Best electric SUVs 2025 – the top 10, plus the ones to avoid
Thanks to big advancements in battery and charging technology, the best electric SUVs are now as usable as they are desirable. Here we name the top 10 – and reveal the models to avoid...
Whether it's because some qualify for the newly announced Government grant, or because there are more than ever to choose from, the market for electric SUVs is positively booming. And running one can make excellent sense if you can charge it up at home or at work, because you can take advantage of the best energy tariffs to make running an electric SUV very cheap.
The best electric SUVs do far more than just offer the promise of low running costs, though. They must also be practical, with room enough for your family and anything they might wish to bring with them, and interiors which will keep everyone comfortable on long trips. And while we're not looking for sports car handling here, the best electric SUVs should also be good to drive, with potent acceleration, decent cornering ability and a ride which will soak up the worst lumps and bumps with ease.
Our expert team of road testers has spent hundreds of hours driving every electric SUV on the market, assessing them over thousands of miles, both back-to-back against key rivals on public roads, and at our private test track. The result of that in-depth testing is the list you see here, where we're revealing Britain's best electric SUVs. Remember, if any of the cars here take your fancy, you can follow the links through to our full reviews to learn more about each model, or see the latest discounts available through our New Car Deals service.
We've also named the electric SUV we think you should avoid, and answered some of the most common questions about electric SUV ownership at the bottom of this page.
Remember too that we have seperate articles for the best electric cars, best small electric SUVs and best small electric cars.
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Strengths
- Attractive entry price
- Long range (especially in the, er, Long Range)
- Comfortable ride
Weaknesses
- Rivals have more versatile rear seats
- Not very agile
- Monthly PCP repayments are fairly high
That the Kia EV3 tops our list of the best electric SUVs shouldn't really come as much surprise. After all, its distant forebear, the Kia e-Niro, was our overall Car of the Year back in 2019. And that car's successor, the Kia EV6, repeated the feat again in 2022. So with the EV3, Kia has had plenty of expertise to call on.
And it's put all that knowledge to good use, because the EV3 mixes practicality with performance, and refinement with running costs to make a truly tempting product. It's got more space for your rear-seat passengers to stretch out than the rival Jeep Avenger Electric or Mini Aceman, plus a big boot. In our tests, we managed to fit six carry-on suitcases inside – the same as the larger Skoda Elroq.
Then there's the driving position, which places you high above the road with good visibility. It drives like a proper SUV, too, with a ride which deals well with battered British B-roads. Even in Standard Range form, the EV3's range will be enough for most buyers, at an official 270 miles. If you feel like you need more than that, then the Long Range model can officially cover 375 miles, which is more than most rivals.
While you'll pay more to put an EV3 on your driveway than you would for some of the other cars on this list, we still think it represents outstanding value for money when you factor in how much equipment comes as standard.
Entry-level Air versions of the EV3, in both Standard Range and Long Range forms, qualify for the recently announced Government grant for electric vehicles, but higher-end trim levels breach the £37,000 threshold for assistance.
"I like quiet electric cars, and Kia has made the EV3 exceptionally quiet – you’ll hear less wind and road noise than you would in either the Mini Aceman or Smart #1." – Will Nightingale, Reviews Editor
Read our in-depth Kia EV3 review
Strengths
- Comfortable yet sharp to drive
- Very roomy in the back
- Well priced and equipped
Weaknesses
- Rear seats don't do anything clever
- No physical climate controls
- Heat pump costs extra
The Skoda Elroq is relatively late to the electric SUV party, but by waiting and tweaking the formula of the larger Skoda Enyaq, the Czech brand has gotten things just right.
As we’ve come to expect of Skoda, the Elroq majors on practicality, with plenty of space for a six-footer to sit behind a driver of similar height without feeling hemmed in. The boot is a good size, too, and the reasonably priced Transport Package helps you to make the most of its space.
In town, the Elroq’s small turning circle and nippy acceleration help you to make the most of any overtaking opportunity, while it’s also a composed motorway cruiser. Its brakes are more consistent in feel than those of the rival Renault Scenic, too. Plus, with 360 miles of official range, longer trips are a doddle.
Then there’s the price, with even range-topping versions undercutting rivals significantly. That price helps most versions of the Elroq to qualify for the Government's electric car grant.
