The Five Best Electric Cars for Caravan Towing in 2024

With the arrival of a new government comes a new set of policies, including plans to accelerate the phasing out of petrol and diesel cars in favour of more environmentally friendly electric alternatives.

The government’s election manifesto stated that no petrol and diesel cars would be produced beyond  2030, meaning no more combustion engine cars would be produced from that point on. So, what does this mean for long-haul travellers and their trusted wagons?

Put simply, it means that electric cars are here to stay, and the sooner we look for suitable electric alternatives, the better.

Luckily, we’ve been keeping up-to-date with the staycation experts at Pure Leisure, who see a huge range of caravan-towing SUVs driving into their touring spots up and down the country. With more electric SUVs spotted every year, they’ve identified the five best that are ideal for long-haul travel and caravan towing.

Kia EV9, futuristic looks with SUV practicality | £65,025

When Tesla founder Elon Musk revealed the controversially designed Cybertruck, the dedication to sci-fi aesthetics felt a bit on the nose – more like a child’s sketchbook than a car someone would realistically drive to and from the shops, load up when their child leaves home or take on a family holiday.

The Kia EV9, however, is the perfect middle ground. Angular, sleek-looking and suitably “electric” in its design, the EV9 is a futuristic SUV that doesn’t go so far that it borders on science fiction.

At a glance:

• space for seven people
• incredible charging speed
• all-terrain drive.

The EV9 is huge – it has seven seats, deep boot space, front luggage space and enough room for a 99.8kWh battery, resulting in 349 miles per charge. Speaking of charge, you won’t be hanging around while waiting for a refill. The charging speeds are rapid, recovering up to 154 miles in just 15 minutes, which is perfect for those concerned with wait times during long-distance travel.

The EV9 is also a safe and hardy vehicle with all-terrain control, blind-spot collision avoidance, downhill brake control and more.

As well as superb performance and space-saving, the EV9 comes with all the hallmark additions expected of electric cars – enough to make a tech-whiz giddy:

14-speaker Meridian sound system, panoramic dashboard HUD (heads-up display), finger-print sensor ignition, mobile phone door key, touchscreen navigation, collision detection, forward collision avoidance, wireless phone charging and more.

BMW iX, next-level interiors |£70,985

Starting at a whopping £70,985, you won’t be surprised to hear that the BMW iX is a premium 5-seater electric SUV. Winning a heap of awards, including Best Family Electric SUV Interior, this vehicle is a flashy SUV for the traveller who favours luxury.

At a glance:

• luxurious interiors
• spacious
• painful price point.

A beautiful piece of engineering, the standout feature of the BMW iX is the fantastic iDRIVE – BMW’s intelligent operating system. The iDRIVE system uses sensors, gesture controls and AI (artificial intelligence) to customise how drivers navigate the iX’s HUD. This system can be customised with voice control options, mobile phone integration, touchscreen and physical dials.

This techy interface is complimented by beautiful upholstery, metal two-tone interior accents, a sporty wheel with cruise control and media playback, a curved infotainment display and 5G as standard. It’s powerful too – going from 0-62mph in 6.1 seconds, the all-wheel drive system will have no problem pulling even the heaviest caravans or boats.

When using a high-power charging station, the battery recharging speed is solid – but at this price point, the max battery range leaves more to be desired. Charging around 62 miles in six minutes and totalling 264 miles, there are cheaper options with much higher efficiency. But with a drive as quiet, luxurious and powerful as the iX, is it worth the trade-off? That’s for you to decide.

Volvo EX30, all-electric all-rounder | £33,795

The Volvo EX30 is a fantastic all-electric all-rounder, comes with an exclusive 0% APR loan for added affordability, was voted Car of the Year by Carwow and is packaged with a free home charger so you can take full advantage of electric home charging without the extra expense.

At a glance:

• packaged with an Ohme home charger
• affordable with a 0% APR loan
• comfortable drive.

A seven-seat SUV with a stylish and modern look, the smallest SUV in the Volvo lineup should not be overlooked. It has a modest battery range of 214 – 298 miles (depending on model), charges from 10-80% in 28 minutes, has a bright and flashy infotainment display and a simply joyous feel to the drive.

The Volvo EX30 puts the fun in electric, zipping around corners with a twin motor, boasting the fastest acceleration in any Volvo ever, and is incredibly comfortable on long-haul trips.

