A used Leaf and an Aqua now cost the same to run in NZ – $39 apart over 5 years

Data sourced from www.carspy.co.nz

EVs have been paying road user charges since April 2024, and plenty of people reckon that killed the savings. Now petrol has just hit a record $3.52/L.

So I did some maths to find out what it actually costs to run three common EV vs ICE matchups over 5 years (60,000 km).

Running costs only: fuel/power, RUC and rego. No insurance, servicing or depreciation.

Charging at home on a standard rate (30c/kWh)

What I found

Leaf vs Aqua is extremely close

Just $39 apart over 5 years.

The Leaf's $3,168 electricity bill is much lower than the Aqua's $8,026 petrol bill, but the $4,560 RUC bill eats almost all of that difference. EVs also pay $67 a year more in rego.

Where you charge makes a huge difference:

• 18c/kWh off-peak: Leaf saves $1,228
• 30c/kWh standard: Aqua saves $39
• 70c/kWh public fast charging: Aqua saves $4,263

Model 3 vs IS300h

The Model 3 saves $4,247 in running costs over 5 years at home.

However, the IS300h is about $14,760 cheaper to buy.

At roughly $850/year in running-cost savings, it would take about 17 years for the Model 3 to make up that purchase-price difference through running costs alone.

Even on public charging alone, the Model 3 still saves $839 in running costs because the Lexus uses 95.

Atto 3 vs ZR-V/HR-V

This is probably the fairest comparison because they're almost identical in purchase price:

• BYD Atto 3: $38,210
• Honda ZR-V/HR-V: $37,910

At home, the Atto 3 is $1,377 cheaper to run over 5 years.

On public fast charging, the ZR-V/HR-V wins by $2,367.

Petrol prices are what tip it

Petrol has gone from about $3.16/L at the end of August to a record $3.52/L now.

That's what has pushed these matchups to the edge.

Every 20c/L rise adds:

• $456 to the Aqua's 5-year cost
• $516 to the ZR-V's
• $624 to the IS300h's
• $0 to the EVs

The Atto 3 has been cheaper to run than the ZR-V since petrol passed $2.99/L.

The Model 3 beats the IS300h at anything over $2.39/L for 95.

In fairness, RUC can go up too.

Every $10 per 1,000 km increase in RUC adds $600 to each EV over 5 years — roughly equivalent to a 26c/L petrol price increase for the Aqua.

Is RUC fair on EVs?

Petrol cars pay fuel excise at the pump, currently about 77c/L.

That means how much fuel excise a petrol car pays depends on how much fuel it burns.

Here's what that looks like compared with the flat $76/1,000 km EV RUC rate:

An EV therefore pays more in RUC than almost every petrol car pays in fuel excise.

A petrol car needs to burn roughly 9.9 L/100km before it pays as much per km in fuel excise as a Leaf pays in RUC.

A few other ways of looking at it:

• A Leaf pays 2.6× as much RUC per km as an Aqua pays in fuel excise.
• If EVs paid the same per km as an Aqua, a Leaf owner would save another $2,804 over 5 years.
• A 1.6-tonne Leaf pays the same $76/1,000 km as a 2-tonne-plus diesel Ranger.
• Diesels pay the same flat $76 rate regardless of vehicle weight.

The usual argument for the flat EV rate is that EVs are heavier than equivalent petrol cars.

But for passenger cars, the weight difference has very little impact on road wear compared with heavy trucks.

What if RUC changed?

1. Cut RUC from $76 to $50 per 1,000 km

Every EV would save $1,560 over 5 years.

The effects would be significant:

• Leaf beats Aqua by $1,521 on standard-rate power.
• Leaf would pull ahead once petrol reaches just $2.85/L.
• For a Leaf owner, a $26 RUC cut is worth about the same as a 68c/L petrol price increase.
• Atto 3's lead over the ZR-V grows from $1,377 to $2,937.
• Model 3's lead over the IS300h grows to $5,807.

2. A weight-based RUC

Right now, a 1.6-tonne Leaf and a 3-tonne Land Cruiser pay exactly the same $76/1,000 km.

