Electric vehicles, or EVs, made up almost 8% of all new-vehicle sales in the U.S. in 2023, and about 18% of all vehicles sold worldwide. EV adoption may be slow in some places and consumers still skeptical, but clearly there are lots of people who’ve embraced EV life, and the number of electric vehicles they can choose from has proliferated in the past four years. In 2024 there are more than 40 different electric models on offer, and more arriving every day.
As with the combustion-engine market, most of those vehicles are SUVs rather than electric cars, primarily compact-to-midsize crossovers, but also some really huge models like the GMC Hummer EV. While it’s great that the industry is offering such a wide array of choices, it’s also hard to know how to evaluate just how efficient these vehicles are compared to gas-powered or hybrid models. Also, “efficiency” is about much more than just range.
The GMC Hummer SUV boasts a 314-mile range, making it one of the longer-range offerings, but its huge battery and size mean lots of weight, which works against its actual efficiency. It earns the dubious distinction of having the EPA’s lowest MPGe ratings. Bigger batteries like the Hummer’s also mean longer home charging times.
But MPGe ratings aren’t particularly relatable, and they might not be the best statistic to judge electrics against combustion vehicles. A more realistic fuel economy estimate lies in the fine print of the EPA’s ratings: how much energy does it take to go 100 miles in each vehicle? What’s the predicted annual fuel cost? How much does it cost to go 25 miles? You’ll find all three stats buried in each SUV’s EPA ratings.
The most efficient pure gas-powered vehicle on the market, the Mitsubishi Mirage, will consume 2.6 gallons of gas per 100 miles and has an annual predicted fuel cost of $1,200. The most efficient conventional hybrid, the Kia Niro, uses 2 gallons and costs $950 per year. 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 in 2024, we 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 BMW iX, Cadillac LYRIQ, Kia EV9, 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 R1T, missed out in our rankings because they’re just not efficient enough, though the Rivian R1S has one of the lengthiest ranges on the electric SUV market. Similarly, one of the best EV SUVs of 2023 (and the one with the lowest starting price), the Chevrolet Bolt EUV, is now discontinued.
Additionally, we’ve also factored in desirability and practicality. Most of these vehicles are equipped with advanced safety features like adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking and lane keeping assist, as well as the latest touchscreen-based infotainment, with features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and wireless smartphone charging. We've ranked them by relative efficiency.
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 range from its 75-kWh battery pack (the usable amount, not the full total, and a bit less for the base-model RWD). It’s the best-selling EV on the market thanks to its practicality, range, and 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 and 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 in 2023 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 design and like the related Tesla Model 3, it’s probably the nicest handling version. The more powerful dual-motor Long Range is faster if not as quite a neutral 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.
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 PHEV siblings are with gas. Visually, you’d have a hard time telling all three separate versions apart at a glance, and all three got slick new styling with their complete redesign in 2023. It’s 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 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 80% charge in about 45 minutes on a DC fast charger. Level 2 charging takes about 7 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 very practical thanks to its tall hatchback-blended-with-SUV shape. It rides Hyundai Motor Group’s E-GMP platform, along with the Ioniq 6 sedan, Kia’s EV6 and EV9 SUVs, and Genesis’ 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-horsepower electric motor. If you can live with 220 miles of range and this model’s tepid performance, you can save yourself a substantial $5,600 by selecting the SE Standard Range. If not, the 77.4-kWh higher trims beckon and even the single-motor RWD model offers more speed. 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. A full Level 2 charge takes just under seven hours, and Level 1 charges about 10 hours.
The Ioniq 5 is very practical, with a comfy and airy cabin that looks as modern as the 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. A very fast Ioniq 5 N will debut this year, but it’ll sacrifice some efficiency for speed.
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, it’s 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 Kia uses the same 58- and 77.4-kWh battery packs and 800-volt architecture as the Ioniq, and as on that SUV only the base model gets the smaller battery pack and a 167-horsepower electric motor. The next step up, the Long Range RWD, get the bigger pack and 225 horsepower.
