EV vs petrol cost in Queensland, Australia (2026) — the true 5-year total
As of July 2026: of the 62 models we track in Queensland, Australia, the cheapest to own over 5 years is the Toyota Corolla Hybrid at $42,750 — a hybrid. The cheapest electric, the BYD Atto 1 (Essential) ($44,027), runs about $1,277 more — we say it plainly when the petrol or hybrid car wins.
What an EV really costs to own in Queensland versus petrol or a hybrid, at Queensland's electricity price of 33.30c/kWh — depreciation, charging, insurance, maintenance and rego, every figure sourced and dated. Petrol, fuel and incentives are Australia-wide; only electricity changes by state.
Example comparison — change the vehicles belowOver 5 years, the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid (hybrid) is the cheapest at $51,777 — about $19,619 less than the Tesla Model Y RWD ($863/mo, $0.86/km).
Total cost of ownership, cheapest first
Tesla Model Y RWD
Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD
Cumulative cost over time
Total spend by each year — purchase, charging/fuel, depreciation, insurance and financing combined. Where two lines cross is your payback point.
Tesla Model Y RWD never beats Toyota RAV4 Hybrid within 5 yrs · Tesla Model Y Long never beats Toyota RAV4 Hybrid within 5 yrs
Where the money goes (full breakdown)
| Cost component | Electric · Tesla Model Y RWD | Hybrid · Toyota RAV4 Hybrid | Electric · Tesla Model Y Long |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depreciation (estimated) | $34,751 (49%) | $19,316 (37%) | $44,781 (53%) |
| Charging / fuel | $4,280 (6%) | $4,499 (9%) | $4,575 (5%) |
| ↳ of which charging loss | 12% (~$514) | — | 12% (~$549) |
| Maintenance | $4,752 (7%) | $5,502 (11%) | $4,752 (6%) |
| Insurance | $12,725 (18%) | $10,000 (19%) | $12,725 (15%) |
| Financing interest | $10,513 (15%) | $8,085 (16%) | $13,710 (16%) |
| Registration & fees | $4,375 (6%) | $4,375 (8%) | $4,375 (5%) |
| Total cost of ownership | $71,396 | $51,777 | $84,918 |
Queensland reference numbers
- Electricity (Queensland)
- 33.30c/kWhAER · 2026-07-01
- Petrol (Australia)
- $1.63/LAIP
- Charging loss (modeled)
- 12%EPA / SAE J1634
- Maintenance ($/yr)
- EV $950 vs petrol $1280est.
- Insurance ($/yr, avg)
- EV $2,545 vs petrol $1,700est.
- EV incentive
- FBT exemption (novated lease)ATO
Cheapest to own in Queensland, Australia
Every model, ranked by true 5-year cost at Queensland rates (12,000 km/yr, all-in). Tap a column to sort, or filter by type:
| Type | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Corolla Hybrid | Hybrid | $32,110 | $42,750 | $713 |
| Toyota Corolla | Petrol | $29,990 | $44,016 | $734 |
| BYD Atto 1 (Essential) | Electric | $23,990 | $44,027 | $734 |
| GWM Haval Jolion Hybrid | Hybrid | $33,990 | $44,969 | $749 |
| Toyota Camry Hybrid | Hybrid | $39,990 | $48,031 | $801 |
| GWM Haval H6 Lux 2.0T petrol FWD | Petrol | $34,490 | $48,302 | $805 |
| Suzuki Jimny XL 5-door auto | Petrol | $37,490 | $49,757 | $829 |
| BYD Dolphin | Electric | $31,760 | $49,984 | $833 |
| BYD Atto 2 (Dynamic) | Electric | $31,990 | $50,576 | $843 |
| Nissan X-Trail ST 2WD petrol | Petrol | $38,140 | $50,667 | $844 |
| MG4 | Electric | $31,990 | $50,901 | $848 |
