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Latest SUVs tested: should you go electric, hybrid or petrol?
A quarter of all UK-produced cars in 2021 were electrified, according to industry body the SMMT. And across all engine types, it's SUVs that remain exceptionally popular. We've recently tested the latest SUVs, including the Mercedes-Benz EQA and Suzuki Across - find out which aced our tests.
SUVs made up six of the top 10 plug-in hybrids and four of the top 10 electric cars bought by UK buyers in 2021, shows SMMT data. If you're one of the many people in the market for a new SUV, make sure you read our latest reviews before parting with your cash.
We've put full-electric cars from Mercedes and Skoda through their paces, along with plug-in hybrid alternatives from Volkswagen and Suzuki. And if the high price tags of these put you off, the Hyundai Bayon with its petrol mild hybrid engine may catch your eye.
Best cars for 2022 - whether you're looking for a new or used car, our experts reveal the top-performing and most reliable models in our expert lab and road tests.
Mercedes-Benz EQA (2021-), £45,645
The EQA is the second SUV in Mercedes-Benz's 'EQ' range of pure electric cars. It's based on the conventionally-powered Mercedes-Benz GLA, and is a small SUV that competes with the likes of Hyundai's Kona Electric (£27,523) and Volkswagen's ID.3 (£30,270).
However, at just over £45,000 the EQA is considerably more expensive that both these alternatives. So what does the EQA offer to warrant its high price?
There's certainly plenty of equipment as standard, including cruise control, a reversing camera, LED headlights, heated front seats, automatic climate control, twin 10.25-inch digital displays and even ambient cabin lighting with a choice of 64 colours.
But such dazzle alone isn't enough for a car to score highly in our tests.
Find out if the EQA gets the fundamentals right in our full Mercedes-Benz EQA review.
Suzuki Across plug-in hybrid (2021-), £45,599
The Suzuki Across large SUV shares is underpinnings with the plug-in hybrid version of the Toyota RAV4 - not a huge surprise since it's the latest model in a partnership between the two manufacturers.
The Across is a plug-in hybrid, pairing a 1 85hp 2.5-litre petrol engine with one electric motor on each axle, giving four-wheel-drive and 306hp in total - a lot for a family SUV.
Suzuki claims an electric-only driving range of just over 46 miles, but our tests usually reveal claimed electric mileage to be wide of the mark.
How many miles did the electric engine manage in our tests? Find out this and more in our Suzuki Across review.
Volkswagen Tiguan eHybrid (2021-), £36,185
Following the 2016 launch of the original Volkswagen Tiguan, VW has released this plug-in hybrid version, which promises a 30-mile range on electric power alone.
It also has premium aspirations, with plenty of equipment as standard including three-zone climate control, adaptive cruise control, an eight-inch touchscreen with DAB radio, all-round parking sensors and LED 'matrix' headlights.
Sound like the ideal car for your family? Our experts give their definitive assessment in our Volkswagen Tiguan eHybrid review.
Skoda Enyaq iV (2021-), £32,350
The Enyaq iV is Skoda's first full electric vehicle. There are two rear-wheel-drive versions: the '60' has a 180hp electric motor and a 62kWh battery pack, while a more powerful '80' model has a 204hp motor and larger 77kWh battery. Heading the range is the '80X' - a 265hp four-wheel-drive version.
We tested the Enyaq iV 80, which Skoda says will take you a whopping 331 miles on a single charge.
Can the Enyaq iV break 300 miles in our independent tests? The answer's in our full Skoda Enyaq iV review.
Hyundai Bayon (2021), £19,092
Many buyers will baulk at the price difference between electrified and conventionally-powered cars - especially when you can get even models like the new Hyundai Bayon for under £20,000.
The Bayon has a turbocharged 1.0-litre petrol mild hybrid engine (available in 100hp and 120hp guises). Mild hybrid engines have only a small electric battery to help assist the petrol engine, helping to reduce running costs - Hyundai says the 120hp engine can muster 52.3-53.3mpg.
Like all Hyundai cars, it comes with a five-year warranty.
Does the lower initial purchase price of this Bayon make sense? Read our expert Hyundai Bayon review to find out.
