The Top Ten Electric SUVs
There are two clear trends within the automotive industry at the moment: electric cars and SUVs. With that in mind, here are our picks for the ten best electric SUVs on sale today…
Polestar 2
Despite being a relatively new car brand in the grand scheme of things, Swedish-manufacturer Polestar, which originally began as the performance arm to Volvo, has seen a great deal of success with its two launches so far, aptly named the Polestar 1 and Polestar 2.
With the Polestar 1 being released as a plug-in hybrid sports car, Polestar made its second release a fully-electric SUV that was set to go toe-to-toe with Tesla, thanks to its futuristic design and impressive entry level range.
The Polestar 2 has been regarded as one of the best electric vehicles on the market since its launch in 2020, but the wait is now on for Polestar’s third EV – yes, you guessed it, the Polestar 3 – which is rumoured to be coming in 2023.
Price: £39,900 (Standard Range Single Motor) – £45,900 (Long Range Dual Motor)
Range: 273 miles (SRSM) – 335 miles (LRDM)
Charge Time: 80% Charge at a 50kW charger, 60 minutes.
Tesla Model X
Tesla’s Model X has provided more substance to the claims of the Californian-manufacturer being the true kingpin of the EV world. Much like it’s impressive Model 3 saloon, the Model X is one the most innovative electric SUVs on the market today, with a whole host of quirky features, as well as some remarkable tech-specs.
This chunky seven-seater can accelerate from 0-60mph in little over two seconds in the higher end models, with a standard top speed of around 155mph. Although those figures may grab the headlines, anyone considering the Model X will be pleased to learn that its real-world range 333 miles and fast-charging capabilities makes this SUV suitable for everyday life.
However, the Model X is tremendously expensive, especially when compared to some of its closest rivals. With a top-spec model setting you back almost £150,000, Tesla’s Model X certainly exists as one of the most premium EV SUV options out there.
Price: £73,135 – £148,405
Range: 333 miles
Charge Time: 80% at a Tesla Supercharger, 30 minutes. 50kW charger, 40-60 minutes
Audi Q4 e-tron
Over the next three years, Audi plans to offer 20 fully electric vehicles, and the first of those 20 comes in the form of the Q4 e-tron.
As is customary with every Audi, the design of the Q4 e-tron is classy and suitably futuristic, with its patterned grille design and slick body shape, combined with a typically luxury interior. Its range is competitive, as its price tag, which makes the Q4 e-tron one of the most appealing options for anyone considering an electric SUV.
Price: £40,750 – £42,250 (Sportback Version)
Range: 331 miles
Charge Time: 80% charge at 50kW charger, 40 mins. Capable of fast charge in 29 mins.
Ford Mustang Mach-E
When Ford gave the Mach-E the Mustang name it had rather large shoes to fill. As the manufacturer’s first fully electric car, the Mustang branding symbolises its intent to commit to an electric future, and Ford has certainly set the bar high with the Mach-E.
From its design to the way it drives and all the little details in between, Ford has produced an electric SUV-crossover that ticks all the boxes for anyone considering making the switch over to electric. The Mach-E has even set a Guinness World Record earlier this year for the lowest energy consumption in an electric car on a journey from Lands’ End to John O’Groats.
With the Mach-E, Ford has got off to a lightning-fast start in its plans to go all-electric by 2030, and for its entire passenger vehicle fleet in Europe to offer a zero-emission variant by 2026. If the Mach-E is a sign of things to come, then we’re in for a real treat.
Read and watch our review of the Mach-E
Price: £41,330 – £46,650 (4WD model)
Range: 379 miles
Charge Time: 80% charge in 45mins on a fast charger, 50kW in around 45mins.
Hyundai Ioniq 5
Price: £36,995 – £42,840 (Ultimate Edition)
Range: 240 miles – 300 miles
Charge Time: 80% charge at 50kW, 50 mins. With a 350kW supercharger, 18 mins.
When Hyundai first released images of the Ioniq 5, it instantly became one of the most talked about EVs, without it even being released. With its retro hot-hatch style and ‘Robocop’ looking headlights, along with its catalogue of wacky features, the Ioniq 5 was one of the most highly anticipated EVs of 2021, and thankfully, it delivered on the hype.
The Ioniq 5 swept up the car of the year awards thanks to its design, its space-age interior and its range and ultra-fast charging capabilities. With ambitious plans to sell 1.87 million EVs by the end of the decade, Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 has provided the Japanese-manufacturer with the recipe to success, and with 17 new electrified models promised by 2030, we could begin to see Hyundai pulling out in front in the EV race.
