CARS

The best electric SUVs of 2024: Top picks to go EV

William Irvin Lewis
MotorTrend

Options for all-electric SUVs have exploded over the past decade, filling a still-growing market. No matter the budget, the use case, or the style you want, there’s an electric crossover SUV that will suit that need. Yet things are still changing fast, so this list isn’t a representation of every SUV option, especially at the high end. Here’s how the crop of top consumer-grade electric SUVs stack up overall.

2024 Tesla Model X | Not Yet Rated

While the 2024 Tesla Model X was the groundbreaking model that started the entire modern all-electric SUV craze, it’s showing its age. Competition from Rivian, Mercedes, BMW and others has caught up to the once unassailable position the Model X had. In some ways SUVs like the R1S are undeniably better, but the original EV SUV still packs a punch. Nine model years in, the Model X still handles and rides better than most SUVs, electric or otherwise, and still offers a Plaid trim packing over 1,000 horsepower and a 0–60 sprint barely over two seconds. All that remains at or near the top of the class, but the interior is dated, and the standard raft of Tesla issues apply. Inconsistent build quality, privacy concerns and perennial problems with driver assistance systems have helped drive some potential buyers to the Model X’s competition. All that said, the original modern EV SUV still has its upsides. Not to mention that no other SUV on sale today packs the X’s signature feature: its gullwing rear doors.

2024 Tesla Model X Pros and Cons

Pros

  1. Plaid model is a true super SUV
  2. Quick charging
  3. Impressive range for segment

Cons

  1. Exterior looks dated
  2. Full Self-Driving oversells capability
  3. Build quality varies

Specifications

  • Base price:$77,990-$92,990
  • Power:670-1,020 hp
  • EPA Range: 311-348 miles
  • EPA Fuel Economy: 88-107 mpg-e

2024 Kia EV9 | Not Yet Rated

An example of Cyberpunk styling done right, the2024 Kia EV9 is fresh on the scene, buoying Kia’s EV SUV lineup alongside the also well-styled Niro EV and EV6. Beyond the good looks, the EV9 is stuffed full of cargo space and utility. There is a frunk for additional storage space, while its comfy interior holds three rows of seating that are all easily accessible. Vehicle-to-load capability allows the EV9 to act as a massive mobile battery on camping trips or in case of power outages, and its maximum charging speed is a positively rapid 230 kW. Kia says it’ll go from 10 to 80 percent charge in 25 minutes. That said, charging needs to be quick as range is fine at best, with Kia claiming a maximum of 270 miles and the EPA saying 304. We’re excited to get further acquainted with this comparison test winner, as few family crossovers (electric or not) come close to this combination of aesthetics and utility, and fewer EV SUVs have three rows.

2024 Kia EV9 Pros and Cons

Pros

  1. Plaid model is a true super SUV
  2. Quick charging
  3. Impressive range for segment

Cons

  1. Exterior looks dated
  2. Full Self-Driving oversells capability
  3. Build quality varies

Specifications

  • Base price:$56,395-$75,395
  • Power:215-379 hp
  • EPA Range: 230-304 miles
  • EPA Fuel Economy: 72-100 mpg-e

2024 Nissan Ariya | Not Yet Rated

We don’t get the mildly uprated Nismo variants of the Ariya stateside, so the main change for the2024 Nissan Ariya is a substantial price drop, to the tune of nearly $6,000 for much of the lineup. As the Ariya wasn’t a standout performer when it was introduced recently, a healthy discount certainly helps the admittedly classy SUV’s case. That class is mostly provided by a premium-feeling cabin with space to spare, though the all-electric crossover’s mechanical stats aren’t bad. Charging speed only peaks at 130 kW but has enough area under the curve that Ariyas with the smaller 63-kWh battery pack can go from 10 to 80 charge in 35 minutes. Even fully charged, that only means a small-battery Ariya can go barely 200 miles in ideal conditions. The range and recharging considerations don’t help the Ariya any in this class.

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2024 Nissan Ariya Pros and Cons

Pros

  1. Upscale, spacious cabin
  2. Comfortable front seats
  3. Competent ProPilot Assist

Cons

  1. No one-pedal driving
  2. Slow charging rate
  3. Could use more range

Specifications

  • Base price:$40,980-$55,580
  • Power:214-389 hp
  • EPA Range: 205-272 miles
  • EPA Fuel Economy: 84-101mpg-e

2024 Volkswagen ID4 | Not Yet Rated

Despite being amiably inoffensive and highly conventional — the qualities you’d expect would draw many mainstream consumers to the EV crossover — previous model years of the Volkswagen ID4 have been an exercise in first-world frustrations. Interior controls and switchgear were poorly thought out and frustrating, especially the climate controls that lacked backlighting. Volkswagen, to its credit, hastily addressed the concerns and added hardware upgrades for the 82-kWh-equipped crossovers. These improvements include increased range and horsepower, in addition to ventilated seats and a nine-speaker Harman Kardon sound system. All of this makes the ID4 a better buy, though not the best EV buy around.

