Everyone wants the best electric SUV, but “best” depends on what you’re asking it to do. Haul three kids and a dog? Swallow Costco runs? Commute 70 miles a day in winter? Or just look good in the Whole Foods parking lot? This guide cuts through the noise so you can match the right EV SUV to your life, and, if you’re shopping pre-owned, avoid the expensive mistakes.
About this guide
This article focuses on electric SUVs available in the U.S. for the 2024–2026 model years and highlights what matters most whether you buy new or used. We’ll reference well-tested models like Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV9, Cadillac Lyriq, Tesla Model Y, Ford Mustang Mach-E and more, then translate the spec-sheet jargon into real-world behavior.
How to think about the “best” electric SUV
If you ask three different reviewers for the best electric SUV, you’ll get three different answers. One is obsessed with range numbers, another with 0–60 times, and the third just wants cupholders that actually hold cups. You’ll get a clearer answer if you first decide which of these is your personal North Star:
- Value: Lowest cost to buy and run, even if the badge isn’t glamorous.
- Range and charging speed: Fewer stops, shorter stops, especially for road-trippers.
- Space and versatility: Room for kids, pets, strollers, bikes, IKEA, all at once.
- Luxury and tech: Quiet cabin, big screens, fancy audio, hands-free driving.
- Performance and fun: Instant torque, sharp steering, the EV grin factor.
A smarter way to shop
Pick your top two priorities and ignore the rest when you start shopping. If you say “I need it to do everything,” you’ll end up paying for features you don’t use, or worse, buying the wrong SUV because the marketing was louder than your actual needs.
Quick picks: best electric SUVs for 2025
Electric SUV market snapshot for 2025
Here’s a curated, battle-tested short list. We’re not trying to name every EV SUV on sale, just the ones that consistently show up at the sharp end of expert rankings and make sense in the real world.
Best electric SUVs by use case (2025)
New models you’ll keep seeing on every top-10 list, for good reason.
Best all-around electric SUV: Hyundai Ioniq 5
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 routinely sits at or near the top of expert rankings for electric SUVs thanks to its mix of ~300-mile range (EPA-estimated trim-dependent), ultra-fast 800-volt charging, comfortable ride and sensible pricing. Think of it as the golden mean: not the flashiest, not the fastest, but the one you’d actually want to live with.
Cabin space is excellent for a compact SUV, and rear passengers get limo-like legroom. The downside: no third row and a somewhat shallow cargo area compared with boxier rivals.
Best 3-row family electric SUV: Kia EV9
The Kia EV9 is the first mainstream electric SUV that truly replaces a family minivan: real 3-row seating, useful cargo space, and EPA-estimated ranges around 300 miles depending on trim. It’s been praised for a calm ride, intuitive tech, and adult-friendly third row.
It’s not cheap, but compared with luxury-brand 3-row EVs, the EV9 feels like a bargain. If your life involves car seats, school runs, and summer road trips, this is the one that finally makes an all-electric family car make sense.
Best fun-to-drive mainstream SUV: Ford Mustang Mach-E & Kia EV6
If you want a little mischief with your electrons, start here. The Ford Mustang Mach-E offers sharp steering and engaging dynamics; the Kia EV6 is lower and more hatchback-like, almost a GT car in crossover clothing. Long-range trims can crest 280–300 miles of EPA range, and performance versions will dust plenty of sports sedans.
Neither offers a third row, but both make daily commuting and back-road exploring a lot more interesting than a traditional compact SUV.
Best luxury electric SUV for the money: Cadillac Lyriq
The Cadillac Lyriq keeps turning up at the top of expert lists for luxury electric SUVs under roughly $75,000. It delivers a serene, genuinely upscale cabin, dramatic design, and EPA-estimated ranges in the low-300s, all at pricing that undercuts many German rivals.
If you want a quiet, comfortable, techy cruiser rather than a Nürburgring weapon, the Lyriq is one of the most convincing electric luxury values on the road right now.
What about Tesla Model Y?
The Tesla Model Y remains one of the most common electric SUVs on U.S. roads, thanks to strong range, a massive fast-charging network, and aggressive pricing. It’s not the newest or prettiest anymore and the interior is stark, but as a piece of long-distance EV transportation, it’s still extremely competent, especially on the used market, where prices have softened.
Range and charging: what really matters
Range anxiety sells headlines, but what actually matters is how often you’ll see the low-battery warning in your day-to-day life. The truth is unglamorous: for most people, anything around 250–300 miles of EPA-rated range is more than enough, especially if you can plug in at home.
When long range really helps
- You regularly drive 150+ miles in a day and can’t easily charge at work.
- You live in a cold climate where winter can temporarily shave 20–30% off range.
- You road-trip on sparsely covered routes where fast chargers are far apart.
- Your household has only one car and it has to do everything.
When charging speed matters more
- You mostly drive in town but take a few long trips a year.
- You can use 150–350 kW DC fast chargers on your routes.
- You’d rather stop for 20–25 minutes every 2–3 hours than haul an enormous battery.
