The Best Compact Electric SUVs To Buy In 2025

Americans have preferred SUVs to sedans for decades now. It’s no surprise, then, that a compact gas SUV like the Toyota RAV4 has been the best-selling non-truck vehicle in the U.S. for years.

But the times are changing. In 2023, the Tesla Model Y dethroned the RAV4 to become the world’s best-selling vehicle. Not just the best-selling EV. Not only the best-selling SUV. The best-selling car in the world. Period. (The RAV4 clawed back the title in 2024.)

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That kind of success inspired every automaker to try and grab a share of the compact electric SUV/crossover segment. As a result, the category has now exploded with so many options that your head might spin just looking at the long list.

That’s where we come in.

Update Oct. 15: This list has been updated to include new models, the latest prices and additional details following the end of the federal tax credits.

Photo by: Ford

How We Picked The Best Compact Electric SUVs  

We’ve evaluated this segment extensively to help you find your perfect match. Whether you want a simple, no-nonsense electric SUV, an affordable one, a performance-focused one, a luxurious one, or just an all-around champ, we’ve got you covered.

InsideEVs editors bring decades of collective experience driving, testing and obsessing over EVs. We conduct highway range tests and evaluate the charging performance, speed and reliability of today’s EVs. We test the EVs for comfort, practicality and everyday livability. We have put these models through their paces in real-world conditions, everywhere from sunny California to snowy New York.

Nearly all major high-volume brands in the U.S. now offer an electric compact SUV. If you’re a brand loyalist, odds are you won’t have to jump ship to find something you like. And if you don’t mind switching brands, your options could get even better.

Toyota has real contenders in the mix and its lineup is only getting stronger. Ford, General Motors and Tesla will happily sell you a variety of options. Hyundai is quietly dominating with some of the best electric compact SUVs money can buy. And they’re made in America, too. For model year 2026, the popular Ioniq 5 gets a massive price cut, making it more appealing than ever.

Nissan has come back swinging with the new Leaf, now reborn as a crossover, which has excelled in our initial testing this year. Tesla now has the cheaper Standard trim of the Model Y, but it’s not the great value deal we thought it would be. Still, there will be at least one great compact electric SUV out there that will check the right boxes for you.

Remember that this is a fast-moving segment and a wave of new launches is lined up this year and the next. New entrants could emerge and disrupt the segment, in which case we will update this list, so make sure to check back frequently. For some remaining October 2025 deals, it may also be cheaper to lease than to buy, so make sure you check the numbers for both. 

For now, these are our best picks on the market.

Best Overall Compact Electric SUV For Most People: 2025 Tesla Model Y

Photo by: Tesla

Base Price: $39,990, before destination.
Range: 321-357 miles 
Drive Type: Rear- or all-wheel drive

Since its debut in 2020, the Tesla Model Y has consistently ranked among the best-selling EVs across the world. Even five years in, it’s still one of the easiest EVs to recommend.

It’s spacious and has a minimalist cabin. Both the rear- and all-wheel-drive versions deliver well over 300 miles of range. Earlier versions suffered from a stiff suspension that made daily driving uncomfortable. But the refreshed 2025 Model Y fixes that with a more sophisticated suspension that’s now tuned for comfort.

The update brings a sleeker fascia and horizontal light bars on both ends. The turn signal stalk returns (after its ill-received removal on the refreshed Model 3). Tesla has added frequency-selective dampers that improve the Model Y’s ride quality as it now glides over imperfections with ease. And as ever, the Model Y remains dead simple to drive and effortless to charge. 

Tesla also launched the Standard trim of the Model Y in October, which brings its price down by $5,000 to $39,990. At that price, you still get the company’s slick software, seamless Supercharger access and 321 miles of range.

The Model Y Standard misses out on the panoramic sunroof, the horizontal light bars at both ends and there’s no Autopilot as standard. You only get lane keep assist and traffic aware cruise control, minus the autosteer function. But Full-Self Driving (FSD) hardware is still there, which users can enable through an $8,000 subscription.  

It also skips the frequency-selective dampers for simpler passive shock absorbers. Early reports suggest that it doesn’t make it uncomfortable to get around, just less sporty and sharp.

