Massive used EV bargains! The Teslas, BYDs, MGs, GWMs, Hyundais, BMWs and more available for $30,000 or less in Australia

October 18, 2024October 18, 2024 Iain Curry 9661 Views ev prices australia, secondhand evs, used electric cars, used ev prices

Plunging EV resale values isn’t good news for owners, but for second-hand electric car shoppers it means now is a very good time to buy.

Price for a new MG4 EV has dropped to just $30,990 drive-away, helping drag down used values. MG4s started from $39,990 a few short months ago – pity the folk who bought at that money.

Tesla and BYD have also got the price slasher out for its new cars, giving serious haircuts to its best-sellers. In turn, secondhand versions must drop to meet the market.

We look at Australia’s best used EVs for those with roughly $30k to spend.

2020 Tesla Model 3 RWD

Tesla Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive – now for under $30k.

New Model 3 RWDs can be bought new for just under $60,000 drive-away, but there are many owners chopping in their four- and five-year old examples for about half that.

Cheapest on Carsales is a white Standard Range for $27,000 with 199,000km showing, but a red example (with tow bar) and 81,000km on the clock looks a better buy at $29,500.

There’s a large selection of Model 3s under $35k, but Tesla’s stingy four-year/80,000km warranty means the majority are out of cover.

Being Australia’s best-selling EV (by miles) for many years means there are a huge number on the market.

Some buyers will be eager to sell but know it’s a saturated marketplace, so interested shppers should haggle hard.

2. 2022 BYD Atto 3 Extended Range

The strong-selling BYD Atto 3 has begun popping up in the classifieds for a few grand over $30,000. These are 2022 and 2023 cars, so with BYD’s six-year/150,000km vehicle warranty, there’s still many years of coverage remaining.

These are surprisingly roomy small SUVs, and the Extended model’s 420km range is ample for most buyers.

The few listed on Carsales have under 50,000km showing, and appear in reasonable nearly-new condition.

But these are a tough sell next to a brand new MG4 with 10-year warranty for similar money.

3. 2024 GWM Ora

The little Ora is having a sales crisis. New ones are from $33,990 driveaway, but WA dealers have several brand new 2023 builds for $29,990 on the road. One with 4000km showing is under $25k before charges.

But nationwide there are dozens of Oras around the $30k drive-away mark with barely any demo kms covered.

You could haggle hard on these as only a few grand more buys brand new ones with the full seven-year/unlimited-km warranty.

4. 2022 Hyundai Kona Electric

In just two to three years, values of these underrated, impressive-range Konas have cut in half. That makes them seriously worth a look.

The facelift came in 2021, and models from this year and 2022 are offered for near bang-on $30k. 2019 and 2020 models aren’t much cheaper, so favour the later cars with their better kit, smarter styling and more warranty remaining.

Cheapest is an Extended Range example in bright blue, at a Queensland dealer for $30,990. It’s travelled 100,000km, but the range of 484km is superb for your dollars.

If long range isn’t required, a normal version showing only 17,000km is up for $32,500. It still offers 305km range, and Hyundai is renowned for having real-world achievable figures here. A barely-used one with under 8000km on the clock is only $33,000.

5. 2021 Mazda MX-30 E35 Astina

Mazda MX-30 Electric – suicide doors and a luscious interior.

Mazda Australia’s first foray into EVs was a bit of a disaster. The MX-30 electric was too costly at over $70k drive-away, and its 200km electric range way too low.

But this is a seriously cool looking machine with suicide doors and impressive high spec with one of the nicest, most luxurious interiors you’ll find.

All remain under factory warranty (they’re all 2021 cars), and there are three on Carsales in desirable Soul red paint, each with under 10,000km showing (one has just 2971km), each priced at $29,450 drive-away.

Proper bargains for someone who’ll only use an EV in urban confines.

6. 2021 MG ZS EV

The updated MG ZS EV is due in Australia in the second half of 2022 — 2021 MG ZS EV.

These electric small SUVs start from $39,990 new, but MG is desperate to clear them, so is doing serious deals. You could negotiate hard on one of these and find no need to go pre-loved shopping.

In the classifieds, you can grab a 2021 model with only 11,000km for $26,000, while many others are under the $30,000 mark. Range is a reasonable 263km.

Best buys are 2022 ZS EV Essence dealer ‘demos’ with only delivery mileage on the clock. These are new cars but older MY22 plates, up for $30,490 on the road.

You could no doubt haggle that down further as MY24 versions aren’t much more when their factory bonus offers are taken into account.

7. 2023 Nissan Leaf

Nissan Leaf update for MY22 — 2023 Nissan Leaf.

Ah, the dear old Leaf. Such a trailblazer, but now looking thoroughly out-of-date next to the latest EV arrivals.

It feels like Nissan’s trying to get rid of plenty of them, and a new entry-level 39kWh version with 270km range is $39,990 drive-away, while list price remains above $50,000. Big drop there.

If you want one, it’d be smartest to buy a new one with full 5 year/unlimited km warranty, but you could snare a used bargain.

There’s a private Queensland seller trying to shift his for $30,888, and it’s travelled only 3333km. New car, basically.

Dealers have 2023 Leafs for under $35k on the road – some with under 100km on the clock. Cheapest of the current shape is $26,990 drive-away for a 15,000km 2023 example.

8. 2020 Hyundai Ioniq

2019 Hyundai Ioniq Electric — Hyundai Ioniq Electric.

These sedans look seriously daggy next to Hyundai’s current Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6 offerings, but for roughly $25,000 it’s an EV still inside Hyundai’s five-year warranty.

These Ioniqs were facelifted in 2020, and are the ones to target. Not only do they still have warranty coverage, but feature a bigger (38.3kWh) battery, longer range (311km) and better equipment than 2019 cars.

Many on sale have travelled under 50,000km so still present well, and the Premium grade with fancy leather, Infinity audio and wireless phone charging is the preference.

Pre-facelift Ioniqs from 2018-2020 are really difficult sells. Steer clear unless you can get them below $20k.

THE ELDERLY WILDCARD:

2014 BMW i3 60Ah

2015 BMW i3 – the compact EV that looks like no other.

Okay, they’re a decade old now, but these charming little i3s were years ahead of their time.

For city style, city-only range (160km) and lashings of BMW quality, the circa $25,000+ asking prices look very appealing.

Most sub-$30k i3s are the 60Ah variety with that restrictive range, but a few are the bigger battery 94Ah model, where over 200km range is achievable.

Of concern, the 8-year/100,000km battery warranty has expired on most for sale. But what a cool little premium EV to take a risk on.

Iain Curry

A motoring writer and photographer for two decades, Iain started in print magazines in London as editor of Performance BMW and features writer for BMW Car, GT Porsche and 4Drive magazines. His love of motor sport and high performance petrol cars was rudely interrupted in 2011 when he was one of the first journalists to drive BMW's 1 Series ActiveE EV, and has been testing hybrids, PHEVs and EVs for Australian newspapers ever since. Based near Noosa in Queensland, his weekly newspaper articles cover new vehicle reviews and consumer advice, while his photography is regularly seen on the pages of glossy magazines.