- An electric SUV can save money on fuel and help the environment
- The most affordable electric SUV is the Hyundai Kona Electric at $37,390
- The best electric SUV for off-roading is the Rivian R1S
- The electric SUV with the longest driving range on a full battery charge is the BMW iX Sports Activity Vehicle at 324 miles
- The Kia Niro EV and Kia EV6 offer the most comprehensive warranty programs
Gas prices continue to skyrocket, and awareness of environmental concerns is on the rise. For these reasons, many people have considered transitioning to electric vehicles. With an electric vehicle (EV), you can eliminate the need for gas or diesel and reduce emissions created by your daily commute. If you’re thinking about going electric, you may feel a bit overwhelmed and unsure where to start your vehicle search.
One excellent option is an electric SUV, which combines the environmental friendliness and cost-efficiency of electric vehicles with the rugged capabilities of SUVs. It’s a winning situation all the way around. Although numerous options are currently available (or available soon), the 10 choices below stand out among the competition for various reasons.
Gabriel Nica / ShutterstockBenefits of Choosing an Electric SUV
Choosing an electric vehicle may reduce your carbon footprint by limiting (or even eradicating) the carbon emissions you create when driving. Carbon emissions are bad for the environment because they cause damage to the Earth’s protective ozone layer.
While EVs generally cost more than traditional gas-powered vehicles, they are significantly more cost-efficient in the long term. This is because the electricity spent will be much less than the cost of gas or diesel, plus there are federal, state and local tax rebates you could take advantage of.
Hybrid vs. Fully Electric vs. Gas vs. Diesel
Hybrid vehicles can run on either traditional fuel sources or electricity. Although they aren’t fully electric, hybrids do help reduce emissions and save you money, to a degree.
A fully electric vehicle runs only on electricity. This is the most environmentally friendly and cost-efficient option. When you choose an EV, you never have to head to the gas pumps again.
Gas and diesel vehicles are similar in that they use traditional fuel sources to run. However, diesel vehicles are generally larger and have more power than gas-powered cars. On the other hand, gas usually costs less than diesel. Although there are more nuances between gas and diesel, this offers a basic understanding.
1. BMW iX Sports Activity Vehicle
The iX Sports Activity Vehicle starts at $83,200 and boasts 516 horsepower, taking the SUV from 0 to 60 in 4.4 seconds. A fully charged battery can take you about 324 miles before you need to stop and recharge. Even better, a fast-charging option lets you go 90 miles on only a 10-minute charge when necessary.
The panoramic moonroof makes the interior feel roomier than it is. A curved digital display and minimalist dash buttons offer a modern, luxury-inspired aesthetic. New vehicle purchases come with 2 years of complimentary on-the-go charging through Electrify America.¹
2. Hyundai Ioniq 5
The Ioniq 5 starts at $43,650 and receives an estimated 303 miles of driving range on a full charge. You can go from 0 to 62 in this SUV in 5.2 seconds, thanks to the 320 maximum horsepower. The three trim options come standard with 19-inch alloy wheels, although wheel upgrades are available.
The HD touchscreen navigation and digital instrument cluster both measure 12.3 inches. Fast charging options are available, including more powerful home charger units. All new Inoiq 5 purchases are eligible for 2 years of complimentary charging sessions.²
3. Kia Niro EV
Starting at just $39,900, the Kia Niro EV has an estimated 293 miles driving range on a full charge. A fast-charging option allows you to add 100 miles of range in just about 30 minutes, perfect for emergencies and the unexpected. Of course, all new vehicle purchases come with Kia’s industry-leading 10-year or 100,000-mile warranty, whichever comes first.
Fundamental features include a touchscreen display with split-screen capabilities, a built-in wireless phone charger and heated front seats. You have the option to add a heated steering wheel. The rear seats fold down to provide more cargo room when you need it.³
4. Ford Mustang Mach-E Select
The Mustang Mach-E is an SUV with the sporty aesthetics of the classic Mustang sports cars. Starting at $43,895, the Mustang Mach-E Select can take you about 247 miles on a fully charged battery. With 266 horsepower, the engine can go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in only 5.2 seconds.
The 15.5-inch touchscreen infotainment display features enhanced voice recognition for hands-free control of key vehicle features. A rear window defroster is perfect for faster defogging and defrosting in colder weather, while LED headlamps and taillamps ensure you’ll always see the road ahead without issue.⁴
5. Volkswagen ID.4
The Volkswagen ID.4 provides a spacious, comfortable cabin with a 12-inch touchscreen display equipped with interactive navigation, climate control and many more features. Prices start at $40,760 and come with 2 years or 20,000 miles of scheduled, carefree maintenance. New vehicle purchases are also covered by a 4-year or 50,000-mile limited warranty and receive 3 years or 36,000 miles of free roadside assistance.
Key safety features include adaptive cruise control, active blind-spot monitoring and rear traffic alerts. You can expect to drive around 240 to 260 miles on a fully charged battery in the ID.4.⁵
6. Kia EV6
The Kia EV6 gets an estimated 310 miles of driving range on a full charge and starts at $40,900. A fast-charging option allows you to gain 217 miles of range in only 18 minutes, perfect for emergencies. With 320 horsepower, the EV6 can take you from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 4.6 seconds.
The Kia EV6 won the Guinness World Record title for shortest charging time to cross the United States in an electric vehicle. It also comes with an industry-leading 10-year or 100,000-mile warranty that provides complete battery coverage.⁶
7. Hyundai Kona Electric
The Hyundai Kona Electric has an estimated 258 miles of driving range on a full battery charge and starts at $37,390. The Kona Electric won the 2019 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year Award and maxes out at 201 horsepower.
The cabin features a 7-inch color touchscreen display, heads-up display and wireless device charging station. With this unique feature, you’ll never need to remember your phone charger for long trips again. All new Kona Electric purchases are eligible for a complimentary maintenance program covering 3 years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first.⁷
8. Toyota bZ4x
The Toyota bZ4x is an upcoming vehicle set to release in the summer or fall of 2022. Toyota hasn’t released a definitive price yet. Although it isn’t on the market yet, the bZ4x deserves a spot on this list because it will be the first vehicle to feature the new and improved Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 system. The safety features Toyota owners already love have been upgraded, enhanced and expanded.
The bZ4x will feature a 12.3-inch multimedia touchscreen display and a spacious interior with a fixed panoramic moonroof. Current estimates are that you’ll get around 250 miles of driving range on a full charge.⁸
9. Audi e-tron S
The Audi e-tron S is available in eight vibrant color options and starts at $84,800. This Audi EV has 469 horsepower and can go from 0 to 60 in 4.3 seconds. The unique design allows the vehicle to run on three electric motors, providing more power and better control.
Three wheel options are available, but the standard is a set of 22-inch five-arm-interference wheels. A full charge should provide about 208 miles of driving range. The e-tron S has active front collision monitoring with automatic emergency braking for a safer drive.⁹
10. Rivian R1S
The Rivian R1S starts at $70,000 and is the best electric SUV option for those who like to take their adventures off the beaten path. The R1S can drive through up to 3 feet of water and rock-crawl at a 100% grade, with 14.9 inches of ground clearance. You can expect to go about 316 miles on a full charge and tow up to 7,700 pounds.
The R1S has a low center of gravity to reduce the risk of rollovers and comes with a 5-year or 60,000-mile comprehensive warranty. The battery pack and drivetrain come with an 8-year or 175,000 miles warranty, whichever comes first.¹⁰