Electric cars, electric vehicles, EVs, or some rendition that refers to vehicles powered by an electric motor, it’s all we hear about these days. Well, that and constant complaints about the cost of fuel. We feel pretty confident in saying EVs are at the top of many driver’s wish lists. Guess what else is? More seating, cargo space, and the ability to go off the beaten path (AWD); that’s right SUVs. Sheesh, automakers listened to environmental and consumer concerns and produced electric cars. Yes, thank you, Tesla. But hold up, before fully electric vehicles hit the dealerships, there were hybrid vehicles and plug-in-hybrids; to that, we owe a thank you to Toyota since they were the first to introduce a non fully gas-powered vehicle to the market with the all-wonderful Toyota Prius.
Again, automakers listened and we can all welcome electric SUVs to the market and many to part of our everyday life. We can officially say that we have access to the best of both worlds - electric vehicles with zero emissions and SUVs all in one place. Thank you, innovative automakers! So, we’ve got what we asked for, now how to decide on what the best electric SUVs are next. Don’t worry, we got you.
Hyundai
Kicking it off for top electric SUVs, the Hyundai IONIQ 5. A crossover with a (rather) futuristic style, containing five seats, and four trim level options. Admittedly, it doesn’t have the most incredible, write-home kind of driving range, but does offer the miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe) of 160kms in the city and 139kms in the city, making it a perfect commuter car. What this new EV might lack in miles of range, it makes up for in its roomy interior and fast-charging capabilities, although, drivers say it doesn’t offer the best steering. This particular vehicle model is known to get pricey when you choose all the optional features outside the base model, and there aren’t many available.
Staying within the Hyundai brand, next up is the Hyundai Kona electric. Yay, good news to start; the starting price is more affordable compared to other electric SUVs, especially the luxury ones such as the Audi Q4 e-tron or Jaguar i-pace. Consumers have come to expect a driving range of 400kms plus, and the Hyundai Kona EV delivers with its long range of 415kms on a single charge. Not to mention, it is loaded to the brim with bells and whistles, including all-wheel-drive.
Kia
Sticking within the same family - yes Kia and Hyundai are related, let’s move to the Kia Soul EV. There’s a constant debate if this vehicle is a compact hatchback or a compact SUV, but either way, it’s at the top of our list for best electric cars (excuse us, SUV). The California surfer-type design isn’t for everyone, but that doesn’t mean you should turn your eyes away from this as an option. Since its launch in 2014, Kia has been making constant improvements. The 2018 model year added 10% of driving range to the battery pack, and most recently Kia updated the Soul EV to have a battery that can get up to 400kms of range.
Are you a Kia lover, but not a lover of the boxy style? Check out the compact crossover Kia Niro EV. This Kia model has the same powertrain options as the Kia Soul and Hyundai Kona and gets well over 400kms of range and 291 lb-ft of torque. WOWZERS! Bye-bye range anxiety. We can’t forget to mention the cargo space that it has, with the added ability to fold down the rear seats if more space is needed.
Ford
When we think of Ford, most people think of the F-150. Well, that or the all-loved Mustang. But wait, this is a sensitive topic as many Mustang fans think the Ford Mustang Mach-e is a hard pill to swallow since they have a deep affinity for the sporty original Mustang. Ford took a risk when they strayed from the tradition of a sports car Mustang. Give this vehicle a chance; it’s pretty awesome and it handles like one would expect a Mustang. It boasts a top-notch interior with an amazing touchscreen infotainment system that includes AppleCarPlay and Android Auto.
BMW
It may seem like we’ve been avoiding the luxury lineup of electric SUVs, so here you go; the BMW iX. Like all BMWs, it exudes luxury and performs the way you would hope a BMW would. However, there is a rather large price tag that comes with driving a BMW electric SUV. Why wouldn’t there be, as it boasts two curved screens and has massive amounts of legroom? Not to mention, it has a driving range of over 400kms on a single charge and when a fast-charger is used, can top up pretty quick.
Finding an Electric SUV
We know that electric SUVs are hard to come by in the used car market since they are a new car design, and you may consider us cruel to make a list of the best ones and then you not be able to get your hands on one. We aren’t that mean; we have inventory in the electric SUV world. Even though we didn’t mention it, we do have various Tesla Models, and Audi e-trons, and even if you aren’t after an SUV, we have a huge selection of electric cars. Some of those include the Volkswagen ID.4, Nissan Leaf, and Chevrolet Bolt. We don’t mean to brag, but many of them come with a warranty still attached to them.
The best part, other than the huge selection of vehicles we have, is the way you buy a car with us. We offer the option of buying your car online or in-store; it’s all up to you. Browse our inventory, view the free CARFAX report, enjoy a 360° virtual tour, and complete the purchase online…if you like. Heck, you can even get qualified for financing in two minutes without impacting your credit score. Car buying that is first, fast, and FFUN, but only at FFUN Cars.
