Top 10 best electric SUVs 2024
With more electric SUVs on sale than ever before, we showcase the ones you should buy in 2024
SUVs and electric cars are currently two of the hottest segments of the car industry, so it comes as no surprise that many manufacturers have now started combining them. Rivals for the Tesla Model X were few and far between just a couple of years ago but now there are plenty of electric SUVs on sale at both the luxury and more affordable ends of the market.
While the majority are still more expensive to buy than their petrol and diesel counterparts, opting for an electric SUV can save you money in terms of running costs. Unlike traditional gas-guzzling 4x4s, electric SUVs are exempt from the London Congestion Charge and they also have low Benefit-in-Kind company car tax ratings. They aren’t liable for VED road tax until 2025, either.
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Plugging in frequently at public charge points can be just as expensive as visiting the petrol station, however, charging an electric SUV at home remains much cheaper than filling up a traditional car – even with the rising price of energy. There are other added benefits too – EVs often have a smoother and quieter driving experience, as well as improved cabin space versus their combustion-powered counterparts.
Of course, EVs come in all shapes and sizes and we also have full lists of the best electric cars and the cheapest electric cars on sale. If you’re not yet ready to ditch petrol and diesel altogether, why not check out our best hybrid SUVs?
Read on to see the best electric SUVs you can buy in the UK in 2024…
Kia’s new electric seven-seater surprised us for two reasons when it launched earlier this year. First was the cost; a starting price of £65k puts the South Korean firm’s large SUV in direct competition with rivals from more typical premium brands. The second reason was just how great it was during our in-depth test.
Winner of our sister title DrivingElectric’s Car of the Year Award 2024, the Kia EV9 is a big car – marginally larger than a BMW iX – and offers fantastic interior space and ride quality, plus plenty of standard equipment. The entry point is the ‘Air’ model, with 201bhp and 336 miles of range. If you want something brisker, you can upgrade to the all-wheel drive model with 379bhp and up to 314 miles of range. Whichever EV9 you choose, it’s fitted with a 99.8kWh battery capable of 230-240kW rapid-charging – it should take around 25 minutes for a 10-80% charge.
£65k may seem like a lot of money for an SUV from a brand once known for cheap-and-cheerful motoring, but no other electric car offers the Kia EV9’s level of practicality and comfort at this price.
Renault revived the Scenic nameplate earlier this year for its latest electric SUV, and we were thoroughly impressed. With a spacious cabin, excellent range and great infotainment, the Scenic is a fantastic option for families in need of a practical electric car.
The single electric motor has enough punch for everyday driving, and a mighty range of 388 miles puts the Scenic well ahead of its Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Volkswagen ID.4 rivals. Its weight of roughly 1,800kg is fairly light for an EV, and as a result the Scenic can comfortably tackle a twisty road while ironing out any harsh bumps. 150kW rapid-charging compatibility allows for short recharging times too – we expect a 10-80% top-up to take around 30 minutes.
Where the French SUV really stands apart is with its interior; there’s extensive use of recycled materials but everything still feels of high quality, and the Android-based infotainment system is slick and modern. There’s enough room for five people to travel in comfort, improved further by a low level of cabin noise. The boot is bigger than its rivals and, with more than 30 driver assistance systems packed into the Scenic, equipment levels are high for a family car of this price-point.
As one of the smaller SUVs on this list, the Hyundai Kona Electric shares its platform with the Kia Niro EV, offering a great blend of practicality, refinement and affordability. While the interior space of the previous-generation Kona lagged behind rivals, the model launched in 2023 is much improved, with higher-quality materials and the latest technology.
There’s a choice of two battery sizes, 48kWh and 65kWh, allowing buyers to prioritise range and performance over cost. The bigger battery gives the Kona a range up to 305 miles, although charging is marginally slower than the larger Ioniq 5. The Kona Electric is a reassuring car to drive; whether the road is billiard-table flat or – more likely in the UK – rough and undulating, it feels unflustered and does well to isolate potholes and speed bumps.
Inside, the Kona Electric is airy and spacious, with the materials you frequently touch feeling soft and premium. There are two 12.3-inch displays, one for the driver and one for infotainment, alongside physical controls for important functions, such as the climate control and volume. Hand over an extra £600 for the ‘Comfort’ pack and you’ll get heated front and rear seats, a heated steering wheel, a wireless smartphone charging pad and tinted rear windows.
Tesla has become synonymous with electric cars, and the Model 3 revolutionised the EV market thanks to its affordable price and decent range. Essentially a jacked-up, SUV version of the best-selling Model 3 saloon, the Model Y boasts all the same benefits as its smaller sibling such as its giant 15-inch touchscreen and minimalist interior design. The rear hatchback offers 854 litres of space when you load up to the roofline, and a 117-litre ‘frunk’ is a handy addition for smaller items.
There are three versions of the Tesla Model Y: Standard, Long Range and Performance. The Long Range model offers an impressive 331 miles on a single charge, while the more expensive Performance model can reach 62mph in a sports car-rivalling 3.5 seconds. Of course, heavy acceleration will deplete the battery quickly, but with Tesla’s extensive Supercharger network, that shouldn’t be too much of an issue.
