Best electric sports utility vehicles (SUV)

These larger style zero-emissions electric sports utility vehicles (SUVs) are ideal for family use who need added space. The car industry expects electric SUV sales to explode globally over the next couple of years. There’s a wide range of SUV electric vehicles  (EVs) currently available from all the big brands, with more on the way. Here’s ElectricDrives guide to the best electric SUVs currently available

Audi E-tron from £60,560

The E-tron is the German carmakers first electric SUV and combines style with performance as you’d expect from Audi. The baseline Technik 50 quattro has sleek body lines with a large spacious interior, along with 660 litres of boot storage.

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It offers up to 408 PS of power and provides up to 252 miles  (406km) of range from its 71kWh battery. It features two electric motors that drive the E-tron and it can quickly accelerate from 0-62mph (0-100kph) in an impressive 5.7 seconds.

Once inside the E-tron, it feels modern and the layout is driver-friendly.  As standard, it has heated front seats, part-leather upholstery and two-zone climate control. Plus, it has front and rear parking sensors, a rear-view camera,  a 10.1in infotainment touchscreen and 10 speakers.

BMW iX xDrive 40 from £69,905

The iX xDrive models are powered by BMW’s fifth-generation eDrive technology and a fully electric all-wheel-drive system. The German carmaker refers to this new crossover as a sports activity vehicle (SAV).

The iX xDrive40 Sport and X xDrive40 M Sport both use a 71kWh battery that delivers 326 horsepower for a top speed of 124mph (200kph). Both variants accelerate from 0-62mph (0-100kph) in 6.1 seconds and have a range of up to 257 miles (414km).

BMW also offer more powerful versions, the X xDrive50 Sport and iX xDrive50 M Sport, which use a larger 105.2kWh battery. This delivers 523 horsepower with a top speed of 124mph (200kph). Both offer an impressive range of up to 380 miles (612km) and hit 0-62mph (0-100kph) in just 4.6 seconds. Price for these models start from £91,905 and £94,905 respectively.

Hyundai Kona Electric from £27,950

When it comes to great value electric SUVs the slick looking Hyundai Kona Electric is hard to beat. It is a popular model among zero-emissions drivers because it’s such a great all-rounder.

The interior is simply styled and provides all the necessities for a comfortable and forgiving drive. All the controls, including the 10.3in touchscreen infotainment system, are responsive and simple and intuitive to use.

The base models feature a 39kWh battery which drives a 136PS (134-horsepower) motor. In turn, this offers a range of up to 189 miles (304km) and can accelerate from 0-62mph (0-110kph) in just under 10 seconds. It has an impressive top speed of 96mph (155kph).  Hyundai also offers their Premium longer-range 64KWh battery version that starts from £32,550 and offers a range of 300 miles (483km).

Jag I-Pace from £65,190

The I-Pace is a luxury all-electric vehicle that offers all the space of an SUV but also delivers the performance synonymous with Jaguar, who plan to be an electric-only brand by 2025. It features a 90kWh battery located within the wheelbase that provides the vehicle with a low centre of gravity to naturally benefit vehicle dynamics and handling.

This battery is designed for longevity and supports protracted periods of sustained maximum power allowing the I-Pace to hit 0-62mph (0-100kph) in just 4.8 seconds. It delivers good flat power which makes it a lot of fun to drive. On a more practical, level it feels safe and stable and provides a range of up to 292 miles (470km).

The interior matches the beautiful looking exterior with handcrafted touches adding to the cabin’s luxury atmosphere. It has all the helpful screens you’d expect but without feeling too space age. The layout is driver-friendly and there’s a feeling of space throughout.

Kia e-Niro ‘2’ 64kWh from £32,495

Kia’s e-Niro ‘2’ Long Range SUV model offers superb value for money when it comes to specification and range from its 64kWh battery. This drives the high-power 150kW motor that enables the e-Niro of travelling up to 282 miles (453km) from a single charge.

This figure rises to 382 miles (615km) when driving in the city thanks to regenerative braking. Driving, whether in urban areas or on the open road, is a pleasure, although the front cabin space isn’t as luxurious as some here.

