Tesla still dominates pure-electric sales.
BEVs holding steady, but PHEVs have doubled in market share.
New-gen ‘super hybrid’ technology starting to make an impact.
Hybrids (the non-plug-in kind) continue to dominate electrified-vehicle sales in New Zealand, accounting for nearly 30% of the market in 2025.
It’s a slow charge in sales-volume terms, but plug-in vehicles are getting there.
While EVs (both “pure” electric BEV and the plug-in hybrid PHEV kind) are nowhere near returning to the glory days of the Clean Car Discount (2022-23, lest we forget), there are positive signs. BEVs held steady in 2025 compared to the previous year, with a modest 0.4% growth to 5.6% share of the total market (7706 sales), while PHEVs nearly doubled from 2.7% to 5.0% share (6885 registrations).
A modest base, but still significant. Plug-in vehicles are the future and that’s a fact, so these stats are certainly sending us somewhere. It won’t happen overnight… but it will happen.
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What were the top electric model choices for Kiwis in 2025? Let’s take a look.
1. Tesla Model Y (826 sales)
The refreshed Model Y arrived mid-year with a new look – and a much less awkward look than it had before, to be honest – with some worthwhile trim and tech changes.
Did the Model Y drive itself here? It’s possible.
The really big news was the arrival of a Full Self Driving (Supervised) option in October, which stands as a watershed moment for automated-drive technology in NZ. Yes, it really can drive itself, even in quite challenging environments.
Late last year we also got the Model Y Performance, which showcases the newfound maturity of this SUV more than any other version.
2. Tesla Model 3 (310)
Put the Model Y and Model 3 together and it’s obvious that Tesla is doing quite a bit of the heavy lifting in the Kiwi BEV market, although not as much as it might first appear from just looking at the top 5. The two account for just over 16% of sales.
Tesla Model 3, also in Ultra Red. Other colours are available, apparently.
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We’re pretty keen on the revised Model 3 sedan for similar reasons to the Model Y. Which makes sense, because they’re similar vehicles. It was our Top Passenger model in the DRIVEN Car Guide Car of the Year 2025 and even made it through to the top 3 overall (but no, it didn’t win).
3. BYD Sealion 7 (338)
Less a pure-electric alternative to the Sealion 6 PHEV (we’ll talk about that one in a minute) and more an SUV version of the Seal sedan, the Sealion 7 impresses with its sharp looks and BYD’s acknowledged expertise in battery technology.
Is the Sealion 7 an SUV or coupe? There’s no need to decide.
You can have it as a rear-drive model (we had one on extended test last year) or a fast AWD dual-motor. We actually reckon the former is the better and more appealing package.
4. Kia EV5 (276)
Kia has gone big on BEVs and the EV5 is the one that sits the most in the mainstream: it’s a mid-sized SUV with no fewer than five variants on offer, albeit all with the same 88kWh battery and front-drive layout.
Kia has gone to town on EV5 with its signature EV-angles.
The EV5 is almost exactly the same size as Kia’s Sportage SUV on the outside, but the advantages of BEV packaging mean it’s as big on the inside as the next-size-up Sorento.
5. Nissan Ariya (86)
The Ariya was a long time coming for NZ. After a bit of a false start in 2024, it was launched very late in 2024 and has now had the benefit of a full year on sale.
You teased us for a while, Ariya, but we’ve grown to like you.
So it’s not the latest thing in the EV world by any means, and yes, it’s a long way back from our top 4 in terms of sales volume. But we rather like it. Highlights are extreme refinement, some interesting detail touches in the cabin and the choice of mainstream FWD or more performance-oriented AWD models.
1. BYD Sealion 6 (715 sales)
The Sealion 6 has already earned its place in the DRIVEN Car Guide hall of fame by claiming our overall Car of the Year win back in 2024.
It’s been pretty much win-win for the Sealion 6.
It was the vehicle that introduced Kiwis to the concept of “super hybrid” technology and now comes in a variety of models, with a choice of battery sizes and FWD or AWD. Although even the entry-level model boasts 92km EV range and 1100km on a full tank/charge.
2. MG HS (368)
The original HS PHEV was one of NZ’s cheapest plug-in hybrids at launch. The all-new model has stepped up significantly in style and technology, with a super hybrid powertrain that gives up to 120km electric driving.
MG: we call your bright blue, RAV4, and raise you a plug.
The HS Super Hybrid comes in two different trim levels, Excite and Essence. Not to be confused with the Hybrid+ versions of the HS, which are the non-plug-in kind. MG offers a lot of petrol-electric choice.
3. Jaecoo J7 (331)
Jaecoo is Chery’s SUV-themed brand, with chunkier styling than Omoda and better ground clearance. Some versions of the J7 even have pretty decent 4×4 ability.
If you detect some mini-Range Rover vibes around the J7, we agree.
Not the J7 SHS (super hybrid system), though, which is currently FWD only. But what it does have is a large battery that liberates 90km of electric driving and interior design details that are much more EV-themed than the conventional J7 models, even though they look the same on the outside.
4. Geely Starray EM-i (113)
The Starray was a relatively late entrant into the NZ market in September last year, but it’s obviously making an impact.
Starray looks more interesting than sister EX5 BEV. It’s arguably more versatile, too.
Ostensibly, it’s a super-hybrid sister model to Geely’s EX5 BEV , although it’s really quite different despite similar styling: 130mm longer, for example. The battery gives 83km range, but local importer NordEast is considering an even larger power pack for around 130km electric driving.
5. Chery Tiggo 9 (38)
Keeping up with your Chery Tiggo SUV numbers? Joining the Tiggo 4, Tiggo 7 and Tiggo 8 late last year was the Tiggo 9, the new flagship model for the brand.
Tiggo 9 also the same lines as Tiggo 7 and Tiggo 8… but fancier.
We haven’t reviewed this one yet, but the Tiggo 9 boasts some big numbers: 170km EV range from a 34kWh battery, combined output of 315kW and a claimed 1250km range.
