This year is shaping up to be the year of the electric SUV. While coupes and sedans have ruled the electric vehicle landscape up until now, SUV lovers are in for a treat with a myriad of electric sport utility vehicles being released throughout 2023 from new and legacy vehicle manufacturers alike. Among the features that should pique your interest are the expected miles of range of the electric vehicles being released. The continued developments in battery technology have increased the range of the average electric vehicle by more than double. According to the International Environmental Agency (IEA), the average range of electric vehicles has increased from 79 miles in 2010 to 217 miles in 2021. This number will only continue to rise! Let’s take a look at the electric vehicles (EVs) we can look forward to in 2023.
Cadillac Lyriq
Advertised range: Up to 312 miles (502 km) Starting price: $62,990 The Lyriq will be a first for Cadillac, as it’s the brand’s initial EV offering. A midsize SUV, the early models will only be available with rear-wheel drive, although an all-wheel-drive (AWD) version will be available at some point in the year. Rear-wheel-drive versions are set to have 340 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque while the AWD version will reportedly have 500 horsepower.
Fisker Ocean
Advertised range: Up to 350 miles (563 km) Starting price: $68,999 (preorder), Fisker Ocean Sport will be available later with a starting price of $37,499. If you are unfamiliar with the name Fisker, that’s because this is a brand-new vehicle manufacturer and the Ocean is the company’s very first production vehicle. It features a revolving infotainment screen and reportedly uses sustainable materials in its upholstery and carpets.
Genesis GV60
Advertised range: Up to 248 miles (399 km) Starting price: $58,890 Another first, Genesis’ GV60 is the first electric SUV from the luxury vehicle manufacturer. It comes standard with AWD. According to the Genesis website: “When charging at 350kW with the ultra-speed charging function, the battery can be charged from 10 percent to 80 percent in just 18 minutes.”
GMC Hummer EV SUV
Advertised range: Up to 250 miles (402 km) Starting price: $79,995 When your SUV driving is more about off-roading than getting the kids to soccer practice, you may want to opt for a Hummer. Yes, after a long hiatus, the gas-guzzling boxes on wheels are back, but with a twist: this time they sip electricity. With a respectable range, the only question is; what bells and whistles do you want? AWD, 22-inch wheels with 35-inch all-terrain tires, a power rear swing gate with a full-size spare tire and wheel, and a dual-motor configuration with a reported 625 horsepower, and 7,400 lb-ft of torque all come standard.
Hyundai Ioniq 6
Advertised range: Up to 382 miles (614 km) Starting price: estimated to be below $47,000 Hyundai hasn’t released any pricing for its Ioniq 6 EV sedan, but it is meant to compete with the Tesla Model 3, and early estimates about pricing stake it at a slightly lesser price point than the Model 3, so expect it to be priced in the low to mid-$40,000 range. The base model has a single motor, with higher trims having a dual motor and AWD options. The Ioniq 6 offers a digital gauge cluster and an infotainment screen both measuring 12.3 inches, along with a super quiet cabin for ultimate comfort.
IndiEV Indi One
Advertised range: Up to 300 miles (483 km) Starting price: $45,000 Another new name in vehicle manufacturing, IndiEV will release its first EV, aptly named the Indi One, in 2023. The Indi One is an SUV and comes standard with AWD. The most impressive bell and/or whistle that comes with the Indi One is the vehicle-integrated computer. This is more than just a standard infotainment system. It provides passengers with the ability to play games, live stream, and edit photos while the vehicle is on the move. Thankfully, the driver is not able to do any of those things.
Lexus RZ 450e
Advertised range: Up to 225 miles (362 km) Starting price: N/A Another first! The RZ 450e is the first EV from Lexus. It’s an SUV that comes standard with AWD. The Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 is also standard. It’s 14-inch infotainment screen uses the new Lexus Interface and the RZ 450e will provide you with 312 horsepower.
