Electric vehicles, or EVs, have made up eight percent or more of all new-vehicle sales in the US since 2023. EV adoption may be off to a slow start in some regions and consumers still skeptical, but the proof is in the pudding: People are embracing the EV life, and there’s a great variety of different options to choose from. In fact, there are more than 40 different electric models on sale, and more are arriving every day.
As with the combustion-engine market, most of those vehicles are electric SUVs rather than electric cars. They're primarily compact-to-midsize crossovers, but we're also seeing some really huge models, like the GMC Hummer EV.
But boiling down how they stack up in regards to overall efficiency: How much energy does it take to go 100 miles in each of these new cars? The Hummer EV needs 63 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity to go 100 miles and has an annual predicted energy cost of $1,450. Those predicted costs can vary as electricity rates and fast charging costs vary greatly from region to region, but they do provide a baseline.
To determine our list of the best electric SUVs for efficiency, we read the fine print and cross-referenced the kWh/100-mile figures, ranges, charging rates, and energy costs for many of the most popular electric SUVs on the market. Some that have good ranges, like the Ford Mustang Mach-E, BMW iX, Cadillac LYRIQ, Kia EV9, Porsche Taycan, and Nissan Ariya, aren’t quite efficient enough to make our list-even though they are still very efficient EVs and offer major energy advantages compared to gas-powered vehicles.
Some highly capable machines, like the Rivian R1S, missed out in our rankings because they’re just not quite efficient enough, even though the R1S does have one of the lengthiest ranges on the electric SUV market.
Additionally, we’ve also factored in desirability and practicality. Most of these vehicles are equipped with advanced automotive safety features like adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist, as well as the latest touchscreen-based infotainment, with features like bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and wireless smartphone charging. After all, efficiency is efficiency.
No matter what, we’ve got a good selection of American, European, and Asian automakers on our list, too.
The Best Electric SUVs for Efficiency
- Tesla Model Y
- Kia Niro EV
- Hyundai Ioniq 5
- Kia EV6
- Hyundai Kona Electric
- Tesla Model X
- Volkswagen ID.4
- Volvo C40 Recharge & XC40 Recharge
- Genesis GV60
- Audi Q4 e-tron
Tesla Model Y
The Model Y is the vehicle that Kia, Hyundai, and Genesis had in their sights with the EV6, the Ioniq 5, and the GV60. It’s quick, roomy for five, and boasts between 260 and 310 miles of driving range from its 75-kWh battery pack (the usable amount, not the full total, and a bit less for the base-model with rear-wheel drive). It’s the best-selling EV on the market thanks to its practicality, range, and the ease of charging at the automaker’s Supercharger network. It’s also one of the most energy-efficient SUVs around, consuming just 28 kWh per 100 miles of driving with a predicted annual energy cost of $600. (Your results may vary, as electricity rates are different all over the country.)
But Tesla’s range estimates for the Model Y were revised downward for the 2023 model year after the earlier EPA and manufacturer-backed ratings proved hard to achieve in the real world. It’s still highly efficient, but it no longer offers much of a range advantage over its newer and recently updated competitors. The Supercharger network, of course, is a big part of the appeal, but that too will soon be open to other EVs. The Model Y’s blobby styling is hit or miss, and so are its unconventional minimalist interior and controls, which are heavily reliant on the central touchscreen.
The entry-level Model Y is a single-motor, rear-wheel drive (RWD) design, and like the related Tesla Model 3, it’s probably the nicest-handling version. The more powerful dual-motor Long Range variant is faster, if not quite as neutral a handler, while the Model 3 Performance offers breathtaking acceleration (zero to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds) if not necessarily lithe handling. Even four years after its launch and facing so many newer competitors, it’s still one of the easiest-to-live-with EVs around and one of the most efficient. Plus, it’s the only EV on this list with optional three-row seating.
Of course, we can’t forget about tax credits: Because the Model Y is made in America, there are deep incentives available by the federal and many state governments.
Kia Niro EV
It may not have the longest range, but the Kia Niro EV is supremely frugal with its electrons, just as its hybrid and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) siblings are with gas. Visually, you’d have a hard time telling the three separate versions apart at a glance, and all three got slick new styling with their complete redesign in 2023. The Niro is handsome for a small SUV, and apart from its smooth-faced grille, it looks every inch a regular car, or a tall hatchback. There’s self-conscious EV futurism going on here.
