Which electric SUV has the longest real-world range in the UK?

The Kia EV9 Long Range RWD offers the strongest combination of WLTP range (354 miles) and real-world performance among SUVs. The BMW iX xDrive50 consistently delivers strong real-world motorway range of 280–310 miles. The Mercedes-Benz EQS (saloon) exceeds both with 330–360 miles of real-world motorway range, if you are open to a non-SUV body.

What is a realistic motorway range for a long range electric SUV?

Expect approximately 70–80% of the WLTP figure at motorway speeds. A car claiming 350 miles WLTP will typically deliver 245–280 miles at 65–70mph in mild weather. Cold weather reduces this further — budget for an additional 10–20% reduction in winter.

Does driving speed significantly affect EV range?

Yes, significantly. Most EVs achieve their best efficiency at 50–60mph. Motorway driving at 70mph typically reduces range by 20–30% versus WLTP figures. Driving at 80mph can reduce range by 35–40%. Speed management is the single biggest lever for extending range on long journeys.

Which long range EV charges the fastest?

The Hyundai IONIQ 5 and Kia EV6/EV9 lead the class with 800V charging at up to 220–250kW, enabling 10–80% charges in 18–24 minutes. The Tesla Model Y achieves up to 250kW at Superchargers. The BMW iX tops out at 200kW.

Are long range electric SUVs worth the extra cost over standard range models?

For regular long-distance motorway drivers, yes. The premium is worthwhile if you regularly cover 200+ miles in a single day, live in an area with sparse charging infrastructure, or tow a caravan or trailer. For primarily urban or suburban use, a standard range EV will meet your needs for less money.

Best Long Range Electric SUVs UK

Best Long Range Electric SUVs UKLong Range

Which electric SUVs go the furthest on a charge? We rank the best by real-world range, rapid charge speed, and motorway usability.

WLTP range figures are, at best, optimistic. Achieved under controlled conditions at moderate speeds, they routinely overstate what you will get on a British motorway in October. The gap between official and real-world range varies by model, but 20–30% is a reasonable rule of thumb for motorway driving.

That makes choosing a long range electric SUV more complicated than just reading the spec sheet. A car claiming 350 miles WLTP might deliver 260 miles at 70mph. Another claiming 315 miles might deliver 270. The headline figure does not tell the whole story — charging speed, charging network access, and motorway efficiency all matter just as much.

These are the best long range electric SUVs available in the UK right now, assessed on what actually matters for drivers who cover serious distances.

Key Takeaways

What to Remember

Here are the most important points to remember.

Best overall long range

Kia EV9 — 99.8kWh battery, up to 354 miles WLTP, 800V charging, and room for seven.

Best value long range

Tesla Model Y Long Range — Supercharger network makes it the most practical long-distance choice at its price.

Best for rapid charging

Hyundai IONIQ 5 77.4kWh — 800V architecture, 220kW peak charge rate, 10–80% in around 18 minutes.

Best premium long range

BMW iX xDrive50 — up to 380 miles WLTP, 200kW charging, and one of the most refined EV interiors available.

Maximum range pick

Mercedes-Benz EQS 450+ — up to 453 miles WLTP from a 108.4kWh battery. The range king, at a price.

What counts as long range?

For this guide, we have focused on electric SUVs with a WLTP range of 300 miles or more. That threshold is significant because at real-world motorway speeds you can reasonably expect 220–260 miles of usable range — enough to cover London to Edinburgh in two charging stops, or most cross-country journeys with a single stop.

Below 300 miles WLTP, motorway long-distance driving requires more frequent and more carefully planned charging. Above it, most journeys become genuinely comfortable rather than an exercise in range management.

All figures below use WLTP combined cycle as a reference point. We have also noted estimated real-world motorway range where reliable data exists.

