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The electric SUV and crossover market is getting crowded. It was only five years ago that American buyers had only the Chevy Bolt and Tesla Model X to choose from, if they wanted a taller, more spacious EV.
Now there are no less than a dozen two-row electric SUVs and crossovers on sale, most of which land in the popular compact and midsize segments. Lexus revealed its luxury focused Lexus RZ crossover last week, so it's time to look at the competition it will be battling for sales.
Lexus RZ
The Lexus RZ comes with front and rear motors making 201 horsepower and 107 horsepower, respectively. It has a battery capacity of 71.4 kilowatt hours (kWh) making it good for an estimated 225 miles of range with the 18-inch wheels. Lexus hasn't given a recharge time yet.
In the cabin a 14-inch glass panel touchscreen features a display with physical climate knobs attached. The RZ also features controls on the steering wheel so drivers don't have to take their eyes off the road. Interior color options include Orage (a gray/blue), Palomino and Dapple Gray/Black.
Subaru Solterra
The Solterra, which was developed jointly with Toyota and the bZ4X, comes with a 71.4-kilowatt-hour battery pack can be had with either a rear-wheel drive single motor or all-wheel drive dual motor. A heat pump comes standard to mitigate any range reduction effects that cold climates have on EVs.
The battery has an estimated range of more than 220 miles on a single charge. Front and rear electric motors produce 215 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque. Battery charging speeds can reach up to 150 kilowatts, allowing for an 80 percent charge in less than an hour when using a DC fast charger.
Toyota bZ4X
The strangely named bZ4X brings the trustiness the brand is known for into a useful little package. It comes in front- or all-wheel drive using either a 201-horsepower front motor or two 107-hp motors, one for each axle. That AWD system comes with the company's new X-Mode feature "is suited for everything from daily driving to light off-roading," says Toyota.
The bZ4X has a manufacturer-estimated 252 miles of range, and Toyota says it's 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 spring 2022 with a base price of $42,000.
The Audi e-tron is one of the elder statesmen in the group, being on sale since 2018. It has spawned both a Sportback bodystyle and a higher-performance S model since its inception. The base version comes with two motors making a total of 355 horsepower. That's good for a 0-60 mph sprint of 5.5 seconds.
The e-tron S, and the e-tron Sportback S are slightly faster, with 429 horsepower and a 4.3-second sprint to 60. Those S models do have a smaller range than their boxy counterparts. The e-tron can go 222 miles on a 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 is 212 to 185. They take about 10 hours to charge on a 220-volt home outlet.
Volvo XC40 Recharge
The XC40 Recharge was the company's first electric vehicle when it came out in 2021. It continues to feature one electric motor on each axle for a total of 402 horsepower and 486 pound-feet of torque. It uses a 78-kilowatt-hour battery that can be charged to 80 percent in about 40 minutes on a DC fast charger, according to Volvo. 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 intuitiveness. Google tech is embedded with Assistant, Maps and the Google Play Store. It's also the first Volvo to receive over the air updates.
Ford Mustang Mach-E
The popular Ford Mustang Mach-E comes in several ways. A standard-range 70-kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery combines with an electric motor to deliver 266 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque. An all-wheel drive option bumps that up to a 91-kWh battery and two electric motors, making for 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 the Ford Connected Charge Station at home ($799), it takes 10.9 hours to go from zero to 100 percent. Range varies depending on the trim between 260 and 300 miles on a charge.
Chevrolet Bolt/Bolt EUV
The Chevy Bolt was one of the earliest electric SUVs and though it's had a difficult run these past few years, it still brings excellent specs to the table. It's also surprisingly fun to drive. The bigger Bolt EUV gets 247 miles of range on a charge using a single motor making 201 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. On a DC fast charger it can gain 95 miles in 30 minutes.
The small Bolt has a longer range of 259 miles, using the same single motor. It charges slightly faster, gaining 100 miles in 30 minutes. On a home charger both get about four miles per charging hour.
Hyundai Ioniq 5
The slick Hyundai Ioniq 5 features 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 unlimited 30-minute charging sessions free for two years on Electrify America's network.
It comes with a 77.4-kWh battery with either one or two motors. The single motor setup delivers 225 hp and 258 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels. That model gets the 305 miles. A dual-motor, all-wheel drive version delivers 320 hp, 446 pound-feet of torque and goes 256 miles before a recharge.
Jaguar i-Pace
The Jaguar i-Pace has been around since 2019 sporting a dual-motor powertrain making 394 horsepower and 512 pound-feet of torque. It has a combined range that's a little smaller than its competition at 234 miles. It can charge from zero to 80 percent in 40 minutes on a DC fast charger.
The i-Pace gets 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 rides on the same 800-volt architecture as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and therefore the specs are pretty close. It has a 310-mile maximum range and can charge from 10 to 80 percent in less than 18 minutes on a fast charger. It can get to 60 mph in just 4.6 seconds using dual motors making a whopping 576 horsepower.
Several other powertrains are offered with more reasonable figures. The least expensive rear-wheel drive models make 167 hp. The bigger battery RWD model gets the full range and delivers 225 hp. The EV6 also supports vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality, which provides 1,900 watts to power any electrical appliance or too.
Mazda MX-30
The new MX-30 is really bordering on hatchback territory, but the lines in the EV world are already blurry. The city commuter only goes 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 at a station or to install a Level 2 home charger.
The interior is minimalist using 20 percent recycled threads. The door cards use recycled plastic bottles and the grips feature cork. An 8.8-inch center display features the latest Mazda Connect, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Nissan Ariya
The Ariya crossover is Nissan's second attempt at an electric vehicle for America, the first being the useful but small Nissan Leaf. The new Ariya, landing this fall, has an estimated range of 300 miles in the Venture + trim. Both front- and all-wheel drive versions will both have the option of a 63- or 87-kWh battery.
The crossover comes with Pro Pilot Assist 2.0, the latest version of its automated driving system. It lets drivers take their hands off the wheel in certain conditions in traffic to ease the commute. The Ariya has two 12.3-inch screens, one as the driver cluster and one as the central touchscreen. Both are customizable.
Volkswagen ID.4
The VW ID.4 is offered in either rear- or all-wheel drive with 201- or 295-hp powertrains. The rear-drive model now goes 280 miles on a charge, up 20 miles from the previous 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 5.3-inch display attached to the steering column along with either a 10-inch or 12-inch central touchscreen. Menus can be moved around to put the most important info in front. Like many VWs, the ID.4 features slider controls from radio volume and cabin temperature. It also has voice control.
About the writer
Jake Lingeman is a Newsweek Autos managing editor based in Detroit. His focus is reporting on the auto industry. He has covered ... Read more