The 10 fastest-depreciating SUVs

Model Pallas | List price £39,210 | 36k/3yr resale value £9675 | Price drop £29,535 | Retained value 24.7%

DS is positioned as a premium brand, which means you'll pay more for the DS 3 E-Tense than you would for some rival electric SUVs, including the Hyundai Kona Electric and Kia Niro EV. That's the case whether you buy on cash or on a PCP finance deal, where the DS 3's poor resale values mean that finance packages aren't very competitive. 

Sadly, depreciation is also heavy – indeed, the DS 3 E-Tense tops our list as Britain's fastest-depreciating SUV, being worth less than a quarter of its original value at the end of a typical three-year ownership period.

Despite that, there are some redeeming features to consider, such as a relatively comfortable ride which does a good job of taking the sting out of battered British B-roads and town centre potholes alike. The steering isn't as sharp as the Kia Niro EV's, though, and the DS leans heavily through corners. In short, driving the DS 3 E-Tense quickly isn't a rewarding experience.

There's a decent amount of space in the front of the DS, but the Niro EV again trumps it for rear space – plus, you can get more into the boot of the Kia than you can into the DS. Compounding the usability issue is the 3's relatively poor range, which, at 250 miles, isn't up there with the best in its class. 

Read our full DS 3 E-Tense review

Model GS 54kWh | List price £34,280 | 36k/3yr resale value £10,375 | Price drop £34,280 | Retained value 30.3%

While neither the petrol nor the electric versions of the Vauxhall Mokka perform well in terms of depreciation, it's by far the Mokka Electric which does the worst, being worth just 30% of its original purchase price once you've covered 36,000 miles over three years.

The Mokka Electric is an expensive choice among electric SUVs, but at least this GS model is the entry-level version, and at least it comes with most of the kit you're likely to want, including adaptive cruise control, keyless start and heated front seats.

Elsewhere, the Mokka Electric has an official range of up to 209 miles between charges, which is respectable, but we managed just 151 miles on a warm day in real-world conditions. Plus, the Mokka Electric's 134bhp electric motor doesn't deliver the sort of instant shove we've become used to in some rivals – the Kia Niro EV makes overtaking easier, for example.

Read our full Vauxhall Mokka Electric review

Model GT 54kWh | List price £37,450 | 36k/3yr resale value £11,750 | Price drop £25,700 | Retained value 31.4%

Used car buyers might rejoice that the Peugeot e-2008 loses so much value over three years of ownership, but it's not good news if you're the first owner. Fortunately, depreciation aside, there's lots to like about Peugeot's smallest electric SUV. Every version gets a 154bhp electric motor which offers peppy performance with instant acceleration, meaning you can beat most traffic away from junctions or make the most of gaps for overtaking.

The rival Smart #1 offers a more composed ride on the motorway, but around town the e-2008 has the edge thansk to its comfier low-speed ride. The Peugeot keeps its body in check while cornering, too, although its lightning-fast steering response can take some getting used to – as can Peugeot's i-Cockpit interior design, which has you loking over a small steering wheel at the controls rather than through it.

In terms of practicality, the Peugeot e-2008 misses out on the front boot, or 'frunk', of some electric SUVs, but the one in the back is just as big as in the regular 2008 – we managed to fit five carry-on suitcases below its parcel shelf.

Read our full Peugeot e-2008 review

Model Takumi | List price £51,145 | 36k/3yr resale value £16,075 | Price drop £35,070| Retained value 31.4%

Losing more than £35,000 of value is going to sting, and unfortunately, the Lexus UX300e does little in the way of recompense for that hurt. It can't take you very far on a full battery charge – managing just 170 miles in our real-world tests – and while performance off the line is impressive, it quickly tails off a higher speeds.

The 300e isn't especially inspiring to drive through corners, either, with plenty of body lean and light steering which gives you little sense of connection to the front wheels. Then there's the space on offer, which is tight. A couple of tall adults will feel pretty hemmed into the rear seats, while seating three back there will be a real struggle. And while you'll get a couple of holiday suitcases into the UX300e's boot, most electric SUV rivals can carry more.

There are some positives, such as the Lexus' decent driving position, and the fact that its infotainment system comes loaded with features, but the UX300e is simply behind the curve in so many other areas that it's difficult to recommend – even before you factor in depreciation.

Read our full Lexus UX300e review

Model Plus 69kWh | List price £52,410 | 36k/3yr resale value £17,200 | Price drop £35,210 | Retained value 32.8%

You'll pay more for an EC40 in entry-level form than you would for its key rival, the Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron, and you'll also be worse off in the long run if you choose the Volvo EC40, with more than £35,000 of value wiped out after just three years. 

Still, at least the EC40 is good to drive, with our preferred single motor, rear-wheel-drive models managing to get from 0-62mph in 7.3 seconds. Go for the dual-motor, four-wheel drive model, and that time comes down to 4.7 seconds – faster than the Kia EV6 can manage. Add in an official range of more than 300 miles and a fast charging speed of 130kW, and there's plenty to like about the EC40.

As you might be expecting in a coupé-styled SUV, rear head room is somewhat compromised, and both the Q4 Sportback e-tron and Skoda Enyaq Coupé are more accommodating if you regularly carry taller rear passengers.

