WHAT A CAR? COMPARISONS

Any of these luxurious electric SUVs would be great to spend a little time with – but which should you buy? Let’s get right to the point

Photography: Max Edleston

Jaguar I-Pace

EV400 R-Dynamic HSE Black

List price £77,495 Target Price £74,418 The I-Pace has been around for a few years now and its range is no longer all that impressive, but there’s a lot to like about it – and it’s easily the cheapest of our contenders

BMW iX

xDrive50 M Sport

List price £102,755 Target Price £99,445 With the most power and the longest official range here, as well as limo-like comfort, the iX is the model to beat in this test. But can it justify its high price?

NEW

Audi Q8 e-tron 55 quattro Vorsprung

List price £99,800 Target Price £97,571 With a bigger battery and a longer official range than before, the renamed Q8 e-tron now looks to be competitive with its high-end electric SUV rivals in all areas

When Prince decided to go by the name ‘The Artist Formerly Known As Prince’, it left fans bemused. He was undoubtedly the same musician, after all, although this new moniker did thrust him straight back into the spotlight and is arguably what he is most remembered for.

Luckily, Audi’s decision to rename its E-tron electric SUV as the Q8 e-tron is far more logical and straightforward to digest. You see, when the E-tron was launched back in 2019, it was the brand’s only electric vehicle (EV), whereas today there are five Audi EVs – with more on the way – so the new name helps buyers identify where the Q8 fits into the line-up.

What’s more, unlike Prince’s renaming exercise, the changes to create the Q8 e-tron are more than superficial. In addition to more aggressive styling, all versions come with revised suspension settings, a little more power and a much larger battery than before. Indeed, the mid-range 55 quattro (tested here in luxurious Vorsprung trim) has an official range between charges of more than 300 miles.

As does the BMW iX xDrive50, a rival that combines attentiongrabbing styling on the outside with a soothing and opulent environment on the inside.

We’ve lined it up in our preferred M Sport trim.

Our final contender is a familiar one that’s been quietly going about its business since 2018. The Jaguar I-Pace was one of the first premium electric SUVs to be launched, packaging a long-range battery into something stylish, lavishly appointed and enjoyable to drive. Let’s find out if time has been kind to this EV pioneer.

DRIVING

Performance, ride, handling, refinement

Each of these cars comes with two motors (one on each axle for fourwheel drive), so they have plenty of muscle and you’ll find making a clean getaway remarkably easy.

The iX – by far the most powerful of the trio with 516bhp – can leap off the line with particular ferocity, bolting from 0-60mph in a sports car-rivalling 4.4sec. Despite having the least power (394bhp), the relatively light I-Pace zips off into the distance almost as eagerly, reaching 60mph from a standstill just 0.3sec later than the iX. In comparison, the 402bhp Q8 feels rather more measured in the way it deploys its power, even if a 0-60mph time of 5.4sec isn’t to be sniffed at.

Similarly, if you ask for a sudden burst of acceleration on the move (for example, to overtake a slowmoving vehicle), the iX gets the job done quickest and the Q8 requires the most time, but none of our contenders is likely to leave you with your heart in your mouth.