The range difference is similar, with the base EV6 returning 220 miles and the single-motor longer-range RWD model getting up to 310, the EV6’s top rating. Both are very energy efficient at 28 kWh per 100 miles, but the AWD EV6s 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 576-horsepower 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 adrenalin-pumping EV6 GT can only do 218 miles of range to the Model Y Performance’s 285.
Charging times for the EV6 are similar to those of the Ioniq 5, but the slinky EV6 isn’t quite as practical. Cargo space is somewhat more restricted by the lower roofline, at 24.4 cubic feet with the seats up and 50.3 cubic feet with all seats down. That’s pretty diminished if you compare it to conventional compact SUVs like the Ford Escape, but it’s more than you’ll get out of a Mazda CX-30 or any EV sedan, including the hatchback Tesla Model S. Annual energy costs range from $600 to $800 according to the EPA.
Hyundai Kona Electric
Entirely redesigned for the 2024 model year, the Hyundai Kona Electric continues its familiar recipe of being an electrified version of the diminutive gas-powered Kona. Only now, it isn’t so diminutive anymore. In a direct reply to criticisms of the original Kona, the 2024 version has gotten larger in every dimension but especially in the back seat and cargo area. 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-horsepower electric motor driving the front wheels, while the higher trims (SEL and Limited) get a 64.8-kWh pack and a 201-horsepower 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 backseat offers 36.4 inches of legroom, a big increase from the previous model, and there are 25.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the backseat. That opens up to 63.7 with it folded, both increases from the previous mode as well.
Research the Hyundai Kona Electric
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 horsepower. 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 II 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 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. For 2024, the ID.4 will get a mid-cycle refresh, but exact pricing and full specifications are still forthcoming. The higher trims will get revised batteries, more power, and more range, but the whole lineup is likely to remain as efficient as ever.
In terms of energy consumption, most ID.4 variations hover between 31 and 34 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 58-kWh battery pack and a single 201-horsepower electric motor driving the rear wheels, and the higher trims with a 77-kWh battery pack and more power. For 2024 these higher trims come in single-motor form with 282 horsepower, or dual-motor all-wheel drive form with 330, both figures up slightly from 2023. The smaller battery pack can only manage 209 miles of range, but the larger one can manage up to 291 in rear-drive 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. For 2024 models, a 12.9 inch central display will replace the previous 10-inch unit, and it should come with some helpful interface updates that might 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 European crossover 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 in 2021 and 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) introduced in 2023. All C40 and XC40 Recharge models now use this same battery pack, and both come in single-motor, rear-wheel drive form with 248 horsepower, or dual-motor all-wheel-drive 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-motors 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.
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Research the Volvo XC40 Recharge
Genesis GV60
The third member of the E-GMP-platform trio on this list after the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6, the Genesis GV60 rides the same platform and uses the same batteries as those vehicles but looks and feels very little like them. Genesis’ 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 EVs built on internal-combustion-engine (ICE) platforms. For 2024, the GV60 gets the longer-range version it’s been missing since it debuted in 2022. This new variant uses the same 77.4 kWh battery pack as the other GV60s, but has a 225-horsepower single-motor, rear-wheel-drive 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 all-wheel drive setups, but they have different power and range ratings. The standard GV60 dual-motor makes 314 horsepower and offers 264 miles of range, while the GV60 Performance has up to 483 horsepower but only 235 miles of range. The lower-power versions us 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 it’s back seat is a little smaller than 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 Audi 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.
There are two basic versions, the rear-wheel drive, 201-horsepower 40 models and the all-wheel drive 295-horsepower 50s, with both using a fairly large 77-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 265 miles for 2024. The dual-motor 50 gets only 236 miles of rated range. There’s also the Q4 Sportback, which comes only as a 50. 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 are a little less efficient than their rivals from Volvo, averaging 33 to 36 kWh per 100 miles of travel, but their energy expenses are about the same, $750 for 40 models and $800 for 50s. Though it has a bit less range, the 50 would be our choice, as it’s a more satisfying drive and has all-wheel drive. 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, lots of screens but 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.