For most people, we’d recommend getting the “Premium” version, which has a nicer interior, better wheels, all of the standard equipment you want and lane-centering “Autosteer.” It starts at $44,990, though you’ll have to spend $48,990 for an all-wheel drive Model Y. 

Read our review of the U.S.-spec 2025 Tesla Model Y here.

Best Non-Tesla Compact Electric SUV: 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5

Photo by: Patrick George

Base Price: $35,000 before destination.
Range: 245-318 miles 
Drive Type: Rear- or all-wheel drive

The Ioniq 5 launched in the U.S. in 2021, and it has become only better ever since. For model year 2025, it got larger batteries and became the first non-Tesla EV to feature the Tesla-developed North American Charging Standard (NACS) port right from the factory.

For model year 2026, Hyundai has given it a massive price cut, meaning it is now one of the best EV value deals on the market. The Ioniq 5 now starts at just $35,000 and the average price cut on all trims is more than $9,000.

We find the Ioniq 5 to be a comfortable long-distance road tripper with tight, predictable handling. Acceleration is strong but not jarring, unless you’re in the Ioniq 5 N, which is diabolically powerful.

The Ioniq 5’s gauge cluster displays maximum, minimum and average range estimates, giving you a clearer picture of both best- and worst-case scenarios. You also get full flexibility with regenerative braking. Switch to one-pedal driving or turn it off entirely, depending on your preference.

The software has some room for improvement. Hyundai is about a generation behind Tesla in this department. Its touchscreen isn’t as responsive and the built-in navigation lacks accuracy. That said, Hyundai is making progress.

The Ioniq 5 now supports full over-the-air software updates and, unlike some of its rivals, it offers wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. It’s not a true software-defined vehicle yet, but it makes up for that with its design, performance and everyday comfort.

Plus, the Ioniq 5 rides on an 800-volt architecture, which means it can charge faster than most of its rivals. Its charging speeds can peak at 350 kilowatts, so if the charger is also powerful enough to dispense that much energy that fast, it can go from 10 to 80% charge in just 20 minutes.

The Ioniq 5 offers maximum value in most areas, with minimum compromises, which makes it the easiest-to-recommend compact electric SUV on this list.

Read our review of the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 here.

Best Compact Electric SUVs, Other Great Options

Photo by: InsideEVs

Base Price: $42,900, before destination. (Eligible for $7,500 tax credit) 
Range: 237-319 miles 
Drive Type: Rear- or all-wheel drive

The Kia EV6 is the Ioniq 5’s corporate cousin. It rides on the same platform, gets identical battery options and now also gets the Tesla-style charging plug right from the factory, translating to seamless Supercharger access across the U.S.

Personally, I prefer the Ioniq 5’s retro-modern aesthetic, but the EV6’s futuristic design has its own appeal and is more aerodynamic than the Hyundai.

Overall, the EV6 is a sporty and spacious crossover with a high-tech cabin that’s hard to fault. There’s an EV6 trim for most compact SUV buyers. The single motor rear-wheel drive delivers well over 300 miles of range. The all-wheel drive versions get up to 295 miles of range, which is also impressive. There’s also the bonkers EV6 GT for thrillseekers, which comes with 641 horsepower and 545 pound-feet of torque.

The EV6 is also part of our long-term fleet, with Editor-in-Chief Patrick having one in his garage. He regularly shares updates about his EV6.

Read our review of the Kia EV6 here.

Photo by: Ford

Base Price: $37,995, before destination.
Range: 240-320 miles 
Drive Type: Rear- or all-wheel drive

Call it a “real Mustang,” or call it something else. Whatever it is, the Mach-E is a legitimately great EV.

It takes the iconic American muscle car experience into the EV era, minus the V8 noises. Depending on your loyalty to gas cars, that’s either a blessing or a betrayal. But the Mach-E is a genuinely sporty crossover with impressive range and performance.

The single-motor, extended-range version gets 320 miles of range. The GT and Rally trims are quicker off the line than the V8 Mustang. And the Mach-E now outsells its gas-powered namesake by a wide margin.

That said, it has room for improvement. The infotainment system could be more intuitive and its peak charging speed of 150 kilowatts lags behind rivals like the Model Y and Hyundai Ioniq 5. It should be fine for daily use, but it’s high time the Mach-e gets the capability to gulp electrons faster.

