Previously, opting for a larger vehicle typically required a bigger budget, yet that pattern has changed.

While the lowest-priced vehicle available in Australia remains a compact city hatch, numerous budget options now consist of SUVs offering added room, higher clearance, and enhanced protection features.

This evolution allows cost-focused purchasers to avoid tiny, low-slung cars, though selection is limited to an expanding array of affordable crossovers.

Accordingly, we have assembled details on the ten most budget-friendly SUVs currently offered in Australia.

Make/model	Base drive-away price (NSW)	Base price before on-road costs
MG ZS	$22,990	-
Chery Tiggo 4	$23,990	-
Mahindra XUV3XO	$23,990	-
Suzuki Ignis	$25,135	$22,490
Jaecoo J5	$25,990	-
GWM Haval Jolion	$26,990	-
Hyundai Venue	$27,636	$23,750
GAC Emzoom	$27,990	$25,590
Chery C5	$29,990	-
Chery Tiggo 7	$29,990	-

Brands often publish a figure excluding on-road expenses, which fails to reflect typical buyer costs. Thus, we ordered the list using projected drive-away pricing for New South Wales residents, given its status as the most populous state.

We avoided basing rankings on short-term promotions, since these fluctuate widely, though full current offers appear in our EOFY deals section.

Before detailing the top 10, the Kia Stonic merits note as it is now available at $29,990 drive-away, matching the ninth and tenth entries here.

MG ZS

Australia's lowest-cost SUV carries a familiar badge and continues as a standout value in its updated form.

The latest ZS entered the market in 2024 without high demands, yet a new entry-level variant earlier this year lowered the starting point to $22,990 drive-away.

Equipped with a naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol unit, the base Vibe includes 16-inch alloy wheels, halogen headlights, fabric seats, four speakers, and a 10.25-inch infotainment display with wired phone mirroring.

It shares the full range's active safety suite, covering adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, rear cross-traffic alert, a reversing camera, and rear parking sensors.

The Vibe's 1.5-litre engine delivers 81kW and 140Nm, which is 44kW and 135Nm less than the turbo version, with combined fuel use rated at 6.7L/100km.

Model	Price before on-road costs	Drive-away price
MG ZS Vibe	-	$22,990
MG ZS Vibe Turbo	-	$24,990
MG ZS Essence Turbo	-	$28,490

Chery Tiggo 4

Low cost need not mean poor value, and the Tiggo 4 small SUV achieves both, earning our CarExpert Choice award for Best Affordable SUV in consecutive years.

Starting at $23,990 drive-away, the entry Tiggo 4 features 17-inch alloys, LED headlights, cloth trim, four speakers, dual 10.25-inch displays, wireless phone mirroring, and dual-zone climate control.

Standard safety items encompass Integrated Cruise Assist with lane-centring, AEB, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, rear cross-traffic alert, a reversing camera, and rear parking sensors.

Motive power comes from a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder yielding 108kW and 210Nm, paired with a CVT, and Chery lists combined fuel consumption at 7.4L/100km.

Model	Price before on-road costs	Drive-away price
Chery Tiggo 4 Urban	-	$23,990
Chery Tiggo 4 Ultimate	-	$26,990
Chery Tiggo 4 Hybrid Urban	-	$29,990
Chery Tiggo 4 Hybrid Ultimate	-	$32,990

Mahindra XUV 3XO

Although China supplies most affordable new vehicles to Australia, India contributes via the Mahindra XUV 3XO.

Priced from $23,990 drive-away, this small SUV comes with 16-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, cloth upholstery, six speakers, dual 10.25-inch screens, and wireless phone mirroring as standard.

The Mahindra XUV 3XO lacks an ANCAP rating and holds no official independent safety score in Australia, yet it includes six airbags, AEB, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, and a surround-view camera.

Under the bonnet sits a 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine producing 82kW and 200Nm, with claimed combined economy of 6.5L/100km, driving the front wheels via a six-speed automatic.

Model	Price before on-road costs	Drive-away price
Mahindra XUV 3XO AX5L	-	$23,990
Mahindra XUV 3XO AX7L	-	$26,990

Suzuki Ignis

Was the Ignis anticipated on this roster? We did not foresee it.

Suzuki ceased Australian production of its entry-level SUV more than a year ago owing to missing AEB technology, but remaining units continue to be delivered and the configurator stays active.

Moreover, Suzuki has reduced Ignis pricing to move stock, with the base GL now listed at $25,135 drive-away.

This outlay provides 15-inch steel wheels, halogen headlights, fabric upholstery, four speakers, a 7.0-inch infotainment screen, and wired phone mirroring. Safety remains limited, as the Ignis is unrated by ANCAP and omits AEB.

Power derives from a compact 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine generating 66kW and 120Nm, routed to the front wheels through a CVT, with official combined fuel use at 4.9L/100km.

