Best EVs still to come in 2026

Australia is about to receive a wave of new EVs before the end of 2026.. EV sales are surging in Australia as brands beef-up their line-ups to provide further choice.. Here is a look at some of the best models still to arrive this year..

GAC will launch an ultra-affordable variant of its Aion UT electric hatchback before the end of 2026.. This Standard Range variant is priced similar to the popular Geely EX2 that starts from $26,490 (before on-road costs).. It should start at less than $30,000 drive-away when it gets here, given the current variant on sale starts from $31,990 (drive-away)..

It's equipped with a 44kWh battery instead of a 60kWh unit, offering a driving range of 320km, compared to 430km, according to WLTP standards.. GAC hasn't confirmed performance output yet, but in China its front-mounted electric motor produces 100kW and 145Nm, which is less than the 150kW/210Nm available now.. Kia will introduce its first fully-electric people mover, the PV5 Passenger, to the Australian market in 2026..

The PV5 Passenger is the people mover variant of the PV5 Cargo already on sale Down Under.  Its performance matches the PV5 Cargo, with a single electric motor making 120kW/250Nm and its 71.2kWh battery expected to offer around 416km of range (WLTP).. Kia hasn't provided a more specific launch date than Q4 2026, but it's likely to be closer to December.. The Korean brand hasn't revealed pricing yet either, but Cargo starts from $55,990 (before on-road costs), so buyers can expect the more expensive Passenger variant to sit between $60,000 to $70,000..

The much-anticipated Zeekr 7GT wagon is due to land in Australian showrooms in Q4 2026.. The fully-electric Euro-styled wagon will target a similar reception to its 7X mid-size SUV sibling that has taken the Aussie market by storm so far.  The 7GT is available in a rear-wheel drive configuration, making 310kW/440Nm, as well as an all-wheel drive variant, with 475kW/710Nm.  We still don't know how much it will cost, but it could sit around the $55,000 mark, coming in cheaper than the 7X SUV.. XPeng is looking to make the most of its new factory-backed operation Down Under..

The brand will launch its L03 electric mid-size SUV in December 2026, priced from $41,900 (before on-road costs).  This means it's cheaper than the Tesla Model Y ($58,900) and the Zeekr 7X ($57,900), while matching the Geely EX5's starting price ($41,900).  The L03 comes as standard with a single electric motor, producing 163kW/280Nm, and a 445km driving range from its 58kWh battery.  There will also be a hybrid range-extender variant of the car that uses a 1.5-litre petrol engine to charge the battery and a single electric motor, making 178kW/280Nm.. An updated Chery E5 small SUV will hit Aussie showrooms in late 2026.. The E5's budget-friendly status pits it against the BYD Atto 3 ($41,990) and Jaecoo J5 ($36,990, drive-away).  It offers the same performance as its outgoing model, with 155kW and 288Nm, while its 59kWh battery offers 430km of WLTP driving range.  It now has a larger 15.6-inch central touchscreen display and an auto-dimming mirror..

The EX60 is the fully-electric counterpart to the XC60 - Volvo's best-selling car of all time.. The mid-size SUV will start from $86,900, and will tackle the BMW iX3 ($89,990) in the increasingly competitive electric SUV segments.  The RWD variant produces 275kW/480Nm, while the AWD makes 375kW/710Nm.  Performance increases up to 500kW and 680Nm on the more expensive P12 variant due in 2027.  Its initial variants will be equipped with either an 83kWh battery offering 610km or a 95kWh unit offering 660km of range, according to WLTP standards.. GWM is about to launch a new hatchback variant of its Ora 5 EV in Australia.  The Ora 5 hatch will rival the BYD Dolphin and MG4 Urban in the affordable EV space.  It's expected to have the same single motor found in the SUV variant, making 150kW/260Nm.  GWM has confirmed it has a 58kWh battery with a 435km driving range (WLTP). .