ranging in price from $46,990 to $61,990 before on-road costs. All models use batteries of LFP construction, albeit of varying capacities.
Opening the range is the Seal Dynamic, a rear-wheel drive variant with a 150kW/310Nm motor and 61.44kWh battery pack – the only one in the range to use that battery. Claimed WLTP range is 460km.
In the middle is the Premium, which upgrades to an 82.56kWh battery for an increased WLTP range of 570km. Outputs are also bumped to 230kW and 360Nm, though it retains a rear-wheel drive configuration.
The fastest and most expensive variant is the Seal Performance, with 390kW and 670Nm sourced from the same battery as the Premium. It also upgrades to an all-wheel drive setup, and range is quoted at 520km.
The model’s high-voltage battery is covered by an eight-year, 160,000km warranty, with varying warranties for its other components.
You can read our top-scoring 2024 review of the standard BYD Seal here, rated 8.1 out of 10.
Interested in buying a BYD Seal? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here
MORE: Everything BYD Seal
BYD Atto 3
BYD’s first car in Australia was the Atto 3, and it still managed to crack the EV top five in 2024 with 5751 sales.
Unlike the Seal, there are now only two Atto 3 variants available at either $39,990 or $44,990 before on-roads, both of which feature LFP batteries with two different capacities.
The cheaper of the two is the Essential Standard Range, which features a 49.92kWh battery for a claimed WLTP range of 345km. Power is sent to the front wheels only, with outputs rated at 150kW and 310Nm.
At the top is the Premium Extended Range, which has a larger 60.48kWh battery and a claimed range of 420km. Power outputs are identical to the Standard Range.
The model’s high-voltage battery is covered by an eight-year, 160,000km warranty, and like the Seal there are varying warranties for its other components.
You can read our top-scoring 2024 review of the standard BYD Atto 3 here, rated 8.4 out of 10.
Interested in buying a BYD Atto 3? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here
MORE: Everything BYD Atto 3
