The electric SUV and crossover market is getting crowded. It was only five years ago that American buyers only had the Chevy Bolt and Tesla Model X to choose from if they wanted a taller, more spacious EV.
Now on sale there are no less than a dozen two-row electric SUVs and crossovers, most of which are popular in the compact and midsize segments. Lexus revealed its luxury-focused Lexus RZ crossover last week, so it’s time to look at the competition that will be battling for sales.
Lexus RZ
The 2023 Lexus RZ 450e is the first BEV from the company. Lexus
The Lexus RZ comes with front and rear motors making 201 horsepower and 107 horsepower respectively. Its battery capacity is 71.4 kilowatt hours (kWh) making it good for an estimated 225 miles of range with 18-inch wheels. Lexus hasn’t given recharge time yet.
The cabin houses a 14-inch glass panel touchscreen display with physical climate knobs. The RZ also gets steering wheel controls so that drivers don’t have to lose sight of the road. Interior color options include Orange (a grey/blue), Palomino and Dapple Grey/Black.
Subaru Solterra
Reservations are now open for Subaru’s first all-electric SUV. Subaru of America Inc.
The Solterra, which was developed jointly with Toyota and bZ4X, comes with a 71.4-kWh-hour battery pack that can be either a rear-wheel drive single motor or an all-wheel drive dual motor. A heat pump comes standard to reduce the impact reduction in any range of cold climates on EVs.
The battery has an estimated range of over 220 miles on a single charge. Front and rear electric motors produce 215 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque. Battery charging speed can reach 150kW when using the DC fast charger, allowing for an 80 percent charge in less than an hour.
Toyota bZ4X
The Japanese automaker’s first bZ line will hit dealerships next year. Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc.
The oddly named bZ4X brings the trust the brand is known for in a useful little package. It comes in front- or all-wheel drive, using a 201-horsepower front motor or two 107-hp motors, one for each axle. Toyota says the AWD system comes with the company’s new X-Mode feature “adapted for everything from daily driving to light off-roading.”
The bZ4X has an estimated 252 miles by the manufacturer, and Toyota says it is aiming for 90 percent battery capacity retention after 10 years of ownership. It can charge from 10 to 80 percent in about 30 minutes on a DC fast charger. The BZ4X goes on sale in the spring of 2022 with a base price of $42,000.
The 2022 Audi e-tron can deliver up to 402 horsepower in boost mode. America’s Audi
Audi is one of the biggest politicians in the e-tron group, which has been on sale since 2018. It has spawned both a sportback bodystyle and a high-performance S model since its inception. The basic version comes with two motors that make a total of 355 horsepower. That’s good for a 5.5-second 0-60 mph sprint.
The e-tron S, and e-tron Sportback S are slightly faster, with 429 horsepower and 4.3 seconds of sprint to 60. Those S models tend to have shorter ranges than their boxy counterparts. The e-tron can go up to 222 miles on a single charge; The S goes from 208 to 181 miles, depending on the wheels; The e-tron Sportback has a range of 218 miles and the Sportback S 212 to 185. They take about 10 hours to charge over a 220-volt home outlet.
Volvo XC40 Recharge
Volvo offers its XC40 SUV with a fully electric powertrain among other options. volvo car usa
The XC40 Recharge was the company’s first electric vehicle when it arrived in 2021. It features an electric motor on each axle for a total of 402 horsepower and 486 pound-feet of torque. According to Volvo, it uses a 78-kilowatt-hour battery that can be charged up to 80 percent in about 40 minutes on a DC fast charger. It has a range of 223 miles.
The two-row crossover gets a new infotainment system powered by the Android operating system. Volvo says it offers customers new personalization options and improved levels of ease. Google technology is integrated with Assistant, Maps, and the Google Play Store. It is also the first Volvo to receive the over the air update.
Ford Mustang Mach-E
The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT Performance Edition is the sportiest Mach-E ever. Ford Motor Company
The popular Ford Mustang Mach-E comes in several ways. A standard-range 70-kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery mates with an electric motor to deliver 266 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque. An all-wheel drive option bumps up a 91-kWh battery and two electric motors, making 317 horsepower and 428 pound-feet of torque. The GT version is even faster.
At its fastest, the Mach-E can charge from 10 to 80 percent in about 45 minutes. If buyers get a Ford Connected Charge Station ($799) at home, it takes 10.9 hours to go from zero to 100 percent. Range varies depending on trim, between 260 and 300 miles on a charge.
