Best Electric Cars for Former SUV and 4x4 Drivers

The UK’s largest vehicle segment is SUVs and crossovers. Former diesel SUV and 4x4 drivers have the widest choice of electric alternatives in 2026, ranging from compact crossovers at £30,000 to full-size seven-seaters over £80,000. Here is how the best of them compare, and which comes closest to matching your current diesel SUV.

What diesel SUV drivers actually need from an EV

SUV and 4x4 drivers chose that body style for specific reasons: higher seating position, genuine boot space, often a seven-seat option, confident motorway presence, and sometimes genuine off-road or towing capability. The best electric SUVs in 2026 deliver most of this. A few specific considerations apply:

Off-road capability. True off-road EVs remain limited. The Rivian R1T (US brand, limited UK availability) and the Ineos Grenadier Quartermaster are the serious off-roaders. Most electric “SUVs” are crossovers suited to light off-road use only.

Towing. Electric SUV towing ratings range from 750kg to 2,500kg. Check the specific figure for your model. All-wheel drive EVs with dual motors generally have higher towing ratings.

Company car tax. The BiK rate for EVs is 4% for 2026/27 versus up to 37% for a diesel SUV. On a £65,000 P11D value EV, a 40% taxpayer saves approximately £8,450 per year in BiK tax versus a comparable diesel.

The shortlist

Model	Price from	Seats	WLTP range	Real-world range	Towing	Notes
Hyundai Ioniq 9	~£62,000	7	385 miles	~300–330 miles	2,500kg	2026 Carwow Car of Year; best 7-seat EV
Kia EV9	£69,995	7	313 miles	~260–280 miles	2,500kg	Class-leading tow rating, exceptional space
Volkswagen ID.4 Pro	£44,990	5	330 miles	~260–280 miles	1,000kg	Most natural diesel SUV replacement
Skoda Enyaq (85kWh)	£49,000	5	381 miles	~300–325 miles	1,200kg	Best value in the premium segment
Tesla Model Y	£43,990	5 (opt. 7)	348 miles	~275–300 miles	1,600kg	Strong real-world range, best charging
BMW iX3	~£52,000	5	430 miles	~350–380 miles	750kg	Exceptional range; refined driving
Mercedes EQC / EQA	From £44,000	5	310–360 miles	~240–280 miles	1,800kg	Premium feel, solid towing

Our top pick for most diesel SUV drivers: Volkswagen ID.4

For drivers coming from a diesel SUV in the £30,000 to £50,000 range, the Volkswagen ID.4 is the EV that provides the most natural transition. It sits in the same size class as a Tiguan, feels composed on motorways, has a raised seating position that SUV drivers expect, and offers 260 to 280 miles of real-world range on the Pro 77kWh variant.

The ID.4 Pro drives from the rear wheels and has an optional GTX all-wheel drive variant with dual motors. The 135kW rapid charging (single motor) or 175kW (GTX) makes it practical for longer trips. The boot is 543 litres with the rear seats up.

VW’s charging network integration means the navigation routes via compatible chargers automatically, which smoothes out the anxiety of longer journeys.

Comparison point: Volkswagen Tiguan diesel. The ID.4 is larger, smoother, and quieter than the Tiguan diesel. The purchase price is higher, but running cost savings of £1,500 to £2,500 per year at typical mileage close the gap within three to five years.

Best seven-seat electric SUV: Hyundai Ioniq 9

The Hyundai Ioniq 9 won the Comfortable Cruiser category in the 2026 Carwow Car of the Year Awards. For drivers coming from a seven-seat diesel SUV such as a Land Rover Discovery, Volkswagen Touareg, or BMW X5 (seven-seat), the Ioniq 9 is the most convincing electric alternative.

Its interior is genuinely enormous. Seven adults fit comfortably, with the third row accessing realistic headroom and legroom rather than the token space found in some SUV third rows. The ride quality is smooth and composed. At around 300 to 330 miles of real-world range and a 2,500kg towing rating, it handles serious SUV duties.

