The best electric SUVs – driven and ranked
We name the best electric SUVs on sale in the UK today, each with its own area of expertise
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by Jack Warrick
9 mins read
21 October 2024
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Love or hate them, the number of electric SUVs on sale in the UK is growing yearly.
More manufacturers are embracing electric technology than ever and the segment is crammed full of options that combine a silent performance and long ranges with the practical versatility of an SUV.
It’s not hard to see why. Love them or hate them, the best electric SUVs offer a fine blend of long-range capability and cutting-edge technology, with many also sporting a unique design that you just wouldn’t see in other areas of the market.
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From affordable models to luxury vehicles, this list highlights the top choices for 2024 that suit a range of driving needs and budgets. As of right now, we think the Skoda Enyaq is the best electric SUV on sale, and you can find out why below.
Before we go further, let’s establish how we’re categorising an SUV. Annoyingly, there are no hard and fast rules, so for convenience, we’ll avoid the C-segment hatchbacks, crossovers and SUV-alikes like the Kia Niro EV and Smart #1 here. We deal with those separately in our Best mid-sized electric cars list.
Let’s get on with it, then. Read on to discover which electric SUVs are leading the charge this year.
1. Skoda Enyaq
10
Pros
Great range
Very spacious
Comfortable interior
Cons
A few drivability quirks
Ride is slightly too firm
Lowest trims compromise on equipment
Best for: All-round ability
By our reckoning, the Skoda Enyaq is the best electric SUV money can buy today, offering the best combination of affordability, practicality, range, ease of use and drivability.
The Skoda Enyaq is not a superstar in any one area like some of the other cars here, but it is a fantastic all-rounder. When it launched in 2021, it made better use of the Volkswagen MEB platform bones than the VW ID 4 or Audi Q4 E-tron that went before, and it has recently benefited from a round of subtle upgrades that address the few weaknesses it had.
Our pick of the Enyaq range is the 85 Edition, which has a big battery giving a 348-mile range, plus almost all the equipment you need as standard. The refreshed multimedia system has had its bugs ironed out and is now very easy to get along with.
The Enyaq’s short bonnet and square back give it plenty of interior space. Standard adaptive cruise control and paddles for the regenerative braking make it intuitive to drive, as does the chassis, which is balanced and mature, if not especially entertaining.
Read our Skoda Enyaq review
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2. Kia EV9
9
Pros
Loads of space
Good range
Seven seats
Cons
Might be too big for some
Can be difficult to park
Cabin material lacks for the price
Best for: Seven seats
If you’re looking for an electric SUV rather than a cheaper, more efficient and better-handling saloon or hatchback, it’s probably because you’re after a lot of space.
Few do space better than the vast Kia EV9. The Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV beats it for absolute interior volume, but the Benz is even more expensive, and the space it offers isn’t quite as versatile.
The EV9 makes better use of its generous square footage thanks to a larger glass area, seats that tumble and fold more easily, and a front luggage compartment to store the cables. The EV9 isn’t just a void on wheels either.
As with the Kia EV6 and Niro EV, the EV9 is a very well-sorted EV to drive too. Dual-motor versions offer strong performance, though the upcoming single-motor model is likely to be the pick of the range, while steering wheel paddles make the regenerative braking easy to control. The EV9 is very stylish for a seven-seat SUV and offers creditable luxury, efficiency and range.
If you’re looking for something slightly more affordable than the £65,025 EV9, or don’t need seven seats, we’d point you towards the Skoda Enyaq or Tesla Model Y.
Read our Kia EV9 review
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3. Polestar 3
8
Pros
Looks great
Dynamic driving style
Long-legged
Cons
Expensive
Unfortunate touchscreen dependency
Performance pack tough to justify
Best for: Standing out
The biggest Polestar car is also one of the best electric SUVs you can buy today, and there’s plenty to like indeed. A large, spacious electric SUV with a roomy interior full of next-gen technology, the Polestar looks like little else on the road.
It’s powerful too, offering between 483bhp and 510bhp. Power is supplied by a 107kWh battery which is capable of returning up to 390 miles, or 348 miles if you opt for the Performance Pack. It can also charge at speeds of up to 250kW.
Inside, the Polestar 3 is airy and plush, with chrome effect materials and recycled, soft-touch textiles. A huge touchscreen is positioned on the centre of the dashboard, complete with integrated Google Maps, plus wireless smartphone connectivity in Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Despite its size and 2.5-tonne kerb weight, the Polestar 3 is great to drive at higher speeds. It possesses tactile, precise handling, which puts it far above many of its rivals in the segment. Best of all, it has shown that large electric SUVs can be fun.
Read our Polestar 3 review
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4. Ford Explorer
8
Pros
Long range
Good performance
Good standard equipment
Cons
Uninspiring looks
Heavy
Single-motor version has a firm low-speed ride
Best for: Mix of range and equipment
The Ford Explorer might not look particularly inspiring, but our drive revealed that it’s actually a respectable electric SUV with lots going for it. It’s a good thing too, because the model’s launch had been severely delayed.
Based on Volkswagen’s MEB platform, the Explorer is more than just a rebadged ID 4. It’s superior to many of its rivals to drive including the Tesla Model Y, and its interior is smartly packaged and spacious.
It also offers excellent range figures for the class, with its entry-level 52kWh battery returning 239 miles. Its range-topping 77kWh unit ups proceedings to 374 miles – the highest range figure offered on any VW-derived MEB platform car so far.
Power stands at 168bhp on single, rear-motor models, which jumps as high as 335bhp in all-wheel drive, dual motor extended range models. All that, and an entry price of below £40,000? Sounds good to us.
The Explorer also excels for its excellent standard specification, with a huge, well-positioned touchscreen, heated and massage seats and a huge safety suite included as standard.
