These cars may be especially niche in the Australian market, but we’ve had luxury electric SUVs on the mind as of late.
CarExpert last week picked up the keys to its specially built Porsche Macan EV long-term loan car (more on that soon), and we’ve had several relevant reviews go live, including those for the Cadillac Lyriq and Polestar 3.
We’ve therefore decided to expand on that idea and ask the members of the CarExpert team which luxury electric SUV they’d buy, provided everyone had the money.
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There’s quite a variety of luxury electric SUVs on offer in Australia.
Luxury electric SUVs currently on sale in Australia:
- Audi Q4 e-tron
- Audi Q6 e-tron
- Audi Q8 e-tron
- BMW iX1
- BMW iX2
- BMW iX3
- Cadillac Lyriq
- Genesis Electrified GV70
- Genesis GV60
- Lexus UX
- Lexus RZ
- Lotus Eletre
- Maserati Grecale Folgore
- Mercedes-Benz G580
- Mercedes-Benz EQA
- Mercedes-Benz EQB
- Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV
- Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV
- Polestar 3
- Polestar 4
- Porsche Macan
- Volvo EX40
- Volvo EX30
- Volvo EX90
Let us know which you’d pick in the comments below!
Alborz Fallah: Lotus Eletre
This is a hard one!
On the one hand, I couldn’t go past a Genesis GV70 as either an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle or an EV. It’s my favourite luxury SUV in the segment, but it makes more sense as an ICE than an EV.
With that in mind, the one non-supercar that impressed me the most last year was the Lotus Eletre, the most ridiculous super SUV I have driven in some time. Quicker than most V10 and V12 supercars and actually fun to drive.
Most interestingly, though, it was the best in-car technology I – still – have ever seen. A videogame engine and graphics card run the best in-car tech stack currently on sale. And since Lotus Australia continues to drop the price, and you can definitely find yourself in one for well under 200k with some haggling, it starts to make more sense (kind of).
The main issue with these expensive EV SUVs is the resale. Have a look at the bargains you can get on a two-year-old BMW iX (which is a terrific car) and just know that you want to make sure you get a hefty discount on purchase so you don’t take a bath or six when it comes to sell.
Interested in buying a Lotus Eletre? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here
MORE: Everything Lotus Eletre
Marton Pettendy: None
To be honest, I couldn’t justify spending $80,000-plus on any EV, let alone a small European electric SUV that will depreciate even more quickly than a mainstream one.
But the question here is what constitutes a luxury brand.
We don’t deem Mini, Smart, Renault, Xpeng or Zeekr to be premium auto brands, but the latter is arguable and MG’s upcoming IM brand will be even more so, regardless of price positioning.
However, all of the brands I’ve listed above (bar IM) also offer a small electric SUV priced over $45k, the threshold defined by VFACTS as separating mainstream and premium vehicles.
So if I had to choose one of them I’d go for the Mini Countryman E, which starts from under $65k.
But if Tesla also qualifies as a luxury marque, then the larger Model Y delivers undeniable value and proven technology for less than $59k, making it almost certain to remain Australia’s favourite EV in 2025.
Interested in buying a Mini Countryman? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here
MORE: Everything Mini Countryman
James Wong: Volvo EX90
I find that a lot of early luxury electric SUVs were experimental exercises, often severely compromised by their driving range and/or polarising designs that took a hit on general attractiveness as well as practicality.
Personally, I prefer my EVs to look and drive like a normal car, and that’s why I think the new Volvo EX90 is my top pick.
The XC90 was a trailblazer in the modern luxury SUV space, offering a premium cabin and drive experience, as well as seating for seven adults. Fast forward two decades later, and the EX90 adapts that formula to the electric age.
It’s comfortable, quiet, luxurious and has some presence about it. Both versions offer plenty of performance balanced with long range, and in typical Volvo fashion there’s just about every safety feature you can think of.
Interested in buying a Volvo EX90? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here
MORE: Everything Volvo EX90
William Stopford: BMW iX and Cadillac Lyriq
Among the smaller electric luxury SUVs on our market, my vote goes to the BMW iX1.
It’s handsomely styled inside and out, the tech is slick, and it’s comfortable to drive while having plenty of power and a chuckable feel to it.
Moving up to the medium-to-large electric luxury SUV space, there are more options but a lot of them aren’t exactly pretty – and if you’re spending this much money, don’t you want something that looks good?
So that rules out the BMW iX for me, no matter how good it may be in other areas. The Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV is nice and plush but to my eyes even uglier than the iX, while the Audi Q8 e-tron is genuinely handsome but it’s pricey and on its way out.
I can’t comment on some other tempting EVs that I’ve not yet driven, such as the Volvo EX90, but I can comment on something more attractive than any of these: the Cadillac Lyriq.