The 800V platform means ultra-fast charging at up to 350kW at compatible chargers: a 10 to 80% charge in around 24 minutes.

Price from around £62,000. Comparable to a seven-seat Discovery Sport diesel or a BMW X5 xDrive.

Best for towing up to 2,500kg: Kia EV9

The Kia EV9 at £69,995 has the joint-highest towing rating of any mainstream electric car in the UK in 2026, at 2,500kg. This makes it one of the few EVs capable of towing a twin-axle caravan or a large horse trailer.

Its seven-seat interior is genuinely practical, with 818 litres of boot space when the third row is stowed. The 800V platform charges at up to 240kW. At around 260 to 280 miles of real-world range on the standard 99kWh battery, longer towing journeys will require charging stops, but the rapid charging speed makes these manageable.

The EV9 won multiple awards in 2025 including the World Car of the Year. Its interior quality, technology, and driving refinement are exceptional.

Best range in the segment: BMW iX3

The BMW iX3 (large iX3 with up to 430 miles WLTP) delivers around 350 to 380 miles in real-world conditions, making it the longest-range SUV on this list. For drivers who do long motorway miles regularly and want to minimise charging frequency, the iX3’s range is a significant advantage.

BMW’s interior quality and driving dynamics are the best in this segment. The iX3 drives with a precision and body control that most electric SUVs, including Volkswagen Group products, cannot match. It is expensive, but the ownership experience reflects the price.

Price from around £52,000 for the iX3; the larger iX models are available at higher prices with even more range.

Best value in the segment: Skoda Enyaq (85kWh)

The Skoda Enyaq on the 85kWh long-range pack delivers around 300 to 325 miles of real-world range at a price significantly below Hyundai and BMW equivalents. It shares its platform with the Volkswagen ID.4 but is priced more competitively.

The interior is spacious, the boot is large (585 litres), and the ride quality is smooth. 175kW rapid charging is capable. For drivers coming from a Skoda Kodiaq or Octavia diesel who want a familiar brand and good value in an EV, the Enyaq delivers.

Company car buyers: the BiK tax calculation

For diesel SUV drivers on a company car scheme, the tax saving from switching to an electric SUV is often the single most compelling argument.

Model and value	Diesel BiK (35%, 40% taxpayer)	EV BiK (4%, 40% taxpayer)	Annual saving
£45,000 SUV	£6,300/yr	£720/yr	£5,580/yr
£65,000 SUV	£9,100/yr	£1,040/yr	£8,060/yr
£75,000 SUV	£10,500/yr	£1,200/yr	£9,300/yr

At these savings, even a significantly more expensive electric SUV pays back the price premium within the first year of company car ownership for a higher-rate taxpayer.

Genuine 4x4 capability: the honest position

Most “electric SUVs” are crossovers. They have all-wheel drive via dual electric motors (which provides excellent traction control), but they do not have low-range transfer cases, differential locks, or the ground clearance of a genuine off-roader.

For drivers who use their 4x4 for genuine off-road work (farming, forestry, serious green lanes), the EV market does not yet offer a direct replacement. The Ineos Grenadier is testing an EV variant, and Land Rover has an electric Defender in development, but neither was in widespread production at the time of writing.

For drivers who own an SUV or 4x4 primarily for road use, the motorway, school run, and occasional muddy field, the EVs listed above cover the brief completely.

For the full comparison of diesel and electric for your use case, see diesel vs electric for high-mileage UK drivers. For the complete switching guide, return to the switching from petrol or diesel hub. For broader model recommendations, see best first electric cars for switching from petrol.

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Sources: Hyundai UK Ioniq 9 specifications, Kia UK EV9 data, Volkswagen UK ID.4 pricing, BMW iX3 UK specifications, Skoda UK Enyaq data, EV Database UK range data 2026, Carwow Car of the Year Awards 2026, HMRC BiK rates 2026/27.