"I was impressed with the interior quality of the Elroq, because it manages to feel more plush than its price would suggest. The steering wheel feels premium in your hands, too" – Stuart Milne, Digital Editor
Read our in-depth Skoda Elroq review
Strengths
- Good to drive
- Tempting pricing
- Practical boot
Weaknesses
- Rear seats are tight for adults
- Some rivals have longer warranties
This small electric SUV is based on our reigning What Car? Car of the Year, the Renault 5 – and as such, our expectations of it are high. Thankfully, it delivers, with a comfortable, well-controlled ride, peppy performance and a one-pedal driving mode which makes driving in stop-start traffic easy.
The official range of up to 247 miles might not be as much as the Kia EV3 can manage, but it's still competitive next to rivals including the Jeep Avenger Electric and Vauxhall Mokka Electric. And when it comes to interior space, you can fit more into the boot of the Renault 4 than you can into those models.
Taller adults will find that they have plenty of room to stretch out in the front of the Renault 4, but while rear seat leg room is impressive, head room is far tighter, and taller passengers will find that their heads brush the roof lining.
Not only does the 4 undercut most rivals on price, but all versions should also qualify for the Government's electric car grant scheme.
"When testing the Kona Electric, I managed to fit six carry-on suitcases below its parcel shelf, with space left over for a couple of soft bags." – Lawrence Cheung, New Cars Editor
Read our in-depth Renault 4 review
Strengths
- Good to drive
- Smart interior
- Great safety rating
Weaknesses
- Slightly choppy low-speed ride
- Small boot
- Rivals can travel further on a charge
Contrary to what its name suggests, the #3 is the second model to join Smart's revitalised line-up. And contrary to what you might think from looking at it, it's more than just a #1 with a lower roofline.
Although they share many components, the #3 is longer and wider than its sibling. As a result, rather than being compromised by its sleeker shape, it improves on the already excellent #1 in useful ways.
That extra length means a larger boot, which makes the #3 a more practical proposition for families. What's more, it still has plenty of space in the rear seats and an interior that's made from high-quality materials and packed with tech.
The #3 is also even better to drive than the #1 and has a slightly longer range (283 miles, officially, in our recommended trim). And yet the #3 is only slightly pricier than its sibling – and it's cheaper than coupé SUV rivals such as the Skoda Enyaq Coupé and Volvo EC40. Entry-level versions of the #3 qualify for the recently announced Government grant.
"I'd recommend paying extra for Premium trim, because you not only get the most efficient motor and largest battery, but also some desirable extra kit." – Will Nightingale, Reviews Editor
Read our in-depth Smart #3 review
Strengths
- Long range between charges
- Cheaper than many rivals
- Five-star Euro NCAP safety rating
Weaknesses
- Rear-seat versatility could be better
- Spongy brake-pedal feel
- Not particularly quick
When we first drove the latest Scenic, it was let down by an overly firm ride, but Renault has since retuned the suspension, and it now does a fine job of keeping things comfortable.
True, you do pay for this with more body lean in corners than you get with some rivals. However, there's plenty of grip and accurate steering allows you to place the front end exactly where you want it.
A spacious and high-quality interior that features several thoughtful touches that make family life easier adds to the Scenic's appeal. And if you go for the bigger battery, you get an official range of up to 379 miles.
Entry-level Techno versions of the Scenic qualify for the Government's electric car grant.
"The Scenic's standard panoramic glass roof can be turned opaque at the touch of a button. But as a parent, I think the best thing about it is the way it's divided into individually controllable segments so you can keep your children cool on hot days by covering the back seats in shade, while you enjoy the sun in the front." – Steve Huntingford, Editor
Read our in-depth Renault Scenic review
Strengths
- Wonderful interior
- Extremely quiet on the move
- Great infotainment system
Weaknesses
- Boot isn't huge
- Rear space is average
- Optional cameras not as good as traditional door mirrors
With the GV60, upmarket Korean brand Genesis took the underpinnings of the excellent Kia EV6 and added an extra layer of polish.
The GV60 not only offers a generous range of up to 321 miles and ultra-fast charging (meaning a 10-80% top up can take as little as 20 minutes), but is also very refined and has a wonderfully classy interior.
