Range and charging speed are not the only important factors when you're looking for an electric car – lots of people also want the additional benefits of four-wheel drive.

Opting for an all-wheel-drive electric car often means a range penalty over equivalent two-wheel-drive cars because the 4x4 versions usually have two motors (one at the front and one at the back), bigger batteries or the heavier mechanical hardware associated with off-roading. But the good news is that it's often a small loss of range, and for many drivers it's well worth it for the advantages – whether it's peace of mind for winter months, or some useful off-road capability.

There aren’t many EVs capable of heavy duty off-roading at the moment. They're coming though – Mercedes has finally launched its electric G-Class, which has seriously tough go-anywhere all-wheel-drive capability, and it won't be long before Land Rover brings us the electric Range Rover. We've driven it and were blown away by how good it is at extreme off-roading. Jeep is also set to join the fray at the end of 2026 with its new Recon SUV. (Check out all the other cars arriving in 2026 here...)

Most buyers considering an electric car simply want AWD for peace of mind over mucky, slippery roads. For that sort of thing, there are loads of great options. Fun ones, sensible ones, stylish ones... There's loads of choice if you want a road-biased electric 4x4, so read on to find out which ones are best.

10. Volkswagen ID.4​

Our pick: Pro Match 4Motion / Price: £46,120 / Range: 325 miles

We were considering the Ford Explorer for this spot, but the annoying thing is that Ford only offers all-wheel drive on the range topping model, which costs around £50k! Bit pricey, then, although it's worth checking out if you're paying monthly as there are sometime some great finance or lease deals to be had. 

Even so, we decided that the VW ID.4 is the better bet. The Volkswagen actually shares its MEB platform with the Ford Explorer, but recent updates to the ID.4 range mean that you now get a more efficient yet more powerful electric motor, plus longer range and a more affordable all-wheel-drive variant. 

Our pick of the updated 2026 VW ID.4 range is the Pro Match 4Motion, which will do 0-62mph in 6.6 seconds, and gets decent standard equipment including heated seats, keyless entry, snazzy 19-inch alloy wheels, parking camera and powered bootlid. 

The range of 325 miles from a 77kWh lithium-ion battery will also be more than enough for most motorists, and it's slick and composed to drive. You can also tow up to 1,400kg, and being able to have a factory fit tow bar will also be useful if you want a rear-mounted bike carrier. Overall, the dual motor VW ID.4 Pro 4Motion promises to be a great all-rounder, and a very solid choice if you're after an all-wheel-drive electric car.

9. Volvo EX30

Our pick: Twin Motor Performance Plus / Price: £40,860 / Range: 280 miles

We all love a bit of minimalist Scandi style, don't we? The Volvo EX30 is a compact SUV, so it's a bit smaller inside than alternatives like the VW ID.3, but it's cleverly packaged with a modular central storage rail running from between the front seats into the back, a frunk under the bonnet and a decent amount of luggage space out back. 

It's frustrating that you can't have a dual motor, all-wheel-drive variant of the EX30 without also having huge amounts of performance – we're talking about 428hp and 3.6 seconds 0–62mph here. We'd have loved to see an all-wheel drive model with more modest power and a lower price, but for what you get this is a decent price.

It doesn't have huge ground clearance, so if you're worried about very rutted tracks this isn't for you. There is a higher riding Cross Country version of the EX30 that sits higher and gets a beefier body kit, but it only comes in the top spec, costs over £45k and we'd rather save a bit of cash.

8. Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ Technology​

Our pick: G580 with EQ Technology AMG Line Premium Plus / Price: £154,870 / Range: 280 miles

It's not 1980, Mercedes does still make a G-Class that looks like this. In fact this electric version was launched brand new in 2024. If you want world class off-roading but with an electric powertrain, Mercedes has got you covered. 

To be honest, the electric G is a bit of an obnoxious looking thing, with the unmistakably boxy, old-school styling of the classic G-Wagen (the car gets its name from the German word Geländewagen, which means off-roader) that has a tearing up Knightsbridge air in its AMG guise. But I rather like the way it looks to be honest, and underneath is an extraordinary powertrain that allows the electric G580 to do everything from rock crawling to tank turns. It has four electric motors, huge ground clearance and will even do 'tank turns', where it turns on its own length. 

It's not cheap, and the real world range won't be good enough for many buyers, but if you need the most capable electric off-roader in the world right now, Mercedes will sell it to you. Only the forthcoming Range Rover might compete with it. 

7. Hyundai Ioniq 5​

Our pick: N Line AWD / Price: £49,555 / Range: 308 miles

This is the car that signalled Hyundai was finally on top form, a genuinely appealing EV that's super easy to live with day to day. And unlike other carmakers, Hyundai and sister company Kia are sharing their engineering but creating very different cars with the same materials. On the one hand you've got the excellent Kia EV6, and on the other the Ioniq 5, which just squeaks through here in AWD form because you get all the Kia's plus points for a chunk less money.

Underneath that boxy exterior styling is a practical EV, providing ample room for adults in the front and lots of head and leg room should you want to stick a six-footer in the back. The boot isn’t the biggest we’ve ever used (a Skoda Enyaq's is usefully better, if you're considering which one might suit your lifestyle best), but it does the job and there's underfloor storage for the charge cables. 

It's not an off-roader so much as an all-weather road car, but between the fantastic retro-modern styling, versatile interior, great infotainment, long range and ultra-rapid charging the AWD Hyundai Ioniq 5 is one of the best all-rounders for anyone wanting a four-wheel drive family EV. 

