The top 10 best electric SUVs

The switch to electrification has fuelled a whole new breed of SUVs, with car makers creating bold, large and spacious electric sport utility vehicles to appeal to those looking for a high-riding car that looks like an off-roader, but drives like something more luxurious.

Electric car platforms bring a host of benefits, too: they’re flat architecture allows manufacturers to hide the battery in the floor, and the lack of an internal combustion engine means there’s more room inside for passengers and your luggage.

Electric SUVs are therefore the best in the class for interior space and load-lugging, but which models should you actually buy? Our list is exclusively for SUVs – we’re not going to include the pseudo models like the Smart #1 or Hyundai Kona Electric because these are a bit smaller and less expensive.

Here, in no particular order, are our favourite electric SUVs.

Tesla Model Y

When it comes to efficiency, the Model Y is the class leader. In rear-wheel drive single-motor form, the Model Y should achieve 4.0mpkWh on a journey, although you’ll likely see just below that in the real-world. And with a range of up to 331 miles, it will have no trouble acting as the family wagon for short trips around town, or for longer cruises along the motorway. 

An updated version of the Model Y is on the cards after the Model 3 saloon gained several major upgrades to improve its range, efficiency and comfort. 

The Model Y is very minimalist inside, and features one large touch screen infotainment display for all the functions. You don’t even get a head-up display. Still, its spacious, easy to drive and good value for money. 

Price: from £44,990
Power: 291-450bhp
Range: 283-331 miles
Efficiency rating: 3.7-4.0mpkWh

Skoda Enyaq

Some cars in this list stand out for one particular reason, but the Skoda Enyaq goes against this for being a good electric SUV in several key areas, including space, practicality, range, driveability and importantly, affordability. 

You can have the Enyaq in several different trims, and while the 60 version is the cheapest, it uses a smaller 58kWh battery, which means it can only travel up to 249 miles on a charge. 

We’d go for the £44,450 85 Edition, which gets a larger 77kWh battery and can cover up to 348 miles on charge.

A recent update to the Enyaq has helped iron out some weaknesses: the infotainment screen is now easier to use, having previously suffered from some bugs and latency issues. You also get lots of standard equipment, too, such as LED headlights, heated door mirrors, adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist. 

The soft-touch fabrics used inside are of good quality, and there is plenty of space throughout: taller passengers will easily find a comfortable position in the back. And you get a 585-litre boot or 1710 litres when folded. 

Price: from £38,970
Power: 177-335bhp
Range: 249-348 miles
Efficiency rating: 3.8-4.1mpkWh

Kia EV9

There aren’t many other electric SUVs on sale today that offer the interior flexibility of the EV9; it’s the best for space and practicality, and by a big margin. 

It comes as standard with seven-seats, but if you opt for the range-topping GT Line S, you can have a six-seat configuration, with the second-row featuring a pair of armchair-like seats, which can swivel to face the third-row.

And even with all rear-seats up you still have a 333-lite boot.

There is heaps of head and leg room throughout, and the cabin feels light and airy thanks to the large panoramic roof. There's also a front storage compartment for the charging cable. 

Buyers can choose between a rear-wheel drive single-motor model or a dual-motor all-wheel-drive model. The single-motor EV9 is more relaxed and marginally more comfortable, while the dual-motor version delivers punchy performance at a cost of range. 

Price: from £65,025
Power: 200-378bhp
Range: 313-349 miles
Efficiency rating: 3.0mpkWh

Audi Q4 e-tron

The Q4 e-tron is a bit of a landmark car for Audi. You see, it might have only been the firm’s third electric car, but it soon gained popularity, so much in fact that not only is it the brand’s best-selling electric car, it's the best-selling Audi across its entire model range.

This popularity, coupled with greater competition from Europe, the US and China, resulted in the Q4 gaining a major update earlier this year for better range and efficiency. 

For a premium electric SUV, the Q4 is well-priced, looks and feels classy and rides over lumps and bumps well enough for this size of car. Inside, the Q4 is ultra-refined and there’s plenty of head and leg room for passengers in the back.

With a 77kWh (usable) battery on board the Q4 can travel up to 330 miles in rear-wheel drive form, or 339 miles if you opt for the Sportback version. The all-wheel drive models bring more performance at the cost of range. 

Price: from £50,440
Power: 282-335bhp
Range: 319-330 miles
Efficiency rating: 3.2-3.8mpkWh

BMW iX

The bold and brawny iX gets a place in our list for its exceptional ride comfort, luxurious interior and excellent range. Sure, its looks won’t appeal to all, the large kidney grille being the main point of contention. 

But its large proportions afford a spacious interior, both front and rear, and there’s a 500-litre boot for carrying everything from your luggage to the family pet. 

Inside, the iX is lavishly appointed, with heavy-use of soft-touch materials and plush metals. Overall, build quality is excellent and lives up to the iX’s premium billing. 

We’d recommend the xDrive50 as this comes with a larger 108kWh (usable) battery, and promises a range of up to 383 miles. You also get air suspension as standard for a limo-like ride. 

Price: from £70,985
Power: 319-516bhp
Range: 264-383 miles
Efficiency rating: 2.9−3.1mpkWh

Kia EV6

Practical and comfortable, the Kia EV6 is the ideal family companion and a great choice for anyone looking to switch to electric power. The rear-wheel drive model is the pick of the line-up thanks to its 328-mile range – and if you need to stop and charge, the EV6 can suck in energy at up to 238kW, which means a 10-80% boost should take less than 20 minutes.

The EV6 has another party trick up its sleeve, too – Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) technology. Plug a three-pin adapter into the EV6's charging port and it transforms itself into a giant power pack, meaning you can plug in various appliances from a kettle, to a washing machine. 

