I need a new car - any small car EV deals or recommends?

Brizett on 14/08/2026 - 19:58
Last edited 14/08/2026 - 19:58

Hi All,

You guys were super helpful when I posted back in the day for a new car

Unfortunately my 2014 hyundai is making engine grumbles that the mechanic thinks are terminal

Any help or guidance welcomed, a small runabout EV is my hope & I have home charging, I wouldn't do long trips,

I like the GWM ORA but probably because @scott posted a cracking deal back in 2024 but I'm not brand loyal

I'm really struggling with the flooded marketplace and given this motor could die any day I'd best prepare

Thanks in advance

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  • Naimady on 15/08/2026 - 07:47

    Hyundai ioniq electric (ex govt lease cars) are solid. Doesn't have all the safety beeps that the new Chinese cars have. Can pick one up around the $20k mark

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    • Brizett on 15/08/2026 - 13:21

      Thanks for this info, are these best sourced through Turners?

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      • Naimady on 15/08/2026 - 13:42

        Trademe be your best bet
        https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/hyundai/ioniq/electr…

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        • Brizett on 15/08/2026 - 14:19

          A bit nervous about another Hyundai as the car I'm replacing is a <100km, but i'll park that notion given the ICE v EV - cheers for the link

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          • Centaurus on 17/08/2026 - 08:08

            @Brizett: No engine for this one to grumble at least. I wouldn't recommend the GWM Ora, one of the worst EV brands you can get in NZ. At the top end of the budget you can get a MG4 or new BYD Atto 1 (which is a smaller vehicle). Slightly less you can get an Polestar 2 or Opel Mokka / Corsa. At about $15k you can get a BMW i3 (but this is a bit smaller, can come with a range extender though). For compact SUV's you've got the Mazda MX-30, Hyundai Kona and MG ZS EV. Most would sit at around $20k to $30k. At $15k to $20k you've only got Renault, Peugeot, BMW and Hyundai. Everything else is either not well made, too small battery or the Nissan Leaf… All of what I've mentioned you should consider and just eliminate based on budget / preference.

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          • Naimady on 15/08/2026 - 14:34

            @Brizett: Yea fair.

            Just get one with the longest warranty. And you'd want one with LFP battery. Stay away from Leafs. They have the worst batteries.

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  • Cbreezy on 17/08/2026 - 09:19

    We also have a leaf. 2018 for around 14k. Has done 30k on the clock and sits at about 230 for on road distance travel. I do auckland to rotorua on 1 stop, for piece of mind and a cheeky pie. Amazing car for the price. Battery is totally fine for most. It might not be the best tech but there is a reason they are everywhere. Great to drive, fast, responsive. We love it.

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  • spam on 14/08/2026 - 21:54

    What's your budget like? Do you want brand new or 2nd hand?

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  • Brizett on 15/08/2026 - 06:44

    Was hoping to stay around $20K, which pretty much takes me out of the running for new, but am not averse to putting more on the mortgage and going to $30K for a good deal

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    • Kate1 on 15/08/2026 - 07:09

      If your with Westpac they do 0% for 5 years for ev's

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      • Madao on 23/08/2026 - 11:14

        How do you get this, the website says their EV loans are 7.99%?

        • 0
  • Everettpsycho on 15/08/2026 - 08:22

    EV wise you don't get much more than a leaf for 20k. We just got a 62kWh 2021 leaf for just over $20k and that was hand down the best bang for buck we could find. It still has the old leaf chemistry though so while it will serve us well we are aware of the limitations the battery has. We couldn't justify double the price for the same range and size.

    Other options are used mg zs are slowly coming back down to around the $20k mark.

    Unfortunately with petrol prices as they are the EV market is still inflated from where it was 6 months ago.

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    • kianjz2 on 21/08/2026 - 14:58

      BMW i3 are great when they pop up, active battery management and way more comfortable and more tech than a leaf. Hardly anything goes wrong with the full EV ones and keep their range way better than the leaf. Got mine for 6500 and I can go about 130kms on full charge

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  • Centaurus on 17/08/2026 - 12:45

    I forgot to mention, if you are considering the Opel, they are closing shop in NZ, which is why they are going a touch bit cheaper these days.

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  • coffeee on 18/08/2026 - 12:12

    i would get a leaf, you can get a good one for around 15k. i would get one if i could justify it over my car.

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    • Everettpsycho on 18/08/2026 - 20:42

      Having just got a 62kWh if the budget is 20k and they can find one id highly recommend the better model. It's definitely much nicer having over 300km on the battery and the faster on board ax charging to use free charging at shops much more effectively. Should hopefully also help prolong the battery with fewer charge smcycles needed.

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