Chevrolet Bolt / Bolt EUV
The 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV charges in 7 hours on a 240V outlet, similar to the Bolt EV.
The Chevy Bolt was one of the earliest electric SUVs and although it has been difficult to drive over the years, it still brings excellent specs to the table. It’s also surprisingly fun to drive. The larger Bolt EUV gets a range of 247 miles when charged using a single motor making 201 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. It can cover a distance of 95 miles in 30 minutes on a DC fast charger.
The smaller Bolt has a longer range of 259 miles using the same motor. It charges slightly faster, covering a range of 100 miles in 30 minutes. Both get a charge of around four mph on a home charger.
Hyundai Ionic 5
The exterior of the Hyundai Ioniq5 features futuristic design elements. Eileen Falkenberg-Hulu
The sleek Hyundai Ioniq 5 has an 800-volt system that can charge from 10 to 80 percent in just 18 minutes on a fast charger. It has a driving range of 305 miles and customers currently get 30 minutes of unlimited charging sessions free of charge for two years on Electrify America’s network.
It comes with a 77.4-kWh battery along with one or two motors. The single motor setup delivers 225 hp and 258 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels. That model gets 305 miles. A dual-motor, all-wheel drive version makes 320 hp, 446 pound-feet of torque and goes up to 256 miles before recharge.
Jaguar I-Pace
The 2022 Jaguar I-Pace is one of the big politicians in electric SUVs. Jaguar Land Rover
The Jaguar I-Pace has been sporting a dual-motor powertrain making around 394 horsepower and 512 pound-feet of torque since 2019. It has a combined range that is slightly smaller than its competition, at 234 miles. With a DC fast charger, it can charge from zero to 80 percent in 40 minutes.
The I-Pace features Jaguar’s new InControl Touch Pro Duo infotainment system with a 10-inch upper touchscreen and a 5.5-inch lower screen. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, as is a glass panoramic roof. It offers several leather options for the seats and several metal and wood finishes for the accents.
Kia EV6
The Kia EV6 is new in the company’s lineup for the 2022 model year. kia america
The Kia EV6 rides on the same 800-volt architecture as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and hence the specs are pretty close. It has a maximum range of 310 miles and can charge from 10 to 80 percent in less than 18 minutes on a fast charger. It can accelerate to 60 mph in just 4.6 seconds using 576 horsepower dual motors.
Many other powertrains are offered with more reasonable figures. The least expensive rear-wheel drive models make 167 hp. The RWD model with the bigger battery gets the full range and delivers 225 hp. The EV6 also supports vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality, providing 1,900 watts to power any electrical device.
Mazda MX-30
Unlike other electric vehicles, the MX-30 has no front trunk. Eileen Falkenberg-Hulu
The new MX-30 really borders on hatchback territory, but the lines are already blurry in the EV world. The City Commuter only covers 100 miles on a charge, equipped with a 35.5-kWh battery. Mazda partnered with ChargePoint to give owners a $500 charging credit that can be used to install a Level 2 home charger on the station or.
The interior is minimal, using 20 percent recycled threads. The door cards use recycled plastic bottles and the grips feature corks. The 8.8-inch center display includes the latest Mazda Connect, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Nissan Aria
The all-electric SUV joined Nissan’s lineup the following year. Nissan North America
The Aria crossover is Nissan’s second attempt at an electric vehicle for America, the first being the useful but smaller Nissan Leaf. The new Aria, which launches this fall, has an estimated range of 300 miles in the Venture+ trim. There will be a choice of 63- or 87-kWh battery in both the front and all-wheel drive versions.
The crossover Pro comes with Pilot Assist 2.0, the latest version of its automatic driving system. This allows drivers to take their hands off the wheel in certain situations in traffic to make movement easier. The Aria has two 12.3-inch screens, one as the driver cluster and one as the central touchscreen. Both are customizable.
Volkswagen ID.4
The Volkswagen ID.4 has a spacious cabin, if not a lot of speed. Volkswagen AG
The VW ID.4 is offered with a 201- or 295-hp powertrain in either rear- or all-wheel drive. The rear-drive model now delivers 280 miles on a single charge, which is 20 miles more than last year. The VW comes with three years of free 30-minute fast charging sessions and features the company’s iQ.Drive advanced driver assistance system.
The driver gets a 10-inch or 12-inch central touchscreen along with a 5.3-inch display attached to the steering column. The menu can be moved around to keep the most important information up front. Like many VWs, the ID.4 includes slider controls from radio volume and cabin temperature. It also has voice control.