Despite being firmer riding than some rivals, the EV6 offers a more engaging drive thanks to its neat, accurate steering and good body control.

There is plenty of room inside, too; even adults will be able to sit comfortably in the second row. And you won’t need to worry about fitting all your luggage inside, as the EV6 has a large 490-litre boot. 

Price: from £45,275
Power: 226-576bhp
Range: 314-328 miles
Efficiency rating: 3.7mpkWh

Porsche Macan

There are very few electric SUVs that can match the Macan EV for driving thrills, thanks to its phenomenal performance, sweet ride and excellent handling. Two versions are available: the Macan 4 and the Macan Turbo. The former is more of an all-rounder, offering up to 381 miles of range, 270kW charging capabilities and develops 402bhp and 479lb ft of torque. 

The Turbo, meanwhile, is the full-bore performance model, producing 630bhp and 833lb ft for a 0-62mph time of just 3.3sec.

In true Porsche style, the Macan's innards feel upmarket and to a very high standard, with the interior heavily influenced by the Cayenne SUV. The screens are crisp and easy to use, and you get some physical switches for the climate control. 

There’s plenty of head and leg room in the rear, despite the Macan’s rakish roof. And you get a large 540-litre boot. 

Price: from £69,800
Power: 402-630bhp
Range: 367-381 miles
Efficiency rating: 2.9-3.5mpkWh

Hyundai Ioniq 5

While the Ioniq 5 shares much of its underpinnings with the Kia EV6, it's quite different in nature to its Korean rival. You see, where the EV6 is firmer and handles with a bit more character, the Ioniq 5 is more relaxed and comfortable.

It irons out bumps well, and can be enjoyed around town, as well as on longer motorway journeys. You’ll want to make sure you opt for the smaller 19in wheels, however, as the larger 20in wheels aren’t as good at isolating imperfections in the road. 

Two battery options are available, with varying power outputs, but we’d recommend the 77kWh battery model that develops 225bhp and can travel up to 315 miles between charges. Like the EV6, it will charge at up to speeds of 238kW, so you’ll be back on the road in under 20 minutes should you need to top up the battery using the public network. 

Families will have no trouble navigating the school run and weekly food shop thanks to the Ioniq 5’s decent boot and rear passenger space. 

And if you’re after an even more enticing drive then there’s the new Ioniq 5 N, which comes with 641bhp, a suite of drive modes for greater engagement and its own exhaust note. 

Price: from £43,445
Power: 168-321bhp
Range: 238-315 miles
Efficiency rating: 3.4-3.7mpkWh

MG ZS EV

Electric cars can be expensive to buy, but some cheaper models are starting to break through into the mainstream market; the Dacia Spring, for example, costs less than £15,000. Electric SUVs often come with even higher price tags because they typically use bigger batteries.

MG has gone against this philosophy by offering a genuinely affordable electric SUV for just over £30,000. There are four different versions to choose from, but we’d pick the SE Long Range, which costs £32,995 and can travel up to 273 miles between charges. 

Being at the cheaper end of the SUV spectrum, the ZS EV doesn’t come with tons of kit, and the interior quality isn’t on a par with cars like the Skoda Enyaq. There is little by the way of performance, too, but it rides comfortably over potholes. 

The boot isn’t huge, and rear space is better catered for smaller passengers. Still, there aren't any rivals that can match the ZS EV for price. 

Price: from £30,495. 
Power: 154-174bhp
Range: 198-273 miles
Efficiency rating: 3.6-3.5mpkWh

Genesis GV60

Stylish, refined and upmarket, there’s a lot to like about the Korean brand’s electric SUV. The GV60 rides on the same platform as the Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5, but is pitched as the premium option of the three. 

Inside, the GV60 is lavishly finished, with a clear sense of material richness that is way beyond its technically-related Korean counterparts.

You’ll struggle to find any unpleasant scratchy plastics inside, with most surfaces covered with soft-touch synthetic leather and tactile metals. 

Three versions are available: Premium, Sport and Sport Plus. We’d go for the entry-level Premium because it offers the best range at 321 miles – and it will charge at up to 238kW for a charging time of just 18 minutes. 

The EV6 and Ioniq 5 are more generous when it comes to interior space. There is enough rear leg room for six-footers, but the sloping roof of the GV60 does limit head room somewhat.

Price: from £54,105
Power: 226-483bhp
Range: 289-321 miles
Efficiency rating: 3.2-3.6mpkWh

Wildcard: Fisker Ocean Extreme

If range is your biggest concern, then the Fisker Ocean is your best bet. In Extreme trim it gets a huge 106kWh (usable) battery which allows for a range of up to 440 miles – that’s streets ahead of the BMW iX and much further than the Kia EV9. 

The mid-level Ultra variant impresses for range, too, and can travel up to 429 miles on a charge – and it's £7000 cheaper than the Extreme model. 

Inside, the Fisker majors on sustainability: the seat fabrics are made from recycled sea plastics and the fascia mouldings are unpainted to make recycling them easier. It doesn’t feel cheaper than rivals, with the Ocean’s fit and finish looking a bit plain rather than lacking in quality. 

And don’t think the American SUV is without any quirks. Fisker has added what it calls ‘California mode’, which at the touch of a button, lowers all the windows (bar the windscreen) and opens the sunroof for an open-air driving experience. 

(We've added the Ocean as a wildcard in our list because, even though it's a great SUV, the firm is currently facing financial problems and is struggling to remain afloat. It has been reported that several car firm's could invest in the start-up to keep it running). 

Price: from £36,900 (Extreme: £57,900)
Power: 461bhp (dual-motor)
Range: 288-440 miles
Efficiency rating: Unspecified