Best Electric SUVs: Which Has the Best Range?
John Goreham is a life-long car nut and recovering engineer. John’s focus areas are technology, safety, and green vehicles. In the 1990s, he was part of an academic team that built a solar-electric vehicle from scratch. His was the role of the battery thermal control designer. After earning his engineering degree, John also completed a marketing program at Northeastern University. For 20 years, he applied his engineering and sales talents in the worlds of semiconductor manufacturing, biopharmaceutical production, and automotive electronics supply chain. Always a writer, John has published numerous articles in technical journals such as Chemical Processing Magazine. In 2008 he retired from that career and dedicated himself to chasing his dream of being an auto writer. In addition to online publications such as Car Talk, John’s work has appeared in print in dozens of American newspapers, and he provides reviews to many vehicle shopping sites.
The electric vehicle tsunami is about to hit. As we stand today, the marketplace already has some fantastic two-row crossover sport utility vehicles.
Our list will focus on how well these vehicles perform as electric vehicles. We will also evaluate these EVs based on cargo volume, spare tire status, all-wheel-drive options, and towing capability.
Here is our list of the best EV crossover SUVs you can buy today.
Check out our full list of the best EVs here >>
Table of Contents
Best Electric Crossover Comparison
| Model | Max Cargo Volume (cu. ft.) | Tow Rating (lbs) | Spare Tire Availability | Range (miles) |
| Toyota RAV4 Prime | ||||
| Audi e-tron | ||||
| Ford Mustang Mach-E AWD | ||||
| Volkswagen ID.4 Pro S | ||||
| Jaguar I-PACE EV400 | ||||
| Tesla Model Y LR AWD |
1. Toyota RAV4 Prime AWD Plug-in Hybrid
Toyota’s five-passenger RAV4 Prime PHEV is presently America’s second-fastest-selling vehicle in America and the only vehicle with a plug in the top ten. Shoppers are clamoring for hard-to-find RAV4 Primes, and dealers are tacking on $10K or more in market adjustments in many states.
The RAV4 Prime is a true midsize SUV. In addition to having a three-motor all-wheel drive system, the RAV4 Prime has a towing rating of 2,500 pounds, a roof made of metal on some trims, and every Toyota build leaves the factory with a spare tire.
The RAV4 Prime has the longest towing range of any electric crossover SUV on sale today. The RAV4 Prime has an all-electric range of 42 miles and a combined electric and hybrid range of 600 miles. Its annual energy cost is within $100 of some of the all-electric EVs on our list. Its low maintenance design topped all-electric vehicles in an analysis of repair and maintenance costs conducted by Consumer Reports.
Pros
- AWD standard
- Compact spare tire standard on every trim
- Combined all-electric and hybrid-electric operation means zero range anxiety
- Non-glass roof option available
- Top reliability scores
- 0-60 MPH in under 6 seconds
- Two years of included maintenance
Cons
- Not fully electric
- Limited availability in 2021
- Dealer markups are common
Toyota RAV4 Prime EV Range = 42 Miles (at which point the vehicle operates as a hybrid-electric)
Current Toyota RAV4 Prime Deals & Incentives
You may qualify for deals and incentives, check out this month's Toyota deals here.
2. Audi e-tron
Audi’s e-tron may not be the best EV made today, but it is easy to call it one of the best electric crossover SUVs made. The e-tron has the best towing rating on our list and has a spare tire. Its five-passenger, four-door hatchback design is convenient, and its 54 cubic feet of cargo volume is more than acceptable for many compact SUV buyers.
Fans of the Audi brand looking to go electric will be very pleased with what the e-tron offers. Look for the e-tron name to expand and be applied to various other body styles in the coming year.
Pros
- 4,000-pound towing rating
- Spare tire
- AWD
Cons
- Lowest range of its peers
- Glass roof
- Pricey compared to other options
Audi e-tron EV Range = 222 Miles
Current Audi e-tron Deals & Incentives
| Year | Make | Model | Cash Incentives (up to) | Best Avail. APR | Lease Offers | Expiration |
You may qualify for additional deals and incentives, check out this month's Audi deals here.
3. Ford Mustang Mach-E AWD Extended Range
The Ford Mustang Mach-E is a five-passenger four-door hatchback small SUV with an emphasis on carlike features. While the name has some Mustang purists in an uproar, our go-to expert on the Mustang, Jimmy Dinsmore, literally wrote the book on Mustangs, and the Mach-E won him over after a test.
Our pick from the Mustang Mach-E line is the extended-range all-wheel-drive trim. In our back-to-back testing with the Tesla Model Y, the Mustang Mach-E scored higher in refinement, infotainment, and ride quality. The Mach-E has a sporty demeanor for sure.