The e-Niro ‘2’ Long Range offers the same large interior area and spacious boot as other e-Niro models. It has ample room for five people and 451 litres of cargo space. It’s also well spec’d with an 8.0-inch touchscreen display, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, 17-inch alloy wheels, reversing camera system and rear parking sensors, Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go, and Smart Key and Button Start.

Mercedes EQC from £67,320

The EQC is a slick-looking luxury four-wheel-drive electric SUV. It doesn’t look massively different from the brand’s combustion engine cars and remains unmistakably Mercedes-Benz in terms of style and class inside and out.

This luxury electric vehicle comes with both style and performance. It can accelerate 0-62mph (0-100kph) in 5.1 seconds despite weighing 2.5 tonnes. In terms of practicality, the EQC offers up to 259 miles (417km) of range and can be charged up to 80 percent in just 40 minutes.

As wells the practical range, it offers plenty of space throughout and has a 500-litre boot space with the seats up. This makes it ideal for families who require plenty of storage.

MG ZS EV from £28,495

The MG ZE EV has been a roaring success for MG Motors and this is largely down to the price. At just £ £28,495 this is one of the cheapest electric SUVs vehicles on the market. It has a modern stylish exterior that makes it feel more expensive than the price tag.

The MG ZS EV is powered by a 44.5kWh battery which provides a range of up to 163-miles (262km). It has a top speed of 87mph (140kph) which should be fine for most law-abiding citizens and accelerates to 0-62mph (0-100kph) in 8.5 seconds.

It’s ideal for family use with its spacious feeling interior and a 448-litre boot area. The cockpit feels modern and is easy to navigate, and the overall drive is good. The MG ZE EV offers outstanding value and works brilliantly for day-to-day duties.

Skoda Enyaq IV from £31,995

Skoda’s Enyaq iV SUV is the Czech brand’s first all-electric SUV. Being part of the Volkswagen Group it uses VW’s electric drive matrix (MEB) platform. The iV60 model starts from under £32,000 and is a lot of car for the money.

The rear-wheel-drive base model features a 58kWh battery which provides a range of up to 256 miles (412km). It’s no slug either and will accelerate from 0-62mph (0-100kph) in 8.7 seconds.

Inside, you sit high and this provides a good driving position with a user-friendly cockpit that’s easy to navigate. There’s plenty of space up front and the rear feels huge with ample room for adult passengers with plenty of headroom. Plus, there are 585 litres of boot space. All of this makes it a well-made and reliable family-sized car with a reassuring range.

Volkswagen ID.4 Life from £34,995

Volkswagen recently expanded its ID.4 range and now includes the Life model which qualifies for the Plug-in Vehicle Grant (PIVG). This helps to make this SUV outstanding value for money.

It has all the great styling and reliability you’d expect from Volkswagen but in an affordable package. It has a 52kWh battery that offers a solid performance on the road while delivering a range of up to 213 miles (343km).

It’s a decent-sized family car with plenty of room and a 543-litre boot space. Inside, it feels big and airy and the front cabin has lots of space with a useful centre console with coffee cup holders. It’s a user-friendly and easy car to drive which offers an air of luxury even with the base model.

Volvo XC40 Recharge from £59,985.

Volvo are going electric in a big way and plan to become a fully electric car company by 2030. The XC40 Recharge isn’t crazily different to the XC40 so is in keeping with Volvo’s classic looks.

The zero-emissions Recharge version features a dual-motor 300kW powertrain, with a 150kW electric motor on each axle. These are powered by a 78kWh battery pack that can take the XC40 Recharge from 0-62mph (0-100kph) in an impressive 4.9 seconds, with a top speed of 112mph (180kph).

The XC40 Recharge offers up to 250 miles (400km) of range from a full charge and can be charged to around 80 percent in 40 minutes using a fast charger. It comes with an 11kW onboard charger and has 150kW DC fast-charging capability.

Ian Osborne
Ian Osborne
Editor-in-Chief at ElectricDrives

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