Best electric SUV cars for 2025: our favourite battery-powered cars for family and fun
Electric SUVs combine something car buyers love with something car buyers need. Manufacturers and the government are encouraging buyers to gradually move towards battery-powered cars - and what better way to do it than by wrapping it up in a stylish and desirable SUV body shell?
Some of the best electric cars on sale are electric SUVs, and there’s a huge range of options available. There are small cars catering to those who want something stylish and high-riding for nipping around the city, up to massive ultra-luxurious EVs packed with tech. There are even some seven-seat electric SUVs suitable for big families, or ultra-long range models catering to those who need to cover big distances.
Whether big or small, all electric SUVs make fantastic company cars because you can take advantage of rock-bottom Benefit-in-Kind costs, really slashing your tax bill. And if you top up at home on a cheap overnight tariff you can cut your running costs down substantially, too.
Whatever the type, our expert reviews team has tested all of the latest electric SUVs extensively, in a range of situations and on a variety of roads. We make sure that range and performance live up to manufacturer promises, and live with them day-to-day to ensure they’re as user-friendly as a new car should be.
There’s a wide range, with prices from just over £20,000 all the way up to cars costing four times that - but these models are all among the best in their classes. Four of them are even Carwow Car of the Year award winners for 2025 — the Kia EV9 and the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, the Polestar 3, and the Citroen e-C3.
On top of that, the government has announched a new electric car grant, offering up to £3,750 towards your purchase of certain electric cars if they cost less than £37,000. Some electric SUVs are part of this scheme already, saving you a bit of cash - while some car manufacturers have got ahead of the crowd and introduced their own price cuts to match.
Keep reading to see our picks and why we chose them, whether it be for their great value, impressive range on a charge or super-practical interiors.
The largest car Kia sells in the UK, the EV9 does it all - luxury, family-friendly practicality, range and performance. No wonder we named it ‘Outstanding EV’ in the 2025 Carwow Car of the Year awards - it just ticks every box.
The EV9 is one of those rare things, an all-electric seven-seater. With only a few alternatives this alone makes it worth considering if you want to go electric but have a big family - there are three rows of seats and all are comfortable and roomy enough to sit tall adults in.
Best of all, the EV9 makes going for an electric car easy. Its huge battery gives up to 349 miles of range, and charges super-fast, so long trips are a breeze provided you plan where you’re going to stop. It’s not very efficient, granted, but something this big and heavy was never going to be.
It drives extremely well for how large it is, too. Even the basic ‘Air’ model, which only has rear-wheel drive, feels agile and nippy, while the more powerful motors bring impressive performance. You’ll certainly be able to surprise hot hatchbacks at the traffic lights, who aren’t expecting something the size of a tower block to move off as quickly as the EV9 can.
Though the EV9 is the only electric seven-seater on this list, there are alternatives if you have less to spend. The Peugeot E-5008 makes a good option with a posh interior, while there are numerous models based on electric vans which can really save a buck. The Volkswagen ID Buzz arguably beats the EV9 for kerb appeal, too.
But none of these options can hold a candle to the big Kia when it comes to its breathtaking all-round ability. The EV9 is equal parts posh and practical, it’s great to drive and can go a long distance. Yes, it’s expensive, but in value terms it’s really quite impressive, and a worthy entrant at the top of this list.
2. Volvo EX30
Volvo EX30 reviewThe Volvo EX30 is a small electric SUV that's so good we named it our overall Car of the Year for 2024. For any car to achieve that gong it has to be top of the class, and the EX30 definitely is. It's not perfect, but no car is without its downsides - however, in this case they're blown out of the water by its positive aspects.
The EX30 is definitely compact, so it's not ideal if you have a growing family. Adults can sit in the back row, but it's more comfortable for children, and the boot is outshone by most other electric SUVs. That size does mean it's fantastic to drive around the city, though, and you sit high enough up that you don't feel vulnerable or exposed.
Generally the EX30 feels like a really solid car to drive, and that’s helped by generous performance. The Twin Motor version is almost indecently fast, but even the Single Motor model has enough pace to satisfy just about everyone. It’s these cars which offer the best range, too - up to 295 miles on the best model, which is good going for a car this small with a comparatively compact battery.
The EX30’s interior feels fantastic, too. A high-resolution screen, the option of gorgeous wool blend seats and materials intended to be eco-friendly and recyclable make for a unique ambiance. A minor downside - especially for technophobes - is that you have to control just about every function through the touchscreen, down to adjusting the mirrors and opening the glovebox. That’s less than ideal, but you do get used to it after a time.
And all of this is worth it when you look at the price tag. It’s a high-tech electric car from a desirable brand, so you might expect the Volvo EX30 to command a high price. Yet it undercuts key opposition from traditionally far more budget brands. This makes it stunningly good value.
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3. BMW iX
BMW iX reviewIt’s not enough for a good electric SUV simply to have a big battery and a long range - if it wants to impress, it also needs to drive well, have enough space inside for the sort of people who’ll buy it, and have a great interior. The BMW iX ticks all of these boxes and then puts a glace cherry on top.
