EV SUVs: More to Choose From in 2024
2024 is an exciting year for electric cars. While headlines in the second half of 2023 highlighted slowing demand for some models, overall sales of EVs in the U.S. crested the 1 million mark for the first time in history, and EV market share is greater than it’s ever been. Manufacturers are also focusing their future efforts on electric models. While there are new gasoline models launching in 2024, most new vehicles being launched are now electric. In 2024, there are so many of them – over 60 – that we’re now having to divide up our previews by segment.
For a couple of decades now, crossovers and SUVs have become the family cars of choice in the U.S., eclipsing sales of sedans and wagons. Drivers and families love their versatility, the ease of entry and exit thanks to a taller ride height and seats, and the choice of all-wheel drive for off-road or severe-weather duties. In this article, we’re highlighting some of the most interesting electric SUVs that will be launching in 2024.
Buick Electra E5
Buick, one of the oldest brands in the U.S., is in the midst of a huge transformation. Long known for its traditional sedans, its lineup now consists entirely of crossovers, with a surprising blend of style, technology, and driving experience. Buick executives have promised that the brand’s first production electric vehicle will hit the road in 2024 – and that future EV products will carry the Electra name, a badge that draws inspiration from the brand’s rich history.
Indeed, the first Electra model has already gone on sale in China, where the brand also has a strong presence. It’s called the Electra E5 and is a spacious midsize crossover with a starting MSRP in the $50,000 range. Like all new General Motors EV products, the Electra E5 uses the company’s Ultium battery and EV technology, and should deliver similar performance and range to the well-reviewed Cadillac Lyriq. We would expect a maximum EPA-estimated range of about 300 miles.
The Electra E5 already on sale in China has a stylish, upscale interior that will be instantly familiar to Buick drivers, other than its giant, 30-inch curved screen that integrates the instrument panel and infotainment system. With two rows of seats and a long wheelbase, we expect this to be one of the more spacious midsize EV SUVs on the market. It's unclear yet whether it will be made in the U.S., and therefore eligible for tax credits.
Chevrolet Bolt EUV
When Chevrolet announced in early 2023 that production of the Bolt, the most affordable electric car in America, would be ending, the EV community was up in arms. One of the best-selling, and simply best, electric cars on the market, the Bolt helped many drivers become EV drivers. But there’s good news: the Bolt is coming back at the end of 2024 as a 2025 model. This past July, General Motors CEO Mary Barra announced that a next-generation Bolt is coming soon, and will continue to deliver everything great from the original Bolt: impressive range, good tech, and exceptional affordability.
The new Bolt will be built from the company’s Ultium technology, which underpins EVs like the Cadillac Lyriq, Chevy Blazer, and Chevy Silverado. Ultium uses U.S.-made batteries with the ability to charge at high speeds, and platforms designed for maximum efficiency and fantastic packaging. Using Ultium tech means General Motors can bring the new Bolt back to market faster – and make it exceptionally competitive.
We expect a starting MSRP of well under $30,000, which would mean the new Bolt will once again be the most affordable EV in America, as well as range that meets or exceeds the previous-generation Bolt’s 259-mile EPA range estimate. Chevrolet has confirmed it will come first in the popular "EUV" format, with a slightly raised ride height and more spacious interior.
Chevrolet Equinox EV
After the Silverado EV and Blazer EV, Chevrolet will continue its roll-out of mainstream, high-volume electric vehicles with the all-new 2024 Equinox EV. To be sold alongside the gasoline version of the Equinox – at least for a time – the Equinox EV has been designed to make it easy for families to make the change from gasoline to electric driving. Plus, Chevrolet claims it will have a starting MSRP of around $30,000, making the Equinox EV the most affordable electric SUV in its class.
Like the Blazer, the new Equinox EV is built on General Motors’ new Ultium platform, which was developed from the ground-up specifically for electric vehicles. With no need to house a large gasoline engine, the wheelbase is long, helping to make the Equinox EV’s cabin very spacious. The clean and modern interior has room for five, and a 17.7-inch infotainment system. When the rear seats are folded, a whopping 57 cubic feet of cargo room.
Entry-level Equinox EV models will come with 210 hp and 242 lb-ft of torque, driving through the front wheels. All-wheel drive is an optional upgrade, and ups those numbers to 290 hp and 346 lb-ft of torque thanks to a second motor. Standard on-board AC charging is 11.5 kW – better than most EVs on the market, and it can also DC fast charge at up to 150 kW.
Honda Prologue
The Honda Prologue will be the brand’s first all-electric vehicle for North America, and on paper, it looks like a winner. It’s a spacious, rugged-looking mid-size SUV built on an EV-dedicated platform shared with the very good Chevrolet Blazer EV. The EPA range estimate is a satisfying 300 miles, and the Prologue is promised to have a starting MSRP in the upper $40,000 range. North American production and battery components should make it eligible for the federal tax incentive, as well.