Read our Ford Explorer review
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5. Kia EV6
8
Pros
Up to 361 miles of range
Rapid EV6 GT variant is an option
Keen handling
Cons
Over-reliance on touch controls
Uncommunicative steering
Braking feel takes a minute of getting used to
Best for: Looks
The Kia EV6 is an excellent electric SUV and one which should suit the whole family. It’s comfortable, long-legged and relentlessly quick in its most powerful specification.
In its most efficient specification, the EV6 boasts a hefty 361 miles of range, while charging speed is also near-class-leading at 258kW. Power starts at 226bhp – more than enough for most drivers – while the range-topping Kia EV6 GT pumps out a whopping 577bhp.
While mechanically similar to the Hyundai Ioniq 5, the Kia EV6 is slightly better to drive overall, with sweet steering, commendable precision and a comfortable ride.
If you’re after an electric SUV with coupe driving dynamics, enough space for the kids and a well-appointed interior, but don’t want to shell out on the full-sized, seven-seat EV9, the Kia EV6 might be the perfect car for you.
Read our Kia EV6 review
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6. Tesla Model Y
8
Pros
Class leading in some areas
Long-range and performance variants
Huge boot
Cons
Needs an update (and one is on the way)
Questionable looks
Questions about material quality
Best for: Boot space
The Tesla Model Y is due a significant update, but as of now, it still offers class-leading efficiency for electric SUVs.
It’s been around a while now, and since its launch back in 2021, it has been swamped by competition. That said, it still offers a competitive range, with 283 miles as standard, or 331 miles in long-range cars. You’ll get close to those figures in real life too, with excellent efficiency.
Tesla’s extremely minimalist interior and exterior style isn’t for everyone, and nor is the rather prescriptive driving experience, but there’s no arguing with the Model Y’s fundamental qualities: it’s extremely spacious for its size, good value and quick and can be engaging to drive.
The closely related Model 3 has recently been updated to boost its efficiency even further and improve the comfort and interior ambience, and those upgrades will eventually make their way to the Model Y as well.
Read our Tesla Model Y review
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7. Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
8
Pros
Immense power
A landmark car for performance EVs
A true hardcore option
Cons
Other options are better for everyday duties
Touring efficiency isn’t great
Cabin can feel ordinary compared to more expensive options
Best for: Performance
SUVs fun to drive? EVs fun to drive? You better believe it. Hyundai made car enthusiasts take notice when its first petrol-powered hot hatchbacks, the Hyundai i20 N and Hyundai i30 N turned out to be excellent right out of the gate. It seems intent on carrying that driver’s car cred into the electric era with the hot version of the Hyundai Ioniq 5.
The Ioniq 5 N goes further than just stiff suspension and bucketloads of power. You do get the latter, but thanks to a stiffened shell, a proper limited-slip differential on the rear axle, adaptive dampers and Hyundai’s engineers having a sense of humour, it’s genuinely entertaining. It loves to rotate on and off the power, and if you so wish, it can emulate a six-speed gearbox and a petrol engine.
Autocar’s Matt Prior said in his review: “I think this is a landmark car. The first genuine EV driver’s car. A car we could bring along to Britain’s Best Driver’s Car in 2025 and be confident it’ll perform well. Not because it makes brmm noises, but because the tuning is excellent and the engineering feels real.”
If the Ioniq 5 N is a bit too hardcore for you, there are some other options. The BMW iX3 sounds slightly lame on paper because it has only a single motor, but if anything, that helps it handle like a proper BMW. Although it’s flawed as a modern EV, the Jaguar i-Pace remains good fun to drive too.
Read our Hyundai Ioniq 5 N review
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8. Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV
8
Pros
Class-leading comfort and refinement
Four-wheel steering
Seriously technology-filled
Cons
Expensive
It’s not hard to find longer-range options for the money
Best for: Comfort
But what if you would rather the car took over some of the driving for you? Modern cars, especially luxury models, are stuffed full of assisted driving tech. Some of it is patently unhelpful and will drive you insane if you don’t turn it off, but other features can take the stress out of long and/or boring drives.
Mercedes-Benz was the first manufacturer to offer a true adaptive cruise control system back in 1999, and still has arguably the mature system on the market. It’s not easily spooked and will slow down gradually when other cars cut in, rather than jump on the brakes.
The automatic steering is smooth, and when traffic comes to a stop, it positions itself in the lane in such a way that lane-splitting motorcyclists and emergency vehicles can pass through. Systems like the lane keep assist and overspeed warning are largely unintrusive and quite easy to turn off.
The adaptive cruise control in the BMW iX is very good as well, and while early versions could be somewhat flaky, the latest Skoda Enyaq’s system works smoothly too. Tesla’s Autopilot may be very advanced in US models, but European-market cars get only a rudimentary version that doesn’t compare with the other options here.
Read our Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV review
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9. Genesis Electrified GV70 SUV
8
Pros
Plush interior
Sports car performance
Comfortable
Cons
Quite old in what’s a competitive segment
Price tag
Range is lacking nowadays
Best for: Old-school feel
An often forgotten electric SUV, the Genesis Electrified GV70 should not be forgotten when compiling your shortlist, but it’s not for everyone.
The Electrified GV70 is for drivers who want a luxurious, ultra-quick EV, while retaining the looks and feel of a traditional car. There’s just one version, with a 77.4kWh battery packing 282 miles of range.
That’s slightly behind the current front runners, of course, but its 483bhp is matched by few in its class, barring the more performance oriented variants. With that power, it’ll hit 0-62mph in just 4.2sec.
Its interior still holds up as one of the best in the class, with excellent material quality, comfort and noise isolation. If it’s not your cup of tea, Genesis also offers the excellent GV60.