The iX is so good that really, there are only two negative points. First, the price - it’s a posh SUV with a price tag that reflects this, and if you want the version with the nicest interior and the biggest battery you’ll have to part with a fair bit of cash. Then, there’s the looks. Sure, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but we’ve not met anybody yet who genuinely thinks the BMW iX is a looker - it’s an awkward shape with an ugly grille and some chintzy detailing.
Get past those two things - and many satisfied customers have - and you’ll be driving one of the best electric SUVs (in fact, one of the best SUVs period) that money can buy. The iX’s clever structure uses a lot of high-tech materials such as carbon fibre which make the body incredibly stiff - this means it handles like a dream, being incredibly satisfying on a twisty road yet comfortable on the motorway and on bad roads around town.
Performance is of course ample - go for the range-topping M60 and you’ll be able to zip from 0-62mph in just 3.8 seconds. On the flip side, opt for the xDrive 50 model and you can do up to 383 miles on a charge - a hugely impressive number.
A fantastic interior is the icing on the cake - it doesn’t feel like a car inside, more like a high-tech lounge, with leather on every surface, cut crystal switchgear, and a huge widescreen display running across the front. It’s beautifully crafted and feels fantastic to sit in.
4. Kia EV3
Kia EV3 reviewThe EV3 is the smallest of Kia’s ‘EV’ range of electric cars, sitting underneath the EV9 and the EV6. It’s also the cheapest by quite a margin, which makes it a really compelling option for many people who might not have considered an electric SUV before.
With the EV3, it’s all about solving problems that might have stopped people from buying an electric car before. Range too short? Not to worry - the EV3 offers up to 375 miles of range on a charge, a hugely impressive number that makes it one of the longest-range cars on sale today. Not enough space for the family? Even though it’s compact, the EV3 fits four adults with ease and has a big boot to match.
As for people who find electric cars too expensive, the EV3 doesn’t offer a transformational price tag (you’ll need the Citroen e-C3, below, for that) but it’s still remarkable value. The big-battery model is less than £36,000, giving you more range than most companies’ flagship models but at a fraction of the price.
The EV3 also has a great interior. Its two big screens are easy to use, and it even feels quite posh considering the price tag - though do bear in mind that the base ‘Air’ car uses cheaper materials. It’s packed with storage, too, and feels suitably high-tech without totally eschewing useful physical controls.
While there’s nothing incredible about how the EV3 drives, there’s nothing bad either - it’s perfectly comfortable, safe and stable, ideal for long journeys between charging stops. It’s one of the best small electric SUVs you can buy.
5. Skoda Elroq
Skoda Elroq reviewThe Skoda Elroq takes the bigger Enyaq’s all-round versatility and distills it into a slightly smaller, easier to park and cheaper SUV. It won’t set your heart alight, but the Elroq is one of the best electric family SUVs you can buy.
It looks more futuristic than any Skoda before it, with a sleek new front end and a tinted glass ‘grille’ that hides all of the ugly crash sensors away. Smart. Aside from that there aren’t many notable design features, but overall it’s a handsome - if understated - package.
The interior is a spitting image of the Enyaq’s, but that’s no bad thing. The dashboard is sleek and clutter-free, plus you can have it trimmed in leatherette or a rather funky denim-esque fabric. The seats are comfortable and there’s buckets of space both front and back, as well as a 470-litre boot with loads of handy storage solutions.
Range varies from an unremarkable 232 miles in the entry-level ‘50’ model, rising drastically to a much more usable 355 miles in top-spec trims. It’s comfortable on the move, if a little too wallowy over bumps around town, but motorways are a breeze. Country lanes are best taken at a moderate pace though.
6. Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
Hyundai Ioniq 5 N reviewThose who think electric cars can’t be fun, here’s your answer. The Ioniq 5 N takes a radical approach to making EVs enjoyable - it mimics a petrol hot hatchback as much as possible, to the point where there are fake gearshifts and an imitation engine note.
It sounds gimmicky, and maybe it is - but it works spectacularly well. The Ioniq 5 N feels almost as analogue an experience as a petrol-powered sports car, with all those layers of fakery imbued into the car to the point where the electric motors themselves mimic the slight jerk of an upshift, or the engine braking you get from shifting down a gear.
And when the fun’s over, you can always flip the Ioniq 5 N back into one of its normal driving modes and it acts just like any other electric car again. The regular Ioniq 5 is a brilliant EV, so the 5 N retains its practical body, high-tech interior and eye-catching looks.
It’s not cheap, and the visual additions do make it look like a performance car means the Ioniq 5 N isn’t for anybody who’d prefer to fly under the radar. But if you’re a true petrolhead who just wants to drive an EV that puts a grin on your face, you can’t get better than this.
Citroen’s goal with the e-C3 was to make a car that was just as affordable as a petrol-powered one, and it almost succeeded. You can save a few grand by going for the regular Citroen C3, which is powered by a 1.2-litre petrol engine - but this all-electric e-C3 still costs less than £22,000, and has a lot to offer for it.
