How to choose the best electric SUV for you
Electric SUVs now cover almost every size and budget, so the useful question is which one fits how you drive. The points below are the ones that separate models most clearly. To widen the search beyond SUVs, see every electric vehicle we list.
The range on each card is the official or maker-stated figure. Check the trim you would actually buy, because one model can span a wide gap: the Kia EV3 is rated at 356 km with its 58.3 kWh battery and 517 km with the 81.4 kWh battery.
Expect less than the card figure in cold weather. Heating the cabin and the battery uses energy that would otherwise move the car, and a cold battery charges more slowly. Preheating while the car is still plugged in reduces the loss, and a heat pump, where a trim has one, uses less energy for cabin heat, though its advantage shrinks in extreme cold. Read more on how cold affects EV batteries, and if you drive long distances in winter, find fast chargers along your route before you choose a trim.
Compact models such as the Kia EV3, Hyundai KONA Electric and Volvo EX30 suit city driving and tighter parking. Two-row midsize models, including the Tesla Model Y, Hyundai IONIQ 5 and Chevrolet Equinox EV, add rear-seat and cargo space.
For seven seats, look at three-row models such as the Kia EV9, Hyundai IONIQ 9, Cadillac VISTIQ and Rivian R1S. Some trims swap the middle bench for two captain’s chairs, which drops seating to six: the EV9 Land AWD with Premium Package is one example.
Most owners do most of their charging at home. A full Level 2 charge takes 7 hours for the Kia EV3 Wind FWD and 11 hours 48 minutes for the IONIQ 9 Preferred AWD, which has a much larger 110.3 kWh battery. If you’re setting up a home charger, check the charger output your panel can support.
For road trips, compare DC fast-charging times with battery size in mind. The IONIQ 5 Preferred Long Range RWD lists 18 minutes from 10% to 80% on an 84 kWh battery. For the Kia Niro EV and its smaller 64.8 kWh battery, Kia Canada quotes 43 minutes on a 350 kW charger but doesn’t state the charge window, so ask before you compare the two.
Energy use varies more than many shoppers expect. NRCan rates the Tesla Model Y RWD at 15.4 kWh/100 km combined and the Kia EV9 Land AWD at 24.9 kWh/100 km, so the EV9 uses about 60% more electricity per kilometre. Enter a model’s rating to estimate charging costs in your province.
Before you budget, check the Electric Vehicle Affordability Program (EVAP) and other incentives. EVAP only covers vehicles made in Canada or in a country that has a free-trade agreement with Canada, so China-built vehicles aren’t eligible. Other conditions apply, including a $50,000 cap on the final transaction value for vehicles not made in Canada. Check where the specific trim you want is built.
Towing ratings differ widely. The Kia Niro EV isn’t rated for towing. The IONIQ 5 is rated at 1,224 kg, the Model Y at 1,600 kg and the IONIQ 9’s AWD trims at 2,268 kg. The Rivian R1S Performance is rated at 3,494 kg.
For cargo, compare the space behind the rear seats: 609 L in the Kia EV3 (cargo floor up; 740 L lowered), 745 L in the IONIQ 5 and 835 L in the Model Y. Each maker measures differently, so treat close figures as similar. If you tow heavier loads or need a bed, compare electric pickup trucks.