| Kia Sportage S 2.0 petrol FWD | Petrol | $37,990 | $51,255 | $854 |
| Toyota RAV4 Hybrid | Hybrid | $45,990 | $51,777 | $863 |
| Mazda CX-5 | Petrol | $39,990 | $51,866 | $864 |
| Mitsubishi Outlander | Petrol | $39,990 | $51,964 | $866 |
| Hyundai Tucson | Petrol | $39,100 | $51,974 | $866 |
| GWM Ora 5 | Electric | $33,990 | $52,309 | $872 |
| Subaru Forester AWD Hybrid | Hybrid | $46,490 | $53,646 | $894 |
| Hyundai Inster | Electric | $39,990 | $56,624 | $944 |
| Isuzu D-Max LS-U (diesel) | Petrol | $46,200 | $57,247 | $954 |
| BYD Atto 3 | Electric | $41,760 | $58,355 | $973 |
| Geely EX5 | Electric | $41,990 | $58,652 | $978 |
| BYD Sealion 6 (Dynamic Extended PHEV) | Plug-in hybrid | $47,990 | $59,194 | $987 |
| MG ZS EV | Electric | $44,092 | $60,465 | $1,008 |
| Hyundai Kona Electric | Electric | $45,990 | $61,381 | $1,023 |
| MG S5 EV (Excite 62kWh) | Electric | $45,990 | $61,617 | $1,027 |
| Kia EV3 (Air Standard Range) | Electric | $46,990 | $62,218 | $1,037 |
| Leapmotor C10 Design | Electric | $45,888 | $62,305 | $1,038 |
| Toyota Kluger GX Hybrid AWD | Hybrid | $62,410 | $62,739 | $1,046 |
| Deepal S07 | Electric | $47,990 | $63,822 | $1,064 |
| BYD Seal | Electric | $48,760 | $64,097 | $1,068 |
| Ford Everest Ambiente (diesel) | Petrol | $59,490 | $65,190 | $1,087 |
| BMW X1 sDrive18i | Petrol | $62,400 | $65,509 | $1,092 |
| Ford Ranger | Petrol | $59,000 | $66,240 | $1,104 |
| BYD Shark 6 | Plug-in hybrid | $57,900 | $66,829 | $1,114 |
| Lexus NX 350h Luxury 2WD | Hybrid | $71,700 | $67,802 | $1,130 |
| Tesla Model 3 RWD | Electric | $54,900 | $68,136 | $1,136 |
| Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV | Plug-in hybrid | $60,290 | $68,358 | $1,139 |
| BYD Sealion 7 | Electric | $54,990 | $69,387 | $1,156 |
| Kia EV5 | Electric | $56,770 | $70,831 | $1,181 |
| Toyota HiLux | Petrol | $70,000 | $71,119 | $1,185 |
| Zeekr 7X (RWD) | Electric | $57,900 | $71,208 | $1,187 |
| Tesla Model Y RWD | Electric | $58,900 | $71,396 | $1,190 |
| Toyota Prado GX (diesel) | Petrol | $72,500 | $74,180 | $1,236 |
| Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD | Electric | $67,900 | $78,546 | $1,309 |
| Mercedes-Benz GLC 200 | Petrol | $89,000 | $83,726 | $1,395 |
| Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD | Electric | $75,900 | $84,918 | $1,415 |
| BMW iX1 xDrive30 | Electric | $77,900 | $86,947 | $1,449 |
| Land Rover Defender 110 D250 S | Petrol | $100,900 | $92,920 | $1,549 |
| Toyota LandCruiser 300 GXL diesel | Petrol | $108,791 | $99,150 | $1,653 |
| Porsche Macan RWD (Electric) | Electric | $129,800 | $127,063 | $2,118 |
| Genesis GV70 Electrified | Electric | $132,800 | $130,519 | $2,175 |
Australia head-to-head: EV vs petrol/hybrid
Queensland cost by model
Electric
Plug-in hybrid
Hybrid
← All Australia EV costs (national average)
FAQ
Is an electric car cheaper to own than a petrol car in Queensland, Australia?
Which EV is cheapest to own in Queensland, Australia?
What do electricity and petrol cost in Queensland, Australia right now?
What does the 5-year total include?
Estimates for planning, not financial advice. Australia depreciation, insurance and maintenance are dated estimates calibrated to Australia sources. How we calculate →