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Compare the best electric 4x4s

High-quality electric 4x4 cars from rated and reviewed dealers

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Rated 4.6/5 from 53,645 reviews

Best electric 4x4s of 2024

If you're after a rugged 4x4 off-roader in the mould of the Land Rover Defender or Suzuki Jimny, there's some good news and bad news. On the bad front, there aren't any cars that meet this definition; on the good count, we can add the word 'yet' to that sentence with some confidence, as electric versions are on their way. In the meantime, however, we've highlighted some great four-wheel-drive electric cars and SUVs that are more geared around on-road competencies than off-road ones, and will update this list as EV 4x4s come on sale.

BMW iX

1. BMW iX

9/10
BMW iX review
Battery range up to 382 miles
With one of the nicest interiors in the business, the BMW iX is a full-size premium SUV with a price tag to match, but with a battery range of up to 380 miles, which should be more than enough for most. The iX also has all latest tech, including the most recent iteration of BMW's excellent iDrive infotainment system, while the driving experience is deeply impressive, not least given the size and weight of this imposing machine.
Hyundai Ioniq 5

2. Hyundai Ioniq 5

9/10
Hyundai Ioniq 5 review
Battery range up to 315 miles
The Ioniq 5 is very much an SUV (or arguably a tall hatchback) rather than 4x4 in the traditional sense, but if you go for the 77 kWh 325ps model (which sits relatively high up in the range), you'll get four-wheel drive as standard, together with a 0-62mph time of 5.1 seconds. Add in the practical, modern cabin, excellent tech, futuristic stying and relaxing driving experience, and the Ioniq 5 has a lot going for it.
Audi Q4 e-tron
2024
Outstanding EV Award
Highly Commended

3. Audi Q4 e-tron

9/10
Audi Q4 e-tron review
Battery range up to 329 miles
Audi Q4 e-tron sits on the same platform as the Skoda Enyaq, and offers much of what that car with, but with a more premium interior and better tech. It's also available with four-wheel drive if you go for one of the quattro models, while the driving experience is impressive, interior space is decent, and the battery range of up to 312 miles with the 4x4 option is competitive.

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Skoda Enyaq
2024
Smart Spender Award
Highly Commended

4. Skoda Enyaq 80x

8/10
Skoda Enyaq review
Battery range up to 348 miles
The 'x' in this version of Skoda's electric SUV denotes that it has four-wheel drive, but that's just one of the many feathers in the Enyaq's cap. With a refined, relaxing driving experience, excellent practicality and a strong sense of character, the Enyaq is a hugely appealing car. Sure, other EVs may offer a more luxurious interior and slightly better interior tech, but Skoda has all the equipment you're actually likely to use and want, together with a decent official range of 317 miles. There's even a coupe version and a 300hp vRS model if you fancy adding an extra dash of excitement to the Enyaq formula.
Volvo XC40 Recharge

5. Volvo XC40 Recharge

8/10
Volvo XC40 Recharge review
Battery range up to 333 miles
The electric version of Volvo's XC40 SUV offers all the benefits of the petrol-powered model, togehter with an electric drivetrain. That means you get a thoughtfully designed interior, just the right amount of prestige without any sense of ostentatiosness, as well as a huge roster of safety kit and a comfortable, cosseting driving experience. Make sure to tick the 'Twin Motor' box to get four-wheel drive, with this model also bringing with it a seemingly un-Volvo-ish 0-62mph time of just 4.9 seconds.
Tesla Model Y
2024
Family Values Award
Highly Commended

6. Tesla Model Y

8/10
Tesla Model Y review
Battery range up to 331 miles
The Tesla Model Y was the UK's third best-selling car in 2022, with 35,551 examples finding homes - that's more than the Volksawgen Golf, for goodness sake! Why so popular? Well, Tesla's battery technology (which helps give the Model Y an official range of up to 331 miles) and charging network remain key selling points, despite rival car companies challenging at least the former of those. There's also a decent amount of space inside the Model Y, while if you go for the Performance version, which you need to to get four-wheel drive, you'll have a 0-60mph time of 3.5 sec.
Polestar 2

