Source: Aldeca Studio/Shutterstock.com
Source: Aldeca Studio/Shutterstock.com

If you're interested in an EV, what options do you have? Canstar looks at the top selling electric cars in New Zealand.

Electric cars and hybrids are common on our roads. However, over the past two years EV sales have hit the skids.

Between 2022 and 2023, pure EV models increased their market share from 10% to 14.5%. However, it's clear the end of the EV subsidies had a big effect. While hybrid sales remained strong last year, new EV numbers plummeted. Just 7% of vehicles sold in 2025 were fully electric.

Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), which are now subject to road user charges, were also out of favour. Just 4658 PHEVs were registered in NZ last year, while non plug-in hybrid sales were strong, matching those of petrol vehicles.

However, over the first quarter of 2026, EV and PHEV sales have rebounded quite considerably:

Sales by Engine Type 2025

Sales by Engine Type 2026

40% Petrol

36% Petrol

40% Non plug-in hybrid

34% Non plug-in hybrid

8% Diesel

14% EV

7% EV

9% Plug-in hybrid

5% Plug-in hybrid

7% Diesel

Source: NZTA – 2026 sales to 31/03/26

So far this year, sales by engine type:

Petrol: 36% (9394 sales)

Top models include:

  • Mitsubishi ASX (1070)
  • Mitsubishi Outlander (704)
  • Kia Seltos (660)

Non plug-in hybrids: 34% (8927 sales)

Top models include:

  • Toyota RAV4 (1302)
  • Toyota Corolla Cross (761)
  • Kia Sportage (564)

EVs: 14% (3630 sales)

Top models include:

  • Tesla Model Y (513)
  • Dongfeng Box (283)
  • BYD Atto 1 (242)

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle: 9% (2334 sales)

Top models include:

  • BYD Sealion 5 (250)
  • Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross (233)
  • GWM Haval H6 (197)

Diesel: 7% (1773 sales)

Top models include:

  • Ford Everest (765)
  • Land Rover Defender (129)
  • Mitsubishi Pajero Sport (121)

Top selling EV models

As we mention above, so far this year EV sales have bounced back:

  • 2023: 21,032 EVs
  • 2024: 6341 EVs
  • 2025: 6871 EVs
  • 2026 (Jan-March): 3630 cars

And despite many new models hitting the market, such as the Dongfeng Box, the Tesla Model Y remains the country's most popular EV:

Rank

Top Selling EVs 2025

Top Selling EVs 2026

1

Tesla Model Y (1284)

Tesla Model Y (513)

2

BYD Atto 3 (555)

Dongfeng Box (283)

3

Polestar 2 (354)

BYD Atto 1 (242)

4

BYD Sealion 7 (337)

BYD Atto 2 (213)

5

Tesla Model 3 (308)

MG ZS (196)

6

Kia EV5 (276)

BYD Sealion 7 (166)

7

Kia EV3 (255)

BYD Atto 3 (146)

8

BYD Dolphin (221)

Zeekr 7X (137)

9

Toyota BZ4X (192)

Kia EV3 (100)

10

BMW i  (176)

MG S5 (92)

11

Honda e:N1 (171)

Kia EV5 | Omoda E5 (91)

12

Mini Countryman (151)

Tesla Model 3 (90)

13

Omoda E5 (128)

Toyota BZ4X (89)

14

Geely EX5 | Mini Aceman (111)

Geely EX5 (85)

15

Volvo EX30 (109)

Dongfeng Vigo (82)

Source: NZTA – 2026 sales to 31/03/26


Below is a brief overview of the top five most popular EVs in NZ. Prices do not include on-road costs or specials and should be used as a guide only:

Tesla Model Y (from $67,900)

The new Model Y comes in three versions (range | top speed | 0-100km):

  • Rear-wheel drive: 466km | 201km/h | 5.9s
  • Long-range AWD: 600km | 201km/h | 4.8s
  • Long-range performance AWD: 580km | 250km/h | 3.5s

Model Ys come with an eight-year battery and drive unit warranty, or 160,000km, whichever comes first, plus a four-year/80,000km basic warranty.

BYD Atto 3 (from $49,990)

The Atto 3 comes in two models (range | 0-100km):

  • Essential: 345km | 7.9s
  • Superior: 420km | 7.3s

Atto 3s come with an eight-year battery and drive unit warranty, or 160,000km, whichever comes first, plus a six-year basic warranty, plus eight years of roadside assistance.

Polestar 2 (from $74,900)

The Polestar 2 comes in four models, and AWD or rear-wheel drive options (range | 0-100km):

  • Standard range single motor: 554km | 6.4s
  • Long-range single motor: 659km | 6.2s
  • Long-range dual motor: 568km | 4.5s
  • Long-range dual motor with performance pack: 591km | 4.2s

Polestar 2s come with an eight-year battery and drive unit warranty, or 160,000km, whichever comes first, plus a three-year basic warranty.

BYD Sealion 7 (from $67,990)

There are two BYD Sealion 7 models (range | 0-100km):

  • Real-wheel drive: 482km | 6.7s
  • AWD: 456km | 4.5s

Sealion 7s come with an eight-year battery and drive unit warranty, or 160,000km, whichever comes first, plus a six-year basic warranty, plus eight years of roadside assistance.

Tesla Model 3 (from $63,900)

The Model 3 comes in three versions (range | top speed | 0-100km):

  • Rear-wheel drive: 520km | 201km/h | 6.1s
  • Long-range rear-wheel drive: 750km |201km/h | 5.2s
  • Performance AWD: 571km | 261km/h | 3.1s

Model 3s come with an eight-year battery and drive unit warranty, or 192,000km, whichever comes first, plus a four-year/80,000km basic warranty.

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Bruce Pitchers is Canstar's NZ Editor. An experienced finance reporter, he has three decades’ experience as a journalist and has worked for major media companies in Australia, the UK and NZ, including ACP, Are Media, Bauer Media Group, Fairfax, Pacific Magazines, News Corp and TVNZ. As a freelancer, he has worked for The Australian Financial Review, the NZ Financial Markets Authority and major banks and investment companies on both sides of the Tasman.
In his role at Canstar, he has been a regular commentator in the NZ media, including on the DrivenStuff and One Roof websites, the NZ Herald, Radio NZ, and Newstalk ZB.
Away from Canstar, Bruce creates puzzles for magazines including Woman’s Day and New Idea. He is also the co-author of the murder-mystery puzzle book 5 Minute Murder.


Important Information

For those that love the detail

This advice is general and has not taken into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Consider whether this advice is right for you.