Features / 23 September 2025 / Michael Taylor

5 cheapest electric cars you can buy in South Africa

The entry cost of electric vehicles (EVs) has dramatically fallen over the past two years, thanks to the introduction of new, more affordable models.

It wasn’t that long ago that EVs were gatekept behind luxury badges like BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and Jaguar, which were the first carmakers to bring the technology to our shores.

However, since 2023, South Africa has welcomed several new brands that have started to roll out their hybrid and electric models at (comparatively) affordable price tags.

The market leader in this regard is the Chinese company BYD, which is responsible for three of the five cheapest EVs in the country.

Most recently, it introduced the Dolphin Surf (known as the Atto 1 in other markets), a small urban hatchback that costs just R339,900.

The base version is equipped with a 30kWh battery with a range of 232km, making it ideal for individuals who frequently make short trips around town.

The second cheapest EV is the Dayun S5, which starts at R399,900 and has much better range of 330km, though this comes at the cost of a low power ceiling of 35kW.

In third place is the BYD Dolphin – the Dolphin Surf’s big brother – which asks for R539,900

It has a 44.9kWh power block good for 340km, and a more powerful electric motor that generates 70kW and 180Nm.

Next up is the GWM Ora, which starts off with a 48kWh battery with 310km on tap.

Last but not least is the BYD Atto 3, the only crossover on a list dominated by hatchbacks, which starts at R768,000 with a 49.9kWh battery and 345km of range.

Worth noting is that the Dolphin and Atto 3 are sold with a maintenance plan instead of service plan.

It’s also very telling that all five of the cars on this list are Chinese, as legacy carmakers like VW, Toyota, and Hyundai have been reluctant to introduce their EVs in South Africa.