Read our review of the Ford Mustang Mach-E here.

Best Compact Electric SUVs For Performance

Photo by: DW Burnett / Motor1

Base Price: $66,200, before destination.
Range: 221 miles 
Drive Type: All-wheel drive
0-60 miles per hour: 3.25 seconds

The Ioniq 5 N flashes the middle finger to internal combustion, unlike any other EV. Its dual electric motors produce 641 horsepower and 770 pound-feet of torque. It has simulated manual gear shifts that bounce off a virtual rev limiter like a gas sports car. The synthesized V8-like noises sound artificial and gimmicky, but they heighten the experience. 

With 221 miles of range, it’s not a road tripper at heart, but if you’re seeking serious electric performance in the compact SUV form factor, you will love the drama of the Ioniq 5 N.

Read our review of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N here.

Base Price: $58,490, before destination.
Range: 265 miles
Drive Type: All-wheel drive
0-60 miles per hour: 3.4 seconds

The Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally doesn’t deliver the visceral thrills of the Ioniq 5 N, but it’s exhilarating in its own way and comes with a more palatable price tag. It’s a special Mach-E variant with a lifted suspension, a unique RallySport drive mode, and special styling elements that evoke a classic rally car. 

I drove it on the dirt track at Monticello Motor Club last year, where it behaved like a proper rally car, making even average drivers like me feel like motorsport pros. It loves to fishtail, but never lets things get out of hand thanks to a sophisticated traction management system. Its rally-cross-tuned Magneride suspension also does a great job soaking up bumps on paved roads.

Read our review of the Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally here.

Base Price: $78,000, before destination.
Range: 288-315 miles
Drive Type: Rear- or all-wheel drive
0-60 miles per hour: 3.1-5.4 seconds

The Porsche Macan Electric is arguably the most dialed-in electric crossover in terms of ride and handling.

It offers over 300 miles of range, delivers a remarkably composed ride and features a high-tech interior loaded with features. It rides on the 800-volt Premium Platform Electric (PPE), which makes it one of the fastest-charging EVs on the market. And being a Porsche, no version of the new Macan—which stretches from a base RWD model to the Turbo version with up to 630 hp—is really slow.

In his first drive review, InsideEVs Deputy Editor Mack Hogan said the Macan’s steep price tag may not be justified if you’re focused on value—several lower-priced EVs also deliver blistering performance without emptying your wallet. But if cost isn’t a concern and you’re loyal to the Porsche badge, the Macan Electric is impressive overall.

Read our review of the Porsche Macan Electric here.

Best Affordable Compact Electric SUVs 

2026 Nissan Leaf

Photo by: Suvrat Kothari

Base Price: $31,485, including destination
Range: Up to 303 miles
Drive type: Front-wheel drive

The Nissan Leaf has returned this fall in an all-new avatar. Now in its third generation, the Leaf is an aerodynamic crossover with more than 300 miles of range and a Tesla-style charging plug fitted right from the factory.

I had the new Leaf for a weeklong test around New York City, and it was impressive. It is a comfortable family car that can serve as your daily driver. It’s also happy to take on long-distance road trips, something the old Leaf couldn’t do because of its range and charging limitations.

The new Leaf is efficient, easy to charge with Supercharger access and has plenty of personality. Despite having a softer suspension set-up, it’s fun to drive and loves spinning up its front wheels. The Platinum+ I drove was loaded with a 14.3-inch infotainment screen with Google built-in, panoramic sunroof, heated and power-adjustable seats and ambient lighting.

It’s one of the nicest EVs we’ve driven this year and highly recommend it.

Read our review of the Nissan Leaf here.

Photo by: Kevin Williams/InsideEVs

Base Price: $33,600, before destination.
Range: Up to 319 miles
Drive Type: Front- or all-wheel drive

The Chevy Equinox EV took home InsideEVs’ inaugural Breakthrough Award last year, and for good reason. With the average new car selling for $50,000 in September 2025, the Equinox EV undercuts that figure by roughly $16,000. Yet for that price, it’s one of the most affordable EVs in America with over 300 miles of range. 

