Kia EV3 vs MG U9Electric or diesel: which costs less?
The Kia EV3 Air is about $6,026 cheaper to own over 5 years than the MG U9 Explore 4x4. Week to week, charging the Kia EV3 Air mostly at home in NSW costs about $13.97, against $54.65 of diesel for the MG U9 Explore 4x4, a running saving of about $2,115 a year for the EV.
Side by side
Comparing the Kia EV3 Air and MG U9 Explore 4x4. Better figure in green. 250 km a week; the EV is charged mostly at home and diesel is NSW's average this week.
| Kia EV3 Air | MG U9 Explore 4x4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $52,098+ on-roads | $52,990drive-away |
| Type | Electric | Diesel |
| Energy use | 14.9 kWh/100 km | 7.9 L/100 km |
| Range | 436 km per charge | ≈ 1,013 km per tank |
| Refuel or recharge | Overnight at home, or 102 kW fast charging | A few minutes at any servo |
| Charging or fuel per week (NSW) | $13.97 | $54.65 |
| Servicing per year | $307 | $400 |
| Tyres per year | $371 | $390 |
| Home charger (one-off) | $2,000 | Not needed |
| Length | 4.30 m | 5.50 m |
| Warranty | 7 yrs / unlimited km | 7 yrs / 200,000 km (serviced by MG) |
| 5-year cost to own | $65,123 | $71,149 |
What do "on the road" and "cost to own" mean?
Before on-road costs (+ on-roads): the car's list price only. You pay extra government charges and dealer fees on top when you buy.
On-road costs: stamp duty, first year's registration, compulsory third party (CTP) insurance, number plates and the dealer's delivery fee. They usually add $3,000–6,000 depending on the car and your state. Where a price is "before on-roads" we add about $4,000. See stamp duty and rego by state.
Drive-away: a price that already includes the on-road costs, so it's what you actually pay to drive the car home.
On the road price: the drive-away price, or the list price plus our on-road estimate.
Cost to own: everything you'd spend over the years you keep the car (5 unless you change it): the on the road price, plus a home wall charger for EVs (about $2,000, one-off), plus charging or fuel, scheduled servicing and tyres for every year. Divide it by the number of weeks to see what the car really costs you each week.
Not included: yearly rego renewals and insurance after the first year, finance interest, and what the car is worth when you sell it. These vary too much by person and car to estimate fairly, and resale value is the biggest unknown, especially for newer brands.
Weekly running cost by state
250 km a week. Electricity is each state's 2026–27 default rate; diesel is each capital's average on 21 October 2026.
| State | Kia EV3 (charging) | MG U9 (diesel) |
|---|---|---|
| NSW | $13.97 | $54.65 |
| Victoria | $12.13 | $54.69 |
| Queensland | $11.99 | $55.36 |
| South Australia | $16.65 | $55.46 |
| WA | $13.77 | $52.95 |
| Tasmania | $10.92 | $55.40 |
| ACT | $15.01 | $56.64 |
| NT | $12.70 | $56.15 |
Common questions
Is the Kia EV3 or MG U9 cheaper to own?
The Kia EV3 Air is about $6,026 cheaper to own over 5 years than the MG U9 Explore 4x4. This counts the price, a home charger for the EV, charging or fuel, servicing and tyres, driving 250 km a week in NSW.
Which is cheaper to run each week, the Kia EV3 or MG U9?
In NSW, the Kia EV3 Air costs about $13.97 a week to charge mostly at home, and the MG U9 Explore 4x4 about $54.65 a week in diesel, for 250 km of driving.
Do I need a home charger for the Kia EV3?
Not necessarily. A normal power point adds roughly 150 km overnight, which covers most daily driving. A wall charger typically costs $1,000–$3,000 installed and charges about three times faster.
More comparisons
Kia EV3 against hybrids and plug-ins
How we work it out, and our sources
Weekly cost = the car's energy use × 250 km × your electricity or fuel price, with 90% of charging at home. Prices are list prices at October 2026; check with the dealer.
- Electricity: 2026–27 default rates (AER, Victorian Default Offer, state retailers). Public charging: Sydney network prices, July 2026.
- Petrol and diesel: ACCC capital-city averages, 21 October 2026.
- Cars: maker figures via CarExpert, Drive, CarsGuide and EV Central. Plug-in electric range is taken as 80% of the claim.
- Servicing: published capped prices; marked as an estimate where not yet published (CarExpert comparison).
- Tyres: an EV set lasts about 35,000 km, a petrol or hybrid set 50,000 km (RACV); prices from Gridly.
- Home charger: about $2,000 installed ($1,000–$3,000). Novated leases: PwC summary.
Printed from EV Pick · evpick.com.au. Prices and costs are estimates; check with the dealer.