► The best electric SUVs on sale today
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If you’re looking for the best electric car to suit your requirements, chances are you’ll have an electric SUV on your shortlist. Almost every manufacturer has one in their line-ups these days, which means there’s plenty of choice. Too much choice can be overwhelming, though – so we’ve updated our list of the best electric SUVs to help. If you don’t need so much space we have a list of small electric cars, too.
Electric SUVs make a lot of sense, at least from an engineering perspective. Their taller ride heights and larger bodies make them well-suited to electrification, as they have enough spare room in their platforms to accommodate a large battery pack and a couple of electric motors without impacting passenger space. Indeed, most battery-powered SUVs are more practical than petrol-powered SUVs because electric motors are (generally) much smaller than petrol and diesel engines.
The best electric SUVs at a glance:
- Best electric SUV to suit almost everyone’s requirements: Kia EV6 – Find out more
- Best value and ample electric range for daily life: MG ZS EV – Find out more
- Best for luxury and power: BMW iX – Find out more
If you’re interested in owning a zero-emission crossover, scroll down for our full list of the top electric SUVs on sale in the UK now. Our round-up covers a broad spectrum of vehicles, ranging from affordable family runabouts to budget-busting, warp-speed-capable battle cruisers, not to mention some innovative high-performance models and clever alternative thinking.
The best electric SUVs on sale in the UK in 2024
Kia EV6
Best electric SUV to suit almost every requirement
Pros: Stunning performance, clever technology, rapid charge times
Cons: Firm ride and a lack of physical interior controls (but not much else)
The Kia EV6 is the most well-rounded electric SUV on sale today. Need something that’s practical? It has a 490-litre boot and enough space inside for four adults. Want an EV with a long-range? Buy an EV6 with a 77.4kWh battery pack, and you’ll be able to drive for around 300 miles before needing to recharge. Fancy something quick? The range-topping EV6 GT produces 572bhp and will sprint from 0–62mph in a supercar-baiting 3.5 seconds.
It even handles well. Obviously, it’s heavier than a petrol-powered SUV, but it handles its bulk with aplomb. The battery pack adds the most amount of weight, but it’s concentrated low down in the chassis. The EV6’s suspension also does a great job of culling body roll, which means it stays flat in the corners. We like its steering, too – it’s very direct and surprisingly communicative for an electric SUV, which gives you the confidence to exploit its performance on a windy road.
To find out more read our full Kia EV6 review
BMW iX
Best for luxury and power – not so great if you value looks
Pros: Staggering acceleration, sumptuous interior, great build quality
Cons: Image isn’t for everybody – and nor are the looks
The BMW iX is a technological tour de force. It was somewhat of a pet project, which means it was designed with the sorts of manufacturing methods normally reserved for supercars. So, it has an exotic carbon fibre body, an enormous 111.5kWh battery pack and up to 610bhp. In short, if you go for the range-topping M60 variant, you’ll have a terrifically capable electric SUV that’s ferociously quick and incredibly long-legged.
The problem? Well, it isn’t the most accessible electric SUV on the market. Prices start from around £70,000, but if you want the M60, you’ll spend more than £120,000. It’s almost worth it for the entertainment value alone, though, because driving an iX is utterly incongruous. It’s a 2.5-tonne SUV that takes corners like a sports car and which accelerates like it’s being propelled by afterburners.
To find out more read our full BMW iX review
Skoda Enyaq
Best family SUV that just happens to be electric
Pros: Spacious cabin, impressive range, loads of clever add-ons
Cons: Not that engaging to drive, nor that quick
Skoda has a history of building sensible cars, and the electric SUV market has been a better place since the firm decided to participate in it. Cars like the Kia EV6 and BMW iX are very striking, but they compromise on space and price for their performance. The Enyaq adopts a more moderate approach, focusing on practicality rather than headline-grabbing performance figures – and it’s all the better for it. It’s a great family car with loads of passenger space and a staggering 640-litre boot.