Read our full Volvo EC40 review

Model 250+ AMG Line Premium Plus | List price £58,215 | 36k/3yr resale value £19,625 | Price drop £38,590 | Retained value 33.7%

The EQA has the dubious honour of being the car which loses the most value of anything on this list – and that's partly because you'll pay so much for it in the first place. Indeed, you'll pay more to put one on your driveway than you would for a Kia EV6, Smart #1 and Tesla Model Y – at least you get lots of kit for your money, though.

Some buyers will happily pay more for the EQA's range, because even the 250+ model can officially take you 345 miles between charges, which is more than the Genesis GV60, EV6 and Volvo EX40 can manage. And even though you're unlikely to match that figure in real-world conditions, it should still be more than enough for the needs of most families.

Speaking of families, we were impressed with the amount of oddment storage inside the EQA, and with the space available to rear-seat passengers, which is on par with that of the EX40. And while rivals have larger boots, the EQA can still hold a couple of holiday suitcases without any trouble, and getting them in and out should be easy since the boot has no loading lip at its entrance.

Read our full Mercedes EQA review

Model 77.4kWh [Comfort] | List price £54,855 | 36k/3yr resale value £18,550 | Price drop £36,305 | Retained value 33.8%

You might not have heard of Genesis before, but the Korean brand has been able to call on the combined resources and expertise of the Hyundai and Kia group to bring its products to market. And its smallest electric SUV, the GV60, is very impressive.

For a start, it's great to drive, with some models able to match a Porsche Taycan up to motorway speeds, and better composure through corners than you'd find in a Nissan Ariya or VW ID 4. Then there's the range, with lower-end models officially able to cover up to 321 miles between charges – almost as much as a Tesla Model Y in Long Range form.

The GV60 has a very theatrical interior, from its central crystal ball which spins upside down to reveal the drive selector when you step inside, to the (optional) digital door mirrors, which show a real-time image from a camera on screens rather than relying on traditional mirrors. 

Things are less good when it comes to interior space, with plenty of rivals offering more room for your luggage, as well as better rear head room. 

Read our full Genesis GV60 review

Model You 50kWh [Standard Range] | List price £27,650 | 36k/3yr resale value £9375 | Price drop £18,275 | Retained value 33.9%

This version of the Citroën ë-C4 comes with the larger of two battery options, giving you an official range of up to 256 miles between charges. That's likely enough for most drivers, but it's worth noting that the rival MG4 EV Extended Range can go further still. It's a shame that the e-C4 doesn't feel faster, either – indeed, its official 0-62mph sprint time of 9.2 seconds is slower than that of most rivals, despite this version receiving a more powerful 154bhp electric motor.

If comfort is your top priority, though, then the e-C4 is well worth looking at, because it does a good job of soaking up lumps and bumps. Indeed, it's better at cushioning you than rivals including the Smart #1 and Volkswagen ID 3. Those cars match the e-C4 for boot space, with each being able to carry five suitcases – even if the Kia Niro EV can up that figure to seven.

Elsewhere, we like the e-C4's interior, which is one of Citroën's best efforts yet in terms of quality, but it's worth noting that You trim does without the built-in sat-nav that most other versions of the e-C4 get.

Read our full Citroën ë-C4 review

Model Vision 71.4kWh | List price £49,910 | 36k/3yr resale value £17,825| Price drop £32,085 | Retained value 35.7%

This Vision version of Toyota's electric SUV comes loaded with kit, but it's also the model in the line-up which will depreciate faster than any other – losing more than £32,000 worth of value in three years and 36,000 miles of ownership.

At least the bZ4X is decent to drive. This big and heavy electric SUV goes around corners better than the Volkswagen ID 4, and even does a better job of braking than that car. Refinement is decent, too, with less suspension and road noise than even the big-selling Tesla Model Y.

So far so good, then, and it's a similar story in the rear seats, where your passengers will find they have more leg room to stretch out in than most other rivals. And while some electric SUVs – such as the Kia EV6 – have bigger boots, we still managed to fit eight carry-on suitcases below the parcel shelf.

Read our full Toyota bZ4X review

Model 1.5 BlueHDi Etoile EAT8 | List price £44,600 | 36k/3yr resale value £16,050 | Price drop £28,550 | Retained value 36.0%

That the DS 7 will cost you less than premium-badged SUV rivals including the Audi Q3 goes in its favour, but it's a shame that it'll be worth so much less than the Q3 by the time you come to sell it.

That's especially true of this diesel-engined version, which is likely the model of choice for high-mileage drivers who will spend a good amount of time on the motorway. Indeed, this is where the DS 7 feels most at home, where its suspension does a decent job of soaking up lumps and bumps. Turning away from the motorway, though, and the DS 7 is less composed than most family SUVs when you hustle it along a country road.

Inside, the DS 7's fixtures and fittings are certainly eye-catching, but the quality is hit and miss, and some of the high-end materials used – such as the 'chrome' around the dashboard – is actually plastic. Both the Q3 and the Volvo XC40 offer better all-round quality.

Read our full DS 7 review

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