Best Electric SUVs
1.Hyundai IONIQ 5
8.6
3 badges available
$72,000 - $85,000*MRLP
What we love
- -Wondrously spacious interior
- -Approachable as an EV. No big learning curve needed
- -Bold looks can't not get a mentionÂ
What we don't
- -Can't quite sort that perfect driving position
- -Low-speed stop/start driving a bit cumbersome
- -Limited availability
Winner - Best Electric Vehicle Under 100k
Drive Car of the Year 2022
2.Tesla Model Y
8.6
2 badges available
$68,900 - $97,895*MRLP
What we love
- -Performance
- -As efficient as the claim
- -Improvements in packaging and quality
What we don't
- -It looks awfulÂ
- -The hubcaps are a bit naff and no spare wheel
- -It needs a more driver-centric speedo or HUD
3.Volvo XC40
8.5
11 badges available
$53,490 - $81,490*MRLP
What we love
- -A simple purchase – choose your colour and drive. The lack of options complexity a welcome change
- -Google software suite is nicely implemented
- -Easy to drive, easy to use, easy to like
What we don't
- -Performance is impressive, but do we really need 300kW in this?
- -Elements that clearly carry over from petrol XC40 dull the EV benefits
- -Kind of a silly name
Finalist - Best Electric Vehicle Under 100k
Drive Car of the Year 2022
Winner - Best Small Luxury SUV
Drive Car of the Year 2022
Winner - Best Small Luxury SUV
Drive Car of the Year 2022
4.BMW iX
8.3
3 badges available
$135,900 - $222,900*MRLP
What we love
- -Incredible straight-line performance
- -Futuristic and functional interior
- -Infotainment is next level
What we don't
- -Boot is small for such a large car
- -So much power means poor energy performance
- -'Gesture controls' are a gimmickÂ
Finalist - Best Electric Vehicle Over 100k
Drive Car of the Year 2022
5.BMW iX3
8.3
No badges available
$104,900 - $104,900*MRLP
What we love
- -Moving from X3 to iX3 couldn’t be easier
- -A recent high point for BMW interior form and function
- -Decent range and performance
What we don't
- -Does it really need that goofy grille?
- -Not as dynamic to drive as petrol X3 variants
- -Necessity to use BMW Connected services a little bit Big Brothery
6.Mercedes-Benz EQC
8.3
No badges available
$128,000 - $128,000*MRLP
What we love
- -Immediate familiarity – if you can drive a GLC, you can drive this
- -All the EV benefits – fast, quiet, modern
- -Loads of tech
What we don't
- -Perhaps a bit too much familiarity – old switchgear, basic rear and a transmission tunnel?
- -All the EV compromises – entry cost, weight, infrastructure
- -"Hey Mercedes"... Shut up
Finalist - Best Electric Vehicle Over 100k
Drive Car of the Year 2022
7.Hyundai Kona
8.2
9 badges available
$26,900 - $64,000*MRLP
What we love
- -Raucous exhaust note
- -Eminently configurable drive modes
- -Functional interior with supportive seats
What we don't
- -Interior finishes feel downmarket
- -Crashy ride comfort
- -Smaller boot than i30 N
8.Mercedes-Benz EQA
8.0
2 badges available
$81,700 - $101,800*MRLP
What we love
- -A familiar transition for Mercedes buyers
- -Priced right for the premium EV segment
- -Cabin is jam packed with high quality tech
What we don't
- -Rear passenger and boot space is limited
- -Competitors have longer driving range
- -Car can feel weightyÂ
9.Volvo C40
7.9
No badges available
$75,990 - $83,490*MRLP
What we love
- -Exterior styling and interior insulation
- -Both models drive exceptionally well
- -Ride refinement is excellent on any surface
What we don't
- -Price is still out of reach for some
- -Sloping roof line does eat into second-row headroom
- -No spare tyre
10.Genesis GV60
7.7
2 badges available
$103,700 - $110,700*MRLP
What we love
- -Styled like the future, both inside and out
- -Class-leading EV platform sets up the basics for success
- -Does everything you want from an EV right now
What we don't
- -Battery under the floor means limited room for long legs and feet
- -Video mirrors are cool, but real mirrors work better
- -All this tech and no wireless phone projection?
Drive's Best Cars
Drive's team of experts reviews and rates hundreds of the latest models each year to help you find your next new car. Browse our Best Car lists to discover how different models rank against each other and what our team loves and doesn't love about these top-rating vehicles.
* ‘MRLP’ is the manufacturer’s recommended list price as provided by our data provider and is subject to change, so is provided to you for indicative purposes only. Please note that MRLP is inclusive of GST, but is exclusive of any options and does not include on-road costs such as registration, CTP, stamp duty and dealer delivery. Where an MRLP is stated as a price range, this reflects the lowest to highest MRLP provided for that model range across the available variants.
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