Want to try it yourself? You can book a test drive in the Ioniq 5 here

6. Polestar 3​

Our pick: Dual Motor / Price: £77,990 / Range: 394 miles

We like Polestar's alternative take on the world – and the 3 is no exception, an SUV with classic Swedish estate car vibes. It shares its engineering with the Volvo EX90, but is much more petite than that car and only comes with five seats. It's surprisingly capable off-road, however, and gives you plenty of peace of mind that it'll cope with whatever the roads might try to throw at you. 

What we like the most about Polestar, though, is its commitment to transparent sustainability. The Swedish carmaker is honest about where everything in its cars comes from and is making great efforts to try and reduce the impact of its cars on the environment. Of course, you could argue the best thing would be not to have a 2.6-tonne SUV in the first place, but if you're going to get one you could do worse than this. 

5. Peugeot E-5008

Our pick: GT Premium Dual Motor / Price: £57,290 / Range: 291 miles

The E-5008 is one of the few electric seven seaters out there, and while it's smaller than the Kia EV9 (if you're looking for something with plenty of space inside), it's also smaller than the Kia EV9, which is absolutely huge when you drive it around city streets. It's a great option for families, with lots of great storage and some useful practicality. And while it looks expensive on paper, it's a good price for what you get. 

It's not an off-roader, by any stretch of the imagination, but the dual motor all-wheel-drive version of the car offers just enough electronic trickery to give you that bit of extra all-weather confidence on the go – because the last thing you want with six passengers onboard is to get stuck trying to escape from a puddle. So we're looking at a family electric SUV that's roomier than a Mercedes-Benz EQB and smaller than a Kia EV9 but usefully cheaper. 

4. Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo​

Our pick: Taycan 4S Cross Turismo / Price: £99,200 / Range: 379 miles

If money is no object when buying your four-wheel drive electric car, nothing can match the incredible Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo.

We know it’s costly, but nothing else can compare with the agility, presence and performance of the Taycan 4 Cross Turismo. This sleek four (optional five) seater estate gets from 0–62mph in 3.8 seconds thanks to a whopping 598hp, backed up by Porsche's super fast 800V charging tech and efficiency (as long as you don't get too carried away haring about the place) that'll easily see 300 miles of real world range. 

The Cross Turismo provides greater practicality than the regular Taycan saloon, giving passengers more head room, along with a larger hatchback boot, and you also get a raised ride height and air suspension – which keeps the ride comfortable and helps with slightly better ground clearance. If someone else is paying for the paint chip repairs it's actually quite hilarious fun off the beaten track. 

And that's the best thing about the Taycan Cross Turismo – the handling, which is as engaging as a Porsche should be. It's the ultimate luxury, performance, off-roading fastback, sports car kind of thing... Whatever it is, it's absolutely brilliant, and it's surprisingly surefooted in bad conditions.

3. Tesla Model Y

Our pick: Long Range All-Wheel Drive / Price: £51,990 / Range: 391 miles

A hefty facelift at the beginning of 2025 brought a fresh new look for the popular Tesla Model Y, which for many years was the world's bestselling EV. It remains one of the most complete all-round family electric SUVs, with impressive range and the benefits of the Tesla Supercharger network to keep you going. 

It’s also seriously rapid, of course, offering a sub-5.0secs 0–62mph time, yet the Model Y easily manages efficiency numbers higher than most EVs we’ve tested, with claimed range of 364 miles between charges – and a real-world range of well over 300 miles. Tesla's onboard satnav is great at planning your journeys for you, too, taking advantage of the battery's peak capabilities and even taking into account how busy the charge points will be. 

There’s tonnes of space inside for adults, and you can cram all your last-minute holiday packing in its large boot and ample frunk. It's not designed as a proper off-roader, but it has got very capable dual-motor, all-wheel drive for secure handling even in bad conditions, and it's also capable of towing up to 1,600kg. 

2. Skoda Enyaq​

Our pick: SportLine 85x / Price: £48,760 / Range: 334 miles

We've appreciated the Enyaq since it was launched for its family friendly usability and great all-round package. And Skoda hasn't stopped to congratulate itself on a job well done, either, with plenty of upgrades and changes to the car, including a facelift in 2025 that kept the Enyaq looking sharp. And of course it's full of the little details that set Skodas apart from the competition. 

So it's one of our favourite EVs full stop, but it's also one of our favourite electric 4x4s – range is decent, there's plenty of power (but not too much) and the extra traction will help in slippery snow or in a muddy festival car park. Ground clearance will also be useful for potholed and rutted country roads and lay-bys. Of course, four-wheel drive or not, the Enyaq is enormous inside with tonnes of space for passengers and luggage. It's a really brilliant family EV. 

Want to try it yourself? Book a test drive in the Enyaq here

1. Kia EV9​

Our pick: GT-Line AWD / Price: £73,985 / Range: 316 miles

The Kia EV9 arrived in 2023, finally bringing a full sized, electric seven-seater option to the market. Since then the Kia has also gained competition in the form of the Peugeot E-5008 and Hyundai Ioniq 9, but this is still our favourite electric seven-seater. It's also a really solid four-wheel-drive car. Most of the EV9 models get all-wheel drive as standard, as well as air suspension and three different terrain modes (Snow, Mud and Terrain). Plus it has ground clearance of up to 225mm. 

Sure, the EV9 isn't designed or intended to be a heavy duty off-roader, but it is one of the best electric cars for muddy, rutted country tracks, and it'll make light work of far worse terrain than most will ever need to navigate. If we had to nitpick, it can be somewhat oversized around town, but you get used to that quickly enough. Neither is it cheap, but it is one of the best off-roading electric cars you can buy. And, as a happy aside, it'll also tow up to 2,500kg – meaning that it'll pull your horsebox, and has the space and all-wheel drive ability to deliver the hay bales over the fields. 

Want to try it yourself? Book a test drive in the EV9 here