A new price leader! The GWM Ora becomes Australia’s cheapest EV with discounted Nissan Leaf close behind

January 8, 2025January 8, 2025 John Mahoney 1028 Views 0 Comments Australia's cheapest EV, GWM Ora, MG4

Australia’s cheapest new electric vehicle is now the GWM Ora hatch.

And an unexpected rival has emerged on its tail, the massively discounted Nissan Leaf!

The Ora costs $33,990 drive-away, slotting it into pole pricing position following price hikes for the strong-selling 2025 MG4.

Meanwhile, the Leaf has been reduced from $50,990 plus on-road costs to $34,990 drive-away as it enters run-out.

Its bigger-batteried sibling, the Leaf E+, has been cut from $61,490 plus on-road costs to $44,990 drive-away. The offer is currently valid until January 31 and applies to 2023 model year Leafs.

Nissan Leaf update for MY22 — Nissan Leaf.

The third generation Leaf has yet to be revealed, but Nissan Australia has promised it will be in Australia before March 2027, with a 2025 arrival likely given this action.

As forecast by MG late in 2024, national drive-away pricing for the cheapest 2025 MG4 Excite 51 increased in the new year by $2000 to $34,990.

At the same time MG has ended nationwide drive-away pricing for the MG4 Excite 64.

The second rung of the electric MG hatch will now cost $41,990 before on-road costs – an eye-watering $10,000 more than before.

The MG4 has given up its price advantage.

MG Motor Australia has also confirmed it has scrapped the previous $8000 factory bonuses that were available for the Essence 64, Long Range 77 and flagship XPower.

The 2024 MG4 Excite 51 was priced as low as $30,990 drive-away for a limited stretch last year between September 20 until October 31.

It had an immediate impact on sales, which ended 121.3 per cent up year on year at the completion of 2024.

In the first nine months of 2024 average sales were 419 per month, versus a 1054 across the last three months.

But now value conscious buyers will be drawn back to the GWM Ora hatch that costs $33,990 drive-away for the Standard Range and $34,990 for the Extended Range.

The Ora has been very much the third wheel in the three-cornered fight at the cheapest end of the market.

While the MG4 finished at 6834 sales and the BYD Dolphin at 2116 sales, the Ora managed only 1225 sales.

Despite an earlier round of discounting in 2024, Nissan sold just 357 examples of the UK-built Leaf and Leaf E+ in Australia last year.

The standard Leaf comes with a 39kWh battery and 270km claimed range. The E+ has a 59kWh battery and a claimed range 385km range.

New 2025 MG4 pricing in Australia

MG4 Excite 51 – $34,990 drive-away
MG4 Excite 64 – $41,990 before on-road costs
MG4 Essence 64 – $44,990 before on-road costs
MG4 Long Range 77 – $50,990 before on-road costs
MG4 XPower – $55,990 before on-road costs