Mercedes-Benz EQE
Advertised range: Estimated to be over 300 miles (483 km) Starting price: $75,950 The Mercedes-Benz EQE is touted as a smaller, but also more affordable alternative to its EQS sedan. The entry-level trim model, the EQE350, comes with a 15-speaker Burmester stereo system, wireless smartphone charging pad, in-dash navigation, heated power front seats, automatic high-beam headlamps, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist.
Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV
Advertised range: Up to 350 miles (563 km) Starting price: $104,400 Another electric SUV, the EQS is available in rear-wheel drive or AWD models. As one would expect from Mercedes-Benz, the EQS SUVs are luxurious and full of high-tech gadgetry to make the driving experience smoother and the passenger experience more enjoyable. Some of these include a navigation system with augmented reality, a Dolby Atmos sound system with Burmester speakers, and a bevy of driver assistance features.
Nissan Ariya
Advertised range: Up to 300 miles (483 km) Starting price: $45,950 This is Nissan’s first new EV since their groundbreaking Leaf, and it is a worthy descendant of that trend-setting vehicle. Unlike the Leaf, the Ariya is an SUV that is available with either front-wheel drive or AWD. It also comes with either a standard or long-range battery, so buyers have some nice options.
Polestar 3
Advertised range: Up to 372 miles (599 km) Starting price: $83,900 Aptly named, the Polestar 3 is the third vehicle from this EV manufacturer. It’s an SUV with AWD in a dual-motor configuration. Buyers will be able to add a Performance Pack, which bumps up the horsepower, but bumps down the range. The Polestar 3 will be available with bi-directional charging, meaning it may be able to power your house in an emergency.
Subaru Solterra
Advertised range: Up to 228 miles (367 km) Starting price: $44,995 Another first! This will be the premier EV from Subaru. Coming standard with AWD and over eight inches of ground clearance, this SUV will have 215 horsepower and 249 lb-ft of torque. The Solterra’s AWD features a front e-axle driving the front wheels and another e-axle at the back driving those wheels. It’s also set to come with Downhill Assist Control and Grip Control.
Toyota bZ4X
Advertised range: Up to 252 miles (406 km) Starting price: $42,000 This SUV from Toyota comes standard with front-wheel drive, but AWD will also be available. With Drive Mode Select and Snow Drive Mode, drivers will be prepared for whatever is thrown at them. (Higher trim models have even more adverse-weather driving modes available.) Power-Adjustable Heated Mirrors come standard, along with a leather-wrapped steering wheel (which is also heated in higher trim models).
VinFast VF 8 and VF 9
Advertised range: VF 8 - Up to 260 miles (418 km) | VF 9 - Up to 369 miles (594 km) Starting price: VF 8 - $40,700 | VF 9 - $55,500 Another name that may be unfamiliar with some drives, VinFast is a new EV manufacturer based in Vietnam. They’re bringing two new electric SUVs to market this year: the VF 8, a midsize SUV, and the VF 9, its full-sized sibling. Both SUVs will come standard with AWD and drivers will be able to choose between standard or long-range battery options. Something that’s unique about the VinFast vehicles is that they have a usage-based battery subscription service available that allows the company to include a lifetime battery warranty. It promises to replace any battery for free if the battery’s charging capacity drops below 70%. Opting for the battery subscription service also drops the price of the vehicle since you will only be paying upfront for the vehicle and leasing the battery based on how much you drive. Something to note is that even though the advertised range of the base VF 8 Eco is up to 260 miles, the United States Environmental Protection Agency has stated the actual range is only 179 miles (288 km). VinFast says the range will go up with a software update in 2023. There are so many firsts happening in 2023 on the EV front! Another one to look out for is Jeep’s first foray into EVs (which are slated to come out in 2024, which is why we didn’t include them here). If you’re in the market for an electric SUV (or just an EV in general) 2023 is a good year for choice! And once you have your EV picked out, check out the Blink Charging line of products to choose which residential Level 2 charging station you’d like to put in your home. Now get out there and start comparison shopping!