EVCostIQ

The EV cost intelligence platform

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

Lowest cost Hybrid

Toyota RAV4 Hybrid

$51,777 / 5 yr
$863/mo$0.86/km
Lowest 5-yr cost
Electric

Tesla Model Y RWD

$71,396 / 5 yr
$1,190/mo$1.19/km
+$19,619 more than the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid (38%)
Electric

Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD

$84,918 / 5 yr
$1,415/mo$1.42/km
+$33,141 more than the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid (64%)

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 RWDToyota RAV4 HybridTesla Model Y Long
Cumulative cost of ownership by year for each vehicle The full data is available in the breakdown table below. $0$22,928$45,856$68,784$91,7110yr 1yr 2yr 3yr 4yr 5Tesla Model Y RWDToyota RAV4 HybridTesla Model Y Long

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)

5-year total cost of ownership by component, by vehicle (AUD). Estimates; sources dated in the methodology.
Cost componentElectric · Tesla Model Y RWDHybrid · Toyota RAV4 HybridElectric · 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 loss12% (~$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:

Starting price vs. the honest 5-year cost to own, every model. Tap a column to sort, or filter by type.
Type
Toyota Corolla HybridHybrid$32,110$42,750$713
Toyota CorollaPetrol$29,990$44,016$734
BYD Atto 1 (Essential)Electric$23,990$44,027$734
GWM Haval Jolion HybridHybrid$33,990$44,969$749
Toyota Camry HybridHybrid$39,990$48,031$801
GWM Haval H6 Lux 2.0T petrol FWDPetrol$34,490$48,302$805
Suzuki Jimny XL 5-door autoPetrol$37,490$49,757$829
BYD DolphinElectric$31,760$49,984$833
BYD Atto 2 (Dynamic)Electric$31,990$50,576$843
Nissan X-Trail ST 2WD petrolPetrol$38,140$50,667$844
MG4Electric$31,990$50,901$848
Kia Sportage S 2.0 petrol FWDPetrol$37,990$51,255$854
Toyota RAV4 HybridHybrid$45,990$51,777$863
Mazda CX-5Petrol$39,990$51,866$864
Mitsubishi OutlanderPetrol$39,990$51,964$866
Hyundai TucsonPetrol$39,100$51,974$866
GWM Ora 5Electric$33,990$52,309$872
Subaru Forester AWD HybridHybrid$46,490$53,646$894
Hyundai InsterElectric$39,990$56,624$944
Isuzu D-Max LS-U (diesel)Petrol$46,200$57,247$954
BYD Atto 3Electric$41,760$58,355$973
Geely EX5Electric$41,990$58,652$978
BYD Sealion 6 (Dynamic Extended PHEV)Plug-in hybrid$47,990$59,194$987
MG ZS EVElectric$44,092$60,465$1,008
Hyundai Kona ElectricElectric$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 DesignElectric$45,888$62,305$1,038
Toyota Kluger GX Hybrid AWDHybrid$62,410$62,739$1,046
Deepal S07Electric$47,990$63,822$1,064
BYD SealElectric$48,760$64,097$1,068
Ford Everest Ambiente (diesel)Petrol$59,490$65,190$1,087
BMW X1 sDrive18iPetrol$62,400$65,509$1,092
Ford RangerPetrol$59,000$66,240$1,104
BYD Shark 6Plug-in hybrid$57,900$66,829$1,114
Lexus NX 350h Luxury 2WDHybrid$71,700$67,802$1,130
Tesla Model 3 RWDElectric$54,900$68,136$1,136
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEVPlug-in hybrid$60,290$68,358$1,139
BYD Sealion 7Electric$54,990$69,387$1,156
Kia EV5Electric$56,770$70,831$1,181
Toyota HiLuxPetrol$70,000$71,119$1,185
Zeekr 7X (RWD)Electric$57,900$71,208$1,187
Tesla Model Y RWDElectric$58,900$71,396$1,190
Toyota Prado GX (diesel)Petrol$72,500$74,180$1,236
Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWDElectric$67,900$78,546$1,309
Mercedes-Benz GLC 200Petrol$89,000$83,726$1,395
Tesla Model Y Long Range AWDElectric$75,900$84,918$1,415
BMW iX1 xDrive30Electric$77,900$86,947$1,449
Land Rover Defender 110 D250 SPetrol$100,900$92,920$1,549
Toyota LandCruiser 300 GXL dieselPetrol$108,791$99,150$1,653
Porsche Macan RWD (Electric)Electric$129,800$127,063$2,118
Genesis GV70 ElectrifiedElectric$132,800$130,519$2,175

Australia head-to-head: EV vs petrol/hybrid

Queensland cost by model

← All Australia EV costs (national average)

FAQ

Is an electric car cheaper to own than a petrol car in Queensland, Australia?

Usually not at typical mileage, as of July 2026: the cheapest model we track in Queensland, Australia is the Toyota Corolla Hybrid (a hybrid) at $42,750 over 5 years, while the cheapest electric — the BYD Atto 1 (Essential) at $44,027 — runs about $1,277 more. High mileage or cheap home charging can flip it; each comparison page shows exactly when.

Which EV is cheapest to own in Queensland, Australia?

As of July 2026, the BYD Atto 1 (Essential) — about $44,027 over 5 years all-in: depreciation, charging (including losses), insurance, maintenance, rego and financing.

What do electricity and petrol cost in Queensland, Australia right now?

Our totals use 33.30c/kWh for home electricity (AER) and $1.63/L for petrol (AIP), as of July 1, 2026.

What does the 5-year total include?

Depreciation, charging or fuel (including the ~12% AC charging loss most calculators omit), insurance, maintenance, rego and financing interest — every source dated.

Estimates for planning, not financial advice. Australia depreciation, insurance and maintenance are dated estimates calibrated to Australia sources. How we calculate →