A word to wise, though – don’t be sucked in by the promises of the quickest vRS variant because it isn’t any faster than the middling 80x variant in the real world. The smart choice is to stick with the 201bhp single-motor 80 model and spend your money on the biggest 77kWh battery. That way, you’ll have just enough performance to have fun and a range of more than 300 miles.
To find out more read our full Skoda Enyaq review
MG ZS EV
Best value electric SUV with ample range for daily life
Pros: Prices start from £30,000, unassuming looks, you get a seven-year warranty
Cons: Material quality is a bit naff, and it isn’t fun to drive
Electric cars are quite expensive. Their batteries contain a lot of rare earth materials, which are quite expensive to dig up and refine. As such, manufacturers jack up the price of the EVs to turn a healthy enough profit. Not MG, though – the ZS EV is an affordable electric SUV for the average driver. It has a modest amount of equipment, a reasonable range of 273 miles and enough space to handle whatever family life throws at it. Oh, yeah, and prices start from a shade over £30,000.
Naturally, the ZS EV sacrifices a lot to maintain that low price. Its performance, handling capability and interior quality aren’t anywhere as good as the Kia EV6 or Skoda Enyaq. But surprisingly, it isn’t exactly awful, either. The ZS EV’s chassis has been tuned for comfort – and it does a good job of filtering out potholes around town. It’s a little less refined on the motorway, but for the money, there isn’t much on sale at the minute that can match it; we prefer it to the BYD Atto 3, for example.
To find out more read our full MG ZS EV review
Tesla Model Y
Best electric SUV for technophiles
Pros: Great performance, entertaining infotainment, pleasant interior
Cons: Disconnected steering, some build quality issues
The Model Y isn’t the most revolutionary vehicle in Tesla’s line-up (it’s basically a jacked-up version of the Model 3), but that doesn’t sully its merits. The most basic version of the car has a maximum range of 283 miles, while the leggiest Long Range variant can cover up to 331 miles. There’s even a fast one called the Performance, which can hit 155mph and sprint from 0–62mph in 3.7 seconds.
It isn’t the best EV to drive by a long shot. It’s quite big, and the steering system feels very disconnected from the front wheels, which makes it hard to find the confidence to attack a B-road. Once you’re on a straight stretch of road, though, it’s very entertaining to mat the accelerator and watch the speedometer scroll like tumblers on a fruit machine. It’s also very spacious, and you get access to Tesla’s Supercharger network, which is comfortably the best in the UK.
To find out more read our full Tesla Model Y review
Mercedes-Benz EQB
Best electric SUV for compact seven-seater luxury
Pros: High-quality interior, good-looking exterior, seven seats
Cons: Maximum range is lacking, cramped third row
Yes, we know the Mercedes EQB looks rather conventional alongside the future-gazing Kia EV6 and BMW iX. Hear us out, though – it’s a clever bit of kit that demands your attention. For starters, Merc has managed to squeeze seven seats into a car with the same footprint as a Ford Kuga. Granted, the rearmost seats are a little small, but the extra flexibility comes in very handy.
The EQB is also incredibly comfortable. Its suspension has been set up to make the UK’s pockmarked road network feel like a billiard table. Even on 20-inch alloy wheels, it can iron everything short of a mortar crater. It even comes with four-wheel drive as standard, which makes it feel secure, even in torrential rain. However, the two electric motors chew through battery capacity – and it only has a maximum range of 260 miles. Still, if all you need is a comfortable car to take the kids to school and commute to work, it could be everything you’re looking for.
To find out more read our full Mercedes-Benz EQB review
Genesis GV60
Best electric SUV for leftfield luxury and performance
Pros: Affordable luxury, 300-mile-plus range, loads of technology
Cons: Interior is a little tacky, handling isn’t that precise
Genesis is to Hyundai what Lexus is to Toyota – and the GV60 is the brand’s first go at a dedicated electric car. It’s a good one, too. That swoopy bodywork hides the same platform as the excellent Kia EV6, which means you get strong performance across the line-up and a maximum range of 321 miles. Thanks to its 800V electrical system, charge speeds are also lightning-fast. Find a 350kW charger, and it’ll surge 10-80 per cent in 18 minutes.