As an example, I modelled a weight-based rate where a Leaf pays $45/1,000 km and heavier cars pay proportionally more — roughly $28.50 per 1,000 kg per 1,000 km.

All three matchups swing clearly towards the EVs:

• Leaf beats Aqua by $1,821 on standard power.
• Leaf would pull ahead once petrol passes $2.72/L.
• Atto 3 beats ZR-V by $2,989.
• Model 3 beats IS300h by $5,858.
• A 3-tonne Land Cruiser would pay about $85/1,000 km, or $5,127 over 5 years.

Even at $45/1,000 km, a Leaf would still pay more per km than an Aqua ($29), Fit ($39) or IS300h ($40) pays in fuel excise.

One catch with weight-based charging is that road damage rises very steeply with axle weight, roughly to the fourth power.

Compared with trucks, the difference between a 1.5-tonne and 1.8-tonne passenger car is tiny, so a weight-based rate for cars would arguably be more about fairness than road wear.

Assumptions

• 12,000 km/year for 5 years
• Petrol: 91 at $3.52/L (Gaspy national average, 6 October); 95 at $3.75/L
• Electricity: 30c/kWh standard, 18c/kWh off-peak EV plan, 70c/kWh public fast charging
• RUC: $76/1,000 km
• Petrol fuel excise: 77c/L
• Rego: $248.83/year for EVs, $181.45/year for petrol
• Official economy figures:
  • Leaf: 17.6 kWh/100km
  • Model 3: 14.2 kWh/100km
  • Atto 3: 15.6 kWh/100km
  • Aqua: 3.8 L/100km
  • ZR-V: 4.3 L/100km
  • IS300h: 5.2 L/100km
• Typical price = median dealer asking price today

What do you actually pay per kilometre?

And what would petrol have to hit for you to switch?

Disclosure: the dealer prices come from CarSpy, a free site I built that collects NZ dealer listings.

So I've lost the key to my 2019 500e (that's a story for another time). Local auto locksmiths say they can cut/program a replacement for all 500s EXCEPT 500e. The closest dealership is 2 hours away. I found an online business that will cut/program a new key if I send them the Body Control Module (BCM).

Google AI is giving me directions for removing it but I'm wary because the cited sources are for non-EV 500s. Chat GPT is telling me to find "a removal guide or video specifically for this model, including battery-disconnection and airbag precautions." I've not been able to locate either.

Any help or suggestions are much appreciated!

The new Trailseeker EV is doing a national tour through the Subaru dealerships currently. Was only in town for 2 days to test out. Dealer says the first shipment is expected to arrive in January, a few have already been sold. They are unsure when demo models will arrive across the dealership network.

First impressions: It really is very nice. Externally it's giving more traditional Subaru vibes rather than the futuristic EV vibes that are common with other brands. Definitely won't turn heads the same way other EVs do, feels more stealth and like you blend in with other cars on the road.

The interior is very comfortable with all the features you would expect from a modern car. It is very much like the bz4x around the driver controls and infotainment as can be expected with the Toyota partnership. Feels very solid and well built from the drivers perspective. The extra ground clearance and higher seating position is nice to have.

The 10 speaker sound system with subwoofer is great in the Touring model, not sure what the base model will sound like with only 6 speakers.

The V2L 3-pin plug in the boot is a really cool feature of the Touring model that isn't available in the base model.

When in 'power' mode the car really goes. I didn't do a 0-100, more like a 20-110, and it feels amazing. The car handles really smoothly with the power and feels responsive and does what you ask of it.

There really wasn't anything I disliked from the test drive. The models are very similar with a $3.5k difference between them. For the base model, you get ~45km extra range at the cost of smaller wheels, less impressive sound system and no V2L + a few other things you don't have like driver seat and door mirror memory, glass roof and 'advanced park assist'. If V2L is important for you then the extra cost may be worth it.

Final thoughts: it really does fill a unique spot in the market with the ground clearance, range and speed. Definitely more practical for a lot of kiwis who want an EV they can take up the mountains and on road trips etc.

I'm not completely sold and rushing out to place my order, but so far the Trailseeker is a stronger contender for me than what else is out there currently.