True, you’ll pay more for the GV60 than you would for the EV6, but you get lots of goodies for your money; for example, all GV60s come with wireless phone charging, dual-zone climate control and adaptive cruise control.
"I reckon you'll be surprised by the crispness of the GV60's handling; it certainly leans less through corners than rivals from Audi and Hyundai." – Steve Huntingford, Editor
Read our in-depth Genesis GV60 review
Strengths
- Great to drive
- Plush, high-quality interior
- Great safety rating
Weaknesses
- Small boot
- Slightly choppy low-speed ride
- Efficiency could be better
Not so long ago, Smart only made tiny city cars which had poor ranges, whereas now the brand offers two of the best small electric SUVs on sale.
Perhaps surprisingly, the #1's long lists of attributes include serious performance – in fact, in our tests, it actually beat its official 0-60mph sprint time, needing just 5.8sec. That's faster than the similarly priced BYD Atto 3 can manage, or the more expensive Kia Niro EV.
Don't think the #1 is all go and no show, either, because its interior looks and feels premium, and a couple of six-footers won't feel cramped on its rear seats. Only the boot is a little disappointing, unless you move the sliding rear seats forward and sacrifice some leg room.
"The Smart #1 is a smooth and comfortable motorway cruiser; I'd happily cover big miles behind the wheel of this car." – Darren Moss, Deputy Editor
Read our in-depth Smart #1 review
Strengths
- Good to drive
- Great infotainment system
- Comparatively well priced
Weaknesses
- Not as fast as rivals
- Audi Q6 e-tron is quieter
- Shorter range than rivals
Aside from some styling details and the fact the combustion engine has been replaced with an electric motor, you’d be hard pushed to tell the BMW iX3 apart from its combustion-engined sibling, the BMW X3.
That’s no bad thing, though, because it means you’re getting a classy and spacious SUV with, among other things, a large boot and one of the best infotainment systems you’ll find in any new car.
Combine those attributes with a supple ride, assured handling and a respectable range of up to 285 miles between charges, and the iX3 is easy to recommend. Just be aware that some rivals are faster – both in terms of acceleration and how swiftly they can charge.
"While it isn't as vast inside as the larger BMW iX, I still have enough space to sit behind myself in the iX3, despite being 6'5." – Chris Haining, Sub-Editor
Read our in-depth BMW iX3 review
Strengths
- Extremely practical
- 85 version has an impressive range
- Comfortable and easy to drive
Weaknesses
- Elroq is cheaper than entry-level car and goes almost as far
- You'll want to add options, such as a heat pump
- Brake pedal isn’t that easy to use smoothly
Skoda's first bespoke electric car is practical and good to drive, with a comfortable ride and reassuring handling.
You get a lot of kit, too; even the cheapest model comes with dual-zone climate control, 19in alloy wheels and cruise control. However, the range of this ‘60’ version is on the short side, so we recommend upgrading to the '85', which can officially cover up to 348 miles between charges.
For the money, the Enyaq’s interior quality is good, with everything feeling built to cope with the rough and tumble of family life.
"I'm not usually a fan of touchscreen infotainment systems, but the Enyaq's is helped by having five customisable icons on the top that take you directly to your favourite functions." – Oliver Young, Reviewer
Read our in-depth Skoda Enyaq review
Strengths
- Comfortable and composed
- Classy interior – particularly in Ultra spec
- Competitive entry-level price against rivals
Weaknesses
- That entry version has a fairly short range
- Distracting controls
- Rear space is merely okay
Volvo's smallest electric SUV counts the Hyundai Kona Electric, Kia Niro EV and Smart #1 among its key rivals, and impresses by offering comfort and luxury for a relatively modest price.
Indeed, despite undercutting some of those cars, the EX30 is properly upmarket inside, with materials that look and feel expensive. Meanwhile, standard kit is plentiful; it includes adaptive cruise control, a powered tailgate, heated front seats and dual-zone climate control.
We'd stick with cheaper, Single Motor Extended Range versions of the EX30, which should provide enough performance for most families, yet will also quell your range anxiety. Indeed, with an official range of up to 295 miles from its 64kWh battery, it'll get you farther between charges than the #1 or Jeep Avenger. And when you do need to stop, a 10-80% top-up can take as little as 26 minutes.
With a starting price of £33,060 at the time of writing, the EX30 qualifies for the Government's electric car grant.
