The Must-Have Electric SUVs: A Glance into 2024's Top Picks
The electric SUV market is booming, and with green ethos now firmly entrenched in automotive culture, the era of electrification is no longer an afterthought—it's the frontier.
Here, we navigate you through the top 10 electric SUV models set to redefine what it means to drive, charging into the future with power, innovation, and eco-conscious designs paving the way.
Britain’s love for SUVs is unwavering, and as the new car market rapidly embraces electrification, manufacturers are rolling out an impressive line-up to cater to this demand, especially in the family-friendly electric SUV segment.
This guide meticulously culls through the line-up, propelling the best that the wheel world has to offer right to your driveway.
Why Electric SUVs are Now More Appealing
The transition to electric not only champions environmental stewardship but also significantly reduces running costs, making them a compelling choice for both private buyers and fleet sectors.
Companies committed to a more sustainable fleet can reap substantial Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax savings, adding an economic incentive to their planet-friendly decisions.
The Top 5 Electric SUVs You Can Buy Today:
1. Hyundai Kona Electric
Hyundai clearly took customer and road tester feedback to heart when designing the latest Kona. The original car was undoubtedly a decent one, but the Korean brand has made great efforts to not carry its few flaws over to the new model.
As a result of this, there’s now increased space inside the new Kona, and an abundance of slick new tech makes it much more modern and premium in feel. We like this small SUV so much that we crowned it our 2023 Car of the Year.
While there’s also the option of combustion and hybrid power, the fully-electric Hyundai Kona is our pick of the bunch. Not only is it the most economical to run, the near-silent powertrain means it’s brilliantly refined, too.
Underneath, the Kona Electric is now based on the same K3 platform as the Kia Niro EV, and it’s available with the choice of two batteries. The smaller 48kWh unit claims up to 234 miles of range, which isn’t class-leading but should prove enough for most drivers.
If you cover long distances on a regular basis, the larger 65kWh battery boosts the Kona’s range to 319 miles. Whichever version you choose, the standard-fit heat pump will help the Hyundai to achieve similar numbers in the real world.
2. Hyundai Ioniq 5
As the pioneer of Hyundai’s bold new EV lineup, the Ioniq 5 still stands out by a country mile compared to almost anything else on the road — even other Hyundai's.
Its blocky bodystyle, 8-bit lighting and abundance of technology make it feel like something out of a sci-fi film, but it’s far from being a gimmicky car.
There are two batteries available, a 58kWh and 77.4kWh unit, and these claim up to 238 and 315 miles of range respectively.
The Ioniq 5’s tall stature makes for plenty of room inside for passengers and cargo, too, so it performs well as a family car.
There’s plenty of excellent technology features and soft-touch materials which make things feel impressively upmarket for a car at this price point.
One of the few real downsides that we found was a lack of driver engagement — this two-tonne SUV is certainly quick enough but it’s not exactly thrilling.
That being said, the hotter Ioniq 5 N has now arrived, and that should appeal to the more spirited driver.
3. Kia EV6
With a battery range of more than 300 miles and a 350kW rapid charging capability, the Kia EV6 is a great choice for those looking for a long-distance EV.
The EV6 is the sportier member of the family of cars that are built on the e-GMP platform, and it offers plenty of punchy performance as a result. In fact, the 577bhp EV6 GT is the fastest Kia on sale.
Performance doesn’t come at the cost of practicality, though, as the EV6 offers a number of clever touches to make life easier for passengers.
One of these is the Vehicle-to-Load function; this allows the car to be used as a power-outlet via a built-in three-pin socket - perfect for charging devices while away on holiday.
We found the EV6 to be predictably firmer than its Ioniq 5 and GV60 siblings during testing, but it certainly isn’t uncomfortable. The ride can be a bit fidgety on more urban streets, but when it hits the open roads the Kia becomes a highly capable cruiser.
4. BMW iX1
While some of BMW’s EVs are borderline ostentatious when it comes to appearance, the iX1 takes a more humble approach.
Sharing the same basic design as the combustion-powered X1, this all-electric mid-size SUV packs the usual high level of technology and driving enjoyment that you’d expect from a BMW, but adorns it with a much more approachable design — and price.
While an M Sport variant of the iX1 is available, the base xLine version still handles spirited driving surprisingly well for a car in this class, and it does a stellar job of hiding its considerable kerb weight.
When you want things to calm down a bit, the cabin is very refined with little noise intrusion. The tradeoff for this BMW’s sporty nature, though, is a rather firm ride.
5. Skoda Enyaq
In typical Skoda fashion, the Enyaq does an excellent job of combining ease-of-use, practicality and build quality all within a reasonably-priced package.
Even in base 60 guise, the Enyaq offers up to 247 miles of range on the WLTP combined cycle, and it can be rapid-charged from 10 to 80 per cent in as little as 35 minutes.
Move up to the 85 and its larger battery pack will boost this range up to 340 miles. Inside every variant of the Enyaq, you will find plenty of room for up to five passengers and their luggage, making this a top choice of family car.
There’s a generous helping of standard equipment, too, including a Virtual Cockpit digital instrument display.
In conclusion, the road to electrification is no longer a distant dream but an exciting present, with electric SUVs leading the charge towards a more sustainable, fuel-efficient, and technologically advanced automotive landscape.
As these models demonstrate, the journey to a greener planet doesn't require compromise, offering both style and substance for today’s discerning driver!
Check out Express Vehicle Contracts latest Electric SUV top deals here.
