Putting the “Utility” in Sport Utility Vehicle: Which Electric SUVs Perform Best Off-Road?

The so-called “crossover” is one of the most popular vehicles in America today. These combination car-and-SUVs have become immensely popular for a variety of reasons. Their versatility offers a balance that suits various lifestyles. Their smaller size, smooth handling, and maneuverability make them suitable for urban streets while still providing the space and clearance to accommodate families and perform in more rugged environments. They’re also aesthetically appealing.

When it comes to electric vehicles, crossovers serve a couple of other very practical functions. For one, their higher profile makes it easier to accommodate EV batteries, which often sit under the floor of the vehicle, without compromising legroom or cabin space. The second reason EV crossovers are so popular with automakers is the vehicle classification standards put forth by the Treasury Department to determine whether a vehicle is a car, SUV, truck, or van.

These standards are important because they dictate the MSRP limit the vehicle must meet in order to qualify for the federal EV tax credit, which can make or break sales numbers. If a vehicle qualifies as a car, the MSRP limit is $55,000 to be eligible for the tax credit. If the EV is considered an SUV, the MSRP limit jumps up to $80,000. Many crossovers were able to qualify as SUVs, allowing them to qualify for the EV tax credit at a higher price than their electric sedan cousins.

Where Are All the True SUVs?

While these classification semantics are great news from a pricing perspective, they can make it difficult to determine how a vehicle will perform in a remote off-road situation.

What about drivers that want a true electric sport utility vehicle, with an emphasis on utility? Where are the EVs not trying to straddle the line between fitting into city parking spaces and being able to handle the odd dirt road here and there? Where are the real electric SUVs?

Well, there’s good news—they’re out there, and there’s more coming.

Best True Electric Sport Utility Vehicles

In this article, we’re going to take a look at some of the electric SUVs hitting the market that perform like real SUVs. These rugged vehicles beautifully pair the incredible power, acceleration, and torque of an EV with the rugged performance, cargo space, and handling of a true off-road sport utility vehicle. Here are our top four true SUVs already out or about to hit the electric vehicle market.

Rivian R1S

The Rivian R1S has the look of a luxury all-electric SUV, but don’t let the sleek modern design fool you. The R1S is off-road ready, sporting a 14.9-inch ground clearance, durable body cladding, and robust underbody protection beefing up its exterior. Combine that with its dynamic suspension, all-terrain tires, and significant power, and you have an electric SUV made to meet the needs of outdoor enthusiasts.

The R1S is available in dual-motor, performance dual-motor, and quad-motor options, each offering different levels of performance and range. And with a starting price of $78,000 MSRP, Rivian’s electric SUV qualifies for a federal EV tax credit of $3,750.

Rivian also offers a number of additional options to beef up your R1S for rugged terrain, including a reinforced underbody shield/skid plate, recovery boards, a compact spare tire, all-weather floor mats, and an off-road recovery kit.

Rivian R1S

GMC Hummer EV

The GMC Hummer is one of the most iconic all-terrain vehicles on the planet, and the new electric version certainly lives up to its name. The Hummer EV has a variety of impressive standard features, including an adaptive air ride suspension and 16 inches of ground clearance that allow the 5-seater SUV to climb grades up to 60% and water over two feet deep with ease.

There are also some pretty cool additional options and packages, including an Extreme Off-Road package, which tacks on beefier tires, underbody armor, front and rear e-lockers for rock crawling, and underbody cameras. GMC also offers a few mind-bending technologies, such as CrabWalk, in which all four wheels can turn 10 degrees in the same direction, allowing the Hummer to drive sideways.

With a starting price of $79,995, base models of the GMC Hummer EV qualify for the federal EV tax credit of $7,500.

GMC Hummer EV

Bollinger B1

The Bollinger B1 has no pretense about being an everyday city vehicle. This boxy electric SUV is built for one thing and one thing only: adventure. With a minimalist interior and a stripped-down exterior, the Bollinger B1 goes for practicality over aesthetics, focusing on durable materials, cargo space, and performance.

With 10-to-20-inch adjustable ground clearance, 614 horsepower, and locking differentials, the B1 is ready to take on any terrain you can throw at it.

Bollinger B1

Fisker Ocean Force E

Fisker’s crossover SUV, the Ocean, is already a capable and dynamic mid-sized SUV, but their newest off-road version, called the Ocean Force E, takes it to a whole new level. This SUV was made for the off-road and is packed full of awesome features and options to get wherever you want to go, no matter what the trail looks like.

The all-wheel drive Ocean Force E features 33-inch off-road tires, lifted suspension, underbody protection, skid plates, special dampers, and a dedicated off-road drive mode. Couple that with up to 550 horsepower and a 0-60 mph in under 3.6 seconds, and the Ocean Force E is an impressive crossover built for exploration.

Fisker Ocean Force E

More to Come

In addition to these four rugged off-road options, there are also a variety of electric SUVs in development that will be released soon. As ranges increase and charging networks expand, electric vehicles are set to dominate the off-road category in the coming decade.

The Jeep Recon 4x4, Land Rover Defender, Mercedes EQG, Ford Bronco Electric, and an Audi SUV off-roader are all expected to enter the market over the next five years, which means there will be plenty of options for adventure enthusiasts to choose from.

Financing Your Electric SUV

If you’re looking to finance your electric SUV purchase, the EV Climate Climate Loan from EV Life has you covered. There are a number of EV and charging incentives available that can drastically reduce the price of your electric vehicle and home charging station, and EV life can help you find, apply for, and use every dollar you qualify for.

EV Life allows drivers to get pre-qualified and apply their EV incentives to their purchase at the point of sale. That means you don’t have to wait 6-18 months to get your tax credits, rebates, or other incentives. And though the rules are set to change in 2024 to allow the $7,500 federal EV tax credit to be applied immediately, additional vehicle eligibility restrictions may also disqualify that EV you’ve had your eye on. If you want to maximize your savings up front and lower your loan payments by as much as $200/month, now may be the best time to finance your EV through EV Life.

In addition, state and local programs like the Clean Vehicle Assistance Program, Clean Cars 4 All, the Colorado Electric Vehicle Tax Credit, and more offer a number of rebates, grants, and other incentives that can increase your savings by thousands of dollars. Here’s how the EV Climate Loan works:

• Determine your savings. EV Life will help determine your eligibility and apply for every federal, state, and local program available to you, pre-approving the dollar amount you qualify for.
• Apply your savings. EV Life will then take that money and immediately apply it to your loan as an incremental down payment, reducing your loan payments and saving you thousands of dollars on your purchase.

Explore financing with EV Life to bundle your EV tax credits, rebates, and home charger incentives into one low monthly payment. Get started today!