"If I could add one thing to the EX30 that Volvo doesn't offer, it would be a head-up display, because you currently have to look at the central infotainment screen to check your speed." – George Hill, Used Cars Writer
Read our in-depth Volvo EX30 review
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And the electric SUV to avoid...
This electric SUV is comfortable and has a strong record for reliability, but its short range, slow charging and frustrating infotainment stop it from being anything other than an also-ran. Read our review
How to choose the best electric SUV
Fancy cutting your motoring costs while also doing your bit for the planet? An electric SUV is one of the best ways to start. You’ll retain much of the family friendly practicality which you'd expect from an SUV, but add in the low running costs of an electric car – especially if you can charge it up at home.
But is an electric SUV right for you, and what do you need to think about before deciding on one? Here, we run through the considerations you should make when shopping for a new electric SUV.
How much electric range do you need?
These days, most electric SUVs will officially be able to take you around 250 miles before needing to recharge, but it’s worth bearing in mind that you’re unlikely to see that figure in real-world conditions. That’s because a myriad of different factors, including weather, how you drive and the state of your battery, can determine how much range you’ll actually get.
For example, when we tested a Volvo EX30 Single Motor Extended Range in 2024, we managed 242 miles of range in real-world conditions, versus the car’s official range of 295 miles. Indeed, our testing has uncovered variances of up to 18% between an electric car’s official range, and the range you’ll be able to do. And that’s worth bearing in mind if you’re in the market for one.
Can you charge up at home?
If you’re going to make the most of an electric SUV, you’ll want to make sure that you can charge it up both easily and cost-effectively. The best way to do this is at home, since you’ll be able to take advantage of some low-cost energy tariffs, in combination with a wallbox charging point. Some of the most advanced chargers will even let you sell surplus energy from your car’s battery back into the national grid at peak times.
If you can’t charge up at home, look instead for a charging point at your place of work. This won’t let you take advantage of cheaper tariffs, but can still be convenient.
If you don’t have access to either of those options, and will instead be reliant on the public charging network, then you’ll need to see where your local charging stations are, what speeds they offer, and which providers they’re with. You can use apps such as Zap-Map to see chargers in your local area. It’s worth scouting these out before you buy your new electric car to check that they’re going to work for you.
How much boot space do you need?
Like petrol or diesel-engined SUVs, electric SUVs traditionally have more boot space than a conventional family car, and that’s part of the reason why buyers love them. Still, you should bear in mind that some electric SUVs sacrifice boot space because of where their batteries are located. It’s worth checking that you can fit everything you’d like to inside of the boot, so it might be worth taking a pushchair or your golf clubs along to any test drive.
While you’re there, it’s also worth checking if the boot has any underfloor storage area to help stow away your charging cables, since these can quickly become dirty and difficult to manage if they’re just left loose in your boot. Some electric SUVs have dedicated storage areas for your charging cables, or might even have a small separate storage area under the bonnet. This is sometimes referred to as a ‘frunk’.
Do you need to tow?
Many buyers of SUVs want their cars to be able to tow, whether it’s a trailer to help take items to your local recycling centre, or something more substantial like a caravan. And while it’s true that early examples of electric cars weren’t up to much mustard when it came to towing, today’s electric SUVs are every bit as competent as their petrol or diesel-engined equivalents.
For a few years now we’ve included electric SUVs in our annual Tow Car Awards, and recently we’ve broken them down into two categories – the best for towing up to 1200kg, the equivalent of a small caravan, and the best for towing more than that.
We also assess what impact towing has on the range of an electric SUV by seeing how far it can travel in real-world conditions while also towing. As you might expect, towing has a marked impact on how far an electric SUV can travel, with our results showing shortfalls of as much as 60% compared with the range the same car could travel when it wasn’t towing.
What charging speed do I need?
It’s worth thinking about the speed your new electric SUV will be able to charge at – and that’s especially true if you’ll be relying on the public charging network. Any electric SUV you’re thinking of buying will have a clearly stated maximum charging speed, and that’s something we publish in our in-depth reviews too.
While charging speeds will vary across the electric SUV class, you should typically aim for a car that’s capable of charging up at least at 100kW, which is usually enough to ensure a 10-80% top-up of the battery in around half an hour.