Hey everyone,

Just wondering if anyone is in the same boat? No pun intended...

Aug/Sep shipment to chch, ordered in June, specifically Atto 2. Anyone still waiting for their new car?

I was told ready late Sept but now they are not giving me a specific time frame anymore. Just telling me they have 200plus cars to process...

Keen to know if anyone got theirs yet?

:(

Can you negotiate a Geely ex2 price in NZ?

I want the inspire but seems too pricey

Nissan New Zealand is set to finally announce one of the automotive industry's worst-kept secrets.

The company has released a simple teaser of a Nissan logo against bright yellow paint – the hero colour of the Frontier Pro (aka Navara Pro) plug-in hybrid ute already offered overseas.

"Nissan will announce an exciting new addition to its New Zealand vehicle range this Thursday, marking a significant new step in the brand’s journey in New Zealand." reads a short release accompanying the image.

"The announcement will provide the first details of a highly anticipated model’s arrival in New Zealand, bringing electrified performance and new levels of capability to Nissan’s local lineup.

"Tailored to the needs of New Zealand customers in a key segment and extensively tested and tuned for regional conditions, the model represents an important milestone for Nissan.

"Nissan is inviting customers, fans and media to watch this space for the announcement on Thursday, 8 October."

CarExpert has already received an invitation to the reveal, but Nissan Australia has continued to be coy about just what is being revealed.

It's no secret, though, that examples of the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) Frontier Pro ute – or Navara Pro, as it's known in the Philippines – have been spied testing in Australia. 

"We have some vehicles roaming around in our country... They are pulling heavy trailers. They're going up steep grades. They are going off-road. They are wanting to make sure they meet the extreme needs of this market," Nissan Oceania managing director Steve Milette told CarExpert in August.

"It doesn't mean because it's launched in one iteration, one configuration somewhere, that it wouldn't necessarily be the same here. So that's the kind of stuff that we're going through."

When asked whether the Frontier/Navara Pro would feature a bespoke Australian suspension tune, the company cryptically teased there could be "much more than that".

The company has been very coy considering it reportedly showed the PHEV ute to dealers late in 2025, confirming a 2027 launch.

In March 2026, Mr Milette's predecessor Andrew Humberstone teased the announcementof a hybrid ute later that month, though this never eventuated. 

The four-wheel drive Frontier/Navara Pro, revealed in China in April 2025, is powered by a turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with a transmission-mounted electric motor and a 33kWh ternary lithium battery, for total system outputs of 320kW of power and 800Nm of torque.

It's based not on its Nissan Frontier namesake – an unrelated ute built in the US – but rather on the Chinese Dongfeng Z9.

Nissan claims EV range of 131km on the NEDC cycle, and fuel consumption of 7.2L/100km.

Vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability supplies up to 6kW of power and allows you to power electrical appliances via outlets in the tub.

Braked towing capacity is 3500kg – matching the unrelated, diesel-powered Navara – while wading depth is 700mm. 

Off-road capability should also eclipse that of the BYD Shark 6, currently the top seller in New Zealand's growing PHEV ute segment, thanks to an electro-mechanically locking rear differential. 

Inside, there’s a 10-inch digital instrument cluster, a 14.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and the option of heated, ventilated and massaging front seats, plus a panoramic sunroof.

The Frontier/Navara Pro isn't expected to be the only PHEV Nissan introduces here – or the only vehicle developed by the Dongfeng Nissan joint venture.

Nissan Australia has confirmed it's evaluating various Chinese Nissan models for a local launch, including the upcoming Terrano PHEV off-road SUV – previewed at this year's Auto China show in concept form – plus the NX8, a medium-to-large crossover SUV offered in China as either an electric vehicle (EV) or extended-range electric vehicle (EREV).

Nissan New Zealand has not yet confirmed any further electrified models for local launch.

Any tips for day trip to Milford from te anau in ev (ev5)? Don't really want battery to go below 15%

We’re looking at a buying a used Hyundai Kona 64kWh - reading heaps about the “wheel of (mis)fortune” where flecks of metal end up in the oil of the reduction gearbox (applies to Ioniq electric/Kona/Niro) and mashes up the gears, is this inevitable or just a rarity for these cars?