2024 Volkswagen ID4 Pros and Cons

Pros

  1. Drives with ease and pep
  2. Comfortable interior and ride
  3. Much improved infotainment and controls

Cons

  1. Small instrument cluster
  2. Conventional when compared to other EVs

Specifications

  • Base price:$41,160-$55,300
  • Power:201-330 hp
  • EPA Range: 209-291 miles
  • EPA Fuel Economy: 93-122 mpg-e

2024 Hyundai Kona Electric | Not Yet Rated

At this point it’s clear that all of the styling risks that the Korean automakers have been making lately are paying off. The 2024 Hyundai Kona Electric looks like nothing else on the road, and that’s a good thing. It’s larger and more mature than before, but the Kona Electric is not a standalone EV model. It is part of a lineup that includes a pair of gasoline-only versions, one of which is the high-performance Kona N. But for this second-generation Kona, theEV SUV is the priority. Besides the funky looks, the Kona Electric has vehicle-to-load capability, one-pedal driving and a host of standard driver aids like blind spot collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist and others. There is no AWD option, though; the Kona Electric is staying true to its lifted-hatchback roots.

2024 Hyundai Kona Electric Pros and Cons

Pros

  1. Futuristic interior design
  2. More spacious cabin
  3. Two powertrain options

Cons

  1. Not as pretty as the Ioniq 5
  2. FWD appears mandatory

Specifications

  • Base price:$34,050-$42,420
  • Power:133-201 hp
  • EPA Range: 261 miles
  • EPA Fuel Economy: 103-129 mpg-e

7. 2024 Toyota bZ4X | MT Score 8.0

A decade ago, a vehicle like the2024 Toyota bZ4X would’ve changed the world, but now this futuristically styled SUV full of tech and topped with good handling is almost an also-ran. The bZ4X gets up and goes, but Ford’s Mach-E goes quicker and manages to handle better. The bZ’s interior makes some substantial ergonomic compromises to look interesting, but the Ioniq 5’s interior looks as cool (if not cooler) and works better. The Toyotas middling-at-best range would be fine, but charging is also agonizingly slow, taking a full hour to charge from 0 to 80 percent under ideal conditions. The bZ4X is comfortable, surprisingly good-looking in person and drives well enough — but the competition simply outperforms it.

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2024 Toyota bZ4X Pros and Cons

Pros

  1. Composed driving dynamics
  2. Both powertrains are strong
  3. Comprehensive tech features

Cons

  1. Perplexing cabin ergonomics
  2. Uninspiring range and recharging speeds
  3. No one-pedal driving

Specifications

  • Base price:$44,420- $48,530
  • Power:201-214 hp
  • EPA Range: 222-252 miles
  • EPA Fuel Economy: 92-131 mpg-e

6. 2024 Subaru Solterra | MT Score 8.1

As the Toyobaru twin to the bZ4x, the2024 Subaru Solterra shares its largest faults and greatest successes. But the Solterra isn’t strictly badge engineered, as the few differences add up to make both the faults and successes more pronounced. Efficiency, and thus range, is noticeably worse than the Toyota variant. The Solterra only comes with AWD, and adds slightly more ground clearance than the Toyota for more adventurous drivers. It still has the bZ’s instrument cluster that seems to be blocked by the steering wheel in every seating position, but also that crossover’s decent tech and spacious cabin.

2024 Subaru Solterra Pros and Cons

Pros

  1. Strong safety scores
  2. Smooth ride
  3. More ground clearance than most EVs

Cons

  1. Comparatively low range
  2. Elevated floor in back seat
  3. No frunk

Specifications

  • Base price:$46,340-$53,340
  • Power:215 hp
  • EPA Range: 222-228 miles
  • EPA Fuel Economy: 93-114 mpg-e

5. 2024 Audi Q4 Sportback E-Tron | MT Score 8.2

Fastback crossover SUVs might seem like a contradiction in terms, but vehicles like the2024 Audi Q4 Sportback E-Tron keep selling well. More expensive and less spacious than the non-Sportback E-Tron, the fastback Q4 prioritizes aesthetics over practicality. And performance over practicality, too; the dual-motor powertrain pumps out 335 hp and produces more than enough go at the expense of cruising range. While performance is good, handling is marred by variable-speed steering that often provides a different amount of steering angle than you’re asking for.

2024 Audi Q4 Sportback E-Tron Pros and Cons

Pros

  1. Attractive styling
  2. Powerful dual-motor setup
  3. High-tech interior

Cons

  1. Swoopy SUVs aren't for everyone
  2. Middling recharge rate
  3. Pricier, less roomy than Q4 E-Tron

Specifications

  • Base price:$59,395-$66,395
  • Power:335 hp
  • EPA Range: 242 miles
  • EPA Fuel Economy: 89-100 mpg-e

4. 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E | MT Score 8.7

Controversial nameplate aside, the2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E shows that Ford’s all-in approach on electric vehicles worked better than other automakers’ halfhearted half measures. Quick, agile, comfortable, reasonably priced and blessed with decent range, the Mach-E makes the most of current EV technology. This includes a large frunk for extra storage, and BlueCruise hands-free driving tech. There are some Tesla-esque downsides, like controls for which we’d prefer to have physical interfaces instead being pushed into the touchscreen UI, but the Mach-E is certainly in the top tier of EV crossovers.

