The Brighter 5: Top 5 new electric SUVs available by 2022

[Feb. 25, 2021: Joseph Shavit]

5. Cadillac Lyriq (Expected: 2022)

Cadillac's first entrant into the luxury electric vehicle market will be the Lyriq SUV, previewed by a concept car with sharp styling and a modern cabin. Cadillac says that both single-motor rear-wheel drive and dual-motor all-wheel drive models will be offered, and that its new SUV will have a driving range of more than 300 miles. Pricing is expected to fall between $60,000 and $90,000 depending on trim and performance levels. Performance is expected to be in the zero-60 range of 4.3 seconds. The Lyriq makes the list as it's the most aspirational of GM's next generation electric vehicles, and only Cadillac (post ELR), that will transport the company to its stated goal of selling 30 new electric vehicles by 2025.

4. Audi Q4 e-tron (Expected: 2021)

As you might expect from its name, the Q4 e-tron will slot in between Audi's Q3 and Q5 crossovers in size. The Q4 e-Tron will go up against other small luxury electric SUVs such as the Tesla Model Y and the Volvo XC40 Recharge when it goes on sale in 2021. It'll offer an 82.0-kWh battery with a range of up to 280 miles. It is claimed to have a zero-to-60-time of 6.3 seconds from its 300 hp engine. Unlike the larger e-tron SUV, this smaller model will seat only four. The Q4 e-tron will cost $45,000+ depending on trim and performance levels. The Q4 e-tron makes the list for its combination of premium brand, approachable cost and quality features and specifications.

3. GMC Hummer (Expected: 2021)

The GMC Hummer EV is expected to come as both an SUV and pickup. It‘a offered with a one-, two-, and three-motor powertrain delivering 1000 horsepower and an insane 11,500 lb-ft of torque. GMC announced it would have removable roof panels, four-wheel-drive and a four-wheel steering crab walk mode. The Hummer EV is estimated to have a range of 350 miles per charge and a zero-60-time of 3.0 seconds. GMC plans to sell the initial dual-motor model for $112,595 in 2021. The Hummer EV makes the list as a true ground-breaking vehicle taking an extremely popular name plate best known for a horrible carbon footprint and making it popular to a whole new generation of buyers.

2. Rivian R1S (Expected: 2021)

The people at the startup Rivian aren't just making an electric truck; they're making an electric SUV, too. Built on the same platform as the R1T, the R1S shares the same battery pack options and ranges as its truck sibling. In fact, the main differences between the truck and SUV are that the SUV can only tow 7716 pounds to the truck’s 11,000, and that the SUV can seat up to seven compared to the truck's five. The quad-motor R1S sports a zero-60-time of 3 seconds with a top speed of 125 mph. The R1S is set to compete against the likes of the Tesla Model X with a starting price of $72,500. The R1S makes the list as a fast-rising new brand in a large SUV space currently dominated by gas vehicles. Amazon recently invested $700 million in them.

1. Tesla Cybertruck (Expected: 2022)

Tesla changed the automotive landscape with the launch of its Model S. Now, Elon Musk and friends have their sights aimed square at the American pickup-truck market with the all-new electric Cybertruck. If you have any doubt about the significance of the new Cybertruck, consider Ford’s F-series trucks are a $41 billion industry. Starting at a price of $39,900, the Cybertruck could hit 1,000 lb-ft of torque and a zero-60-time of 4.5 seconds with a top speed of 120 mph. For those in the need for speed, the top-end 3 motor model will hit zero-60 in 2.9 seconds. Is there really a reason to be stated as to why the Cybertruck needs to be on this list? As a 4 door truck it skirts the line between the SUV and pick-up truck with it’s non-traditional covered truck bed. Whether you love it or hate it, the combination of its low entry price and technological sophistication, the Cybertruck is blazing a new trail for Rivian and other car makers to redefine the SUV / King-cab market.

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