The Niro EV’s battery pack has 64.8 kWh of useable storage and delivers 253 miles of driving range. It uses a single 201-horsepower electric motor driving the front wheels. It’s not all that fast, but it uses just 29 kWh per 100 miles, with a predicted annual energy cost of just $650. While some of Kia’s newer SUVs can fast-charge at astonishing rates, the Niro EV maxes out at 85 kW/hour, but since the battery isn’t that big, this is still enough to juice to charge to 80% in about 45 minutes on a DC fast charger. Level 2 charging takes about seven hours, but Level 1 (a standard household outlet) charging takes about a full day.
Inside, the Niro feels luxurious for what is basically an economy car in crossover clothing, and it comes with lots of driver-assist and tech features bundled in. An optional heat pump can also help boost efficiency in summer and winter.
Hyundai Ioniq 5
With its retro looks and pixellated lighting signatures, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 offers lots of style to go with its efficiency. It’s also a very practical new EV thanks to its tall hatchback-blended-with-SUV shape. It rides on Hyundai Motor Group’s E-GMP platform, along with the Ioniq 6 sedan, Kia’s EV6 and EV9 SUVs, and Genesis’s GV60. The 800-volt electrical architecture of this platform makes all of these models stars in terms of efficiency and charging speed, but the Ioniq 5 came first and is among the most efficient.
The entry-level Ioniq 5 comes with a 58-kWh battery pack and a single 168-hp electric motor. If you can live with 220 miles of range and this model’s tepid performance, it’ll knock off $5,600 to select the SE Standard Range. If not, upgrades are available, such as a 77.4-kWh higher trim, or even the single-motor RWD model. The base model consumes energy to the tune of 30 kWh per 100 miles, but the Ioniq 5 Long Range RWD comes in at 29. Charging times are rapid thanks to a maximum 240-kW charging rate, and the Ioniq 5 can charge from 10% to 80% in under 20 minutes on a Level 3 DC fast charger. This impresses even the harshest EV critics. A full Level 2 charge takes just under seven hours, and at Level 1 speeds, you're looking at about 10 hours.
The Ioniq 5 is very practical, with great interior space and a layout that looks as modern as its exterior. Cargo volume is good in the Hyundai, too, with 27.2 cubic feet with the seats in place and a roomy 59.3 cubic feet when they're folded, thanks to its more SUV-style shape. Hyundai and Kia provide their industry-leading 10-year powertrain warranty standard on their electric vehicles, offering additional peace of mind.
Kia EV6
Like the Hyundai Ioniq 5, the Kia EV6 was all-new for 2022, and it pushes the boundaries of what we usually call a compact SUV. Technically, the EV6 is a crossover, but we might consider it more of a five-door hatchback, with even sleeker and lower-slung lines than its Hyundai cousin. The EV6 got a refresh for 2025 that included larger batteries for additional driving range.
The base model is the RWD-only Light trim, which uses a 63.0-kWh battery paired with a single electric motor to produce 167 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. The base EV6 returns 240 miles of range. As of 2025, a larger 84.0-kWh battery is also available, offering a maximum of 319 miles of range in the Light Long Range, Wind, and GT-Line models. Not bad for roadtrip duty.
With either battery, the EV6 uses roughly 26 kWh per 100 miles (26.25 kWh for the base model and 26.33 for the long-range), but all-wheel-drive (AWD) variants will lower the model’s average a bit, as will adding the very cool-looking optional larger wheels. At the top of the lineup is the 641-hp EV6 GT, a rival to the Tesla Model Y performance that’s arguably a better balanced (and better looking) vehicle than the Tesla. The only downside is that the adrenaline-pumping EV6 GT can only do 231 miles of range to the Model Y Performance’s 285.
Another key update for the 2025 Kia EV6 is its configuration to the North American Charging Standard (NACS). This means EV6 owners can leverage Tesla's Supercharger network, making public charging more widely accessible. 800-volt DC fast charging is standard on the EV6 for 2025.
Hyundai Kona Electric
Entirely redesigned for the 2024 model year, the Hyundai Kona Electric continues its familiar recipe as an electrified version of the diminutive gas-powered Kona-except that it isn’t so diminutive anymore. In a direct reply to criticisms of the original Kona, the latest version has gotten larger in every dimension, but especially in the back seat and cargo areas. It’s also clad in a pleasing new shape with futuristic details and lighting signatures, in echoes of the Ioniq 5 and other recent cool Hyundai designs.