It isn’t perfect, though. It might be based on the same underpinnings as the EV6, but Genesis has slackened off its suspension to help it roll over lumps like a luxury motor. That change has blunted the car’s handling, though – on a windy road, the Kia will show it a clean pair of heels. The GV60’s cabin isn’t the most sophisticated, either. The materials all feel very premium, but the optional side-view cameras are a little crude, and the built-in satnav is frustratingly slow.
To find out more read our full Genesis GV60 review
Kia EV9
Best electric SUV for seven spacious seats
Pros: Huge battery, fast charging, premium feel
Cons: You’ll need a big garage, not exciting to drive
Kia is becoming quite the force to be reckoned with in the electric SUV market. Following on from the game-changing EV6 there is now this beast, the seven-seater EV9. And it’s another smasher. For a big slab of generally brick-shaped SUV it’s got real style about its exterior design, the interior feels properly premium, and the driving experience – while demure – is very well polished.
On the other hand, it needs to be, as pricing starts higher than the most expensive version of the EQB – the other seven-seater on this list. The EV9 is a bigger vehicle, for sure, but it’s still quite a thing to be paying nearly £65k basic for a Kia. Not that there is much actually basic about it – every version gets tonnes of kit, a huge 99.8kWh battery pack (good for up to 349 miles) and 350kW fast charging capability (which can add 136 miles range in 15 minutes).
To find out more read our full Kia EV9 review
MINI Countryman Electric
Get your fifth-gen BMW eDrive tech here for less…
Pros: Plenty of performance and driving range, tempting value given the standard kit
Cons: Poor touchscreen control decisions, bold interior combos
Once the purists have climbed down from their high horses, even they will probably agree that the latest – and largest – Mini Countryman is the best yet. The dynamics are sorted, the interior is quirky yet high quality, and there’s now enough interior space to properly challenge more traditionally family-sized crossovers, such as the perennial Nissan Qashqai. Ok, so some of the details are weird, and it’s not exactly a looker, but still. This is a super solid family car now.
The reason it’s on this list of the best electric SUVs, however, is because it offers the exact same electric drive technology as the BMW iX1 and BMW iX2, but for a usefully lower price. We’re not all about bargain hunting here, but BMW’s fifth-gen eDrive tech is among the best in the market, and by making it more affordable, this German-made Mini should end up bringing it to more people. Jolly good show.
To find out more read our full Mini Countryman Electric review
Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
Best electric SUV if you really want to be driving a hot hatch
Pros: An amazing blend of technology and driving excitement, nothing else is quite like it
Cons: Still weights 2.2 tonnes, not much else
There is ever some debate in the CAR office about whether the Hyundai Ioniq 5 – and the Kia EV6 for that matter – counts as an SUV. In many respects, this is more of a gargantuan hatchback, sort of like a first-gen Golf Plus for millennials. Or something. What’s not in any doubt, however, is that the Ioniq 5 N we’re recommending here is the first high-performance EV that properly captures the spirit of the classic hot hatch.
Who cares if we’re getting the streams crossed here if this is another chance to point out what a diamond this innovative machine really is. As if the twin-motor 641bhp drivetrain didn’t have the potential to be exciting enough on its own, there are substantial upgrades to the body-in-white and a host of chassis and drivetrain tricks that are really only possible in an EV – not to mention a simulated DCT gearbox that actually doesn’t suck. It’s mind blowing.
Watch the video in our full Hyundai Ioniq 5 N review
Smart #3 Brabus
The Golf R of electric SUVs, apparently
Pros: Neatly updated looks and engineering, hilarious speed, better sorted chassis
Cons: You don’t get the good tyres as standard (really), range plummets when you’re having fun
The definition of smart obviously evolves over time, and we guess the same now has to be said of the carmaker of that chosen name. No longer a maker of unusually compressed city cars, now a builder of zeitgeisty electric SUV – perhaps Smart should form a little club with Mini – there is none in its burgeoning range more apt to demonstrate this than the #3. This isn’t just an electric SUV but an electric SUV coupe. And you can get a high-performance Brabus version.
