With the addition of the EV320 version, Jaguar’s i-Pace has become almost 16,000 euros cheaper in one fell swoop. This also puts the car in the top 10 of the most affordable electric SUVs, a list that is constantly evolving.
Which themes are currently ‘hot’ in the car world? Ask that question to any car connoisseur and chances are that ‘electric driving’ and ‘SUVs’ will be mentioned in succession. SUVs are the current trend worldwide, while EVs are seen in at least a very important future perspective. Actual sales success is not yet everywhere at the moment, but this is of course the case in the Netherlands.
Subjective
Anyone who combines the electric powertrain with an SUV carriage and a manageable price tag is almost certainly a success at the moment. That gave us the idea to map out what the cheapest electric SUVs are, but that does include an important disclaimer. The term ‘SUV’ is not always easy to define. For example, the aforementioned i-Pace with its futuristic carriage is a unique intermediate shape. A car like the Kia Niro is also more of a crossover, but we now place it under this category. Some subjectivity is inevitable in this regard, so the request is to slaughter us as kindly as possible if the list is wrong in your view.
We have also started from the basic versions. The Hyundai Kona is therefore only presented here in its fresh 39 kWH trim, while the 64 kWh version is also eligible. In this case, it’s about the best deal, so we’ll focus on the entry-level.
Finally, we limit ourselves to cars that are available this year. In some cases this cannot be said with 100 percent certainty, but in all the cases below the manufacturer promises that delivery before the turn of the year is possible. All the cars below should therefore be eligible for an 8 percent addition to the first 45,000 euros of the purchase price.
Same range
The great thing about the i-Pace EV320 is that the car offers less power, but retains its range. The new entry-level version can theoretically drive 470 km on a full battery, just like the much more expensive EV400. With a starting price of € 65,990, the i-Pace comes ninth in the list below with its new three-phase charger. Unfortunately, the cheapest version, the 50 quattro, is temporarily unavailable. That is why € 71,500 is currently the basic price of Audi’s electric SUV, with which the car just as well manages to kick it into the top 10.
Bang offer
Nevertheless, the Jaguar and the Audi remain expensive cars of course. There are a lot of electric SUVs on the way, so it is expected that these two will soon leave the list. A car that can probably keep its place for a while is the MG ZS EV. With a price of € 30,985, the Chinese SUV with a British name is and will remain the smashing offer of the electric car country, and not even only in the SUV field. Moreover, with its range of 263 km, it remains well ahead of the number 2, the Mazda MX-30. Yet it is precisely this limited range that gives Mazda’s high-quality newcomer its relatively friendly price.
Place 3 is for a relative veteran in EV land, the Hyundai Kona. In this case, however, we will not go for the well-known 64 kWh variant, as mentioned. With 39 kWh, the Kona is still 305 km far, but the car costs almost 5 mille less than the cheapest version with the large battery.
More spacious for less
Places 4 and 5 are for two newcomers to PSA with the same. As a premium option, the DS 3 Crossback E-Tense is of course a bit more expensive than the Peugeot e-2008, but it must be said that this Peugeot also has a particularly high-quality interior. Moreover, the 2008 is a lot more spacious than such a DS 3.
Slippery ice
We are on slippery ice at sixth place. The Kia Niro belongs as a public favorite of the Netherlands without any doubt on the list, but Kia also has the e-Soul in house. In contrast to the Niro, this car is available with the 39 kWh battery pack and is therefore a lot cheaper, but according to your scribe it just does not meet the requirements for the term ‘SUV’. It is more of a tall, distinct hatchback, but we like to mention that such an e-Soul with a price of € 33,995 is an excellent offer these days. The Niro costs almost 45 mille, but with 455 km it has almost the largest range of the entire list.
Direct competitors
With the UX300e, Lexus provides arguments that Mazda also cites when it comes to range versus car weight. The range is also limited with the Lexus, although the car does not have to be ashamed in this company with more than 300 km. The ‘premium’ Lexus is also 10,000 euros cheaper than its direct rival to Volvo, the XC40 Recharge. Its extra range therefore costs about 100 euros per kilometer, although there are of course more differences between the two.
Change ahead
| Position | Car | price | Range * |
| 1. | MG ZS EV | € 30,985.00 | 263 km |
| 2. | Mazda MX-30 | € 33,990.00 | 200 km |
| 3. | Hyundai Kona Electric ** | € 36,795.00 | 305 km |
| 4. | Peugeot e-2008 | € 40,930.00 | 320 km |
| 5. | DS3 Crossback E-Tense | € 43,290.00 | 320 km |
| 6. | Kia e-Niro | € 44,995.00 | 455 km |
| 7. | Lexus UX300e | € 49,990.00 | > 300 km |
| 8. | Volvo XC40 Recharge | € 59,900.00 | > 400 km |
| 9. | Jaguar i-Pace EV320 | € 65,990.00 | 470 km |
| 10. | Audi E-Tron 55 quattro | € 69,950.00 | 401 km |
* According to the WLTP statement** There is also a 64 kWh version, which costs a minimum of € 41,595
Those who insist on an 8 percent addition should now order quickly, but there are still plenty of reasons to wait until 2021. In the near future we can expect a lot of newcomers to this part of the market. For example, Skoda will present the Enyaq iV very soon and it is expected that the delivery of the Tesla Model Y will also start in Europe next year. Then there is the Ford Mustang Mach-E, a car that is as much discussed as it is promising.