7. Polestar 2

8/10
Polestar 2 review
Battery range up to 406 miles
Polestar has been quietly carving a successful niche out for itself over the last couple of years, offering buyers a premium alternative to electric cars from Audi, BMW, Mercedes et al. The company deserves this success, too, as the Polestar 2 is an impressively accomplihsed machine, with great driving experience, an inviting cabin, and an impressive range of up to 394 miles - though this drops to 342 – 367 miles if you go for the dual-motor all-wheel-driver model.
Mercedes-Benz EQB

8. Mercedes EQB

8/10
Mercedes-Benz EQB review
Battery range up to 321 miles
It may not be as large or expensive as the BMW iX (though it's still pretty pricey), but the Mercedes EQB is still a mighty appealing car, with an inviting interior, all the bells and whistles you could want, together with a relaxing driving experience. All models are four-wheel drive, while the EQB also has the benefit of coming with seven seats; while these are best reserved for children, they still give the EQB an advantage that few electric cars offer.
Jaguar I-PACE

9. Jaguar I-Pace

8/10
Jaguar I-PACE review
Battery range up to 298 miles
Another road-focussed SUV rather than a rough-and-tough 4x4 off-roader, the Jaguar I-Pace was one of the first premium electric cars to emerge, but its design has aged impeccably well, while the driving experience remains as impressive today as it was at launch.
Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo

10. Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo

8/10
Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo review
Battery range up to 321 miles
Okay, so the Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo may not be a conventional SUV, let alone a 4x4, while it's also one of the more expensive electric cars on the market at present. But with raised ground clearance and four-wheel drive as standard, together with a practical hatcback-cum-estate boot, it's a hugely appealing machine that lends itself well to the great outdoors. The Taycan TC is also, as with the rest of the Taycan range, the best-handling electric car on the market.

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Advice about electric 4x4 cars

Electric 4x4s FAQs

There isn't a scientific definition for what a 4x4 car is, but when people talk about these they generally mean off-road vehicles with four-wheel drive (meaning the engine powers all wheels, rather than just the fronts or the rears). Many SUVs have four-wheel drive, but a 4x4 car is one that's generally considered to be off-road focussed as much as it is on-road focussed.

Four-wheel-drive cars are generally able to put their power down more effectively on road than two-wheel-drive cars. This often improves acceleration times and can aid cornering in the wet, while also bringing benefits if you even need to venture onto a wet, grassy field, for example. Do bear in mind that a car's braking performance isn't improved by a 4x4 system, while what tyres a car has (EG all-weather, winter, mud+snow) often has more of an effect on its ability to drive in slippery conditions than whether it has four-wheel driver.

How long is a piece of string? The amount you will pay to charge any electric car, be it two or four-wheel-drive, depends on how much electricity you are putting into it, and how much that electricity costs. Home charging tends to be cheaper than public charging, so taking an electric car with a 100 kiloWatt hour battery pack, charging this from full to empty at a public charger that costs £0.75 per kWh will cost £75, whereas doing it at home if you pay £0.35 per kWh of electricity will cost £35. Do note charging from 0-100% is almost unheard of, as most people keep their batteries between 20-90% to both stop them running out of charge, and to preserve battery health. Also note that four-wheel-drive electric cars tend to have slightly lower ranges than two-wheel-drive models, as the batteries have to power two motors (one on each axle), and this uses more energy than just turning a single motor. Our guide on how much it costs to charge an electric car has more information.

We're coming back to the length of a piece of string here: it depends how fast the charger is, and how quick a charge the car can accept. Electric 4x4s are, all other things being equal, no faster or slower to charge than any other type of EV. If you have a charger that can deliver electricity at 100kW, and the car can accept that rate of charge, it will theoretically take one hour to go from 0-100%. Do note, though, that EVs tend to slow down the rate of charging as their battery packs near full, while 100kW chargers will not always deliver that speed. For more information, check out our guide on how long it takes to charge an electric car.

Electric 4x4s are still a pretty niche class of car, but given the list above, it's hard not to be swayed by the competencies and appeal offered by the Skoda Enyaq, which is more affordable than many electric cars with four-wheel drive.

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