Five years ago I bought a plug-in hybrid. In 2021, my partner and I were in the market for a new car and were considering a full electric vehicle for a number of reasons. Ultimately, we bought a plug-in hybrid, because it ended up being the perfect choice for us at the time.
Switching to an EV feels good. It’s not a decision that you second guess after it’s done. It’s one that only makes you wonder why you didn’t do it earlier. Knowing that you’re using less petrol and that you are going that extra mile for the environment is a wonderful feeling.
That said, it can be daunting if you don’t know the ins and outs of the automotive space. If you’ve ever considered switching to an electric car, here are some things you might want to consider.
If you don’t have a garage charger, how do you charge?
I won’t lie, if you don’t have an available charger at home, it does make things trickier. This was the reason we ended up choosing a hybrid over a full electric. We live in a strata-titled building from the 2000s era. It did not have the infrastructure to support proper chargers being installed in car spaces. While we did have a power outlet in our space, after months of battling with strata, we were told we weren’t allowed to use it to charge our car.
In the end, we bought a portable battery that we charged in the house, and then carried downstairs to give our car some juice. Since we have a hybrid with a 45km battery, it was enough to give us the power we needed for a few days. But it would not have worked for a fully electric car.
Thankfully in the time since we bought our car, there are so many public chargers. You’ll find them at shopping centres, on popular streets, at restaurants and hotels. For example, there is now a fast charger on my residential street. If you have a full electric vehicle and can’t charge at home, you can just pop out to a charger once or twice a week in the same way that you would if you were getting petrol.
State-of-the-art tech is going to EVs first
Whether you’re on board or not, the future of cars is electric. Just as with any other form of technology, manufacturers are putting their best tech, and most forward thinking innovations into their electric fleet. If you want a car with the newest and most advanced features, it’s going to be in an electric car.
There are still some incredible petrol cars on the market of course. But as technology continues to accelerate, many petrol cars will be left behind.
EVs are critical to solving the climate crisis
No, EVs will not fix the climate crisis on their own. But they are a critical stepping stone and we cannot combat climate change without broad EV adoption. The burning of fossil fuels for energy and transport accounts for 90 per cent of the world’s carbon emissions. Taking petrol out of the equation, will be a huge step in decarbonisation. The Australian Government has said that we as a country will not be able to hit our net zero targets without further EV adoption.
Which EV should you start with?
All that said, it’s not easy to know where to start if you’ve never walked into a car showroom or messaged sellers on a resale platform before. It’s even trickier if you aren’t well versed on what cars make sense for a first-time owner, and which ones don’t.
I’ve driven a lot of cars in my life, not just in my role at RUSSH. I’ve sat in everything from the chicest Fiats to Lamborghinis. The car that makes the most sense for will be dependant on your personal circumstances. But, if you need a place to start looking, here are some of the cars I think are worth your attention if you’re looking to buy your first ever EV.
Zeekr X
Undeniably, this is one of the best value cars on the Australian market. The level of luxury you receive for the price point is pleasantly surprising. Zeekr prides itself as a technology-first brand, with state-of-the-art sound and an intuitive voice-operated control centre. The range sits around the 400km mark, which will comfortably cover your work commutes for at least half the week or more. To add context to the brand, the slightly larger and older sister of the X, the 7X, was Australia's best-selling car in April 2026. You can drive away in an X for about $49,000.
Volvo EX30 or EX40
In total transparency, I bought a Volvo – with my own money, no discounts or perks. So naturally, I truly think these are some of the best EVs on the market. The EX30 does everything you need an EV to do. Plenty of range, a great sound system, space and speed. If you go one model up to the larger EX40, you’ll get a similar experience but with more luxury touches, eg. adjustable lumbar support in the passenger side as well as the driver side. These cars are true icons of Scandinavian design, with form and function held in perfect balance. The EX30 rings in at $49,990 + driveaway costs.
BYD Atto
The Atto made headlines in 2026 for being the EV with the most accessible price point in Australia. If your rationale for turning electric is a cost-conscious one, the Atto makes total sense. The range sits between 340km and 420km depending on the model and you can expect a price tag under $25,000 for the base model. This zippy and sporty four-door hatch has everything you need and nothing you don’t.
KIA EV3
It’s clear that KIA has been investing heavily in its design language, because its new EV range has some of the best looking cars on the market right now. The entry-level and smallest in the KIA EV family is the EV3. You can expect a range of up to 430km. Sitting inside one of these is enough to tempt you to buy one, even before you hear about the features. It feels luxurious, immensely comfortable and very spacious. This one starts at about $47,000.
Toyota bZ4X
Toyota was one of the last players to introduce a full electric car, but it was worth the wait. In waiting to step into the EV market Toyota truly listened to what consumers wanted from an electric car and that is range and durability. The bZ4X is a sleek compact crossover that builds on Toyota’s heritage of quality and reliability. You’ll get up to 590km of range from the bZ4X, an impressive feat for a car of this size. This one starts at about $56,000.
