When you’re buying a new car, you want great value for money. You don’t want to spend a fortune up front, and you want low ongoing costs too. Plus, you need to consider the cost to the environment – you don’t want high carbon emissions and you definitely don’t want to pay a rebate after you’ve bought your new vehicle.

With those factors in mind, we’ve shortlisted five new cars which will help you get as much value as possible from every dollar you spend. Each one costs less than 23c per kilometre to run¹, compared to, say, 45c for a Ford Ranger Raptor, or over $3 for a Ferrari Stradale². That means you can relax knowing that if you drive 10,000km a year, your car should cost you less than $2,500 to run and maintain.

Toyota Yaris Hatch GX Hybrid

Nimble and adorable, the Yaris Hatch is perfect for commuting and the occasional road trip – with no range anxiety because it never needs charging. It’s small, so if you’re driving a bunch of teenagers to rugby practice, it might not be for you. But if you’re looking for an economical daily driver to get you all over town, the Yaris could be just the ticket.

It won’t cost you much to run, either: Toyota claims the Yaris is the most fuel-efficient hybrid car on the market, with a combined fuel consumption of just 3.6L/100km.

Power source: Electric/petrol hybrid

Purchase cost: $32,190 - $2,645 rebate = $29,545

Cost per kilometre: $0.19

CO₂ emissions: 84g/km

Suzuki Ignis GLX MT

Described as a ‘super compact SUV’, the Ignis is a practical combination of an elevated ride height and easy manoeuvrability. An ideal car for urban driving, it’s a breeze to get in and out of, turns on a sixpence and can even slip into those narrow carparks. 

The Ignis currently has the cheapest running cost of any new vehicle on the market. And although you’ll still need to visit the petrol station, its economical 5.2L/100km makes the most of every dollar you spend at the pump.

Power source: Petrol

Purchase cost: $22,990 + ORC (no rebate/feebate)

Cost per kilometre: $0.16

CO₂ emissions: 119g/km

MG 4 Excite 51

The MG 4 is fun to drive, with sporty styling and an appealing price tag. This is a versatile EV – it’s not big, but it’s spacious enough to be comfortable for passengers and has plenty of storage space. Packed with modern functions and with a surprising 500kg towing capability, the MG 4 will adapt to most Kiwi lifestyles.  

The electric battery has a generous range of 350km and the car has a seven-year unlimited kilometre warranty. All this, with a net price below $40,000, makes the MG 4 a great-value vehicle.

Power source: Electric

Purchase cost: $46,990 - $7,015 rebate = $39,975 + ORC

Cost per kilometre: $0.20

CO₂ emissions: 0 g/km

GWM Ora

A distinctive design with a high quality finish, the Ora is another cute city EV that won’t cost you a fortune to run. It’s fully loaded with features and kit, including cameras, safety systems and a seven-year warranty. The Ora might look a bit like a Mini or a Beetle, but it’s about the same size as a VW Golf – bigger than you might expect although the boot is on the small side.

The Ora is super quiet and manoeuvrable, so it’s perfect for popping into town, while the electric battery provides 310km of range for longer trips.

Power source: Electric

Purchase cost: $47,990 - $7,015 rebate = $40,975 + ORC

Cost per kilometre: $0.22

CO₂ emissions: 0g/km

BYD Dolphin

With its cutting-edge design, the Dolphin is definitely going to turn heads – especially if you opt for the unusual ‘coral pink’ or ‘Maldive purple’ colourways. And the Dolphin’s ‘ocean aesthetic’ extends beyond the colours and into the colourful and imaginatively designed interior. The design flourishes, inside and out, make this a uniquely appealing car. It drives smoothly, feels super comfortable, and its price tag makes the Dolphin one of the more affordable EVs on the market.

Powered by BYD’s blade batteries, the Dolphin has a range of 340km. You can even use it as a portable battery to plug in a toaster or coffee machine when you’re camping.

Power source: Electric

Purchase cost: $49,990 - $7,015 rebate = $42,975 + ORC

Cost per kilometre: $0.22

CO₂ emissions: 0g/km

¹Please note this information is relevant at the time of writing. These costs are subject to change depending on electricity costs as well as the introduction of Road User Charges (RUC), which EVs and hybrids have been exempt from to date to encourage uptake. Future RUC charges for EVs and hybrids have not been released in detail by the Government yet so cannot be reliably included in running cost calculations at present, but are currently expected to add a per kilometre charge (potentially up to 7-8cents/km) from 1 April 2024.

² Cost per kilometre data sourced from the GenLess total cost of ownership calculator.