Buying an electric car? Here are some ‘affordable’ EVs in Malaysia
- Buying Guide
- Electric Cars
- December 13, 2021
- Arif Chan
If you’re planning to buy an electric car in Malaysia, there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel, as government incentives and somewhat affordable EVs have been coming our way.
While the likes of the Porsche Taycan and BMW iX are remarkable, they are not exactly accessible. Let’s see what ‘affordable’ electric cars are available in Malaysia for you to buy.
1. Hyundai Kona electric (RM 149,888)
First up is the Hyundai Kona electric was launched in Malaysia last month. It’s an SUV that’s about the size of a Honda HR-V and comes in three variants – e-Lite, e-Plus, and e-Max.
| Kona e-lite | Kona e-plus | Kona e-max | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Price |
RM 149,888 |
RM 169,888 |
RM 199,888 |
|
Battery capacity |
39.2 kWh |
39.2 kWh |
64 kWh |
|
Range (WLTP) |
305 km |
305 km |
484 km |
|
Max. Power |
136 PS |
136 PS |
204 PS |
|
Max. Torque |
395 Nm |
395 Nm |
395 Nm |
About 70 units of the Hyundai Kona electric have been booked and delivery is expected to take place in February 2022.
Somewhat related: 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric launched in Malaysia, from RM 149,888
With the low number of DC fast chargers in Malaysia, it is advisable that you get the e-Max variant that comes with a 64-kWh battery pack providing 484 km of range (WLTP).
| Kona e-lite | Kona e-plus | Kona e-max | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
AC Charging |
7.2 kW |
11 kW |
11 kW |
|
AC Charging time (0-100%) |
6.5 hrs |
4.5 hrs |
7.5 hrs |
|
DC Fast Charging |
50 kW |
50 kW |
77 kW |
|
DC Fast Charging time (10-80%) |
50 min |
50 min |
44 min |
Performance figures? 136 PS/395 Nm for the e-Lite & e-Plus, and 204 PS/395 Nm for the e-Max.
2. BMW iX3 (RM 317,360)
Launched in Malaysia in October 2021, the BMW iX3 starts at a price of RM 317,360, offered in two variants – Inspiring and Impressive.
| BMiX3 Inspiring | BMW iX3 Impressive | |
|---|---|---|
|
Rec. Retail Price |
RM 317,360 |
RM 336,360 |
|
with extended warranty |
RM 330,800 |
RM 349,800 |
|
with extended warranty + Power Package |
RM 335,800 |
RM 354,800 |
|
Battery Capacity |
73.8 kWh |
73.8 kWh |
|
Range (WLTP) |
461 km |
461 km |
|
Max. Power |
136 PS |
136 PS |
|
Max. Torque |
395 Nm |
395 Nm |
For the BMW iX3, both “Inspiring” and “Impressive” variants come with the same 73.8-kWh battery pack that provides a 461-km range (WLTP).
Over the “Inspiring” variant, the “Impressive” variant adds on:
- Harman Kardon sound system
- BMW Gesture control
- BMW IconicSounds Electric
- Acoustic Glazing
- Head-up Display
| BMW iX3 | |
|---|---|
|
AC Charging |
11 kW |
|
AC Charging time (0-100%) |
7h 30min |
|
DC Fast Charging |
150 kW |
|
DC Fast Charging time (0-80%) |
32 min |
Built on the same platform as the ICE BMW X3, the BMW iX3 offers more power and more torque than the BMW X3 xDrive30i at 286 PS/400 Nm, albeit with a slower century-sprint time.
| BMW iX3 | BMW X3 xDrive30i | |
|---|---|---|
| Max.Power Output | 286 PS |
252 PS @5,200-6,500 rpm |
| First column | 400 Nm |
350 Nm @1,450 4,800 rpm |
| 0-100 km/h | 6.8 s | 6.3 s |
3. MINI Electric / Cooper SE (RM 213,461)
Possibly the least practical car on this list is the MINI Cooper SE that only comes in a 3-door version.
The MINI Cooper SE was launched in August 2020 in one guise only, and for a period of the featured a limited-edition version, the MINI Electric First Edition (15 units).
| MINI Electric / Cooper SE | |
|---|---|
|
Price (without SST) |
RM 213,460 |
|
Battery capacity |
28.9 kWh |
|
Range (WLTP) |
234 km |
|
Max. Power |
184 PS |
|
Max. Torque |
270 Nm |
Built as a city runabout, the MINI Electric comes with a small 28.9-kWh battery and a short 234-km range (WLTP).
| MINI Electric / Cooper SE | |
|---|---|
|
AC Charging |
11 kW |
|
AC Charging time (0-100%) |
3h 15min |
|
DC Fast Charging |
50 kW |
|
DC Fast Charging time (10-80%) |
29 min |
You wouldn’t want to do a road trip with this car.
4. Nissan Leaf (RM 181,263)
The Nissan Leaf is the oldest car on this list, being available in the Malaysian market since 2018. It didn’t create a buzz and you rarely ever see one of these on Malaysian roads.
| Nissan Leaf | |
|---|---|
|
Price (without SST) |
RM 181,263 |
|
Battery capacity |
40 kWh |
|
Range (NEDC) |
311 km |
|
Max. Power |
150 PS |
|
Max. Torque |
320 Nm |
Perhaps it was due to its too-conventional presentation, unattractive pricing, or its use of a CHAdeMO socket instead of the more popular Type 2/CCS2 sockets in Malaysia.
| Nissan Leaf | |
|---|---|
|
AC Charging |
6.6 kW |
|
AC Charging time (0-100%) |
7 hrs |
|
DC Fast Charging |
50 kW |
|
DC Fast Charging time (10-80%) |
1 hr |
Nonetheless, the Nissan Leaf is a decent electric car to introduce ICE-drivers to the electric powertrain. At RM 181,263, the price is rather steep for a car that offers nothing more than just being electric.
5. Ora Good Cat (~RM 130,000)
The Ora Good Cat isn’t actually available for purchase in Malaysia right now, but Go Auto Sdn Bhd has previewed this car in KLCC very recently.
The LHD version of the Ora Good Cat is assembled in China while the RHD version is assembled in our neighbouring country, Thailand.
| Ora Good Cat 500-km Ultra | |
|---|---|
|
Estimated Price |
RM 130k - RM 160k |
|
Battery capacity |
63 kWh |
|
Range (NEDC) |
500 km |
|
Max. Power |
143 PS |
|
Max. Torque |
210 Nm |
Claiming a 500-km range on the NEDC cycle, the Ora Good Cat looks like a great contender in the budget EV segment.
| Ora Good Cat 500-km Ultra | |
|---|---|
|
AC Charging |
6.6 kW |
|
AC Charging time (0-100%) |
10 hrs |
|
DC Fast Charging |
60 kW |
|
DC Fast Charging time (0-80%) |
1 hr |
Go Auto Sdn Bhd says they target to sell the Ora Good Ca (in 500-km Ultra variant) in Malaysia at a price between RM 130,000 to RM 160,000. We’ll see about that.
Conclusion
Those are the electric cars that are relatively affordable when you consider cars like the Porsche Taycan and BMW iX. None are below RM 100,000 (yet) even with the EV incentives in place.
Should brands like Proton and Perodua start making EVs too? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
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