Although availability is still limited on the base model, the Kona Electric now offers two configurations instead of just one as in the previous generation. The base Kona Electric SE gets a 48.6-kWh battery pack and a 137-hp electric motor driving the front wheels, while the higher trims (SEL and Limited) get a 64.8-kWh pack and a 201-hp motor. The SE offers around 200 miles of range, while the larger-pack models are rated for 261 miles. The EPA hasn’t officially rated the SE yet, but the energy consumption on the larger pack comes out to 29 kWh per 100 miles and an annual energy cost of $650.
The Kona Electric can also charge quickly, though not as fast as the Ioniq 5. A full Level 2 charge takes just over six hours, and the smaller pack in five, while it can fast-charge at up to 100 kW per hour, enough to replenish from 10% to 80% in under 45 minutes, similar to the Kia Niro EV. The back seat offers 36.4 inches of legroom, a big increase from the previous model, and there are 25.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind those rear seat. That opens up to 63.7 with it folded, both increases from the previous mode as well.
Tesla Model X
Tesla’s larger and older SUV, the Model X doesn’t get much attention anymore, but it still offers a lot of range and top-tier efficiency. There are two versions, the standard dual-motor Model X and the high-performance Model X Plaid, but the standard version is the efficiency champion. It’s also still very, very fast, with a zero-to-60 time of just 3.8 seconds. The Model X uses a 100-kWh battery pack and two electric motors (one for each axle) making 670 hp. Despite its pace and weight (well over 5,000 pounds), it offers up to 335 miles of range and sips electrons at 28 kWh per 100 miles, with a predicted annual energy cost of $750.
Like the Model Y, that figure was recently revised downward from the previous 348-mile range because that higher number proved hard to achieve in the real world. However, as with the other Teslas, the Supercharger network remains a major advantage, and once parked at one of the stations, the Model X can charge at up to 250 kW per hour. It’s easy and cheap even if you’re relying mainly on fast charging. Using Tesla’s optional wall charger, the X can fully charge in about seven hours at home, but some other Level 2 chargers will take longer, while Level 1 charging can take 12 hours or more.
The Model X has a slightly less minimalist interior than the Model Y, with a gauge cluster and a rear infotainment screen, but it’s still a very austere cabin. At this price, even with Tesla’s recent price cuts, the X definitely doesn’t feel as luxurious as competitors like the BMW iX or Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV, or even the rugged Rivian R1S. There’s also another issue unique to this vehicle: The gullwing rear doors look super cool, but they don’t always seal well, and they tend to let in excess noise.
Volkswagen ID.4
First introduced in 2021, the Volkswagen ID.4 takes the format of the German automaker’s popular Toyota RAV4-rivaling Tiguan and translates it into a fully electric crossover. It doesn’t offer a tiny third row like the Tiguan, but it does offer lots of room and a family-friendly interior at a relatively affordable price. The ID.4 got a mid-cycle refresh last year which also brought revised batteries, more power, and more range to the higher trims.
In terms of energy consumption, most ID.4 variations hover between 28 and 30 kWh per 100 miles of driving, with annual predicted energy costs of $700 to $750. There are two basic versions, the base model with a 62-kWh battery pack and a single 201-hp electric motor driving the rear wheels, and the higher trims with an 82-kWh battery pack and more power. These higher trims come in single-motor form with 282 hp, or dual-motor all-wheel drive (AWD) form with 335, both figures up slightly from 2023. The smaller battery pack can only manage 206 miles of range, but the larger one can manage up to 291 in RWD form.
Inside, the ID.4 has a modern design and a spacious and comfortable interior. Its 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system is stunning (if finicky to use), and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard if you don’t care for Volkswagen’s native system. A 12.9 inch central display replaced the previous 10-inch unit for the 2024 model year, and includes some helpful interface updates that make it easier to use. All ID.4 models offer relatively fast charging capabilities, allowing drivers to fast charge from 10% to 80% in just 38 minutes. Level 2 charging takes about seven to nine hours, but with the larger pack, Level 1 charging is very slow, and the ID.4 can take more than two days to charge this way.
Volvo C40 Recharge & XC40 Recharge
Like the Audi Q4 e-Tron and the BMW iX Xdrive50, the Volvo XC40 Recharge is a pretty traditional small European luxury electric SUV. Aside from the flat panel where a grille should be, you won’t find anything different on the outside from the mild-hybrid standard XC40, and in a way, that makes it a little easier to adapt to than some other small EV SUVs. Like Audi and BMW, Volvo offers a sleeker “coupe crossover” version, the C40, which only comes as an electric and has a cool-looking fastback roof. Underneath, the two crossovers are very similar.
