Buyers prefer SUVs to passenger cars; it's safe to presume that's no longer a fad. While cars like the Tesla Model 3 have been instrumental in the electric vehicle's rise, the electric SUV market will no doubt expand and proliferate as mainstream buyers go EV. There's good reason — beyond the obvious federal tax credit incentive — manufacturers have been positioning many of their not-particularly-off-road-ready-or-utilitarian inaugural electric vehicles as SUVs; it's what people will pay for.
But how do you choose the best of this growing bunch? Well, for us at Gear Patrol, evaluating electric SUVs is much like evaluating combustion or hybrid SUVs. We look for on-road and off-road capability as well as practical cargo space, premium feel and appearance. Swap in range for fuel economy. And overall value is paramount.
The results? Here are the best electric SUVs we've driven.
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Best Off-Road Electric SUV: Rivian R1S
Steve Mazzucchi
Horsepower: 835 (4-motor)
Torque: 908 lb-ft (4-motor)
Top Range: 390 miles (2-motor)
Starting MSRP: $78,000
What is it: The R1S is Rivian's second vehicle built off its skateboard EV platform after the R1T pickup. It's a three-row SUV that can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 3.0 seconds and deliver up to 15 inches of ground clearance.
What we liked: The R1S may be the most versatile electric SUV on the market. It's super-quick with responsive handling on the road. It's supremely capable off-road, while being a bit more nimble than the longer R1T. The spacious interior allows for either ample gear storage or up to five kids in car seats.
What to watch out for:The R1S is pricey — only the truly barebones model falls below the $80,000 threshold for a federal tax credit. Our tester also found the infotainment to be complicated and fussy, and without Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, you can't bypass it.
What We Liked: The Ioniq 5 is super-quick in AWD spec, with a 0-60 mph time of around 4.5 seconds. But Hyundai gave it a softer tuning, yielding a smooth, comfortable ride. Hyundai also makes great use of the E-GMP dedicated EV platform with a spacious interior.
What to Watch Out For: The Ioniq 5 looks less avant-garde in person. But its "parametric pixel," retro-futuristic design language may not be to every buyer's taste. The pop-out door handles can be kind of annoying, too.
What is it: The iX is BMW's midsize electric crossover. It can handle five passengers over two rows of seating. It comes standard with all-wheel-drive.
What we liked:The iX lives up to BMW's history of producing "the ultimate driving machines" with impressive quickness and handling for such a large vehicle. The iX also has an excellent active regen feature that coordinator's with the cruise control's radar to offer the right amount of regen based on the cars in front.
What to watch out for:Modern BMW design language can be polarizing. And with its slim lights and prodigious kidney snout, the iX will fall into the polarizing category.
What we liked: The EQS delivers a stable and reassuring ride with a prodigious amount of torque, even at the lower trim levels. The interior is a mix of elegant and futuristic with ample leather and wood and an available 56-inch Hyperscreen infotainment system.
What to watch out for: The EQS exterior is a bit on the anonymous side for a new flagship electric SUV. And there's not a ton of cargo space, especially if you opt for the optional third row.
What is it: The Kia EV6 is a compact crossover, though it looks like and is technically classified as a four-door wagon. Kia does make a super-quick GT model that can rocket from 0 to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds.
What we liked: The EV6 looks sleek and sporty and it backs that up with impressive quickness, agility and balance. It was downright engaging to drive over a day traversing curvy California backroads. Kia also makes use of the flat floor to provide a surprisingly spacious interior.
What to watch out for: The EV6's haptic control bar, which cycles between stereo and climate controls, can be tricky to use.
What is it:The Volkswagen ID.4 is an electric compact crossover. It's VW's first EV to go on sale in America on VW's MEB platform.
What we liked: The ID.4 offers a roomy passenger cabin and cargo space on par with non-electric crossovers, with 30.3 cubic feet behind the third row and up to 64.3 cubic feet with the second row folded. It offers a decent amount of range and looks better than your typical VW crossover.
What to watch out for:The minimalist ID.4 infotainment and climate controls are an unintuitive ergonomic nightmare. It's competent but not particularly thrilling or engaging behind the wheel.
What is it? The Q4 E-Tron is Audi's luxury electric compact crossover. It's based on the Volkswagen MEB platform the underpins the ID.4.
What we liked: The Q4 E-Tron elevates and differentiates itself from the ID.4 with an aggressive, sculpted exterior that blends in well with the rest of the Audi lineup. The same goes for the interior, which is more usable and sensibly laid out than its VW cousin. Reasonably zippy in AWD spect.
What to watch out for: Range dips down to about 241 miles with AWD, which can mean less than 200 miles of usable range on a full charge. Not ideal for road trips.
Least Conspicuous Electric SUV: Genesis Electrified GV70
Tyler Duffy
Horsepower: 429
Torque: 516 lb-ft
Range: 236 miles
Starting MSRP: $66,450
What is it:The Electrified GV70 is Genesis's electric compact crossover. Unlike other Hyundai group EVs running on the dedicated E-GMP platform, the Electrified GV70 is a version of the standard GV70 crossover.
What we liked:The Electrified GV70 looks like the most incognito EV conceivable, with no EV-specific badging and a faux grille. But it deploys its dual-motor EV powertrain to the max in boost mode with up to 483 horsepower rocketing the car from 0-60 mph in less than four seconds. Genesis also sweats the details building a truly luxurious interior.
What to watch out for:The Electrified GV70's 236-mile range is fairly low compared to competitors. And with a starting price approaching $70,000 it's not really in Genesis's usual position of offering supreme value.
What is it: The GV60 is Genesis's compact electric crossover. It's an electric-only model in the Genesis range and runs on the same E-GMP platform as the Hyundai Ioniq 5/6 and Kia EV6. Genesis added a single-motor RWD base model for 2024.
What we Liked: The Genesis GV60 offers direct, quick steering and impressive agility. And it is seriously rapid with a Boost mode button. The interior has a leg up on its E-GMP compatriots with luxurious materials, futuristic tech like fingertip recognition and a rotating crystal orb shift knob. And as with all E-GMP cars, the GV60 packs some of the fastest charging tech on offer.
What to watch out for:The GV60 is a lot of look on the exterior, especially if you opt for the aggressive Sao Paulo Lime paint with the Performance trim. And 235 miles of range is not a lot of bandwidth to go road-tripping.
What is it: The Solterra is Subaru's first electric vehicle. It's a compact crossover and a twin of the Toyota bZ4X. It comes standard with all-wheel-drive.
What we liked: The Solterra comes with 8.3 inches of ground clearance and proved surprisingly capable off-road on both loose and bumpy surfaces as it climbed up a mountain road on Catalina Island. The interior is intuitive to use and has no haptic buttons.
What to watch out for: Toyota battery tech isn't where it needs to be. The Solterra offers limited range, topping out at just 228 miles and is slow to charge, requiring nearly an hour to get to 80 percent. It's also not particularly cheap.