Under the floor of the Prologue, an 85-kWh battery pack can recharge at speeds of up to 155 kW on a Level 3 fast charger, or an impressive 11 kW on a Level 2 home charger, better than most EVs on the market. There will be a single-motor, front-wheel drive Prologue, and an all-wheel drive version with 288 hp and 333 lb-ft of torque. A clever “active sound control” function generates sounds linked to the Prologue’s acceleration and deceleration for a more involving driving experience. A sport mode cranks up the sound experience while stiffening the suspension, steering, throttle, and brakes.
A wheelbase of over 120 inches makes for a very roomy cabin, with up to 136.9 cubic feet of cargo space when the seats are folded down. The rear seats in particular are incredibly spacious, and up front there’s an 11-inch digital instrument cluster and an 11.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. We also like the Prologue’s interior design, with its clean and simple setup, as well as the presence of real knobs and switches for commonly used functions.
Jeep Recon
Jeep’s first 100% electric vehicle for North America, the new Recon gives up none of the off-road looks or capability you’d want from Jeep, and is designed exploring the great outdoors. Electric power, combined with a very rugged, compact package, adds a new dimension to off-roading: silent operation allows a closer connection to the nature outside.
While the company has yet to share final specs of the new Recon, or a starting MSRP, there are some details of its impressive off-roading tech. A Selec-Terrain traction management system precisely controls how much power goes to each of its wheels, while an electronically-locking axle will enable the Recon to climb the toughest obstacles. Indeed, Recon will be “Trail Rated” like the most capable Jeeps, and its under-body will protect the battery and drivetrain from trail hazards. While no EPA-estimated range has been indicated yet, Jeep says the Recon can traverse the Rubicon Trail – the most challenging off-road course in the U.S. – and drive back into town on one charge.
Like the Wrangler, the electric Jeep Recon will offer the option of a top that can open at the touch of a button, as well as removable doors and glass. Its next-gen infotainment system will not only provide all the expected smartphone connectivity, but also off-road travel guides.
Jeep Wagoneer S
At the other end of the Jeep spectrum is the Wagoneer, the company’s biggest and most spacious SUV. Currently powered by big, guzzling gasoline engines, the Wagoneer models will be joined by a new fully-electric version, called Wagoneer S. But while the name is the same, the new large EV SUV doesn’t look much like the boxier members of the Wagoneer family. Its sleek, aerodynamic design should help it achieve a targeted 400 miles of range on a full charge, while initial images also show LED backlighting for the grille and a full-width rear light bar.
Offered in Europe and Asia as well as in the U.S., the Wagoneer S is narrower than gasoline Wagoneer models but still has a very spacious cabin, and all of the technology and luxury you would expect in its cabin. Power options will offer up to 600 hp, with the ability to dash to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds for top models. Electric all-wheel drive is standard, with an all-terrain management system to help make off-roading easy and confident.
Mini Countryman SE
Unveiled earlier in 2023 in gasoline and plug-in hybrid versions, the next-generation Mini Countryman will also be available as a fully-electric SUV, called the Mini Countryman SE. Already on sale in Europe, the Countryman SE adds some rugged touches to the versatile crossover, along with electric all-wheel drive. It shares its basic architecture with the excellent BMW X1 and iX1, gasoline and electric versions of the German brand’s entry-level SUV.
The specs for the new electric Mini Countryman are impressive. On the European WLTP test cycle, it achieves an estimated 269 miles of range (no EPA estimates are yet available), while two electric motors deliver 313 hp to all four wheels. The claimed 0-60 time is under 5.5 seconds. The 66.5-kWh battery can be recharged on a Level 3 charger at up to 130 kW, which is not class-leading, but its small capacity and the Mini’s impressive range show how efficient the overall package is.
Larger than the previous Countryman, the latest model with electric drive has a much roomier interior, and the spacious cargo area can be expanded by folding the rear seats. An all-new infotainment system features a large circular screen in the middle of the dashboard for all major functions, backed up with physical switches for the most commonly used controls.
VinFast VF9
The VinFast VF8, a new EV model from the Vietnamese brand launched in the U.S. last year, hasn’t been getting the greatest reviews. While its features and roomy interior make it a competitive entry, there’s nothing about the driving experience or performance that makes it stand out amongst more established brands. The brand's new VF9 crossover, however, might be a game-changer for the company. It offers distinctive styling and a full-sized, seven-passenger interior in a package that’s not quite like anything on the market.
One potential hurdle the VF9 might have is its price, however. Two trim levels are available – Eco and Plus. The Eco model has a starting MSRP of $83,000, which is a lot – but it comes with a huge 123 kWh of usable battery capacity along with 420 hp and 457 lb-ft of torque. EPA estimated range is a competitive 330 miles. The VF9 Plus adds more luxury and style, but has an EPA estimated range of 291 miles.
The VF9 comes packed with driver assists, including automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind spot detection, smart parking assistant, and even a “smart summon” mode that lets the vehicle pilot itself to where the driver is waiting. Its biggest advantage may be a compelling 10-year, 125,000-mile warranty for the vehicle, and a 10-year, unlimited-mileage warranty for the battery.