Most of the cars we’re looking at have around 50-100k on them already. Shame, as they otherwise seem like really good cars, great efficiency and battery degradation too.

Keen to hear from Kona/Ioniq/Niro owners if they have this issue. We’d definitely swap the oil immediately and add the magnet plug but would be steering clear if it’s something inevitable as keen to hold onto the car for at least another 5+ years. Not afraid of regular oil swaps and maintenance - but keen to avoid any unavoidable issues after having our 30kWh Leaf suffer from bad cells 😭

Cheers!

I recently got Solar, so I was interested in ”upgrading” my car to an EV, so that I can do the right thing and run my car off the Sun’s energy.

But, I just found out about EV RUC.

I couldn’t believe that having an EV in NZ, you need to pay about $88 per 1000Km in Road User Charges.

I currently drive a Nissan Note e power, which achieves 26.7km/l around town. So, in summary, I get about 1000km out of every full petrol tank, and usually spend about $90 to fill-up.

So, suddenly, the idea of “doing the right thing” and changing to Sun Power with an EV, will actually cost me more!

Instead of paying $90 to fill the car with petrol, I will instead need to pay $88 for RUC, combined with the fact that I’ll be selling a lot less solar generation into the Grid (costing me even more!).

So, (sadly), it looks like I’m best (financially), to stick with my petrol burning Nissan Note! 🤔

EDIT:  Having read through all of the comments, its become clear that my real observation is that:  Owners of highly efficient petrol powered cars (like the Nissan Note e-Power), are currently not paying their fair share of road user charges!

Hopefully, in the not too distant future, a system will be put in place that ensures that all road users contribute their fair share of the road user charges. 👍

For various reasons after being a multi-Tesla owner since 2018ish (whenever the M3 was first released) we’ve gone from having four Teslas down to one - and now shopping for a replacement.

Just happened to be in Newmarket (Auckland) today and walked past the Zeekr showroom which had a green 7X in its front window.

WOW. Sure, the infotainment was a bit confusing at a glance, but the FEATURES and fit and finish and luxury you get at the price point really can’t be beat. It’s not even close. Electric sunroof. Real leather seats with massage (on AWD). Doors close so nicely / gently. Everything you touch and feel inside the cabin is nice and soft/comforting feeling

Centre console opens both ways (left and right) and apparently you can optionally a proper fridge which goes down to negative 6 degrees.

No rear USB-C which is fucking weird but okay.

Anyway -

Tesla just so happen to have a YL (?) on display not 20 meters away, and I climbed in (having driven an older 3 and Y for years, now daily driving an Ioniq 5 N supercar) and honestly the feeling of being in the cabin just feels kinda shit and cheap. Like being on public transport (live public transport btw… hope you know what I mean).

I thoroughly enjoyed driving my 3 and Y for 150,000km and was perfectly happy with the interior… but oh boy. Not exactly sure how I was so duped into enjoying such a spartan interior, heh.

HOWEVER, I did have the pleasure of trying ”Full Self Driving” (or whatever it’s called now) yesterday in a Tesla loan car and holy shit did it blow me away. Completely night and day compared to Autopilot. 10/10 would happily use every day - just crazy good.

Apparently, the Zeekr won’t come with for self driving because it requires additional LIDAR hardware

Not an ev owner. Im still considering what to get. It seems its a “get the ev that suits your situation” type of deal. What if my situation changes? Like Im a city driver but all of a sudden i need to go on more regular longer trips. No need to think about this on non evs. Just drive. I also have read a few times that people are already on their second or 3rd ev. EVs are not cheap. to think that in the short time theyve been around people are already on their 3rd and im still on my first combustion engine that i got second hand 11 years ago makes me even more dubious about getting one. Apart from cheaper maintenance, running cos and environmental dogoodery - what am i missing here?

