7 of the best electric SUVs to lease in 2021

Find your next electric car lease with these fantastic SUVs

The humble SUV. It's become a common sight on UK roads over the past few years, and its popularity is only growing. Practical, comfortable, and with all the latest tech you could need, it's no wonder everyone wants one.

But with their mammoth size comes mammoth environmental impacts. SUVs are some of the worst offenders when it comes to tailpipe emissions, but it's hard to ignore their practicality as an everyday vehicle.

Step forward, 100% electric SUVs. 

Just as attractive as its traditional combustion engine counterpart, the electric SUV market is growing in size - both in terms of the number of vehicles on offer, and in the battery size. 

And with big batteries come big ranges. 

The newest electric SUV models boast some impressive ranges that mean you won't have to compromise if you're looking to switch from an ICE SUV to an electric one. 

And, if you're a company car driver, the electric option not only boasts reduced running costs but also cheaper rates of business-in-kind tax, making it an affordable proposition. With an electric car lease bundling all your costs into one easy monthly payment, there's never been a better time to make the switch.

And with so many choices on the market, we're taking the hard work out of choosing which SUV is right for you. We've rounded up a selection of our favourite SUVs so you can take a look and find the perfect car for you.

1. Audi Q4 e-tron

Combining practicality with a sporty appeal, the Audi Q4 e-tron is a compact electric SUV with some excellent features.

The spacious cabin is big enough that even people over 6ft will find the rear passenger seats comfortable. There's plenty of interior storage for everyone's bits and pieces, and the boot clocks in at a fantastic 520 litres (that's big enough for nine carry-on suitcases). And with a wide aperture making it easy to load bulky items, you'll never dread a trip to Ikea again.

But Audi has done an excellent job at blending this practicality with a luxury feel. 

The mix of materials used throughout the cabin gives it a premium feel, and there's plenty of onboard tech to keep you entertained and connected everywhere you go -  the upgraded 11.6 inch MMI plus touchscreen even features a navigation system that'll let you know when and where to charge the car.

And when it comes to the battery, the Q4 e-tron has a choice of three powertrains. The entry-level Q4 35 e-tron has a 58kWh battery and a claimed range of 208 miles. The next level up, the mid-tier Q4 40 e-tron with its 77kWh battery, 201bhp, and a 208-mile range. 

The top tier is the Q4 50 e-tron - it has the same 77kWh battery as the mid-range model, but an extra motor on the front axle turns it into a four-wheel drive with 296bhp and a 295-mile range.

For a well-priced, premium compact electric SUV, the Audi Q4 e-tron is an excellent option - and an Audi lease deal certainly makes it an attractive prospect.

Browse our best-selling Audi Q4 e-tron lease deals

2. Mercedes-Benz EQC

If you're after a premium electric SUV - and have a bit more money to spend - the Mercedes-Benz EQC is worth some serious consideration.

Optimum ride comfort and best in overall refinement, Mercedes have based the EQC on the popular Mercedes-Benz GLC - so if you're already a fan, the EQC could be the perfect step into the electric vehicle market. 

There's plenty of safety kit included on all models, including blind spot assist and active lane departure warning, and the Mercedes Me infotainment system is one of the best on the market (it even includes Siri-style voice commands so you can easily control aspects of the car like the satnav and the interior temperature).

The EQC's cabin is spacious, with plenty of room for five adults and all their clutter, thanks to the healthy amount of interior storage. The boot is 500 litres, with additional underfloor storage, and the wide boot entrance will make loading up for a family holiday a doddle. 

The battery weighs in at a hefty 80kWh, and Mercedes-Benz claim that the EQC has a 252-mile range on a single charge. 

With a rapid charger, it can recoup 80% in just half an hour and, with Elon Musk opening up the Tesla Supercharger network to other EVs later this year, you'll find even the longest journeys a breeze. 

Browse our best-selling Mercedes-Benz EQC lease deals

3. Volvo XC40 Recharge 

Volvo's first all-electric offering, it's the XC40 we all know and love - with an upgrade.

Other than the blanked-off body and Recharge branding on the C pillar, the electric XC40 looks identical to its PHEV and ICE siblings. 

It's powered by a 78kWh battery and, with a claimed range of 257 miles and the ability to charge to 80% in 40 minutes with a rapid charger, an affordable Volvo XC40 lease is an attractive prospect. 

Standard safety kit includes a rear auto brake that can sense if the car is about to be rear-ended, and a pilot assist that draws on Google maps for speed limits and bends in the road. 

Other kit includes the crisp 12.8-inch infotainment system - the first Volvo to utilise an Android-based system that's shared with the Polestar 2. The system has been developed with Google and includes access to Google Maps, the Google Play Store, and Google Assistant. 

The spacious cabin feels upmarket and plush, while the boot is a competitive 452 litres. And, with no combustion engine to worry about, the space left behind has been turned into a 31-litre 'frunk'. Or 'froot'. Pick your favourite portmanteau. 