A previous Carbuyer Car of the Year, the Kia Niro EV has a range of 285 miles and boasts low running costs, along with Kia’s latest infotainment setup. There’s ample space inside for family duties, and the 475-litre boot in the Niro EV also offers a bump in luggage space for those currently driving a conventional hatchback like a Volkswagen Golf.
If you want a car that not only has zero tailpipe emissions, but boasts a high level of sustainability within its production chain, the Niro EV is an even better buy. The interior even includes sustainable materials for its vegan leather-style seats. Buyers who want to stand out from the crowd can choose a two-tone paint scheme, and its interior is now more stylish and upmarket. Plus, if you like the sound of the Niro but aren’t quite ready to go electric, Kia offers its compact SUV in petrol hybrid form, too.
Audi’s first electric SUV, the e-tron, was incredibly expensive and couldn’t match rivals from Tesla and Mercedes. However, the Q4 e-tron is a strong second attempt as it offers a decent range – so long as you don’t pick the smaller 52kWh battery – and a luxurious interior that’s filled with tech. As is the case with all Audi models, the Q4 gets the brand’s Virtual Cockpit instrument cluster as standard, which is one of the best in the business and highly configurable.
Audi also offers the Q4 in sleek Sportback form; while neither version isn’t quite as sharp to drive as other sporty electric SUVs such as the BMW iX3, the instant torque from the electric motors makes the Q4 feel brisk. The standard Q4 is incredibly roomy in the back, thanks in part to a flat floor and lots of clever storage solutions. The boot measures 520 litres in capacity, which is much larger than the equivalent Volvo XC40 Recharge and should be able to fit the weekly shop or the majority of pushchairs.
Just be careful with the trim and options list – like many Audi models, the price of the Q4 e-tron shoots up, with the range-topping Black Edition 50 quattro costing over £61,000 compared to just under £50,000 for the entry-level model.
While not quite as fun to drive as the X1 petrol model on which it’s based, the BMW iX1 is still one of the best electric SUVs for keen drivers. This is a fair compromise given buyers will benefit from the low running costs of an EV combined with direct steering and agile handling from its dual-motor four-wheel drive setup that ensures there’s plenty of grip.
The BMW iX1 will appeal to those after an EV that doesn’t stand out in the crowd too much – it’s classy and yet subtle, meaning it can slot easily into an SUV buyer’s life. Despite an understated look, the iX1 provides 309bhp of electric power from its motors, getting it from 0-62mph in just 5.7 seconds. Adding EV batteries into a petrol-based platform usually has a significant impact on practicality, but the iX1 is still pretty spacious. The boot offers a respectable 490 litres – bigger than that offered by the Mercedes EQA and even larger SUVs such as the Nissan Ariya or Toyota bZ4X. The iX1 has an official range figure of up to 272 miles on a charge of its 64.7kWh battery – plenty for most EV drivers.
In a market full of curvy, soft-edged SUVs, the Jeep Avenger’s chunky styling stands out in a good way. It’s based on the same underpinnings as the Peugeot e-2008 and Vauxhall Mokka Electric which we also rate highly, so the Avenger is off to a good start. Jeep’s EV is competitively priced and offers lots of tech to make it a worthy rival to plenty of other electric SUVs.
A unique selling point of the Avenger is some off-roading capability befitting its Jeep badge. While designed for the road first, drivers can also choose between a range of driving modes, such as Mud, Sand and Snow. The Avenger is only available in a 154bhp single-motor front-wheel drive configuration that feels surprisingly punchy, but a dual-motor four-wheel drive version is thought to be in the works too, so watch this space. The sole version of the Avenger also has a range figure of up to 248 miles from its 54kWh battery – when we tested it this equated to around 220 miles of real-world driving – that should be enough for most city-based buyers.
Have you ever heard the phrase “don’t judge a book by its cover”? Although the iX’s design may certainly be controversial, once you scratch beneath the surface, BMW’s first attempt at a made-for-purpose EV is one of the most convincing models available. The iX’s interior is suitably avant-garde and luxurious; particular highlights include the sweeping iDrive infotainment displays and optional crystal buttons and controls. However, this does all come at a cost – entry-level versions start from around £70,000.
As soon as you step behind the wheel, the iX is quickly able to shed its two-and-a-half-tonne weight and is just as good to drive as any other BMW SUV. Entry-level cars get a 71kWh battery paired with dual-electric motors that produce a combined 322bhp - these have a range of around 255 miles. The range-topping xDrive50 model gets an increased 516bhp and can manage an impressive 380 miles from its 105kWh battery.
Ford now sells two very different Mustang-badged products – a conventional V8-powered car and an electric SUV. Considering it’s Ford’s second-ever electric car (after the forgotten Ford Focus Electric), it’s a desirable product with sleek styling and that all-important long range. The Extended Range model is said to manage up to 379 miles between charges, and 0-62mph takes around five seconds. Performance fans will be keen on the even-faster GT model, however, all Mach-E variants are fun to drive.
The Mach-E rivals the Tesla Model Y, and inside it’s clear where Ford got its inspiration. A 15.5-inch portrait touchscreen is the hub to control most of the car’s features, although there are also a number of buttons on the wheel and a digital instrument cluster. Equipment is generous, and the Mach-E is reasonably practical too.
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