Volvo has also continually updated the XC40 Recharge since its introduction for the 2021 year (the C40 since 2022), and nowadays, both have more range and better energy efficiency than ever. That’s thanks to an updated 78-kWh battery pack (usable energy). All C40 and XC40 Recharge models now use this same battery pack, and both come in single-motor, RWD form with 248 hp, or dual-motor AWD with 402. The latter are much quicker, but range suffers. Single-motor C40 and XC40 models return 297 and 293 miles of range, while dual-motor versions return 257 and 254, respectively.
Inside, both crossovers are pretty much the same as the gas XC40, with an upscale if sober cabin, easy-to-use infotainment and many safety features. Cargo room is a bit on the small side (just 16 cubic feet behind the rear seats in the XC40 Recharge and 15 in the C40) but not terrible. Energy use on 100-mile trip hovers between 31 and 34 kWh depending on the model, and annual energy cost estimates range between $700 and $800. Both are efficient, high-quality options.
Genesis GV60
The third member of the E-GMP trio on this list after the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6, the Genesis GV60 rides on the same platform and uses the same batteries as those vehicles but looks and feels very little like them. Genesis’s jaunty styling and “Crystal Sphere” shifter are in the eye of the beholder, but this tiny SUV looks and feels rich like a proper luxury vehicle should. It’s also full of clever and futuristic features, including lie-flat seats, a vast infotainment display, and biometric security systems.
The fact that the GV60 is built on the E-GMP platform is notable. Genesis offers two other EVs (the Electrified G80 and Electrified GV70), but they're built on internal-combustion-engine (ICE) platforms. For the 2024 model year, the GV60 got the longer-range version it’d been missing since it debuted in 2022. This new variant uses the same 77.4-kWh battery pack as the other GV60s, but it has a 225-hp single-motor, RWD setup. That means it’s considerably slower than the other GV60s, but it’s just as luxurious and can do 294 miles on a charge. It can also charge just as quickly. Like the Ioniq 5 and EV6, the GV60 can fast charge from 10% to 80% in less than 20 minutes, and its home charging rates are quick, too.
The other GV60s are dual-motor AWD setups, but they have different power and range ratings. The standard GV60 dual-motor makes 314 hp and offers 264 miles of range, while the GV60 Performance has up to 483 hp but only 235 miles of range. The lower-power versions use about 30 to 33 kWh of electricity per 100 miles, while the Performance uses 37. Predicted annual energy costs range from $700 to $800. The GV60 is luxurious, playful, and cool, and it comes with a lengthy warranty, but its back seat is a little smaller than those of its corporate siblings. Cargo room compares well to alternatives from Audi and Volvo.
Audi Q4 e-tron
Like the two Volvos and Audi’s own Q5, the Audi Q4 e-tron presents itself as a rather traditional European crossover SUV, with four doors, a hatch, and a tall greenhouse. Audi has more futuristic-looking vehicles in its e-tron lineup, but if you like traditional luxury SUVs, this one might be a good option. It blends the efficiency of the Volkswagen ID.4 (to which it is a distant cousin on the same platform) with Audi’s superior in-car tech features, familiar styling, and sporty demeanor. Its main flaw is that the sportiness comes at the price of range.
In addition to reworked feature availability, the Q4 e-tron got significant powertrain updates for the 2025 model year. There are two basic versions, the RWD 282-hp 45 models and the AWD 335-hp 55s, with both using a fairly large 82-kWh battery. The rear-drive model is unusual for Audi, which makes all-wheel drive standard on most of its products, but it produces the longer-range version, rated at 288 miles. There’s also the Q4 Sportback, which comes only as a 55. Similar to the Audi Q5 Sportback and Volvo C40 Recharge, it adds a sleek fastback roof that improves aerodynamics enough to earn it 242 miles of maximum range.
Q4 e-trons average 28 to 31 kWh per 100 miles of travel, with energy expenses at about $750 for 45 models and $800 for 55s. Though it has a bit less range, the 55 would be our choice, as it’s a more satisfying drive and has AWD. Q4s support DC fast charging at up to 150-kW per hour, and at that rate, juicing from 10% to 80% takes about 35 minutes. Level 2 charging takes about 7.5 hours, but as on the ID.4, a Level 1 charger will be very slow, at more than 53 hours. The Q4’s cabin is typical Audi, with lots of screens, but they're logical and not that hard to learn. The standard body has 24.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 53.1 with them stowed.