Best long range electric SUVs in the UK

Best overall long range SUV

2024

Kia EV9

GT-Line S AWD

£44,700

Up to 354 miles WLTP (RWD Long Range)800V ultra-rapid charging, 10–80% in ~24 minSeven-seat configuration availableReal-world motorway range: ~270–290 miles

Best value long range

2024

Tesla Model Y

Long Range AWD

£15,990

Up to 331 miles WLTPSupercharger network: 1,200+ UK locationsReal-world motorway range: ~260–280 miles250kW peak Supercharger speed

Best rapid charging

2024

Hyundai IONIQ 5

77.4kWh Long Range

£12,999

Up to 315 miles WLTP800V charging at up to 220kW10–80% in approximately 18 minutesReal-world motorway range: ~240–265 miles

Best premium long range

2022

BMW iX

xDrive50

£18,999

Up to 380 miles WLTP200kW DC rapid chargingExceptionally refined motorway cruiserReal-world motorway range: ~280–310 miles

Maximum range pick

2022

Mercedes-Benz EQS

450+ AMG Line

£32,980

Up to 453 miles WLTP200kW rapid chargingHyperscreen interior optionReal-world motorway range: ~330–360 miles

Kia EV9 — the long range family choice

The EV9 is the most complete long-range electric SUV available in the UK for families. Its 99.8kWh battery gives up to 354 miles WLTP in rear-wheel drive Long Range form — though most buyers will opt for the AWD version, which trades a little range for considerably more traction. Real-world motorway range sits around 270–290 miles, which is class-competitive.

What elevates the EV9 above pure range metrics is the 800V charging architecture. At a compatible 350kW charger, it can add around 62 miles of range in just five minutes. The 10–80% charge time is approximately 24 minutes — genuinely fast for a battery this size.

Used examples start from around £44,700 for 2024 GT-Line S AWD variants with under 40,000 miles. For buyers who need seven seats as well as long range, the EV9 is the only serious option in this segment.

For more on the EV9's towing credentials and charging network performance, see our best electric SUVs for long distance driving guide.

Kia EV9 — the long range family choice

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BMW iX xDrive50 — the premium long ranger

The iX xDrive50's headline claim of up to 380 miles WLTP is one of the stronger figures in the SUV segment, and real-world testing suggests it delivers honest motorway range of 280–310 miles — better than the WLTP-to-real-world ratio of most rivals. Credit goes to BMW's efficient dual-motor setup and thoughtful aerodynamics: the iX has a drag coefficient of just 0.25Cd, remarkable for a large SUV.

Charging tops out at 200kW DC — competitive if not class-leading. More importantly, the iX is one of the most refined long-distance cars of any kind. Motorway noise suppression is exceptional, the air suspension delivers a composed ride over poor surfaces, and the interior is genuinely special.

Used 2022 xDrive50 examples are now available from around £19,000–24,000 — representing dramatic depreciation from a new price above £87,000 and offering outstanding value for a car of this quality.

BMW iX xDrive50 — the premium long ranger

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Tesla Model Y Long Range — the network advantage

The Model Y Long Range AWD offers up to 331 miles WLTP and real-world motorway range of 260–80 miles. Those figures are competitive but not class-leading. What makes the Long Range genuinely special for long-distance driving is something the spec sheet does not fully capture: the Supercharger network.

With over 1,200 Supercharger locations across the UK and peak charging speeds of 250kW, long journeys in a Tesla involve less planning and less risk than in any other EV. The in-car navigation automatically routes through Superchargers, calculating arrival states of charge and queuing logistics in real time. It is, in 2026, still the smoothest long-distance EV experience available.

The charging network advantage is worth more than the headline range figure for drivers who regularly do cross-country journeys.

Tesla Model Y Long Range — the network advantage

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Mercedes-Benz EQS — the range king

Strictly speaking, the EQS is a saloon rather than an SUV — but its 108.4kWh battery and 453-mile WLTP range are in a class of their own, and many buyers comparing long-range electric options will consider it alongside SUV alternatives.

Real-world motorway range of 330–360 miles is exceptional — enough to drive from London to Edinburgh and back with a single charging stop. For buyers who prioritise maximum range above all else, nothing in a comparable price bracket matches it.

Used 2022 EQS 450+ examples are now available from around £33,000 — a fraction of the £100,000+ new price and representing perhaps the most remarkable used value proposition in the EV market for buyers comfortable with a saloon body style.