New cars coming to Australia in 2025

Tesla has changed the way Australians buy and own a car. There are more than 120,000 Tesla EVs on our roads and that number could be about to get a major boost with the launch of the manufacturer's most affordable model yet, the Model 2.

This is likely to happen in the second half of 2025 but in the meantime, prices of the current Tesla cars are at an all-time low. The Model 3 and Model Y start at around $60,000, with some great deals on leases.

Until the end of this year, Tesla is offering a $3,000 leasing bonus, making it even easier to get behind the wheel of the best-selling electric cars in Australia.

Zeekr is one of the newest brands in Australia and is expected to bring a premium electric SUV to our shores in 2025. This is a large SUV offering some features and technology usually only found on much more expensive cars. Some anticipated features you won't find on any cars currently available.

This includes an airplane-style tray table for rear passengers as well as high end seats that offer massage, heating and cooling with lots of legroom up front and at the rear.

The 4.8 metre 7X will also feature very fast charging, making it a great car for long road trips, as faster charging stations continue to be rolled out.

Some variants of the 7X will feature a new battery that is claimed to have world’s fastest charging capabilities, charging from 10-80% in just 10 minutes. All in all, this could be one of the most impressive cars heading to Australia next year.

Xpeng is another new brand bringing in EVs with a focus on sharp designs and fast charging. The Xpeng X9 is a premium 7-seater people mover with lots of practical features. It’s been dubbed by some reviewers as “the best electric people mover on the market”.

On the inside, there is plenty of room, including seats in the second row which can recline to offer a very comfortable seating position. There's also a remote control in the rear which passengers and kids can use to watch movies on a 21.4 inch screen.

With a high probability that this model will be coming to Australia in 2025, it's worth getting on your list of cars to test drive. That way you can see for yourself just how quiet and entertaining premium people movers can be for everyday driving and longer road trips.

If you can’t wait and want to see what Xpeng’s EVs are all about, take one of the recently released G6 for a drive and it could very well be the next car on your short list to buy or lease today.

Geely is not a very well known brand in Australia, but globally will sell over 2 million cars in 2024. The company has decided to expand its reach with plans to expand into 89 countries, including Australia with its EX5 electric SUV.

The EX5 is a 5-seater SUV which offers lots of tech to make driving a quiet, fun and comfortable experience.

There's generous legroom in the rear and a sunroof that gives the interior an added sense of space usually found in much bigger cars.

Along with the space, there is a lot of technology that is thrown into the cabin. This includes a large infotainment screen with navigation and apps. The sound system in the car is quite impressive too, with 16-speakers, allowing for a truly immersive experience

The Geely EX5 will likely be arriving in the first half of 2025, making it one of the top picks for cars to consider next year.

Kia has become one of the most popular brands in the Australia market. In 2025, it plans to release its smallest electric SUV yet – the EV3 – which has had styling inspiration from the biggest car the brand sells in Australia, the EV9.

The upcoming EV3 is geared for those looking for a smaller city car and is expected to deliver a sleek design, suitable for mainly city driving with occasional road trips.

Packed with safety features and the largest boot in its class, with 460 litres available, it will be a small practical SUV for families in the Kia line up.

In an online event earlier in 2024, the EV3 had its world premiere, with the company hinting at a starting price of under $55,000. Since then, Kia has launched other models with a similar price, meaning pricing for the EV3 might be even under $50,000 by the time it arrives in 2025.

For those looking at getting behind the wheel of a Kia sooner, the EV5, which offers more space, is available now to test drive.

Hyundai also has plans to bring more affordable models to the market, and this time, the brand is looking at a small electric hatchback. Under 3.9 metres in length, it would be one of the smallest offerings on the market.

The Inster will compete with other similar offerings from brands like MG, BYD and GWM. It features a smaller infotainment screen and a minimalist design. This car will be for inner-city drivers looking to make the most of a small car with adequate practical space.

It will also feature a smaller battery with a range of around 300km. The MG4, which starts at under $35,000 today, offers more range than that with its 51kWh battery pack, so it could be one to consider if looking for a smaller city electric car sooner.

Over the last two years, BYD has become a fairly well known brand with its electric cars that start from under $40,000. This includes the BYD Atto 3, Dolphin and the Seal.

In 2025, the Sealion 7 is expected to join the line up, offering an alternative to the very popular Tesla Model Y. This mid-sized SUV offers good space, a comfortable interior and an option for a long-range variant as well.

Local specifications and the pricing are so far under wraps, but it's expected to be starting at $55,000 for the entry-level, single-motor model.

This pricing will be designed to give it a chance to compete against the best-selling electric car, the Tesla Model Y, which will also receive an upgrade locally by the time the BYD Sealion 7 arrives in Q1 2025.