Volkswagen ID.4
The Volkswagen ID.4 SUV has become the Group’s best-selling EV so far this year, topping the sales charts for Q1 2022 ahead of its little-brother, the ID.3, and its premium counterpart, the Audi Q4 e-tron.
Volkswagen’s first electric SUV has clearly proved popular, with more than 30,000 units being sold in the first three months of this year, more than double the amount of ID.3’s sold in the same period.
It is no wonder that, considering the success of the ID.4 and the demand for SUVs, that Volkswagen will soon be releasing the latest member of the ID family, the ID.5. With production already underway, the ID.5 is scheduled to be released later this year, and if it follows the blueprint of the ID.4, it will be onto a winner.
Price: £36,500 – £57,300
Range: 310 miles
Charge Time: 80% charge at 50kw, 60 mins.
Jaguar I-PACE
The Jaguar I-PACE is one of the oldest models on this list when deliveries began all the way back in 2018. Despite being four years old already, it still remains one of the best electric SUV options out there.
With its iconic design shaped by legendary British designer Ian Callum CBE, the I-PACE rivals every car on this list from an aesthetics point of view, and also holds its own when you begin to compare range, charging and performance.
Although it exists as one of the most expensive EVs on this list after all these years, the I-PACE still boasts a high-end range of 292 miles, and a 0-60mph time of 4.5 seconds, making it one of the fastest electric SUVs around.
Whilst the I-PACE has been Jaguar’s only BEV to date, the manufacturer recently outlined its electrification plans with its ‘Reimagine’ strategy, detailing a shift towards electric vehicles from 2025. Following the success of the I-PACE, the hype is beginning to build for Jaguar’s next fully electric car.
Read and watch our review of the Jaguar I-Pace
Price: £64,625
Range: 292 miles
Charge Time: 80% Charge at 50kW, 70 mins. Supercharger 150kW, 40 mins.
Lotus Eletre (2023)
Ok, so it might not be on sale today, but we couldn’t talk about electric SUVs without mentioning the world’s first electric hyper-SUV. The Lotus Eletre looks fantastic on and off paper. It’s down to produce around 600bhp which propels it straight to the top in terms of performance, it will outrun most of its SUV competitors like the Audi e-Tron & Mustang Mach-E GT, only just falling behind the Tesla Model X Plaid.
The Eletre boasts a large 100kWh+ battery pack which Lotus claim will give you a range to be around 348 miles, making it one of the best on the market. Find out all you need to know about the Eletre with our exclusive feature on page 20 of this issue.
Price: Unknown
Range: 348 miles
Charge Time: 80% charged in less than 20 minutes. (Using 350kW fast chargers)
BMW iX
For one of its most recent electric imaginings, BMW has stepped away from its original chunky i3 supermini and has instead produced a distinctive looking SUV that offers a great range and impressive performance.
With a beefy-body fitted with a traditionally-BMW large grille design, the iX is certainly one of the biggest and most eye-catching vehicles on this list, but whether you love or hate how it looks, there is no doubting the power that it possesses. Its pair of electric motors produce 516hp and a 0-60 time of just 3.6 seconds. Complete with an adjustable air suspension and a rear-wheel-steering system, the iX packs a serious punch.
The inside of iX is a tech-fest with a 12.3” screen which replaces the traditional dash, as well as a separate 14.9” infotainment screen which is controlled by a see-through rotary knob on the centre console. As well as a large panoramic sunroof, hexagonal steering wheel and leather seats, the interior of the iX goes some way in justifying is sizeable price tag.
Price: Starting from around £70,000
Range: 324 miles
Charge Time: 80% charge from a 50kW, 60 mins
Kia EV6
Much like the Hyundai Ioniq 5, the Kia EV6 received a lot of attention prior to its release and, having also claimed a number of ‘car of the year’ awards, it seems to have delivered on all the hype.
With a slimline, futuristic design housing a 77.4 kWh battery capable of producing 226 bhp, the Kia EV6 combines power and fun with a dose of practicality, thanks to its 328 miles of range and fast-charging capabilities which will allow you to recoup 10-80% of range in just 18 minutes. This fully electric SUV crossover is available in either rear-wheel drive or a more sportier all-wheel-drive setup, which will offer you a 0-60mph time of just over five seconds.
Following in the footsteps of its critically acclaimed eNiro, Kia says its EV6 marks a “new era” for the manufacturer and “sets the standard for years to come.” With two seriously impressive electric models under its belt already and with no fewer than 14 electrified models on their way by 2027, Kia could well position itself at the top of the electric vehicle table.
Price: £41,695 – £52,695
Range: 230 miles
Charge Time: 80% in 18 minutes using an ultra-fast charger (150 kW).