The XC40's compact size also makes it city-friendly, and it's as at home nipping around running errands as it is on long motorway journeys.

Browse our best-selling Volvo XC40 Recharge lease deals

4. Jaguar I-PACE

Jaguar came into the electric game with all guns blazing. 

For their first electric offering, the iconic British brand has done extremely well, pumping over a billion pounds into the development of the car, and test-driving prototypes over 1.5 million miles. 

It's as good-looking as it is practical - the two motors (one on each axle) generate 395bhp, it can hit 60mph in 4.5 seconds, and the mammoth 90kWh battery gives it a claimed range of 290 miles. Not only that, but it's good fun to drive, and the hill climbing and descent systems stolen from sister company Land Rover give it off-road capabilities. 

You'll be covered for all but the most treacherous of journeys, and you'll be doing it in style. 

The I-PACE's cabin is spacious, with space for five adults and all their clutter thanks to the interior storage, which includes door bins, a mammoth storage bin in between the front seats, and a useful cubby underneath the dashboard. The boot is a sizeable 505 litres - or seven carry-on suitcases - and the 27-litre froot at the front adds to the overall practicality of the I-PACE.

With even the entry level S spec featuring lots of little luxuries like keyless entry and dual-zone climate control, the Jaguar I-PACE represents an excellent choice for a luxury electric car lease.

Browse our best-selling Jaguar I-PACE lease deals

5. Volkswagen ID.4

Sleek, spacious, practical. There's a good reason that the 'ID' in ID.4 stands for Intelligent Design.

The interior is spacious, and the addition of the wireless charging pad on the central bin means you'll never be caught short again when you've left your phone charger at home. When it comes to the boot, the useful 543-litre space is made all the more useful by a relatively low lip, making loading bulky items - like big suitcases or flat pack furniture - much easier. 

The ID.4 received the full five-star rating from Euro NCAP, as well as gaining Advanced status - a mark of the car's superior onboard technology. The standard safety kit includes adaptive cruise control, a city emergency braking system, a driver fatigue alert, high beam assist, and lane assist. 

But this practicality does not make the ID.4 dull to drive. 

It remains a fun experience, and the easy handling and high levels of comfort makes it a great all-rounder, no matter whether you're pootling around the city or heading out on a quest.

It doesn't let you down when it comes to battery size and range either. 

The smaller battery - 58kWh - has a claimed range of 213 miles, while those wanting more power can plump for the 77kWh battery with a claimed range of up to 322 miles. 

Browse our best-selling Volkswagen ID.4 lease deals

6. BMW iX3

If you like the BMW X3, you'll love the BMW iX3.

Other than replacing the combustion engine with the electric motor, not much has been changed. You'd be hard-pushed to pick which one is which out of a line-up with their exteriors looking nearly identical. And this is no bad thing.

With more and more people looking to go electric, having the choice to switch from your favourite ICE SUV to its electric counterpart could be the entry into the EV market you're looking for.

The battery in the iX3 is a hefty 80kWh, and BMW claims it has a range of 285 miles on a single charge. Its overall drive is a comfortable one, and the stiffness of the suspension can be adjusted so that both city drives and long motorway jaunts are as comfortable as each other. 

The interior is well-designed and well-built, with enough room for all your tall friends. Well, not all of them at the same time - it might be good, but it's not the TARDIS. 

The boot clocks in at 510-litres, and there's plenty of cabin storage to keep all your bits and bobs safe on the move. The infotainment system available is one of the best - BMW has put a lot of effort into developing their iDrive system, and it comes with a secondary rotary controller between the front seats to make it easier to use on the go. 

Good to drive, practical to use, and with an all-around premium experience, it's an excellent choice for a BMW lease.

Browse our best-selling BMW iX3 lease deals

7. Skoda Enyaq iV

One of the most affordable electric SUVs on the market, there's little to fault with the Skoda Enyaq.

There're currently two battery sizes to choose from. The 60 model has a 62kWh battery and a claimed range of 256 miles, while the 80 and the 80X models have the bigger 82kWh battery that promises 333 miles in between charges.

Inside, it's well-built and well-finished. 

There's plenty of interior storage, and enough space for five adults - or enough space for a family, without the inevitable arguments that come in cramped conditions.

And while the standard trim comes with plenty of luxuries - dual-zone climate control, power-folding door mirrors, auto-dimming mirrors, cruise control - Skoda has built out plenty of optional packages so you can customise the car to your exact specifications.

Skoda haven't skimped on the safety details either. 

The Enyaq received the full five-star rating from Euro NCAP, and as standard includes safety kit like e-Call emergency assistance, emergency braking, and lane-keep assistance. 

For an affordable electric SUV with all the mod-cons you could need, the Skoda Enyaq is an excellent option.

Browse our best-selling Skoda Enyaq lease deals

Got a question about an electric car lease deal on one of these fantastic SUVs? Get in touch with one of our leasing experts who will be happy to help.