Electric buzz: your guide to the best EVs on the market
EVs have finally captured the public imagination and the market is awash with options at all price points
Australia’s electric vehicle market has been supercharging ahead in the past 12
months, to the point where an EV, the Tesla Model Y, was our top-selling passenger
vehicle in June, and second-bestselling overall, beaten only by the evergreen Toyota
HiLux ute.
Sales are on the rise as Australians are inundated with more and more choices.
Electric vehicles now come in all shapes, sizes and at different prices, which means
there’s one to suit just about anyone looking for a new car. Here’s your guide to
what’s available, whether you’re after an affordable city runabout, a family friendly
SUV or a fully zapped performance car.
HYUNDAI IONIQ 5 N
Price: $111,000
Electric cars started out as glorified golf buggies but have evolved into a plethora of
practical and stylish options. Now the next stage of said evolution is here: the
performance electric car. Not just fast, because most EVs accelerate quickly, but
engaging and fun for the driver. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N takes the brand’s funky
SUV and gives it a makeover to make it racetrack ready or, as Hyundai likes to call
it, a corner rascal. It’s got plenty of power, packing a 448kW/740Nm dual-motor
set-up, but that’s only the beginning. Hyundai takes things to the next level with a
raft of specially designed features, including a groundbreaking virtual gearbox, a
synthesised sound system and a “Drift Mode” – to name just a few intriguing
features. Hyundai claims the Ioniq 5 N can run 0-100km/h in just 3.4 seconds and
has a top speed of 258km/h. Pricing and exact specifications for this new take on
the EV will be revealed closer to its arrival in Australian showrooms by the end of
this year.
While the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is a twist on the idea of a hot hatch, the Porsche
Taycan combines elements of a sports car and a luxury sedan to create one of the
most remarkable EVs to date. Porsche has created an array of Taycans, from the
Taycan RWD (from $165,700) all the way to the wild Taycan Turbo S (from
$365,100), which cater to a wide audience. While they’re all enjoyable in their own
way, the one that stands out is the Taycan GTS. It’s not the most powerful or the
fastest, but it is the one designed for maximum driving pleasure. The dual motors
produce 380kW (440kW on Overboost) and 850Nm but it’s the chassis, with
specially tuned suspension and fantastic braking system, that makes it such a joy for
the person behind the wheel. It’s still early days, but the Taycan GTS has set the
benchmark for EV-driving engagement, the one against which all future models will
be measured. Of course, if you’re more interested in ludicrous acceleration, the
Taycan Turbo S is for you. With 560kW and 1050Nm, it will launch from 0-
100km/h in 2.8 seconds – which is enough to literally make you nauseous if you do
it a few times in succession. In other words, the Porsche Taycan Turbo S is truly,
sickeningly fast.
TESLA MODEL Y
Price: from $65,400
The Tesla Model Y isn’t just Australia’s favourite electric vehicle, it’s one of the
bestselling cars in the country, full stop. In June of this year, the only vehicle
Australians bought more of was the Toyota HiLux, which is a remarkable
achievement given the previously slow uptake of EVs in the local market. However,
the combination of the American brand’s technology and its growing reputation has
clearly clicked with Australian customers. Despite its popularity (or perhaps
because of it) Tesla recently slashed the price of the Model Y, cutting up to $7455 off
the ask. The range now begins at $65,400 for the base grade, rear-wheel-drive
option and runs through $78,400 for the Long Range and $91,400 for the
Performance variant. Those three offer respectable driving range, with 455km
(RWD), 533km (Long Range) and 514 kilometres (Performance). The price cut also...