Things have changed so much since the last time SoyaCincau.com published its first EV Buyer’s Guide back in May 2022. Electric vehicles have since received more attention from the masses with more than 7,500 units registered so far this year up till September and that is already more than twice the amount of EVs registered in 2022 alone.
While that amount is still quite low considering that more than 520,000 cars have been registered with JPJ during the same period, it is an encouraging trend for the local EV market. Even the Malaysian government itself is already planning to use EVs as its official cars as noted by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during his Budget 2024’s speech.
Even the number of EV models that are available in Malaysia has also increased tremendously. Our May 2022’s buyer’s guide featured only 15 models but in SoyaCincau.com’s new list for October 2023, there are now 70 electric vehicles from 15 automakers are officially available in Malaysia.
While there are so many things to consider before you decide which EV best suits your lifestyle, taste, and other preferences, the guide for October 2023 covers one of the most asked questions about EVs: which model has the best range?
On the other side of the spectrum, some out there don’t really care about range. Instead, they want to feed their need for speed with the exhilarating acceleration that you can easily get from electric vehicles.
With those in mind, let me present to you, the brand-new SoyaCincau.com EV Buyer’s Guide for October 2023.
The Range Masters
When it comes to going the distance, the king of the chart is the Mercedes EQS 500 4MATIC. With a WLTP-rated range of 696km, that means this EV can theoretically travel from Penang Bridge to Johor Causeway with just a single charge.
It is also worth noting that the EQS 500 4MATIC is the first Mercedes-EQ model to be locally assembled at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Pekan, Pahang. Even though it costs less than the EQS 450+ CBU model that is no longer on sale in Malaysia, the EQS 500 4MATIC still comes with a hefty price tag of RM648,888 which is why it belongs to our Ultra Luxury classification.
Another Mercedes EQS model which we have shortlisted for this honour is the Mercedes EQE 350+ which also has a WLTP range of more than 600km. Comes with a price tag of RM419,888 which made it the cheapest model in our Luxury classification, the EQE 350+ has been dubbed by many as the “baby EQS” due to the similarities in design and features.
Moving on to the Premium class which is the biggest group in our list with 30 vehicles to choose from, only Tesla Model 3 Highland AWD Long Range and Hyundai Ioniq 6 Max RWD offer more than 600km of range. However, Tesla’s offering takes the cake when you look at the range, performance, and price factors.
Unfortunately, none of the EVs in our sub-RM200k Mainstream category can match these high-end range masters. Most of them came with an average range of 300km to 400km, with the exception of the Tesla Model 3 Highland RWD which has a rated range of more than 500km – rather impressive for its price point.
The Speed Demons
While having zero tailpipe emission might be one of the biggest reasons to switch to an EV, some are considering to get their hands on an EV due to performance instead. Believe me when I say that the instantaneous torque and acceleration that the majority of electric cars can provide, including ageing models such as the Nissan Leaf, are rather addictive.
So, if you looking to have more performance than range in your EV, then you have come to the right place. The most dominant model not only within its category but also in the whole of SoyaCincau’s EV Buyer’s Guide is the Porsche Taycan Turbo S.
Normally, the Taycan Turbo S provides 617hp (460kW) which is already quite powerful but its true nature can be unleashed by activating the Launch Control mode. This mode allows you to access the EV’s full 751hp (560kW) output which would then catapult you from 0 to 100km/h in just 2.5 seconds.
With a starting price of RM999,000, the actual price that you are going to pay for it will likely be more than RM1 million as you start to choose your preferred customisation for your Taycan Turbo S. The only EV in the market that costs more than this Taycan variant is the Rolls-Royce Spectre which is of course, a different story altogether.
So, what if you still want that mind-blowing level of acceleration but without breaking your coffers too much? Well, there are several sub-4 seconds EVs in our list such as the BMW i4 M50 and Tesla Model Y AWD Performance but both of them still cost more than RM200,000.
If you’re looking for the best performance EV under RM200,000, the best option at the moment is the Tesla Model 3 ‘Highland’ RWD which can do 0-100km/h in 6.1 seconds.
The Value Kings
I believe many would agree with me that value is not just about being the cheapest.
Case in point: Neta V might be the most affordable EV in Malaysia at the moment, thanks to its OTR price tag of RM100,000. However, you would get a more value-for-money option in the form of BYD Dolphin Dynamic Standard which is priced at RM100,530.
Fitted with a larger 44.9kWh battery, this allows the BYD Dolphin Dynamic Standard variant to deliver slightly better range than the V. While the electric motors that were fitted on both of these entry-level EVs have similar 70kW (94hp) output, the Dolphin has a much higher 180Nm torque.
In addition to that, the entry-level BYD EV is more than capable of taking highway trips with a top speed of 150km/h versus the Neta V’s claimed top speed of 120km/h. Not to forget, the Dolphin has an official 0 to 100km/h timing of 12.3 seconds while the Neta V somehow uses 0 to 50km/h timing of 3.9 seconds.
More importantly, the Dolphin Dynamic Standard also comes with six airbags alongside a full-fledged Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) that includes Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure Prevention, Automatic Emergency Braking System, and many more. As for Neta V, it only has two airbags and a passive cruise control system.
The Neta V does have a faster DC charging speed of 100kW as opposed to Dolphin which maxes out at 60kW. With just an RM530 difference between them, I think many would accept the Dolphin’s slightly lower maximum DC charging rate in exchange for better performance and range as well as a more comprehensive list of advanced safety features.
Meanwhile, it is also worth to consider the Dolphin Premium Extended variant which offers more than double the performance of its Dynamic Standard counterpart. At RM125,530, you are also looking at one of the most affordable 200hp cars in our market and mind you: this covers not only EVs but also cars with internal combustion engines.
If space is your concern, there is also the BYD Atto 3 might be worth a look. While it may offer more or less the same performance and range as per Dolphin, the SUV-sized Atto 3 has a longer and wider physique which allows it to have more room for passengers as well as luggage.
Ora Good Cat is another value-for-money EV that you may consider. This is especially if you are in the market for an EV with a rather unique exterior design but during our own experience with it, we were not so keen on the user interface of its infotainment system and a rather minuscule boot space.
There are still plenty of EVs on their way to Malaysia soon
If 70 models already sound extensive, we actually nowhere near done yet for 2023. There are actually several new models still not on our list as they will only be available in Malaysia later this year.
One such example is the Smart #1 which has been previewed for quite some time in Malaysia but its official price tag has not yet been revealed. That being said, we already have some experience with the Pro, Premium, and Brabus variants of the EV.
The Maxus MIFA 9 will be launched in Malaysia this coming November as well which will make it the first-ever fully electric MPV in our market. We may also see the Malaysian debut of the BMW i5 and BYD Seal before the end of 2023.
There is also the Toyota bZ4x which already went through road testing in Malaysia last year and has just made its first public debut in our market earlier this month. However, the launch date is still a mystery for the time being.
Frankly speaking, things could get even more exciting if MITI didn’t set the RM100,000 base price cap for fully imported Completely Built Up (CBU) EVs. Nevertheless, the EV market in Malaysia is already growing rapidly as we speak.
SoyaCincau’s Malaysian EV Master List – October 2023
Mainstream – EVs priced under RM200,000 in Malaysia
Premium – EVs priced between RM200,000 to RM399,999 in Malaysia
Luxury – EVs priced between RM400,000 to RM599,999 in Malaysia
Ultra Luxury – EVs priced at RM600,000 and above in Malaysia