It’s the most no-nonsense EV in this group, well-suited for buyers who just care about getting from one place to another on battery power. Despite its low starting price, it comes with a tech-forward cabin, featuring a massive central infotainment screen, built-in Google Maps and relatively slick software. It’s also roomy, with enough space to comfortably seat four adults. 

Of course, it’s far from perfect. The base models are front-wheel drive and 213 horsepower won’t exactly blow your mind in an era where neck-snapping acceleration is common on most new EVs. But Chevy cut corners where it could and delivered where it truly mattered, making the Equinox EV the best affordable electric compact SUV on the market today.

Read our review of the Chevy Equinox EV here.

Photo by: InsideEVs

Base Price: $32,975, before destination.
Range: 200-261 miles
Drive Type: Front-wheel drive

The Hyundai Kona Electric is a strong value play in the affordable EV space. It’s a sensible electric crossover that looks futuristic and delivers a well-rounded mix of practicality, comfort and everyday functionality.  

In our first drive, we found it to be quiet, comfortable and easy to drive. Charging speed isn’t class-leading. The Kona can go from 10% to 80% in about 40 minutes, roughly the length of a relaxed lunch break. But it’s abundantly equipped in terms of features and even gets vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability, meaning you can power external electrical appliances using its battery.

Overall, the Kona Electric is a friendly, trouble-free commuter with just enough personality to stand out without trying too hard.

Read our review of the Hyundai Kona Electric here.

Base Price: $39,600, before destination.
Range: 253 miles
Drive Type: Front-wheel drive

The Niro EV shares its platform with the Hyundai Kona Electric. Like the Kona, its strengths aren’t in charging speed or outright range, but it’s generously equipped even on the base trim.

Standard features include dual-zone climate control, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and central display, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, as well as safety tech like blind spot monitoring and automatic emergency braking.

We found the Niro EV to be a comfortable, easygoing crossover with ample room for four adults and their cargo. The nearly $40,000 starting price is about $7,000 higher than the Kona Electric, which may make outright purchase a harder sell.

But it earns its place in the best affordable electric compact SUV category thanks to Kia’s consistently aggressive lease offers. As of this writing, the Niro EV can be leased for as little as $169 per month for 24 months with $4,000 due at signing.

That figure depends on dealer participation, but if you find one willing to play ball, you’ve got yourself a steal.

Read our review of the Kia Niro EV here.

Best Premium Compact Electric SUV

Photo by: Cadillac

Base Price: $50,900, before destination. (Eligible for $7,500 tax credit) 
Range: 317 miles
Drive Type: All-wheel drive

The Cadillac Optiq delivers a luxury experience in a zero-emissions, far more approachable package. With an upmarket design and premium materials inside and out, it feels high-end, without making you glance at the price tag and scream profanities (Looking at you, Escalade IQ).

We found the Optiq to be a well-rounded, compact electric SUV. It’s stylish, comfortable and premium. All-wheel drive and GM’s Super Cruise advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) come standard. The cabin is loaded with tech, including native Google Maps integration, a slick touchscreen and a Dolby Atmos 3D surround sound system, which is a rare and impressive addition at this price point.

Read our full review of the Cadillac Optiq here.

Upcoming Compact Electric SUVs

Photo by: Chevrolet

Base Price: $29,990 at launch, including destination.
Range: 255 miles
Drive type: Front-wheel drive

General Motors has resurrected the Chevy Bolt. We expect it to be a massive hit when it goes on sale in January 2026.

It resembles the outgoing Bolt EUV, which was discontinued in late 2023, but underneath, it is entirely new. The Bolt is back with 255 miles of range, a Tesla-style charging port right from the factory, and it can now charge at 150 kilowatts (Up from just 55 kW), meaning a 10-80% charge will take just 26 minutes.

Like the Nissan Leaf, it also gets an infotainment system with Google built in; however, there’s no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, which the Leaf still offers. In InsideEVs’ testing, we’ve found these native Google systems to be plenty capable. They offer native Google Maps that show chargers along your route and there’s also a Play Store where you can download apps like Spotify or YouTube.

At a launch price of $29,990 including destination, the Bolt is on track to become America’s cheapest EV.

Here are all the details about the new Bolt.

Have a tip? Contact the author: suvrat.kothari@insideevs.com

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