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Dear Editor,
We are looking to replace our 10-year-old Kia Sportage and have decided to go all-electric. We’ve seen some interesting deals out there, but really want to make sure we don’t miss out on key tech updates. Nor do we want to compromise on a model that isn't ground-up electric. Our budget can go up to $60k if it includes on-roads. Any advice?
Regards,
Tom and Abbie
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Hi Tom and Abbie. First of all, great to hear from you! And you’re right—there have been some very enticing deals on new all-electric cars in 2025. From
Polestar and
Hyundai offering considerable contributions of up to $20,000 if buyers sign up to their in-house finance, to big price cuts of up to 30 per cent for the
Nissan Leaf and outgoing
MG ZS EV, 2025 is seeing the
lowest prices for EVs so far.
Let's find some useful comparisons to replace your aging Kia Sportage, which would have cost around the $44,000 mark when new before on-roads. As luck would have it,
Open Road last
reviewed Kia’s mid-size SUV in 2016, commending it for new tech (which back then was a wireless phone charger), lots of second row head and leg room thanks to the length of the vehicle, and a slew of safety features.
However, the diesel version tested was quite rowdy on the highway, and boot space, at 466 litres, could have been more generous. Also keep in mind, what was deemed ‘oodles of space’ in 2016 might not be in 2025, at least when it comes to EVs, which win back some air thanks to the lack of a central drive tunnel.
Spec-wise, the 2016 Kia Sportage delivered 136kW/400Nm from its 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine and was rated to tow up to 1.9 tonnes braked. Kia has long been known for its Australian-specific tuning, so we’re guessing you’d like something with decent ride and handling also.
Mid-size electric SUV options
Having a look at what’s on the market today, I think you can consider a price range of $40,000-$55,000 before adding on-road costs. That means you could choose from the following:
- BYD Atto 3 (priced from $39,990),
- BYD Sealion 7 (which starts at $54,990),
- Leapmotor C10 (priced from $47,500),
- Geely EX5 (which starts from $40,990)
- Xpeng G6 (priced from $54,800)
Note, these are all relative newcomers to the market, so things such as after sales service are relatively untested. That said, many have set up deals with mainstays like MyCar to circumvent this issue.
If you’re after an EV from a brand that has already done the distance here in Australia, your choices are considerably fewer.
You could consider a Tesla Model Y RWD once it arrives in its ‘Juniper’ 2025 format, but word is that it will be priced at $63,400 before on-roads once it goes live on Tesla’s website.
Likewise, the newly arrived VW ID.4/ID.5 and Cupra Tavascan (which we’ve pitted against the Tesla Model Y here) range in price from $60,000 up to $75,000 before on-roads. The Hyundai Ioniq 5, Toyota bZ4X and Subaru Solterra are also at the top of this price range, ruling them out for your budget.
That leaves you with the Kia EV5 in its Standard Range Air format, which is priced at $56,770 driveaway. All the above options are based on electric-only platforms, so you won’t compromise on aspects such as storage or a drive tunnel eating up floor space in the back row.
To help narrow down the list, below is a summary of the EVs Open Road has had the opportunity to review: the BYD Atto 3, the Geely EX5 and the Kia EV5. You can also get a rundown on some other models out there in our Everything Electric EV expo roundup.
Read more: Showdown: 2025 Tesla Model Y vs Kia EV5
BYD Atto 3
The BYD Atto 3 has been around for a few years now, launching in July 2022. It’s available in two variants: the Essential ($42,434 drive-away in NSW at the time of writing) and the longer-range Premium ($47,584 drive-away in NSW at the time of writing.)
It’s proven itself a popular buy and, while often referred to as a compact SUV, is very similar in size to the Kia Sportage. In the back, leg room is commendable, providing ample space for passengers to stretch out comfortably. However, head room is somewhat limited, which could be a concern for taller passengers. Children in car seats will find the space adequate, but adults may feel the pinch during longer journeys.
Storage-wise, however, it is somewhat wanting. With 440 litres in the back and 1340 litres with the seats down, it has less space than the 1455 litres offered in your Sportage.
When we first reviewed the
BYD Atto 3, it supported only wired Apple CarPlay, requiring users to connect their iPhones via USB. However, a recent over-the-air (OTA) software update has introduced wireless Apple CarPlay functionality, allowing for a seamless and cable-free connection.
On the safety front, both variants of the 2025 Atto 3 get a full suite of safety features including driver assistance tech such as a 360-degree camera, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, automatic emergency braking, and collision warning systems for both front and rear. Lane-keeping assistance, lane departure warnings, blind-spot detection, door-open alerts, rear cross-traffic alerts, and braking are also standard.
On the road, the Atto 3 delivers a balanced ride, effectively absorbing typical road imperfections. While it may not offer the sporty handling of some competitors, it did provided a comfortable and stable driving experience on a
long distance drive from Sydney to Northern NSW.