First things first, this isn’t just a Smart #1 with a haircut – in addition to the swooping roofline there’s an extended wheelbase, lowered suspension and modified visage. Better yet, the Brabus version of the Smart #3 feels like something that’s been engineered with its 422bhp firmly front of mind. Which is not something we’d said about the equivalent Smart #1 variant. Result is a fast but not massively compromised car that feels just the right blend of sharp and friendly. Much like a VW Golf R for these modern times.
To find out more read our full Smart #3 Brabus review
Volvo EX30
Excellent value compared with the competition
Pros: Great value for the range and performance, well packaged, funky styling
Cons: Touchscreen EVERYTHING, 422bhp version feels a bit flighty
The Volvo EX30 uses fundamentally the same electric tech as Smart, which means, yes, you can get a 422bhp twin-motor version. In this instance, however, we rather suggest you don’t. Instead focus on the value available from the single-motor model. This still packs 268bhp, don’t worry – it’s just that it also feels better able to cope with it. And since that’s usefully more power than the equivalent Stellantis rivals can muster, while the Extended Range model claims up to 295 miles per charge – which is better than most rivals as well.
There is a catch. Of course there is. Firstly, the Volvo’s good value but still not cheap – you can get a Fiat 600E for less, for example. More of a concern is the touchscreen-centric interior control situation, which rivals Tesla when comes to making ergonomic functionality decisions that are likely to drive some potential customers right up the wall and onto the ceiling. The campaign to bring back buttons will have a heart attack here.
To find out more read our full Volvo EX30 review
What is the best electric SUV for a family?
Well, that depends on your family. A small family would probably be served well by BYD Atto 3, while a large family would better appreciate the flexibility of the Mercedes EQB. Overall, though, we think the best electric family SUV on sale is the Skoda Enyaq. It’s good value for money, it has loads of space inside, and it has a long enough electric range for almost any family outing.
What is the largest electric SUV?
That title is currently awarded to the gargantuan Cadillac Escalade IQ, but at this rate of progress, another manufacturer could soon swoop in and steal the crown. Why are we so confident? Well, it’s already happened. A few short months ago, the biggest SUV on sale was the enormous 4.5-tonne GMC Hummer EV – and when that was launched, all the CAR magazine staff nodded their heads in agreement that there was no way a brand could build a bigger electric SUV. How wrong we were.
What is the most reliable SUV EV?
They’re all relatively simple mechanically, as their powertrains only feature a few moving parts. What lets them down is their firmware and the chemistry in their battery packs. If you’re concerned about reliability, pick an electric SUV from a brand with a good track record. Nissan’s electric cars have a good reputation for reliability, as do Kia’s. The Jaguar I-Pace is a good example of an unreliable electric car. You can read about some of the problems owners have experienced on our sister site, Parkers, by checking out the owners’ reviews.
Which EV SUV has the most room?
The Mercedes EQS SUV is the most spacious electric SUV on sale in the UK today. It measures 5125mm long, and it has a wheelbase of 3210mm, which translates into copious amounts of legroom for its passengers and 645 litres of boot space. It also comes with seven seats as standard – but if you fold all the seats flat, you’ll have a maximum storage volume of more than 2,000 litres.
What is the fastest full electric SUV?
This is another ever-changing statistic as electric vehicle manufacturers are constantly trying to outgun each other. Currently, though, the fastest electric on sale is the Tesla Model X Plaid. It features a tri-motor electric powertrain with 1006bhp, which Tesla says is enough to shunt the 2.5-tonne SUV from 0–62mph in 2.6 seconds. For context, that’s 2.1 seconds quicker than a Volkswagen Golf R.