Bear in mind that the speed your new car can charge at is only half the story, though. The other half is finding a charging point which is able to deliver that speed. Fortunately, your car’s own navigation system should be able to show nearby chargers and their speeds, and some can even plan your route with a charging spot included. You can also use apps such as Zap-Map to show chargers in your local area.
Should I buy an electric SUV
Buy one if:
- You want to lose practicality by going electric
- You have easy access to charging
- You can benefit from the Government’s grant for electric vehicles
Don’t buy one if:
- You can’t charge up at home or at work
- You regularly need to tow something heavy, like a caravan
- You regularly cover hundreds of miles in a day
How we choose the best electric SUVs
In order to determine the best electric SUVs on sale, we thoroughly test every new model, and continually reassess the entire class as we go. That means our list of the top models stays up to date with our latest verdicts.
Our ratings are based on data we receive from thousands of motorists who complete our annual reader survey telling us about the qualities they prioritise when buying a new car. In the latest annual reader survey, electric SUV owners told us the three most important criteria when choosing their car were:
The absence of an engine in electric SUVs means that most are very quiet. However, that comparative calm does mean you’re more likely to pick up on any road, wind and tyre noise the car emits.
To test how quiet an electric SUV is, we measure the sound inside each car at speeds of 30mph and 70mph. Along with this, our testers carry out further subjective tests to locate where the noise is coming from and in what conditions it might present itself. We also factor in how smooth a car is to drive.
Our annual Reliability Survey allows us to create a unique reliability rating for many electric SUVs, because we ask thousands of car owners to tell us about how reliable their cars have been over the past 24 months. For every car that experienced a fault, we ask in what area the issue occurred, plus how much it cost to repair and how long it spent in the workshop.
Electric SUVs are often premium models, with commensurate price tags, so it’s particularly important that the interior is a nice and welcoming place to be. This is why we examine the perceived quality of the interior – how soft and tactile the materials feel to the touch and the standard of fit and finish. We also assess how robust and well assembled the interior feels.
We don’t stop there, though. Every car is subject to a comprehensive set of tests and assessments. You can read more about that in our how we test cars feature.
FAQs
The electric SUV that can travel farthest on a single charge is the Fisker Ocean, which (according to its maker) can manage up to 440 miles in Ocean One form. That huge range would be enough to get you from London to Glasgow without stopping – and you'd still have enough left over for pottering around town. However, since that car is likely to be a very rare sight on public roads, it's also worth looking at the Mercedes EQS SUV, which has an official range of up to 365 miles in 450 4Matic form.
True, you're unlikely to match the official figures in real-world conditions. However, that's true of all electric cars, and the reason why we drive a selection of models until they die as part of our summer and winter range tests.
The results of our annual What Car? Reliability Survey show that electric SUVs can be very reliable, with the Tesla Model Y proving to be Britain's most dependable electric SUV according to our latest results. Of the very few models which went wrong, most were fixed for free and 75% were back on the road within a day. At the other end of the scale, the Vauxhall Mokka Electric is the least reliable electric SUV according to our results.
Although Toyota is well known for its hybrid and plug-in hybrid models, the Japanese brand was relatively late to the party with a modern electric SUV. However, in 2022 it launched the Toyota bZ4X.
Although it doesn't feature on our list of the very best electric SUVs, the bZ4X is still a three-star car that's good to drive and benefits from a spacious interior. On the other hand, it can't charge as fast as the rival Kia EV6 and Tesla Model Y.
It's very likely that some electric SUVs will be able to travel up to 500 miles between charges in the future, because batteries are continuing to get larger and the technology itself is advancing.
Don't expect an electric SUV with a 500-mile range to be cheap, though – indeed, such models are likely to be among the most expensive around.
To keep costs down, it might be better to consider an electric SUV which has a shorter range, but which can charge quickly. The Kia EV6, for example, can charge at a peak rate of 238kW.
The Jeep Avenger is the UK's best cheap electric SUV, because it's decent to drive and has the benefit of being able to go off-road. Yes, it's not the most spacious electric SUV and doesn't have the longest range, but even entry-level models come loaded with kit, including climate and cruise controls, rear parking sensors and a 10.25in infotainment touchscreen. Indeed, we named the Jeep Avenger Electric as the Best Small Electric SUV for Value at our most recent What Car? Awards.
