Over recent years, the popularity of electric vehicles has
skyrocketed. Greater awareness of environmental issues paired with increased
availability of affordable and stylish electric cars has led to them becoming
an attractive option. What’s more, the recent
announcement that the ban on new petrol and diesel has been brought forward
to 2035 gives even more urgency to the production of electric vehicles. 

This highlights that we have always loved our SUVs here in
the UK, yet with the post-Brexit pollution legislation, the low-emissions limit
will be harder than ever to hit. After leaving the EU, our emissions will no
longer be set-off by countries such as Italy who tend to favour smaller, more
fuel-efficient cars.

In the past, electric cars were associated with small,
streamlined, sporty vehicles. In 2008, Tesla released the Roadster, which lived
up to this stereotype. This model was the first all-electric car to use
lithium-ion battery cells, and the first to travel 200 miles per charge.
Setting an impressive precedent, this marked the dawn of a new age of electric
vehicles.

Therefore, if we want our love-affair with larger SUVs to
continue, then we need to look towards the electric SUV market. So, if you’re
considering making the switch this year, read on to find out the best electric
SUV options on the market today.

Fast forward to 2016 however and Tesla was leading the way
again with the first pure electric SUV — the Tesla Model X. Tesla was certainly
a trailblazer in this department, but recently, a plethora of options have come
to the market, posing fierce competition. In 2019, the Mitsubishi Outlander
proved to be the top electric vehicle by fleet size (41,265)
The fact that this SUV had out-sold smaller, more traditional electric
vehicles, such as the Nissan Leaf, proves the impressive rise of the electric
SUV. Join us as we join Lookers, retailers of Mercedes motability
cars, as we discuss this further.

The Luxurious: Audi E-Tron

If you’re looking for an electric SUV that ticks all of the
boxes, and you’re willing to splash out for the car of your dreams, then you’re
bound to fall in love with the Audi E-Tron. Setting the standard for 2020, this
vehicle lives up to the luxury that Audi promises, with a sleek interior and
top of the range touch-screen infotainment system.

This vehicle has an impressive ten-minute charge time and is
equipped for every eventuality, including light off-roading. A full charge will
allow you to drive for 204 miles. 

The Affordable: Hyundai Kona EV

If price and practicality are high up on your list of priorities,
then opt for the Hyundai Kona EV. Fully charged, it will go as far as 258 miles
and can get from 0-60 mph in 6.4 seconds — not too shabby considering the
relatively low price tag!

This vehicle may not have as many high-tech features as the
more expensive models on the market, but its impressive design has already
earned the title of 2019
North American Utility Vehicle of the Year, so it is clearly doing
something right.

The Stylish: Mercedes-Benz EQC

Silent and sleek, the Mercedes-Benz EQC brings sophisticated
quality to the electric SUV market. For lovers of new and used Mercedes alike,
this vehicle will satisfy every desire you might have for an electric SUV —
silence, efficiency, safety, and style.

Comfort is also at the forefront of this design, and the
smoothness of the drive is unrivalled. The battery charge time is 41 hours at
220V, or 0.67 hours at 440V, allowing for ultimate flexibility.

The Hybrid: BMW X5 xDrive45e

Boasting two extra cylinders, a significant increase in
battery capacity (now 24kWh, up from just 9.2kWh), and an overall more
economical drive, the BMW X5 xDrive45e is the perfect hybrid option. Many
people still don’t feel ready to take the plunge into a pure electric drive,
but if efficiency and the environment are still at the forefront of your
concerns, a hybrid vehicle is the next best thing.

This SUV has an incredibly smooth electric to hybrid
switchover, which is hardly more noticeable than a gear change. The upgrade
from its previous four-cylinder form has rocketed this hybrid SUV into becoming
one of the most highly recommended models.

Whatever your priorities, the electric SUV market has expanded
so much in recent years that now there is truly an option for everyone. With
the introduction of new Low Emission Zone (LEZ) standards and the post-Brexit pollution
legislation, there has never been a better time to invest in an electric
vehicle. If space, functionality, and off-road ability are some of your main
concerns, make that vehicle an SUV.