Model	Price before on-road costs	Drive-away price
Suzuki Ignis GL	$22,490	$25,135
Suzuki Ignis GLX	$24,490	$26,490

Jaecoo J5

Formerly offered solely as an EV, the J5 now includes a petrol variant that delivers strong affordability.

Beginning at $25,990 drive-away nationwide, the J5 Track provides notable value, with 18-inch alloys, LED headlights, cloth upholstery, six speakers, and a 13.2-inch infotainment screen featuring wireless phone mirroring included as standard.

Contemporary safety aids are plentiful, though the J5 lineup has not yet received ANCAP testing. The related Chery Tiggo 4 holds a five-star rating under 2023 protocols.

The J5 employs the same powertrain as the Tiggo 4, a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder producing 108kW and 210Nm with a CVT, claiming 7.5L/100km combined.

Model	Price before on-road costs	Drive-away price
Jaecoo J5 Track	-	$25,990
Jaecoo J5 Summit	-	$29,990

GWM Haval Jolion

GWM's smallest SUV frequently ranks among Australia's value leaders and should persist in that role due to the brand's competitive pricing approach.

Current EOFY promotions discount all Jolion variants by thousands, with the base Premium now at $23,990 drive-away until June 30.

Standard equipment on the Premium comprises 17-inch alloys, halogen headlights, cloth upholstery, four speakers, a 10.25-inch infotainment screen, and wireless phone mirroring.

Every variant benefits from a five-star ANCAP rating from 2022 tests, though a surround-view camera and front parking sensors are absent on the Premium.

Entry petrol models use a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder producing 105kW and 210Nm, sent to the front wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, averaging 8.1L/100km.

Model	Price before on-road costs	Drive-away price
GWM Haval Jolion Premium	-	$26,990
GWM Haval Jolion Lux	-	$29,990
GWM Haval Jolion Premium Hybrid	-	$32,990
GWM Haval Jolion Vanta	-	$33,990
GWM Haval Jolion Lux Hybrid	-	$35,990
GWM Haval Jolion Vanta Hybrid	-	$39,990

Hyundai Venue

The most economical route to Korean SUV ownership is the Hyundai Venue, which also offers the lowest-priced manual crossover.

Normally starting at $23,750 excluding on-road costs ($27,636 drive-away in NSW), the manual Venue is currently available at $25,990 drive-away during Hyundai's end-of-financial-year promotion, with similar reductions on other grades.

In base form, the Venue supplies 15-inch alloys, halogen headlights, cloth upholstery, an 8.0-inch infotainment screen, and wireless phone mirroring.

The Venue's four-star ANCAP rating from 2019 has lapsed, leaving it unrated, yet six airbags, lane-keep assist, a reversing camera, and adaptive cruise control remain standard.

A five-speed manual pairs with a 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine rated at 90kW, 151Nm, and 7.0L/100km combined.

Model	Price before on-road costs	Drive-away price
Hyundai Venue manual	$23,750	$27,636
Hyundai Venue auto	$25,750	$29,696
Hyundai Venue Active	$28,000	$32,012
Hyundai Venue Elite	$30,500	$34,587

GAC Emzoom

The distinctive Emzoom reached Australia late last year and ranks among the nation's cheapest SUVs below $26,000 excluding on-road costs.

It becomes even more accessible presently, with GAC providing $1000 cashback on orders placed before June 30, 2026.

A single high-spec variant is offered, including 18-inch alloys, LED headlights, vinyl upholstery, six speakers, a 14.6-inch infotainment screen, and wireless phone mirroring as standard.

The Emzoom awaits ANCAP or Euro NCAP assessment, but safety provisions include six airbags, adaptive cruise, front and rear parking sensors, park assist, and a surround-view camera.

Beneath the bonnet lies a 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine producing 125kW and 270Nm, matched to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic, with GAC claiming 6.6L/100km combined.

Model	Price before on-road costs	Drive-away price
GAC Emzoom Luxury	$25,590	$28,750 (approx.)

Chery C5

A fresh designation accompanies the same accessible pricing for the Chery C5 small SUV.

Offered in two grades, the refreshed C5 begins at $29,990 drive-away, supplying 17-inch alloys, LED headlights, fabric upholstery with leatherette bolsters, six speakers, twin 10.25-inch screens, and wireless phone mirroring.

It inherits the Omoda 5's five-star ANCAP rating from 2022 along with extensive safety equipment such as semi-autonomous driving functions, driver attention monitoring, lane-keep assist, a reversing camera, and front and rear parking sensors.

Power comes from the same 1.5-litre turbo-four as the Tiggo 4 and Jaecoo J5, now paired with a six-speed dual-clutch automatic, rated at 6.9L/100km combined.

Model	Price before on-road costs	Drive-away price
Chery C5 Urban	-	$29,990
Chery C5 Ultimate	-	$34,990

Chery Tiggo 7

Chery secures a third spot on this roster (or fourth counting the Jaecoo J5) with the Tiggo 7, a mid-size SUV available from $29,990 drive-away.