Since the start of the pandemic, we've heard about supply chain disruptions in the automotive industry. This year also sees a chip shortage compounding the industry's problems (which we’ve covered in this article here). Despite all of that, carmakers are pushing out new electric vehicles to the market at an impressive rate.
Some of the best EVs to buy in Australia in 2021 include the Kia E-Niro, Audi e-Tron S, Mercedes Benz EQA, Mazda MX-30 Electric, and the Tesla Model S Plaid. These e-cars are set for release throughout 2021 and should be available to buyers by the end of the year.
Let’s take a closer look at a few of the best EVs to buy in 2021. For this list, we’ve tried to spread it out a little into different categories with some everyday brand and model EVs and some high-end luxury brands.
Top 5 EVs to Buy in 2021
We’ve compiled five of the best EVs that you’ll be able to get your hands on in 2021. All of them have different release dates, of course, but they should all be up for sale by the end of the year.
Based on everything that’s gone on in the industry lately, it helps to remember that the release of any new model could be postponed at any point. Releases of new models from EVs to hybrids and combustion-engine cars have experienced these delays already.
Here the top five EVs that we’re looking at for 2021.
Kia e-Niro
Let’s kick this list off with Kia’s new EV, the Kia e-Niro. This is Kia’s all-electric small SUV that’ll take you very long distances with its 64-kWh battery pack.
How long, exactly? Well, the Kia e-Niro boasts a range of about 370 km thanks to that battery pack plus the electric motor with an output of 150 kW of power and 395 Nm of torque.
The Kia e-Nero will be available in the middle of 2021 at an estimated price of $60,000.
Audi e-Tron S
Next up, we have the e-Tron S from German carmaker Audi. One of the most notable things about this car is that it has three electric motors. Audi pioneered the use of three electric motors in an EV, with the larger one in front and two smaller ones in the back.
Together, these electric motors give the Audi e-Tron S a power output of 320 kW, torque of 808 Nm, and a range of 365 km.
The price and release date? $200,000, late 2021. Quite a sum, indeed, but perhaps not so surprising considering it’s an Audi electric car promising lots of power and torque.
Mercedes Benz EQA
It seems like all leading carmakers are pushing out their new EVs to the market, and Mercedes Benz is undoubtedly one of them. If you’re really into Mercedes Benzes, you can look forward to the EQA coming out this year. Orders have been opened since April, though deliveries will only start in June.
So, what does the Mercedes Benz EQA have to offer? 140 kW of power, with 375 Nm of torque. Those numbers aren’t too impressive when you stack them up against the two previous models on this list, but what will impress you is the range. The Mercedes Benz EQA can go as far as 480 kilometres, leaps ahead of many other EVs.
How much will you have to pay for the Mercedes Benz EQA? At least $76,800, and that does not include on-road costs yet.
Mazda MX-30 Electric
Mazda also makes it on this list with the MX-30 Electric. Mazda highlights the use of sustainable materials in producing this car, which could be a plus point if that's a priority for you.
Also, the car offers an output of 107 kW of power and 271 Nm of torque. The range? 200 kilometres. Not the highest number on this list but not too bad either.
You can buy this car for $65,490 before on-road costs. It's already open for pre-orders, and deliveries will begin in August.
Tesla Model S Plaid
Of course, what’s an EV list without at least one Tesla on it, right? In Australia, we can expect to see the Tesla Model S Plaid coming out this year. According to Tesla, this will be the “highest performing sedan ever built” (their words, not mine). That means it’s set to beat all types of other sedans, be they electric, combustion-engine, or anything in between.
That’s a bold claim, but what are the numbers that back it up? For starters, 628-kilometre range; okay, that’s the highest on this list. 761 kW of power? Alright, that’s pretty high up there as well. Torque? For some reason, there’s no data of that anywhere right now, at least when this article was being written.
What about the price? Well, high performance doesn’t come cheap, and you should have already expected that. The Tesla Model S Plaid will cost $224,580.
Is Now the Right Time to Buy Electric Cars?
Yes, now is the right time to buy electric cars. In my personal opinion, there is no bad time to buy electric vehicles these days. Competition among leading carmakers continues to heat up when it comes to electric cars, which can only mean better news for customers as time goes on.
Why? Competition means newer models with better features. On top of that, there seems to be no shortage of EVs coming out from all car brands and at various price points.
The bottom line: An electric car is no longer novelty. It’s not something that only the wealthy can afford. In Australia and elsewhere, electric vehicles are fast becoming the norm even for everyday car buyers.
Get Up to Speed with the Latest in Car and Car Part News!
New electric cars are being released all the time in Australia and elsewhere in the world. To keep up to date with those new releases, check out the blog at Carpart.com.au where we review and discuss new vehicles entering the market, whether EVs, hybrids, or combustion-engine vehicles.
By Ray Hasbollah