- You care about lower battery cost and weight more than headline range numbers.
Winter range reality check
In cold weather, expect 20–30% less effective range from most EV SUVs, especially at highway speeds with the heater working hard. When you shop, don’t treat the EPA rating as gospel; ask, “Will this still work for me with a chunk shaved off?”
Family and cargo space: how practical are electric SUVs?
Electric SUVs look like regular SUVs, but under the floor is a skateboard of batteries that changes the packaging game, for better and worse. You often get limo-like rear legroom thanks to flat floors and long wheelbases, but cargo areas can be shallower and third rows, where they exist, are usually kid-only.
Space snapshot: popular electric SUVs
Rough, high-level comparison, always check the exact model year, drive type and seating configuration for precise specs.
| Model | Rows | Rear-seat comfort | Cargo feel | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyundai Ioniq 5 | 2 | Excellent legroom, reclining seats | Adequate but not huge | Young families, couples with gear |
| Kia EV9 | 3 | Comfortable in all rows | Genuinely SUV-like | Families replacing a minivan |
| Tesla Model Y | 2 (optional small 3rd) | Good in row 2 | Deep but narrow hatch | Small families, long-range commuters |
| Ford Mustang Mach-E | 2 | Good but slightly tighter | Hatchback-like | Style-conscious couples, empty nesters |
| Cadillac Lyriq | 2 | Lounge-like, very comfortable | Good luggage room | Comfort-focused road-trippers |
These impressions are based on widely available testing and reviews, not a single manufacturer’s brochure.
Measure your life, not just the spec sheet
Show up at a test drive with your real life: stroller, pack-and-play, dog crate, hockey bag. If the sales staff give you a look, that’s the wrong dealership. The right electric SUV is the one that swallows your chaos without drama.
Best luxury and performance electric SUVs
Luxury electric SUVs are where automakers flex: massive screens, complex lighting, eerie quiet, and acceleration that would have shamed a supercar not long ago. The trick is separating genuine quality from expensive gimmicks.
Standout luxury & performance electric SUVs
If comfort and drama matter more than rock-bottom price.
Cadillac Lyriq
The Lyriq feels like Cadillac finally remembered how to do luxury: a calm, plush cabin, clean design, and a sense of heft and polish. Range in the low-300-mile neighborhood makes it easy to live with, and pricing under many German rivals turns it into a stealth value play.
Hyundai Ioniq 5 N & Kia EV6 GT
These are the hooligans of the EV SUV world. Not practical choices, strictly speaking, but their performance is riotous, huge power, track toys in crossover drag. If you care more about lap times than rear-seat cupholders, they belong on your radar.
Rivian R1S
The Rivian R1S is the adventure rig: 3-row seating, legitimate off-road capability, air suspension, and big range numbers on the latest long-range packs. It’s more overland fantasy than suburban appliance, and the price reflects that, but for the right buyer it’s compelling in a way few SUVs, electric or otherwise, can match.
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“The best luxury EVs don’t dazzle you on day one, they’re the ones that still feel special at 30,000 miles, after the novelty of instant torque has worn off.”
Buying used: best electric SUVs on the pre-owned market
Here’s where things get interesting. In 2025, used EV prices have come down from their pandemic highs, and discounts are often steeper than for gas SUVs. That’s good news, if you shop intelligently. Some models are aging gracefully; others, less so.
Used electric SUVs worth targeting
Models that generally balance value, range and reliability on the second-hand market.
Tesla Model Y
The Model Y is everywhere on the used market, with a wide spread of battery sizes and drivetrains. Strengths: excellent fast-charging access, competitive range, simple interior that ages well. Weak spots: build quality varies and ride comfort is only average.
If you road-trip a lot, Supercharger access can outweigh its flaws. Just pay attention to real-world range, not the original window-sticker number.
Hyundai Ioniq 5 & Kia EV6
These make outstanding used buys if you find one with a solid service history and remaining battery warranty. They share an advanced 800-volt platform for blisteringly fast DC charging and feel more refined than many rivals.
The catch: early build years had relatively low production, so inventory can be thin in some regions.
Ford Mustang Mach-E
The Mach-E has become a bit of a value hero on the used market. Healthy supply plus frequent incentives when new means pre-owned examples are often priced attractively. Look for updated software and, ideally, a vehicle that’s seen regular dealer service.
Mainstream crossovers like VW ID.4, Nissan Ariya
Volkswagen ID.4 and Nissan Ariya don’t dominate the headlines, but as used buys they can make a lot of sense: comfortable, reasonably efficient, and less sought after, so prices tend to be calmer than the hype machines.
The used EV red flag: unknown battery health
On a used electric SUV, the battery pack is the single most valuable component. If you don’t have a clear, data-backed picture of its health, you’re buying blind. A cheap price can evaporate the moment you discover the pack has lost more range than you can live with.
This is precisely why Recharged builds every listing around a Recharged Score Report, including battery health diagnostics, realistic range estimates, and market-based pricing. If you’re shopping used, demand that level of transparency, whether you buy from us or anyone else.