The EX30 has a top speed of 112mph and a blisteringly fast 0 to 62mph in 3.6 seconds. Despite its incredible acceleration for an SUV, we were shocked to hear just how quiet the EX30 is. It whispers through town and cruises on the motorway, even when packed full of travel essentials. Those of us scarred by the state of UK potholes will be happy to hear that the EX30 takes bumps and uneven road surfaces in its stride – gliding over them with relative ease.

The only letdown in the travel department is the smaller boot space when compared to others in its class, as well as no physical dial and buttons which impact the albeit beautiful infotainment system. If you aren’t one for touch controls, this system can be a tad fiddly at first.

All in all, this electric SUV is the perfect entry-level vehicle, with plenty of helpful finance options to see travellers enjoying the long-term benefits of electric for less.

Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV, the long-haul king | £129,470

The Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV puts the myth that electric cars can’t do long distances to bed, boasting a staggering 404 miles on a full charge – though valued at an equally staggering £129,470 – £200,860. This vehicle is a luxury workhorse perfect for caravan towing, staycation-goers and travellers, but the hefty price tag reserves this vehicle for finance or enthusiasts.

At a glance:

• game-changing 404-mile range
• 31-minute charging despite its large battery
• expensive.

The highlight of the EQS SUV is undoubtedly the huge 108.4kWh battery, capable of 404 miles on a full charge. For charging times, the EQS SUV goes from 10-80% in 31 minutes on a fast charger and from 10-100% in five and a half hours from a wallbox. All round, these are incredibly impressive numbers.

While stylish and premium, the EQS SUV is aesthetically uninspired compared to the other vehicles on this list. It’s the electric SUV that looks the “least electric”, though for some, this may be the perfect compromise. If you aren’t a fan of your electric cars looking like a Tron Light Cycle, the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV keeps it simple with a sleek design and sporty finish.

The interior, however, is where the electric car hallmarks can be felt. The stunning infotainment system and digital HUD span the entirety of the dashboard’s width, making you feel as though you are inside a space-age cockpit. The large infotainment panel is especially useful for live maps, with a high resolution and refresh rate capable of tracking your position with pinpoint precision.

The sheer quality of this vehicle is not in doubt, but coming in at £129,470 for the base model leaves us wondering: is the extra 100 or so miles worth an extra 100 or so thousand pounds? Short answer – probably not.

Hyundai IONIQ 5, ridiculously spacious design | £43,445

Pairing thrilling electric performance and fantastic space-saving design, the Hyundai IONIQ 5 goes from 0 to 62mph in 5.1 seconds, with welcomed battery efficiency that requires charging once every 17 days when driving the national average of 18 miles per day.

At a glance:

• great battery efficiency
• quick off the line
• regenerative braking technology.

The Hyundai IONIQ 5 is a comfortable family motor that does just about everything well, but does battery efficiency *very* well with an impressive top speed of 115mph to boot.

When opting for the larger 77.4 kWh battery, the IONIQ 5 comes in an all-wheel drive option, perfect for towing heavier items such as caravans and boats – as well as tackling all terrains.

The interiors aren’t as flashy as some competitors, but little quality-of-life touches make the cockpit and rear seats feel premium. A full BOSE sound system with 64 ambient lighting variations, wireless charging, USB ports at the front and rear, clever regenerative braking technology (which refills your battery as you drive), digital HUD and side mirror for blind spots are all welcome improvements that reward you for choosing electric.

What’s more, the IONIQ has been awarded a 5-star Euro NCAP rating, meaning that it’s as safe as it is efficient. Hyundai has been impressing with its electric alternatives, and this addition is no exception.

Pure Leisure’s Marketing Manager, Michael Morris, had this to say about their favourite electric SUVs:

“With each passing year we see more electric SUVs pulling into our touring spots, and even our lodge ownership sites in the Lake District, Lancashire and just about everywhere really,” he explains. “It’s been a huge change, especially in our rural areas where originally you would be hard-pressed to find a charging spot five years ago. But with more electric SUVs on the market than ever, and a country-wide focus on net zero, these big battery motors are starting to fill up the plots! We love our natural environment, so the more the merrier I say!”

Are you looking to go electric by 2030? Regardless of when you decided to make the switch, one thing’s for sure – it’s no longer a choice between the planet or your caravan puller!