Menu
The SUV is a classic car choice for those needing space, practicality, and a super safe car to drive and transport people. While petrol and diesel options remain the more popular version of these cars, their electric counterparts are growing in popularity thanks to their low running costs and good performance.
That said, there are now a lot of different electric SUVs to choose from, and not all of them are good. To help you make the right choice, Car Adviser has put together a guide to the best electric SUVs you can get in the UK.
These are the top 10 UK electric SUVs you can buy in 2023:
Many features make an electric SUV a great option. Despite being a practical and economical class of car, only some of the models are going to be the best option for you, as some are going to have limitations.
That’s why you need to consider a few different factors to ensure that you’re choosing one of the best electric SUVs you can get. By analysing each potential car against these criteria, you’ll be able to assess the suitability of the vehicle better.
One of the first things you should look for in an electric SUV is the car’s range per charge. Electric SUVs will be more practical the more mileage it has, go getting one with a good range will allow you to make longer or more frequent trips with the vehicle before it needs to be charged again.
If you find a car that you love that may have a poor range, see if it comes with fast charging. This way, the need to recharge frequently may not be as bad, as you’ll be able to hit the road again quickly.
In addition to the range of the electric motor, you should also consider the power. Some electric cars struggle compared to vehicles that use a traditional fuel type, meaning they may not accelerate well or have a low top speed.
When looking for the best electric SUV, you want a car that has good performance and offers a nice amount of power. Test any potential electric SUVs to see if they’re powerful enough to deal with hills; otherwise, you’ll find yourself with a vehicle that falls away from the traffic around it.
As these cars use the SUV body type, you also want to ensure that the vehicles are comfortable and provide enough space for passengers and luggage. The large motor in electric SUVs could take up some boot space, so be sure to check to ensure that it’s still a practical car for you.
The interior should also be nice, with comfortable seats, and the body should let in as little road noise as possible. Of course, electric SUVs are quieter, but the best options will also be able to cancel out the sound produced by other vehicles.
With these factors in mind, we here at Car Adviser have looked at the electric SUV market to find the best options for you.
Here’s a detailed look at the top 10 best electric SUVs you should consider.:
If you want an electric SUV that follows the general consensus, there’s no better model than the Kia Niro EV. Thought by many car reviewers as the best SUV option, the Kia Niro offers above-average mileage per charge of 285 miles and comes with meager running costs.
As a safe car, the Kia Niro is cheap to insure and is also made by a reliable manufacturer, meaning that breakdowns are unlikely and infrequent.
If you’re focused on sustainability, the Niro EV has an interior made from faux-leather seats and uses recycled materials throughout.
The car goes reasonably well, with good acceleration and responsive breaking, and can handle pretty well for a vehicle of this size. It’s got a good-sized boot offering 475 litres that should do the job and ample space for many passengers.
Other electric SUVs offer more space, but you’ll have to pay more than the Kia to get it. For most, the Kia Niro EV is the best electric SUV available.
Pros
Cons
Over the last few years, the models offered by Nissan have been a bit mediocre and forgettable. However, with the Ariya SUV, they’ve produced something uncharacteristically stylish and comfortable.
While most electric cars dive headfirst into neo-futuristic designs, the Nissan is rooted in tradition, using a wooden dashboard and cross-stitch seats that make the interior look elegant.
The car is also good under the hood, with a well-sized 63kWh motor that adds a nice amount of thrust when accelerating. The vehicle has a standard 250 miles range per charge, which jumps to over 300 miles with their higher-range version. This makes it an excellent SUV for darting family members around town, although it does have the potential to be suitable for a long-distance trip too.
The Ariya can be expensive if you get the version with all the trimmings, which is annoying. Still, even the entry-level option comes with heated seats, climate control, and some great safety features that make it a good choice for families.
Pros
Cons
The Hyundai Kona is similar to the Kia e-Niro, which shares many of its parts. The e-Niro is thought to be a good electric car, making the Kona electric a very suitable and reliable electric SUV too.
The Hyundai isn’t the most exciting vehicle to drive, a trend for electric cars that will be broken soon, but it’s an excellent option for those looking for a reliable electric vehicle. It has a great range of around 300, meaning that it will last a long time between changes, and you can also get a cheaper albeit weaker version that has 200 miles per charge, which is great if you’re going to use it to dart around town.
The Kona Electric is the fastest version of this model, out speeding both the petrol and diesel by reaching 60 miles per hour in around 7.5 seconds. It’s also quick to charge, as it only takes 75 minutes to reach 80% capacity when charged at a petrol station.
Hyundai also offers a long five-year warranty, which gives excellent peace of mind that the car is built to last.
Pros
Cons
The Q4 e-Tron SUV is Audi’s second attempt at making an electric car, and although its first attempt missed the mark in both price and performance, this is a much better option.
It has a decent range as long as you avoid the small 52kWh battery and also feels brisk to drive; however, the most considerable appeal with the Audi is the luxurious cockpit that’s filled to the brim with a lot of technology.
All versions of the Q4 e-Tron get the Virtual Cockpit as standard, one of the best infotainment systems in all of motoring.
You can get the Audi as a Sportback, but that still needs to do more to improve the driving, which isn’t dull but still lacks the sharpness that some other SUVs can deliver.
In fact, it’s best to get a standard version to use the large rear seating space and the large amount of cargo space in the 520 lire boot.
You should look out for how expensive the Q4 e-Tron SUV can be as you go up the trims. The top-range model is very costly at £67,000, although you can get the entry-level version at £43,000.
Pros
Cons
