In 2021, the best-selling electric car in Israel was the MG ZS EV, a Chinese crossover with an official range of 265 km. It was the first to be sold locally at prices similar to gasoline or hybrid models of the same size, at NIS 141,000. Five years later, the Chinese manufacturer’s importer yesterday launched the facelifted version of its compact model, the MG4, with a long-range version that presents an official figure of 545 km at a price of NIS 149,000.
One of the issues that most concern those considering purchasing an electric vehicle is still driving range and the fear of being stranded with an empty battery. It is called “range anxiety,” and it accompanies drivers even after they have purchased an EV, on every long journey. Five years ago, there were only a few dozen fast-charging stations across the country, with outputs of up to 50 kW. Today there are already close to 1,000, with capacities of up to 360 kW, but range is still a central issue.
The difference is that things change much faster in electric cars than in gasoline vehicles. The MG4 may indeed be the cheapest electric car with a range of over 500 km, but it is already the seventh model to offer more than 500 km according to the WLTP standard at a price below NIS 200,000. What until recently was the domain of half-million-shekel EVs is no longer rare in far more affordable electric cars.
To the very Israeli question in the showroom, “Can this electric car reach Eilat?”, the answer is already positive for quite a few models, even for those setting out from Haifa, and even after subtracting about 15 percent, which is the average gap between the manufacturer’s figure and real-world intercity range in relaxed driving.
Among the seven cheapest models, one is already approaching 600 km. In Israel it is already possible to buy electric cars with an official range of around 800 km, such as the electric Mercedes CLA at NIS 370,000. The end of range anxiety has not yet arrived, but the treatment is becoming much easier. At the current pace, it seems we will not have to wait another five years for 800 km for under NIS 200,000.
Kia EV3: 589 km, NIS 187,000. The compact Korean crossover is also produced in a version with a relatively large battery for its size, 81.4 kWh, which grants it its relatively long range. In our road test, it achieved about 500 km in real-world driving. The EV market is dominated by Chinese brands, and the EV3 proves there is also a Western alternative. The design is distinctive, interior space is good for a vehicle 4.30 meters long, and both performance and road manners are very good. Material quality, with plenty of hard plastics, is less impressive.
Hongqi EH5: 560 km, NIS 199,900. A very fresh arrival in our market. The third model from the veteran Chinese manufacturer manages to stay just under our price ceiling while comfortably crossing the 500 km threshold. Here too, the secret is a large battery with a capacity of 85 kWh. When electric crossovers of this size weigh around two tons, there is currently no other way to achieve long ranges. Does it get close to its official range? We will know soon.
MG4 XRange: 545 km, NIS 149,000. The Chinese compact already had a long-range version launched two years ago, but at the time the official figure was 525 km and the price stood at NIS 166,000. Now, after a facelift, the range has increased and the price has dropped, making it cheaper even than gasoline compact cars, perhaps with the exception of the Skoda Scala. The MG4 has also received a higher-quality interior, while retaining its distinctive rear-wheel drive at this price point. The previous version achieved about 450 km in real-world driving. We will soon see what has changed.
Tesla Model 3: 534 km, NIS 192,000. Tesla models have always had an advantage in range thanks to very efficient battery management and extremely low electricity consumption. The cheaper version of the Model 3, which recently dropped its original “Standard” name and became “Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive,” offers a longer range than slightly more expensive electric sedans such as the IM5 and the Xpeng P7. For those who are not satisfied with this range, Tesla offers the “Long Range” with 750 km for NIS 226,000. This exceeds the price limit mentioned here, but still delivers a great many kilometers per shekel.
MG S6: 530 km, NIS 179,000. Even MG itself has, in 2026, a crossover that officially crosses the 500 km range threshold. The MG S6 has five seats, is relatively large, also retains rear-wheel drive, and offers good road behavior. In our road test, it achieved about 400 km in real-world driving. The S6 is a fresh demonstration of the price declines seen over the past year in electric cars. It replaced the Marvel R, which cost NIS 27,000 more, and whose official range figure was 140 km shorter.
Aion V: 510 km, NIS 167,000. Despite Kia and Tesla, dominance in EVs still belongs to the Chinese. The Aion V is sold in China as the Toyota bZ3X as part of the cooperation between GAC and Toyota, but in export markets the vehicle carries the identity of the Chinese manufacturer. It is relatively large and spacious, and offers an official range that is 90 km longer than that of the model that dominated this segment until a year ago, the BYD Atto 3, which is due to arrive here in the summer after a facelift with a new battery and a range of 510 km as well. In our test drive, we achieved about 450 km in practical driving.
Leapmotor C10: 510 km, NIS 185,000. The Chinese, as we have already said, move fast. Only last year did the C10 arrive here with a 69.9 kWh battery and an official range of 424 km, and already this year it has received a facelift and an enlarged 81.9 kWh battery, which we have not yet tested. It is a relatively large and spacious crossover, which may in the future serve as the basis for a European model within the framework of cooperation with the Stellantis Group, which holds 21 percent of Leapmotor’s shares.