If you stick to the BYD brand, an alternative to the BYD Sealion 7 is the Atto 3. It's slightly smaller than the Sealion 7, but offers good value. Every now and then, BYD discounts the Atto 3, but pricing generally starts at under $50,000 for that model.

The Ford Ranger has been one of the top three best-selling utes in the country for many years now. With the market demanding cleaner cars, Ford has launched the 2025 Ford Ranger PHEV (plug-in hybrid) ute which is everything drivers love about the Ranger but with a few extra goodies.

Being a PHEV, it does have a small battery which the ute can run on for shorter trips (up to 45 km) as well as powering tools on site or at a camp site on weekends away.

The updated Ford Ranger is expected to arrive in Australia by mid-2025, a bit behind some of its competitors. Pricing of this model is expected to be announced closer to the Australian launch, but we think it could start at around $75,000 mark when it finally lands.

BYD has popped up again with its first attempt to take on the Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux utes.

The Shark 6 PHEV ute has just had its launch and offers up to 100km of electric-only range which is plenty for daily commutes without having to use much fuel.

On top of that, it has a larger battery with power points in many parts of the ute, including the tray where tools can be powered on site. The power points can also be put to use at camp site or for an electric BBQ.

There is also a petrol engine which combined with the battery can deliver up to 800 km of range. It can be topped up with petrol when needed and can even recharge the battery on site for your drive home or to power anything else that’s needed.

When it comes to practicality, there is plenty the Shark 6 offers, as well as technology not found in any ute currently on the market.

This includes a large infotainment screen which can swivel, as well as a camera system. This not only helps on the road, but is even really comes in handy when taking it off-road, enabling you to see your surroundings in real time.

The Shark 6 starts at under $58,000 and can be ordered under a lease or to buy outright. With the FBT exemption still available on eligible PHEV leases if they commence by 31 March 2025, now could be the time to order one.

First deliveries are expected to start in January with plenty of stock to go around in the following months.

We’ve just mentioned two PHEV utes, with even more are likely to arrive beyond 2025. But LDV is going a step further, by launching a fully electric ute – the e-Terron.

This was unveiled towards the end of 2024 and came as a bit of a surprise. It offers up to 430km of electric range with a large battery to power the ute and power electrical tools when you're on site.

This ute offers up to 3.5 tonnes of towing and includes a fairly standard interior that will appeal many drivers.

Pricing of the e-Terron is unclear at this stage, but we expect it to be under $90,000, making it eligible for the novated lease FBT exemption and other incentives available for electric vehicles.

Now for something a bit different and more rugged. Enter the Ineos Grenadier Quartermaster, an off-roading beast with the practicality of a ute.

Available with a BMW-sourced petrol or diesel engine, it comes with all the goodies you need to take things on or off-road. It's also quite customisable, with options including an integrated 5.5-tonne winch.

You can even get a matching shovel for when it's needed during those more tricky off-road adventures. This French-built off-roading ute doesn’t come cheap with base model prices without any add-ons starting at $105,000. It could very well be worth it for those looking at mixing work with serious off-roading play.

If you are interested in any of these or other models, get in touch with us at Novated Lease Australia. The team can help you source the car you have in mind, with significant savings through a lease.

Another electric SUV to keep in mind is from a new brand called Leapmotor. The C10 has only recently launched in the Australian market but offers great value when compared to the upcoming BYD Sealion 07.

Starting at $45,888 before on-roads, this 5-seater spacious electric SUV recently also received a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. This makes it one of the safest cars on the market today.

From the outside, it reminds us a bit of the Porsche Cayenne SUV from some angles but for a lot less, while delivering over 400 km of electric-only range. 

On the inside, there is a large 14.6-inch infotainment screen along with a 10.25-inch driver instrument cluster behind the steering wheel, providing drivers and passengers with the right mix of information and entertainment when on the go.

One unique element of this car that we really like is the unique colours it comes in with our favourite being the Jade Green which does stand out. For those looking for something a bit subtle and unique, there is also the Terra Grey which is not found on many cars on Australian roads.

The Leapmotor C10 is available in Australia, thanks to an international joint venture with global car giant Stellantis, which has bought the brand to international markets in Europe and Australia as well. 

Currently, Stellantis sells brands like Jeep, Ram, Fiat, Maserati and others in our market, giving it a good track record of offering test drives and delivering cars through its dealership.

The Leapmotor C10 is just the first car from the brand, and 2025 will see the B10 model, a slightly smaller and more affordable electric SUV join the local lineup. 

The C10 can be leased today if it fits your budget and can help you save thousands over a petrol SUV in 2025.