It has a practical, tall body, which means you can squeeze an awful lot into quite a small footprint. There’s a 310-litre boot, which beats out the small electric hatchbacks this compares with, and space in the rear for adults.
You also get quite a cool, minimalist dashboard, which though it’s pared back to the minimum in order to cut costs actually feels very easy to use because of it. There are proper buttons for the functions you’d want, and though the touchscreen infotainment system isn’t anywhere near as big and glitzy as it is on some alternatives, it doesn’t need to be - it runs smartphone mirroring software just perfectly.
The downside with the e-C3 is that its 199-mile maximum range could be quite limiting. It doesn’t charge all that fast, either. But if you can live with that - and most people probably could, if they were honest with how much they drive - then the e-C3 is absolutely cracking value.
8. Kia EV6
Kia EV6 reviewThe Kia EV6 is a few years old now - it was launched in 2021, but recently underwent a facelift to bring it stylistically in line with other Kia models. That same facelift also upgraded the interior and upped the maximum range, bringing it to 361 miles - no longer the best in class, but still highly usable.
The EV6’s lithe body looks unconventional but hides plenty of space in both the back seats and the boot, while the dashboard is packed with tech and looks good, too.
It drives fantastically well. Most EV6 models are rear-wheel drive and all versions have powerful motors, so they’re a pleasure to take down a winding back road. It feels stable and secure on the motorway, too, and though it’s quite large it has good visibility for driving around town.
And with the ability to top up from the very fastest chargers available, the EV6 can go from 10-80% charge in less than 20 minutes. That’s hugely impressive and makes even prolonged motorway drives a breeze, provided you can find the fast chargers. It shows that just because an EV is a few years old, it doesn’t mean it can’t compete with the very latest models.
9. Polestar 3
Polestar 3 reviewPolestar might not be a brand you’ve given much thought to before, as for ages it’s only sold one car - the Tesla Model 3-sized Polestar 2. Now, though, it’s launched two new models, and the flagship is the new Polestar 3.
It’s a big, luxury SUV, along the same lines as the BMW iX. It takes a different approach to that car, though, with Scandi-cool minimalism at the top of its priorities. This is taken to the extreme - discounting the steering column, the only physical button on the interior is a volume knob. Everything else is controlled through a huge touchscreen which though easy to use can be frustrating at times.
Polestar’s other priority is long range, so the 3 gets a massive 111kWh battery - among the largest fitted to an EV. That gives a theoretical range of over 400 miles for the base version, but even the posher car claims up to 392 miles. Polestar cars usually get close to their claimed range, too.
With loads of space in the palatial back seats and a design that’s classy enough to fly under the radar, but cool enough to get people asking about your car, the Polestar 3 is a really compelling alternative to other luxury electric SUVs.
10. Tesla Model Y
Tesla Model Y reviewTesla cars are some of the best EVs around, and even though the brand only sells two models in the UK now they’re both hugely popular. The Model Y is the SUV version of the impressive Tesla Model 3, and is a great option for those who love the Model 3 but simply need more space and practicality.
It delivers in spades. The Model Y was originally designed for seven seats but is only sold with five in the UK - this means that the boot is vast, and easily accommodates all the clobber of a family with room to spare for pushchairs and the like. The family will love the numerous entertainment features, too, from the movies and music built into the central touchscreen’s software to the ability to play games, change the sound of the horn or even play fart noises.
It’s not all just a gimmick, either. The longest-range Model Y will do 373 miles on a charge, while the Performance - which is capable of 0-62mph in just 3.5 seconds - will do 319 miles. Teslas also get access to the Supercharger network of fast chargers, which alone makes them worth considering for high-mileage drivers.
Electric SUVs to avoid
Factors to consider when buying an electric SUV
There are a baffling array of electric SUVs on the market, so how do you decide which is best? Take the following into consideration.
Range
How far your electric car can travel is often the sticking point for buyers. Electric car range is always clearly advertised, but bear in mind that this is a figure obtained from official testing. For most EVs (as we’ve found in our range tests) you can assume a real-world figure around 80% of the official one - so make sure that number fits in with the journeys you do regularly.
Charging
At the moment, it’s difficult to recommend an electric car unless you’re able to charge it at home. The public charging network is getting better all the time in terms of coverage, but it’s yet to come down in price - and running an electric car using exclusively public charging costs as much as or even more than a petrol equivalent.
Purchase price
With very few exceptions, electric cars are more expensive to buy than their petrol counterparts - with price differences ranging from a few hundred pounds to many, many thousands. If your goal is to save money, you’ll need to factor this into your calculations.
Size
Electric SUVs range all the way from small SUVs which are the size of regular hatchbacks all the way up to huge hyper-luxury models. Consider carefully which ones fit your needs, and consider taking your family along to a test-drive to make sure everybody can get comfortable.
Performance
It’s well worth test-driving an electric SUV before you buy it, especially if it’s going to be your first EV. Electric cars have instant response and impressive performance figures, and as a result even fairly budget models feel really nippy and enjoyable to drive, especially around town. You might discover that, even if your previous car was a sporty model or a hot hatchback, that you don’t need to opt for the highest-performance EV available to match that pace.
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