Best electric SUVs 2023

The BMW iX is beautifully appointed inside, mixing the visual appeal of the rival Mercedes EQC with the build quality of the Audi E-tron. The result is an interior which you won’t mind spending lots of time in.

In addition, the iX has more space for your luggage than some other electric SUVs, plus it’s extremely quiet on the move.

Go for the xDrive40 version and you’ll have 321bhp to play with, plus an official range of up to 257 miles between charges – but it’s worth noting that some rivals beat this figure by some margin. The more expensive xDrive5 variant does better, with 284 miles of range, and 516bhp.

It may not be the groundbreaking electric car that its predecessor (the Kia e-Niro) was, but the Niro EV is still a fine choice. 

Thanks to its efficiency, it’ll go a long way between top-ups, with all versions able to cover up to 285 miles between charges, according to official figures.

You’ll be comfortable while the Niro EV covers that distance, too, thanks to a good amount of interior space, and a ride that does a good job of polishing out the worst lumps and bumps in the road – especially at higher speeds.

It’s just a shame that the Niro EV charges quite slowly compared with most of its rivals.

You might not associate hybrid specialist Toyota with building fully electric cars, and indeed the bZ4X is the first modern electric SUV the brand has made. 

Fortunately, it’s good to drive and reasonably priced, and even comes with the reassurance of a 10-year battery warranty – if you take your car to a Toyota dealer for an annual health check.

We think the bZ4X is at its best in front-wheel drive form and in mid-run Motion trim. This gets you useful kit including automatic wipers, a heated driver’s seat and a powered tailgate, plus an official range of up to 317 miles.

This Model Y isn't as good as the closely related Tesla Model 3 saloon; its ride can be unsettled and it's quite noisy. 

There are still plenty of upsides to driving one, though – not least that every version comes with a long range. Indeed, even entry-level versions can take you up to 267 miles according to official figures, while Long Range models can cover up to 331 miles. Of course, you’re unlikely to achieve those figures in real-world use.

Every Model Y feels fast, too, and driving one gives you access to Tesla’s brilliant Supercharger network, which offers fast and convenient charging when you need to replenish your batteries.

Audi's Q4 e-tron is temptingly priced for a premium-badged electric SUV, plus it’s a very comfortable and classy choice. 

Your family will like it, too, because there’s more head and legroom for taller passengers than you’ll find in some rivals, plus the boot is large enough to carry anything they might wish to bring with them. It managed to swallow seven carry-on suitcases in our tests.

However, if you’re not so worried about the emblem on the nose of your car, we’d urge you to look at the Skoda Enyaq as well; it’s similar in a lot of respects yet should cost you less to buy.

Skoda's first bespoke electric car is practical and good to drive, with a comfortable ride and relaxed handling.

 You get a lot of kit for your money, too. Indeed, the cheapest models come with dual-zone climate control, 19in alloy wheels and cruise control. 

These ‘60’ versions are well priced, and you’ll pay less for one of them than you would for smaller alternatives such as the Kia Niro EV.

Don’t think a bargain price means bargain materials inside, though. On the contrary, for the money, the Enyaq’s interior feels very good, and everything feels built to last the rough and tumble of family life.

Even though the Hyundai Ioniq 5 finishes behind its sibling cars from Genesis and Kia here, don’t discount it – it's a cracking electric SUV.

Combining standout looks with a good official range of up to 298 miles, the Ioniq 5 also has soft suspension that does a good job of smoothing out bumps around town, and its steering that’s accurate enough to let you place the car with confidence.

Those peaceful cruising manners mean long journeys won’t be a chore, and your family won’t grumble in the back, either; they’ll have lots of space to stretch out, even if they’re tall.

Speaking of sister cars to the Genesis GV60, one of those is the Kia EV6, which we rate so highly that we made it our overall Car of the Year in 2022.

Even though it doesn’t top this list, the Kia EV6 remains a standout electric SUV, with a fantastic range of up to 328 miles and ultra-fast charging that means you could be topped up and on your way within 20 minutes.

The EV6’s interior feels suitably upmarket and all versions come loaded with kit. That’s impressive on its own, but even more so when you consider that the EV6 is competitively priced – even against rivals which offer shorter ranges.

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 BMW X3 sibling.

That’s no bad thing, because it means you’re getting a classy and practical SUV with, among other things, a decent boot and one of the best infotainment systems you’ll find in any new car.

Combine those attributes with a comfortable ride, assured handling and a long range of up to 285 miles between charges, and the iX3 is easy to recommend. And despite having a premium badge on its bonnet, you’ll pay less for the iX3 than you would for some rivals.

With the GV60, upmarket Korean brand Genesis took the underpinnings of the excellent Kia EV6 and added an extra layer of polish to create something truly special. 

The GV60 not only offers a generous range of up to 321 miles and ultra-fast charging (meaning a 10-80% top up could take as little as 20 minutes) but is also extremely refined and has a wonderful interior. 

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.

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