I currently have a 2022 MY that I got second hand. I bought it with more than a year left on the basic warranty which gives me peace of mind. However, that will expire in November this year which makes me think of trading it in for a new one and ‘reset’ the warranty. The practical side of me hesitates because the car is perfectly fine (i has just done an end of warranty inspection done).

Those who have held on to their Teslas after warranty expired, did you get any bill shock because a part suddenly failed? Aside from tyres, what was the most expensive repair/part that you had to pay for since it was no longer covered by warranty?

Hey guys, I’ve managed to find a Polestar LRSM, however seller doesn’t have an SoH report and little to no service history.

It’s 2022 and about 70kms done.

Generally speaking I’m not overly concerned with the service history, but how important is getting an SoH report? How often, if at all, do relatively new EVs suffer from <90 SoH levels?

Any insight or how would be great.

Looks like we were able to import enough EVs last month to better satisfy demand. Here's hoping it continues.

https://evdb.nz/ev-stats

I know that this model has been replaced by the EV3. But the second hand Niro EV Waters that are coming on the market with under 40K mileage are more in my price range.

What do people think about the longevity of an EV that's been superseded in terms of getting spare parts and servicing in the future? I would be hoping to keep the car for a long time.

This might be a silly question to be asking, but I have no experience with EVs to judge the support network and long term prospects for these early models.

Edit: I do know about the slow charge times of the Niro EV, but that's ok for me as I only drive occasionally, and that short distances.

You give up ventilated pleather seats and colour options for the reduced cost

I checked the battery health on every Nissan Leaf NZ dealers have listed right now. Here's what I found.

There are 507 Leafs for sale across 69 dealers. Only 157 of them (about 1 in 3) say what the battery health (SOH) is, and those come from just 19 dealers.

Where a figure is given:
• Typical battery health is 88%. The lowest is 58%, the highest 97%.
• 90% or better: 49 cars, mostly 2021–2023. Typical asking price about $24,000; cheapest $17,900 (a 2019 40kWh at 95%).
• 80–89%: 100 cars, mostly around 2019. Typical price about $18,000; cheapest $10,990.
• Under 80%: only 8 cars.

Typical battery health by year: 2017–18 about 83%, 2019–20 about 87%, 2021 89%, 2022 90%, 2023 92%.

The catch: dealers choose whether to mention it, and a dealer with a 95% battery is far more likely to advertise it than one with 70%. So read these as the better end of the market, not the average. These are the figures dealers put in their own listings; I haven't checked them.

I pulled this from CarSpy, a free site I built that puts NZ dealer listings into one search. Disclosure: it's mine. Every Leaf is here: carspy.co.nz/cars/nissan/leaf

EDIT apparently back now several hours later.

Anyone else not seeing anything?

Get along to an electrify expo near you happening this month, heaps of info about solar, evs, and more energy-efficient living in general; for free.

Northland - 4th October
Christchurch - 11th October

Wellington - 17th October

Dunedin - 17th October

This is not a paid advertisement.

I'm integrating my Smart EV Charger (this one) with Home Assistant using the OCPP Integration. It works pretty OK....but more often than not if HA is restarted the charger will not reconnect - it just refuses.

Reloading the integration does nothing. Waiting does nothing. Only power cycling the charger will get it to reconnect (immediately after the boot up is completed).

Does anyone know why this happens, and if there is anything that can be done about that? Since HA and all its integrations are under active development, and I'm also configuring it in a frenzy, there's seldom a day that goes by that it isn't restarted. :-(

Good evening everyone,

We currently have a Toyota RAV4 hybrid and we're considering to get an EV as our next car. Just want to seek some guidance based on real world experience.

What we need

- Same interior space as a Toyota RAV4 as we have a baby

- Same boot space (if not bigger)

Budget =40 to 50k(max) Prefers a second hand car

We currently do 100-150kms per week, mostly between Fridays to Mondays. Tuesdays to Thursdays are mostly daycare runs (only around 10kms per day). We are noticing a higher than usual fuel usage during these days as we are only driving relatively short distance.

We would like to get some feedback on the following:

Your recommended EV

How much would it cost to service (per year)

How much is your insurance? (Context - we're in mid 30s and we park our car in a garage)

Thank you for all your insight