If you’re looking at the best SUVs you can buy in 2024, don’t just consider those powered by petrol or diesel. The best electric SUVs have plenty of benefits that make them worthy of your consideration. As bigger vehicles, SUVs have plenty of space under the floor of the cabin for large battery parks – and that means the top electric cars in this class can deliver plenty of driving range from every charge and strong performance.
Electric motors offer other opportunities, too. Because they don’t require a conventional gearbox or all-wheel drive system – engineers can have electric motors front and rear to achieve four-wheel drive – electric SUVs often have more space inside compared to similarly sized petrols or diesels. Charging is far easier these days, and we’ve a guide to EV charging to help explain it.
What’s more, performance is usually excellent thanks to all that electric pulling power. And there are now plenty of electric SUVs to choose from, as almost every carmaker has seen the advantages they now offer and built a car to tackle the market.
To help you make the right decision, on this page, we’ve listed our favourite electric SUVs of all shapes and sizes. Keep reading, and we’re sure you’ll find one that suits you.
The best electric SUVs
A well-priced, practical and long-range option
Two battery sizes are offered with the smaller, cheaper pack managing 260 miles according to official tests. The bigger battery ups this to 379 miles, with more than 300 easily achievable with sensible driving. Peppy performance and keen handling round off a highly recommendable package. And the icing on the cake? Renault has worked exceptionally hard to ensure that finance deals are super-competitive, meaning your monthly payments are kept as low as possible.
To find out more, read our full Renault Scenic E-Tech review
Pros
- Well-priced
- Impressive range
- User-friendly interior
Cons
- Boot has a high loading lip
- There are comfier options
Kia EV9
Our favourite electric seven-seater
Being a Kia EV, the charging time is one of the quickest out there, although efficiency isn't quite as impressive as its lower, lighter siblings. Six and seven-seat versions are available with rear- or four-wheel drive.
To find out more, read our full Kia EV9 review
Pros
- Spacious, even in the third row
- Rapid charge times
- Tidy handling
Cons
- Unsettled ride
- Efficiency not the best
Great performance and a long range
We think it’s a more polished product than the Tesla Model X, as it’s built on the same platform as the far fresher Model 3. Regardless, as with all Teslas, the Model Y offers extremely rapid performance from its electric motors and a generous driving range of up to 373 miles per charge from its battery packs. But it isn’t great to drive or comfortable, especially when specified with the larger 20-inch alloy wheels. The Enyaq and the EV6 are more rounded products.
To find out more, read our full Tesla Model Y review
Pros
- Good real-world range
- Plenty of space inside
- Tesla Supercharger network is great
Cons
- Inconsistent build quality
- Uncomfortable suspension
Kia EV6
Quirky SUV with great range and funky looks
Inside the EV6, there’s plenty of space for passengers and luggage – and we particularly like the car’s infotainment system, which is fast, responsive and easy to use. Perhaps the best part though is its charging rate. It has a similar 800V setup to the Porsche Taycan, which means its battery can zap from 10 to 80% capacity in just 18 minutes if you can find a 350kW rapid charger.
To find out more, read our full Kia EV6 review
Pros
- Impressive real-world range
- GT variant is startlingly fast
- One of the fastest charging rates out there
Cons
- Firm ride
- Mostly touchscreen controls inside
Skoda’s no-nonsense electric SUV is a Parkers favourite
It was built for comfort rather than speed, though – and for that reason, we’d say avoid the sporty vRS variants. In the real world, they’re no faster or more exciting than the standard Enyaq. You’re better off sticking with the two-wheel drive model and dumping your cash into Skoda’s larger 82kWh battery pack.
To find out more, read our full Skoda Enyaq review
Pros
- Great value-for-money
- Roomy interior
- Over 300-mile range
Cons
- Not especially sporty
- Optional extras can jack up the price
Porsche's second all-electric vehicle is an SUV that's awesome to drive
Highlights include sublime steering and wonderful air suspension - and, although this isn't fitted as standard on every model, opt for it and you'll get a remarkable combination of cosseting comfort and supreme body control for brilliant cornering. Fast charging technology means a 10-80% top-up in as little as 21 minutes, while the interior quality and the richly inviting options list means you can enjoy a luxury experience as much as a sporty one. BMW and Hyundai/Kia also build fun-driving electric SUVs, but Porsche's pedigree is still clear.
To find out more, read our full electric Porsche Macan review
Pros
- Wonderful steering
- Great ride quality (with air suspension)
- Long range, fast charging
Cons
- Not the most practical boot
- Porsche's EV reliability has been patchy
Kia EV3
Another winning EV from Kia
It’s the best compact electric SUV you can buy today, with a generous range, practical interior and comfortable ride being its stand-out attributes. It nails the brief for a smaller electric family car, and we can see it selling in significant volumes. It’s only the upcoming Skoda Elroq that could prove to be a challenger.
