We are not expecting any electric SUVs in 2023. But next year will bring a few more subspecies of the EV diaspora.
Some of them are mighty big, while others will be smaller and more practical. In the end, they all provide a good balance of power and usefulness.
Audi Q6 e-tron
Audi is preparing to launch its first fully electric SUV, the 2023 Q6 e-tron. The SUV will be the latest addition to a lineup that already includes both petrol and diesel engines, along with an SQ5 flagship.
The SUV will ride on the Premium Platform Electric (PPE) architecture co-developed with Porsche, Bentley, and other brands, and is expected to arrive in rear-wheel drive and all-wheel-drive variants. It will be powered by an 83 kWh or 100 kWh battery pack, with fast-charging available to bring the battery pack up to 80% in less than 30 minutes.
It will also offer air suspension, torque vectoring, and a more sophisticated drive than the Q4 e-tron. There will be a performance-oriented RS model as well, with more powerful and torquier motors, an even larger battery pack, lighter wheels, and grippier tires.
The interior of the 2023 Q6 e-tron will be similarly spacious and impressive. A large, floating touchscreen infotainment system is rumored to be part of the design. This setup looks slightly different from those in recent Audi EVs, such as the E-Tron GT and Q4 e-tron, but it could be the new standard.
BMW iX2
BMW hasn’t yet revealed its latest electrical SUV, the iX2. However, our spy photographers caught the electric version of the car testing on public roads with camouflage covering most of its bodywork.
It looks like the iX2 will ride on the company’s FAAR platform, which can accommodate multiple powertrains. The iX2 should get the same powertrain as the iX1 xDrive30, including dual electric motors producing 309 horsepower (230 kilowatts) and 364 lb-ft (494 Newton-meters) of torque, plus a 64.7-kWh battery pack.
The iX2 should also feature an Augmented View function, which would allow the driver to see live video streams of their surroundings as they navigate the car. Additionally, it should have a remote theft recorder.
In addition, the iX2 should have an all-wheel drive system similar to the iX1’s. That means that the iX2 should be able to tackle some tough winter roads, though it will likely have less range than the iX1 in cold conditions.
Lastly, the iX2 should come with BMW’s iDrive 8 infotainment interface. It will feature a 14.9-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. It should have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, as well as a Wi-Fi hotspot with a 5G connection.
Cadillac Lyriq
The Cadillac Lyriq is the latest entry in a new category of electric SUVs that are competing with the Tesla Model X, Audi E-Tron and Mercedes-Benz EQS. It will make its debut in 2023 and has an MSRP of $58,795.
The Lyriq is a rear-wheel drive with a single electric motor that provides 340 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque, and a 312-mile range. A coming all-wheel-drive version adds a second motor in front and is expected to produce 500 hp and 3,500 lb-ft of torque.
In addition to the usual EV features, such as automatic emergency braking and blind-spot monitors, the Lyriq will also offer Super Cruise driver assistance technology. This hands-free system will allow you to take a stress-free highway drive, freeing up your mind for other tasks and allowing you to enjoy the ride.
The Lyriq also has an onboard charger that is significantly more powerful than the one found in most other EVs. At home, the 19.2-kW charger adds up to 52 miles of range per hour, while a public station fast charger can add 190 kW and 76 miles of range in 10 minutes.
Lucid
Startup car companies come and go, but few have made a splash with their debut vehicles as well as California-based Lucid. The 2023 Lucid Air is an incredibly impressive luxury sedan with a big battery and small motors designed in-house to offer unprecedented range and power.
The base-model Lucid Air Touring is a good example of what this car can do, with a pair of electric motors driving all four wheels and making 620 horsepower. It’ll rip to 60 miles per hour in a respectable 2.6 seconds and can cruise for 425 miles on a single charge.
Its powertrain also makes this a very comfortable and enjoyable drive, thanks to its reassuringly smooth ride. The Air is no lightweight at around 5,200 pounds, but the chassis and suspension tuning are deftly tuned to keep the heft and bulk of this car from being too much for even the most sensitive drivers.
In terms of features, the Lucid Air’s DreamDrive Pro semi-autonomous system uses 32 sensors to keep you safe from hazards and out of trouble. It also offers Highway Assist, which blends adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping.
Nissan Ariya
The Nissan Ariya is the first SUV from the automaker to be powered entirely by an electric motor. Using Nissan’s new CMF-EV platform, it’s designed to be a compact SUV with an enviable range.
The Ariya’s power comes from a permanent-magnet electric motor that can produce 214 system horsepower with front-wheel drive or 389 hp with the optional all-wheel-drive system. With the front-wheel drive configuration, a standard battery pack offers 63 kilowatt-hours of usable energy and extends the EV’s range to 216 miles.
However, if you want more juice, the larger 87-kWh battery is available on top-tier EMPOWER+ models, delivering 238 hp and up to a 304-mile range. Both battery options are capable of DC fast-charging to 80% in 40 minutes with the CCS protocol favored in North America, or up to 14 hours using Level 2 home charging.
Inside, the cabin is spacious and quiet. The low dash, raked windshield and nearly flat floor create an airy, open feel. Buttons are kept to a minimum, and the power-sliding center console houses an electrically operated storage drawer.
The Ariya’s battery pack sits under the center of the vehicle, giving it a low center of gravity and near-equal weight distribution, both front and rear. It also provides a flatter floor and impressive structural rigidity, which is important for handling. The Ariya’s suspension components have been optimized to take advantage of this feature, and it provides a comfortable ride with excellent stability.
