Some promising SUVs are leaving the plants and queueing up at the starting line, waiting for the gun to hit our roads soon. Automakers are making promises, some intensifying our anticipation, and others coming off as too good to be true.
In the past few decades, SUVs have come from behind to dominate the automotive sector. It is no surprise that automakers want the reign to continue, with many exciting SUVs, especially EVs, in the pipeline or, in this case, manufacturing plants.
While we clench our teeth with anticipation to see what the not-so-distant future holds for the coming SUVs, here are five of them that we can’t wait to sit behind their wheels.
Jeep Recon
The Recon is the next to debut as Jeep sets sight on having a full lineup of electric SUVs. From the pictures we’ve seen, you could get away with calling the Recon a Wrangler EV. However, Jeep has drawn a clear line between the Recon and the Wrangler EV by announcing that the latter will not be available before 2027. According to Jeep, the Recon is “designed for adventurers looking for a rugged and capable fully electric SUV.”
The description shows that the Recon will be a four-wheel-drive EV wearing Jeep’s mark of honor, the trail-rated badge. We expect it to feature some significant differences from the Wrangler, starting from the platform. There are speculations regarding performance and pricing figures, but we await official announcements. However, we can’t wait to take the Wrangler-inspired EV for a ride and learn its capabilities.
Polestar 4
With Polestar 4, we’ve taken up the challenge of seeing how far we can drive without a rear window. Yes, the Polestar 4 is doing away with the aft glass for a rear-facing HD camera. Some experts insist we won’t notice any change with the digital rearview mirror. But we predict that switching between the live feed and rear passenger view will initially be disorienting and require some getting used to.
The absence of the rear window means the Polestar 4 wears a sloped rear end, making the SUV Coupe appear even sportier than many others. Beyond the looks, the performance SUV is set to offer between 270 and 300 miles of driving depending on the powertrain ( single motor or dual motor). The dual motor configuration will deliver around 544hp and 506 lb. ft of torque, capable of shifting the EV from 0-60 mph in 3.7 secs. A less potent powertrain, the single motor, offers 272 hp and 253 lb-ft of torque, with 0 to 60mph in 6.9 secs. Both all-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive configurations are available. We get that every cool-looking EV is compared to a Tesla, but we think this might be as close as possible, and we can’t wait to find out how it performs if it hits the roads in 2025.
Escalade IQ
For starters, the Cadillac Escalade has worn almost the same outlook for the past three years. So, we are excited that an entirely different appearance, necessitated by going all-electric, is coming to us later this year. GM wants to take everything we know about the Escalade luxury up a notch with the Escalade IQ. Think of that as a jump from luxury to electrifying luxury. As expected, it features some Cadillac Lyriq design cues, like the grille with a lighting sequence and a faster-sloping roofline.
There are lots of mind-blowing features to excite just about anyone, especially in the available executive second row. But we cannot wait to get behind the wheel to take in the beauty of the curved, pillar-to-pillar 55-inch LED display. Hopefully, we can keep our eyes on the road on the first drive. With 450 miles of range and up to 750 hp with 785 lb. ft of torque, its performance could be more fun than the Escalade IQ’s luxurious cabin.
Explorer EV
Reports suggest the Ford Explorer EV will debut as a Europe-only SUV, but it is not short of anticipation in other parts of the world. We expect it to spot a fake grille inspired by the Ford Mach-E while featuring design cues that make it look like a continuation of the previous Ford Explorers.
Ford says the interior of the Explorer EV will feature a movable 14.6″ touchscreen with storage behind it. Its center console has an extendable 17-litre storage space, generous enough to house a laptop, handbag, and bottles. The SUV will offer RWD and AWD configurations and, depending on the battery setup, between 250 and 282 miles of electric range on the motorway. If it’s any consolation for the unimpressive range, the figures shoot up to 374 miles during combined driving.
Lucid Gravity
With the Gravity, Lucid wants to introduce minivan cargo space wrapped in SUV capabilities to our roads as an EV. Derek Jenkins, senior vice president of design and brand at Lucid Motors, said, “Who doesn’t want that flexibility with space, but in an SUV, not a minivan?” And continued to explain, “Oftentimes when people buy large SUVs they have to take a lot of people and cargo, and it’s important that we create that flexibility for comfort and space.”
The luxury SUV has three rows, but the second and third can fold flat to create more cargo space. However, that’s not all there is to see on the inside. With a Lucid Air-inspired interior, it has a curved, floating 6k touchscreen display that gives access to different functions and adorns the dashboard beneath it. The projected battery and performance details are satisfactory, with 440 range of miles at full charge, 800hp, 0-60mph under 3.5 seconds, all-wheel drive, and two electric motors. While we wait to see what a minivan-like luxury SUV feels like, we expect the entry price to be around $80k.
Every SUV on our list boasts unique features, igniting our excitement for what the automakers are bringing us within the next few months. There are undoubtedly more promising SUVs to anticipate. Therefore, stay tuned to Global SUV for more.
Gabriel Olakunori
Gabriel likes to argue (blindly) that SUVs are a part of nature, but he seems to have a point whenever you walk in the snow, through the bone-dry desert, splendid park-like boulevard, plains, and rocky roads. He has over five years of experience writing across a broad spectrum of topics, with quite a number in the automotive industry. If he is not at the desk w̶r̶i̶t̶i̶n̶g̶ having fun, he is at the wheel d̶r̶i̶v̶i̶n̶g̶ having fun. Both activities take him to the same destination: Utopia. He loves SUVs simply because they are all-inclusive, but he cannot turn down an offer to drive or write about any vehicle.
