Four small electric cars sit within a few thousand dollars of each other, and they are the four most Australians shortlist when they go electric on a budget: the Hyundai Inster, the BYD Dolphin, the MG4 and the GWM Ora 5.
They are not quite the same kind of car. The Inster is a tall, boxy city car. The Dolphin and MG4 are hatchbacks. The Ora 5 is a small SUV. But they cost about the same and they all solve the same problem: cheap, quiet, everyday electric driving.
Prices below are from our directory, which is sourced from each brand's Australian website and checked in November 2026. Brands quote prices differently, so we say every time whether a price is drive-away or before on-road costs. Drive-away includes registration, stamp duty and dealer delivery, so it usually adds a few thousand dollars to a before on-road costs price.
The short answer
Cheapest way in: the BYD Dolphin Essential at $29,990 before on-road costs, or the MG4 Urban Essence 43 at $31,990 drive-away. Once on-road costs are added, these two are very close.
Most range for the money: the MG4 Essence 64, with 452 km WLTP for $39,990 drive-away.
Best all-rounder: the GWM Ora 5. It is a proper small SUV with 430 km of WLTP range, 150 kW and a 362 litre boot from $33,990 drive-away.
Best city car: the Hyundai Inster. It is the easiest to park and the most fun to sit in, but it has the smallest battery and boot.
The numbers side by side
| Hyundai Inster | BYD Dolphin | MG4 | GWM Ora 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body | Light SUV | Hatch | Hatch | Small SUV |
| Price | $35,990 drive-away (Standard Range offer) to $45,000 plus on-road costs | $29,990 to $36,990 plus on-road costs | $31,990 to $47,990 drive-away | $33,990 to $36,990 drive-away |
| Battery | 42 or 49 kWh | 44.9 or 60.5 kWh | 43, 54 or 64 kWh | 58.3 kWh |
| Power | 71.1 or 84.5 kW | 70 or 150 kW | 118 to 320 kW | 150 kW |
| WLTP range | 327 to 360 km | 345 to 427 km | 316 to 452 km | 430 km |
| Boot | 280 L | 345 L | 363 L | 362 L |
| Warranty | 7 years, unlimited km; battery 8 years | 6 years or 150,000 km; battery 8 years or 160,000 km | 7 years, unlimited km; battery 7 years | 7 years, unlimited km; battery 8 years (private buyers) |
| ANCAP | Check ancap.com.au before you buy | Five stars (2023) | Five stars (2023) | Not yet rated |
Hyundai Inster
The Inster is the one people fall for. It is short, tall and square, so it is easy to see out of and easy to park, and the cabin is cleverly packaged, with a rear bench that slides and front seats that fold flat.
Hyundai is running the Standard Range (42 kWh, 71.1 kW, 327 km WLTP) at $35,990 drive-away until 31 December 2026. The Extended Range (49 kWh, 84.5 kW, up to 360 km WLTP) lists at about $42,500 before on-road costs, and the chunkier Inster Cross at $45,000 before on-road costs.
The trade-offs are real. It is the slowest car here, it has the smallest battery, and the 280 litre boot is the smallest by a clear margin. It suits singles, couples and second-car households far better than families.
BYD Dolphin
The Dolphin is the price leader. The Essential is $29,990 before on-road costs with a 44.9 kWh battery and 345 km of WLTP range. Its 70 kW motor is modest, though, so it is a city car first.
The Premium is the better buy if you can stretch to $36,990 before on-road costs. It gets a 60.5 kWh battery, 150 kW and 427 km of WLTP range, close behind the Ora 5's 430 km. Both grades have a 345 litre boot and a five-star ANCAP rating from 2023.
BYD has been running sharper deals on the Dolphin through to mid December, so ask for a drive-away quote before you compare.
MG4
The MG4 has the widest range of the four, and MG quotes every grade drive-away, which makes it easy to compare.
- Urban Essence 43: $31,990 drive-away, 316 km WLTP. The cheapest MG4, best kept to town.
- Urban Essence 54: $34,990 drive-away, 118 kW, 405 km WLTP.
- Essence 64: $39,990 drive-away, rear-wheel drive, 140 kW, 452 km WLTP. The longest range here.
- XPower: $47,990 drive-away, twin motors, 320 kW and all-wheel drive. Seriously quick.
It also has the biggest boot (363 litres, just ahead of the Ora 5) and a five-star ANCAP rating from 2023. If you drive out of town often, the Essence 64 is the pick of this whole comparison on range per dollar.
GWM Ora 5
The new Ora 5 is a small SUV rather than a hatch, and on paper it is the most complete package. Both grades have a 58.3 kWh battery, 150 kW and 430 km of WLTP range, and the 362 litre boot is far bigger than the old Ora's.
GWM prices it drive-away: $33,990 for the Lux and $36,990 for the Ultra. That is a strong number for a car this size with this much range. The warranty is seven years with unlimited kilometres, and eight years on the battery for private buyers.
The one gap is safety. The Ora 5 had not been rated by ANCAP when we checked in November 2026. The old Ora hatch's five-star rating does not carry over to this new car.
Which one should you buy
If price matters most: the Dolphin Essential or the MG4 Urban Essence 43. Get a drive-away quote on the Dolphin to compare it properly with the MG.
If you do long trips: the MG4 Essence 64 (452 km WLTP), the Ora 5 (430 km) or the Dolphin Premium (427 km).
If you need the most space: the Ora 5 or the MG4. Their boots are within a litre of each other, and the Ora 5 sits higher like an SUV.
If you mostly drive in the city: the Inster. It is the easiest car here to live with in tight streets, as long as the small boot works for you.
Cartell Assessment
There is no bad car here, and that is the good news for buyers. The MG4 is the smart, sensible choice because it has a grade for every budget, the best range and an ANCAP rating. The Ora 5 is the best value small SUV on paper, but wait for its ANCAP result if safety ratings matter to you. The Dolphin is the cheapest entry point, and the Inster is the one with the most personality.
For more options, see our guide to the cheapest electric cars in Australia and compare every small EV in our car directory.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest of the Inster, Dolphin, MG4 and Ora 5?
The BYD Dolphin Essential, at $29,990 before on-road costs. The MG4 Urban Essence 43 is $31,990 drive-away, so after on-road costs the two are close.
Which has the longest range?
The MG4 Essence 64, at 452 km WLTP. The GWM Ora 5 is next at 430 km in both grades, then the BYD Dolphin Premium at 427 km.
Which has the biggest boot?
The MG4 at 363 litres, just ahead of the GWM Ora 5 at 362 litres. The Hyundai Inster has the smallest boot at 280 litres.
Do they all have five-star ANCAP ratings?
The BYD Dolphin and MG4 have five stars from 2023. The new GWM Ora 5 had not been rated as of November 2026. Check ancap.com.au for the Hyundai Inster's current result before you buy.
