Last updated on June 2nd, 2023 at 11:24 am
Best Mainstream SUV EV: Tesla Model Y
In the year that the Tesla Model Y arrived in the UK, it would be impossible to give the SUV award to any other car. The price of the Model Y may place it out of reach for some, but judging by the fact that Tesla appears to be able to sell as many as it can ship to the UK, there is huge demand for this SUV. It’s not hard to see why. So far, we have only seen the Long Range version in Britain, although there is a Performance version, and a Rear-Wheel-Drive version has recently joined the range. The Long Range, as with the Model 3, is the sweet spot. It delivers a tasty balance of performance, range, and practicality.
On one hand, the Model Y is built on the same platform as the Model 3, only a bit taller. The extra size means it’s not quite so quick as the latter, but with 384hp the Long Range can still hit 60mph in 4.8 seconds, and the Performance’s 456hp drops this to 3.5 seconds. Range is excellent, too, with the Long Range lasting for 331 miles (WLTP) and the Performance 319 miles. People who buy SUVs generally want lots of cargo space, and the Model Y is top of the class in this respect. The basic capacity is 854 litres with the rear seats up, and this extends to a huge 1,869 litres with them down. There’s a capacious 117-litre frunk on top of this, too.
And, of course, all this comes with Tesla’s technology platform, which is years ahead of any other automaker. This enables the most seamless over-the-air software updates, competent self-driving on highways, and in-car multimedia features including Spotify, Netflix, and Disney+ streaming. The killer feature is access to Tesla’s Supercharger network, one of the fastest and most reliable charging infrastructures around, with excellent coverage. While the Tesla Model Y isn’t cheap, it is a very complete and capable electric SUV.
Read our full review of the Tesla Model Y.
Honourable Mentions: MG ZS EV Long Range, Nissan Ariya
MG impresses us with the value of every car it releases, and before the MG4 EV, the MG ZS EV Long Range set yet another benchmark for EV range and features for the money. It’s still a very sensible choice. The MG ZS EV Long Range promises up to 273 miles of WLTP range on a single charge. The regular 470-litre boot space is decent, but this isn’t a large SUV, so the capacity only increases to 1,100 litres with the rear seats down. The best thing is the price. Starting at £28,495 for the entry-level SE version, this a very keenly costed EV.
Further up the price range is the Nissan Ariya. This SUV has brought one of the pioneering companies of electrification bang up to date. In terms of styling, it takes Nissan to a new level, with a futuristic exterior and streamlined interior. The Ariya is available with two battery sizes – 63kWh and 87kWh – and three motor powers, including 214hp and 238hp front-wheel drive, plus the 301hp all-wheel drive e-4ORCE, with the latter providing a brusque 5.7-second sprint to 62mph. The WLTP range is up to 329 miles, which is competitive. The Ariya is quite expensive, starting at just under £44,000 and over £52,000 for the e-4ORCE version. But it’s a quality electric SUV from a company with an illustrious history in the EV market.
Read our full review of the MG ZS EV Long Range and Nissan Ariya.
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