2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E Pros and Cons

Pros

  1. Good fun to drive
  2. Large frunk
  3. Hands-free driving capability

Cons

  1. Somewhat awkward exterior design
  2. Overreliance on infotainment touchscreen
  3. The ire of Mustang purists

Specifications

  • Base price:$41,890-$61,890
  • Power:311-480 hp
  • EPA Range: 224-312 miles
  • EPA Fuel Economy: 77-110 mpg-e

3. 2024 Tesla Model Y | MT Score 9.1

The EV crossover SUV benchmark is the2024 Tesla Model Y, another highly capable yet imperfect vehicle from Tesla. Like its stablemates in the Tesla lineup, the Model Y suffers fromscattershot build quality, over-promising driver assists and smaller quirks like the centrally mounted “everything” display. Conversely, the performance, handling and spaciousness of the Model Y are all beyond reproach. Very few EV crossovers can even keep up with the Model Y Performance, though theMach-E manages to handle and ride better. Range is excellent in the Model Y, beating out the Ford and effectively the entire rest of the segment.

2024 Tesla Model Y Pros and Cons

Pros

  1. Excellent expected range
  2. Entertaining Performance model
  3. Spacious cabin

Cons

  1. Hit-or-miss build quality
  2. Full Self-Driving Beta
  3. No Android Auto or Apple CarPlay

Specifications

  • Base price:$42,990-$51,490
  • Power:295-456 hp
  • EPA Range: 279-330 miles
  • EPA Fuel Economy: 106-129 mpg-e

2. 2024 Kia EV6 | MT Score 9.4

Killer looks and a killer performance variant make the2024 Kia EV6 one of the most entertaining all-electric crossovers. While the EV6 GT is the closest we can get to an EV Hellcat before the Charger Daytona drops in late 2024 (including terrible range/efficiency), all EV6s feel sporty. Unlike the GT trim, the less intense variants of the EV6 get good range and genuinely impressive charging speed. The smaller 58-kWh pack in the Light base trim charges up to 180 kW, but every other EV6 gets a 77.4-kWh battery pack with up to 240-kW charging speed. The interior isn’t as spacious as other EVs in its class, but it does look as good as the exterior.

2024 Kia EV6 Pros and Cons

Pros

  1. Looks cool and futuristic
  2. Good range, fast charging
  3. Supercar-quick EV6 GT

Cons

  1. Feels snug inside
  2. Befuddling buttons
  3. Better than Hyundai Ioniq 5?

Specifications

  • Base price:$43,975-$62,975
  • Power:167-576 hp
  • EPA Range: 218-310 miles
  • EPA Fuel Economy: 77-136 mpg-e

1. 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 | MT Score 9.7

Our favorite EV crossover is the2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5, as it has been since the rally-car-from-2035-looking crossover entered showrooms. Now it’s joined by ahilariously quick N performance variant, but the base SUV is no slouch. Available in the $40,000 range to start, like virtually all of its competition, the Ioniq 5 is a better place to spend time than just about all of them. The interior is spacious and upscale, with good ergonomics to match its good looks. Cargo space is also great, though mainly in the cabin and hatch, as the frunk is largely a token measure. Handling is good, but the ride can be a bit skittish, while charging is very quick at up to 239 kW, while the N model punches that up to a 350-kW maximum to help charge between track day lapping sessions. Overall, the Ioniq 5 is the best EV crossover on sale today because it blends style with practicality in ways few EV SUVs can compete with.

2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 Pros and Cons

Pros

  1. Great one-pedal drive mode
  2. Spacious, premium interior
  3. Fast battery recharging

Cons

  1. No rear windshield wiper on most trims
  2. Slightly jittery ride
  3. Can get expensive

Specifications

  • Base price:$43,175-$61,775
  • Power:168-320 hp
  • EPA Range: 220-303 miles
  • EPA Fuel Economy: 88-132 mpg-e

The Best Electric SUVs to Buy in 2024

  1. 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 | MT Score 9.7
  2. 2024 Kia EV6 | MT Score 9.4
  3. 2024 Tesla Model Y | MT Score 9.1
  4. 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E | MT Score 8.7
  5. 2024 Audi Q4 Sportback E-Tron | MT Score 8.2
  6. 2024 Subaru Solterra | MT Score 8.1
  7. 2024 Toyota bZ4X | MT Score 8.0
  • 2024 Hyundai Kona Electric | Not Yet Rated
  • 2024 Volkswagen ID4 | Not Yet Rated
  • 2024 Nissan Ariya | Not Yet Rated
  • 2024 Kia EV9 | Not Yet Rated
  • 2024 Tesla Model X | Not Yet Rated

Photos by MotorTrend Staff and Manufacturer.