To find out more, read our full Kia EV3 review
Pros
- Generous interior space
- Superb comfort and refinement
- Great to drive
Cons
- Entry-level models can feel cheap inside
- Rear visibility isn’t the best
BMW iX
Bold and brilliant pure-electric premium SUV with long driving range
Other cars on this list (such as the Enyaq) offer more storage space than the iX, but the BMW claws back some ground with its impressive infotainment and suite of driver assistance technology. It's also tremendously refined. Opt for the range-topping M60 variant, and you’ll have 620hp at your disposal. That’s enough for a 0-62mph time of 3.8 seconds.
To find out more, read our full BMW iX review
Pros
- Outstanding refinement
- Longest SUV EV range
- Huge performance
Cons
- Divisive exterior styling
- Not as practical as others on this list
Hot hatch fun from an electric SUV
That's partially because it doesn't chase neck-snapping acceleration. Instead, a focus on saving weight and finessing the chassis leads to an SUV that's fun to drive without having to hammer it everywhere. Range and rear space aren't amazing, although it's to be expected from such a small SUV.
To find out more, read our full Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce review
Pros
- Joyful handling
- Strong acceleration
- Undercuts some rivals on price
Cons
- Cramped rear seats
- Low-rent interior
A Volkswagen ID.4 with more polish
It's also keenly priced and well-equipped, even in entry-level trim. Rear- and four-wheel drive are available, and we'd expect a couple of different battery sizes to be available soon enough. We still prefer the Enyaq to this, but we'd take an Explorer over the ID.4 and Q4.
To find out more, read our full Ford Explorer review
Pros
- Corners well
- Available with four-wheel drive
- Long real-world driving range
Cons
- Rivals have bigger boots
- Heavy reliance on touchscreen
Electric SUV FAQs
What is an electric SUV?
The term electric SUV typically refers to a tall vehicle with raised suspension and rugged styling that’s powered by an electric motor instead of a conventional petrol or diesel engine.
Traditionally, such vehicles would be four-wheel drive, but these days they’re often more about image and practicality than travelling off-road, so many models are sleek-looking two-wheel drive machines, making them more energy efficient.
SUVs are generally a good fit for electrification, because their larger size means there’s plenty of room for a big battery pack without compromising space for passengers and luggage too much.
If you don’t think a pure-electric SUV will suit your lifestyle – perhaps because you regularly travel long distances – a plug-in hybrid SUV might be worth considering instead. These have bigger batteries than normal hybrids but also still feature a petrol or diesel engine for worry-free on-the-go refuelling.
What is the best electric SUV for a family?
All of the electric SUVs on this list should be suitable for family life – that’s very much the main point of these vehicles, and our editor’s pick of the Kia EV6 has lots going for it in this respect.
We’d also highlight the Skoda Enyaq. Skoda always delivers strong value for money, and the brand’s ‘simply clever’ features are often a boon to family buyers as well. The Enyaq is roomy, easy to live with and comes with a more than acceptable driving range.
What’s the most reliable electric SUV?
Kia and Hyundai have a great reputation for building reliable vehicles, and their electric models are no different. Most Japanese brands are also exceptionally dependable. Furthermore, compared with petrol and diesel, EVs have far fewer moving parts and theoretically less to go wrong.
So although electrification is bringing reliability challenges in some areas – VW’s issues with software are well documented, for instance, and it can be tricky to get your head around battery degradation reducing driving range over time – electric SUVs shouldn’t be any less reliable than a conventional alternative.
As heavy vehicles they will be tougher on tyres, though, and no matter how good the SUV itself is, it still requires a reliable public charging network. And sadly there’s no doubt you’re more likely to come across a broken car charger than a broken petrol pump.
Which EV SUV has the most room?
For maximum passenger room you really want an electric SUV based on a bespoke EV platform. So if it’s space you’re after above all other things, the BMW iX and Kia EV9 are a great place to start.
Smaller and more affordable options include the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Skoda Enyaq, while smaller options include the Smart #1 and the latest Hyundai Kona Electric.
How much does it cost to charge an electric SUV?
That’s a ‘how long is a piece of string’ kind of question – there are a lot of variables.
Charging costs on the public charging network are much higher than on the cheapest home electricity tariffs, especially those created with car charging in mind. If charging at home it should only cost a few pounds, whereas public charging will be 10s of pounds.
The size of the battery will also make a difference. The bigger the battery pack, the most it will cost to fully charge it – just as a larger petrol tank will cost more to fill than a smaller one.
Which electric SUV has the longest range?
At present, it’s the BMW iX XDrive50 that takes the honours – with an official EV driving range of 380 miles per charge, it has the longest range of any electric SUV.