It’s missing some features and the attractive interior has some questionable materials in places, while Cadillac’s retail network is tiny for now, but it undercuts key luxury rivals and has a stately look and driving feel.
As somebody who has been keen to see Cadillac enter the Australian market for a long time, the Lyriq had the potential to be a massive letdown. Fortunately it’s not, and while there are some areas for improvement it’s an intriguing alternative to the Germans.
There’s some tempting metal coming down the line, not just from Cadillac (Optiq, Vistiq) and BMW (the Neue Klasse-based iX3) but also players like Genesis (GV90).
So while EV sales growth isn’t rising as sharply as it was, there’s more and more variety each year. Bring it on.
Interested in buying a BMW iX1 or Cadillac Lyriq? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here for the BMW, and here for the Cadillac
MORE: Everything BMW iX1 • Cadillac Lyriq
Damion Smy: Porsche Macan
This isn’t like asking what you want for dessert, but more which dentist would you like to visit. If you put a gun to my head and said I had to own something from this list, I’d buy the Porsche Macan.
I may be one of only a few buyers in the country, which would make me an authority on them, and I’d always be able to find it in the charging bay (also a colloquialism for ‘Porsche dealer’).
The iX BMWs have some great things going for them, but I’m not as convinced by Munich’s dynamic delivery against those from Stuttgart.
The Genesis looks a bit Porsche-like and would be a serious consideration here, and – while I haven’t had new glasses for several years – the Lexus RZ appeals to me for offering a distinctive wrapping but a familiar flavour of dependability and quality engineering.
Yet I can’t pass by the (relatively) safe bet of the Macan, which brings a well-proportioned package inside and out, at least some level of street cred, drivability and a slightly higher chance of decent resale when I really do make up my mind…
Interested in buying a Porsche Macan? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here
MORE: Everything Porsche Macan
Josh Nevett: Polestar 3 and Audi Q6 e-tron
There’s a decent variety of electric vehicles in this list, from compact city runabouts to full-size family SUVs.
But in choosing to prioritise all-round capability, I’m left with two standouts – the Polestar 3 and Audi Q6 e-tron.
Both exist in a similar corner of the market, priced from around $120,000, and both make the most of their electric underpinnings.
For the Polestar 3, that means clever cabin packaging, industry-leading driving range (706km claimed), and affordable running costs – the big three for growing families that like to get out and about.
On the other hand, the Q6 e-tron blends exterior style, plenty of powertrain substance, and an interior bursting with technology that’s both flashy and functional.
But if I was forced to choose between the two, I’d take the Polestar. In base Long Range Single Motor specification, it’ll get you further on a charge than any other EV in market, and the second row is hilariously spacious.
Sure it doesn’t pack the punch of dual-motor alternatives, but it’s enjoyable to drive regardless, and comfortable too.
I’m not going to pretend any of the vehicles in this category are great value, but I can confidently say that the 3 and Q6 e-tron are at least fit for purpose.
Interested in buying a Polestar 3 or Audi Q6 e-tron? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here for the Polestar, and here for the Audi
MORE: Everything Polestar 3 • Audi Q6 e-tron
Max Davies: Lexus UX300e
I’ve only driven a handful of cars on this list, but those few span quite the price range and have given me a taste of the general ins and outs of a lot of these luxury brands.
With that in mind, I’d go for the Lexus UX300e. At as much as just $88,190 before on-roads, it could actually be considered cheap among the other cars that have appeared so far.
It’s a small SUV, which means it does better to manage its EV-induced weight than some of the larger alternatives, and avoids feeling unwieldy.
The interior is well-presented and comfortable, and while there’s plenty of tech, it’s all still quite accessible. This is an advantage considering the painfully screen-dependent setups seen the further you climb up the price tree.
To top it off, it’s quiet and smooth. That’s not to say it’s perfect, because it does have some fairly significant flaws.
The UX platform wasn’t built to be electric. While that means it’s no more confronting inside than a hybrid UX, the limitations are evident in the 300e’s front-wheel drive setup – and that’s where the larger and pricier Lexus RZ would make more sense.
It makes far too much power to only be front-wheel drive, and against its direct rivals it is quite expensive. After all, it’s intended to be a rival to something like the Tesla Model Y or Hyundai Kona Electric rather than a Porsche Macan.
I still enjoyed the UX300e during my time with it, and it had me thinking about whether I could stomach an electric Lexus for myself; ‘maybe’ was the conclusion I came to, though I’d prefer a sedan like the upcoming electric ES.
A close second here was the sharp-looking Polestar 4, a much more modern EV that also has fairly compact dimensions. It’s just a touch too screen-heavy for my liking.
Interested in buying a Lexus UX? Get in touch with one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here
MORE: Everything Lexus UX