Battery health and range loss over time
Batteries age. That’s not a scandal; it’s chemistry. The question is how fast. Most modern EV SUVs lose a modest slice of range in the first couple of years, then taper to a slow decline if they’re treated well, regular use, gentle fast-charging habits, and not living at 100% charge or near zero all the time.
- A healthy used EV SUV might have lost 5–12% of its original range after several years and tens of thousands of miles.
- Abuse, constant DC fast charging, baking in the sun, frequently running to near-empty, can accelerate degradation.
- Different models and battery chemistries age differently; blanket statements are dangerous.
- Software updates can slightly change displayed range without the actual chemistry changing.
Checklist: sanity-checking battery health on a used electric SUV
1. Compare displayed range to original spec
Look up the original EPA range for that trim and compare it to the full-charge estimate in the vehicle today. A small gap is normal; a chasm isn’t.
2. Ask for a recent battery health report
Many modern EVs can provide a state-of-health figure or detailed telemetry. At Recharged, this data feeds our Recharged Score Report so you’re not guessing.
3. Review charging history
Heavy reliance on DC fast charging isn’t automatically bad, but if the vehicle has lived on a fast charger every day, you’ll want extra scrutiny.
4. Inspect tires and brakes
Uneven wear or neglected brakes can hint at hard use or skipped maintenance, which often correlates with poor charging discipline and battery abuse.
5. Test in your typical use case
If you can, take an extended test drive at your normal highway speed and see what the projected range does. Real-world behavior matters more than any brochure.
How Recharged helps here
Every EV sold through Recharged includes a Recharged Score Report with lab-grade battery diagnostics, verified odometer and history checks, and pricing grounded in real market data. It’s designed to answer the two big questions up front: “How healthy is this battery?” and “Is this price actually fair?”
How to choose the right electric SUV for you
Now we get to the fun part: matching a specific SUV to your life instead of chasing somebody else’s top-10 list. Think of this as a short personal fit session.
Picking your electric SUV: four common buyer profiles
Daily commuter, light family duty
Prioritize efficient 2-row SUVs like Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, Volkswagen ID.4 or Tesla Model Y.
Aim for EPA-rated range around 250–300 miles, not huge batteries you’ll never fully use.
Look for comfortable seats, good driver-assistance tech and quiet ride over 0–60 bragging rights.
If buying used, target vehicles with plenty of remaining battery warranty.
Growing family, road-trips, lots of gear
Shop 3-row options such as Kia EV9 or adventure-oriented Rivian R1S if budget allows.
Check third-row comfort in person, especially for teens and taller adults.
Focus on SUVs with decent DC fast-charging performance and reliable network access for vacations.
Cargo flexibility (split-fold seats, under-floor storage) matters more than panoramic roofs and flashy wheels.
Luxury-first, comfort and tech
Cross-shop Cadillac Lyriq with European options; you may find similar or better comfort for less money.
Focus on seat comfort, cabin noise levels, audio quality and driver-assist smoothness on a long test drive.
Beware of option creep: a lower-trim luxury EV may suit you fine and depreciate more gently.
If buying used, let condition and maintenance history trump color and wheel design.
Enthusiast or weekend-adventure driver
Look at performance-oriented trims like Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, Kia EV6 GT, certain Mustang Mach-E variants, or Rivian R1S with off-road packages.
Ask whether the performance you’re paying for is usable daily, or only on track days you’ll never actually book.
Consider tire cost and efficiency hits; sticky rubber and huge power come with real-world trade-offs.
Make sure the rest of the car, charging, range, space, still works for your real life, not just your fantasy road.
Should you buy or lease?
If you like having the latest tech and are nervous about future resale values, a lease can put a ceiling on your risk. On the other hand, if you drive a lot of miles or plan to keep the SUV for 7–10 years, buying, especially used at today’s softer prices, can make more financial sense.
New vs used with Recharged
New EVs get factory incentives and full warranties; used EVs can give you the same capability for far less money. Through Recharged, you can buy or sell a used electric SUV entirely online, get expert help comparing options, and even arrange trade-in and financing without stepping into a traditional showroom.
FAQ: best electric SUVs
Frequently asked questions about the best electric SUVs
The bottom line on the best electric SUV
The “best electric SUV” isn’t a single model; it’s the one whose compromises line up with your reality. If you want an all-rounder, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 keep topping charts for good reasons. If you’re hauling a family, the Kia EV9 and Rivian R1S finally make full-size electric road-tripping plausible. If luxury and calm matter most, the Cadillac Lyriq feels like a glimpse of where premium EVs are headed.
What you shouldn’t do is buy on hype alone. Decide what you need it to do, understand how range and charging really work in your climate, and, if you’re going used, insist on objective battery health data. Recharged exists to make that last part easy: verified battery diagnostics, fair pricing, EV-specialist support, and a fully digital experience from your couch to your driveway. Do that homework, and whichever electric SUV you choose will feel less like a gamble and more like what it should be: an upgrade.