The Mustang Mach-E is not rated for towing, many of those produced have an all-glass roof, and none of the Mach-Es built have a spare tire.
Pros
- 0-60 MPH in under 5 seconds
- Real-world range is class-competitive
- Build quality and refinement
- Outstanding infotainment
- Free charging for two years at many public chargers nationwide
- Roomy front trunk
Cons
- Not rated for towing
- No spare tire
- Glass roof on desirable trims
- AWD optional
Ford Mustang Mach-E EV Range = 270 Miles
Current Ford Mustang Mach-E Deals & Incentives
You may qualify for deals and incentives, check out this month's Ford deals here.
4. Volkswagen ID.4 Pro S
Volkswagen has been working hard on its electric vehicle portfolio in other markets, and its new compact-size ID.4 arrives ready to compete with the best electric crossovers in the world. The ID.4 is similar to the Mustang Mach-E in its lean towards car-like abilities. The initial 1st Edition sold out quickly, and the Pro S is rear-drive only. VW plans an AWD ID.4 in later years.
The ID.4 offers a wide range of prices that many might call affordable. VW created a network of EV chargers, though they are all shared with any EV owner who wishes to use one. The ID.4 is new to the market as of this story’s publication, but VW has promised a respectable volume of ID.4 cars for the U.S. market in 2021.
Pros
- Affordable trims
- Rated for 2,200-pounds towing in RWD
Cons
- Lower than class average range
- No front trunk
- Rear-wheel drive only (for 2021)
- No spare tire
- No volume knob
Volkswagen ID.4 EV Range = 250 Miles
Current Volkswagen ID.4 Deals & Incentives
| Year | Make | Model | Cash Incentives (up to) | Best Avail. APR | Lease Offers | Expiration |
You may qualify for additional deals and incentives, check out this month's Volkswagen deals here.
5. Jaguar I-PACE EV400
Of all the brands to pioneer a midsize SUV, it was Jaguar that first built and shipped one. The I-PACE is one of our overall favorite vehicles, not just a favorite EV, and hands-down our favorite Jaguar. The I-PACE is a high-performance vehicle with standard AWD and a luxury feel not found in the other crossover SUVs on our best-of list.
The I-PACE is a five-passenger four-door hatchback like the Mustang Mach-E. It drives like a Jaguar, meaning it is competent on or off a racetrack, and it shines on back-country roads. Its standard AWD system makes this a true four-season vehicle.
The I-PACE is a car-like crossover we hesitate to call an SUV. It is not rated for towing and has a glass roof.
Pros
- High-performance powertrain and outstanding handling
- Unrivaled luxury appointments for its class
- A 5-year warranty and included maintenance is best in the industry
- Optional spare tire (but no storage spot)
- AWD standard
- Compact front trunk storage
Cons
- No spare tire storage area
- Glass roof on desirable trims
- Not rated for towing
- Lower than the class-average range
Jaguar I-PACE EV Range = 234 Miles
Current Jaguar I-PACE Deals & Incentives
| Year | Make | Model | Cash Incentives (up to) | Best Avail. APR | Lease Offers | Expiration |
You may qualify for additional deals and incentives, check out this month's Jaguar deals here.
6. Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD
Tesla’s Model Y is one of the top-selling battery-electric crossovers in America. Based on Tesla’s hugely successful Model 3 sedan, the Model Y adds a bit of ride height and a lot more cargo area. For many EV shoppers, the Tesla Model Y is the industry benchmark in the two-row small SUV class. Breaking new ground for the crossover segment, the Model Y also offers an optional compact third row with two seats well-suited to children.
Like all Teslas, the Model Y qualifies for Supercharger use. Tesla’s captive charging stations are popular in some parts of the U.S., but few and far between in other regions. The Model Y will also have a Full Self Driving subscription service available at some point if Tesla eventually perfects the driver-assist technology.
The Model Y offers snappy off-the-line acceleration, and its Performance trim is extremely fast. We found the ride to be overly stiff, a sentiment seconded by Consumer Reports in its testing. Consumer Reports also red-flagged the Model Y for quality issues. Those may someday be resolved, but for now, Tesla remains at the bottom of many quality rankings, including J.D. Powers’ Dependability Study.
Pros
- Best-in-class range
- Supercharger access
- Possible full self-driving in the future
- Novel features like Sentry Mode
- Large front trunk (frunk)
- 3,500-pound tow rating
- Optional compact third row of two seats
Cons
- Tablet control screen only warrantied for two years
- Overly firm ride
- Quality concerns based on multiple sources and owner forums
- No spare tire
- Glass roof standard
Tesla Model Y Long Range EV Range = 326 Miles
