Electric SUVs are no longer just about saving fuel and hauling kids; a new wave of battery-powered crossovers is built to light up on-ramps and back roads while keeping gas stations in the rearview mirror. Automakers are taking the hot-rod spirit seriously, tuning family-friendly shapes to launch like sports cars and carve corners with real intent. Four standouts show how far that idea has come, delivering genuine driving thrills without burning a drop of gasoline.
From the Ford Mustang Mach family to the Ioniq performance line and a wild Kia EV6 variant, these machines prove that practicality and performance can share the same charging cable. They mix instant torque, sharp chassis tuning, and track-inspired tech with the space and comfort drivers expect from an SUV, all while sidestepping tailpipe emissions entirely.
Ford Mustang Mach-E GT: Pony car attitude in a family shell
The Ford Mustang Mach-E GT is the clearest sign that the Mustang badge has fully embraced electrons without losing its swagger. In its top configuration, the 2025 Ford Mustang Mach-E delivers impressive performance, with the powertrain tuned for serious acceleration and up to 480 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of torque, a figure that lets this SUV punch far above its weight in stoplight sprints and freeway merges, according to detailed specs for the 2025 Ford Mustang. That kind of shove, delivered instantly by dual electric motors, lets the Mach-E GT live up to the classic Mustang promise despite wearing a taller, more practical body.
Dealers pitching the latest generation make it clear that the model is not meant as a compromise for drivers who used to love coupes but now need more doors. Marketing around the 2025 Ford Motor Mustang Mach positions it as an innovative driving experience that does not compromise on performance, with a focus on eco-conscious drivers who still crave a thrilling ride, as seen in retail descriptions that invite shoppers to Explore the full capabilities of the Mustang Mach lineup. Enthusiast-focused writeups reinforce that pitch, describing how the Ford Mustang Mach redefines what an electric SUV can do, treating every on-ramp as a chance to feel the chassis work and the powertrain surge.
Ioniq 5 N: Track-ready performance from an everyday EV
Hyundai’s Ioniq sub-brand has quickly become a benchmark for electric crossovers, and the Ioniq 5 N turns that solid foundation into something genuinely track capable. Reviewers describe the 2025 Ioniq 5 N as a top-tier performance EV SUV that blends bold design with cutting-edge tech and exhilarating acceleration, positioning this version as a strong contender for drivers who want one vehicle that can commute during the week and hit a circuit on weekends, according to a detailed Ioniq 5 N. The N division’s tweaks go far beyond a power bump, with software-driven features that mimic gear shifts and amplify driver involvement.
The broader Ioniq 5 family has already earned serious respect from evaluators who live and breathe spec sheets, with one major testing program naming the Hyundai IO Ioniq 5 its Top Rated Electric SUV and highlighting the way its platform, efficiency, and ride quality set it apart from rivals, as detailed in a release that explains Why Edmunds Named 5 to that role. That recognition gives the Ioniq 5 N an enviable starting point: it takes an already award-winning electric SUV platform and layers in more aggressive suspension tuning, stronger motors, and driver-focused software so the end result feels like a hot hatch that just happens to have SUV practicality.
Kia EV6 GT: Supercar pace in a sleek crossover
Kia has followed a similar playbook by turning its stylish EV6 into a full-blown performance machine in GT form. The Kia EV6 already stands out for its sleek styling, vibrant colors, confidence-inspiring handling, and impressive driving range, with dealer materials highlighting how the Kia EV6 combines strong standard features with a cabin that feels more like a tech lounge than a traditional SUV, as seen in descriptions of The Kia EV6 lineup. That base competence gives the performance-oriented GT room to focus on raw speed and sharper dynamics.
Coverage of four standout electric SUVs that deliver hot-rod thrills without gas points to Kia’s high-performance version of its all-electric EV6, called the GT, as particularly compelling thanks to its rapid acceleration and strong test figures, including a sprint from zero to 60 mph in testing that puts it squarely in sports car territory, as described in reports that single out Kia for that achievement. Another rundown of these four electric SUVs notes that the vehicles are listed in ascending order of price, with the 2025 Chevy and the Kia EV6 GT slotted alongside the Ford Mustang Mach-E GT, underscoring how this compact crossover has muscled into a performance conversation once dominated by traditional V8-powered models, as outlined in a feature that catalogs the four electric SUVs.
The four-pack of hot EV SUVs: How they stack up
Putting the pieces together, the current group of four headline-grabbing electric SUVs reads like a greatest-hits album for drivers who still care about lap times. Multiple lifestyle and automotive features point to a core quartet that includes the 2025 Ford Mustang Mach-E GT, the 2025 Chevy performance EV SUV, the Kia EV6 GT, and a high-output Ioniq-based SUV, all presented in ascending order of price so shoppers can see how each step up the ladder buys more power and capability, as detailed in summaries that call out the vehicles are listed by cost. That framing matters because it shows performance EVs are not a single, ultra-expensive niche; instead, they cover a range of budgets while still delivering serious speed.
Within that four-pack, the Ford Mustang Mach entry leans hardest on heritage, using the Mustang name and SUV practicality to lure drivers who might otherwise default to a traditional crossover. One feature notes that a photo provided by Ford shows the 2025 Mustang Mach-E GT and emphasizes that this SUV backs up its Mustang name with 480 horsepower, reinforcing the idea that Ford is not simply badge-engineering a commuter car, as highlighted in coverage that focuses on the 480 figure. The Kia EV6 GT, by contrast, trades on futuristic styling and a more avant-garde cabin, while the Ioniq performance SUV leans on its Top Rated Electric SUV credentials to promise a broader blend of comfort and speed.
Why these EV SUVs feel so exciting behind the wheel
The secret sauce that ties these four electric SUVs together is not just their spec sheets, but the way electric hardware changes the driving experience. High-performance EVs deliver instant torque, unique driving dynamics, and thrilling speed, and with the right cooling and battery management they can compete with and sometimes surpass traditional sports cars at track days, as explained in a deep dive into how High performance EVs are reshaping amateur racing. That same instant shove makes everyday driving more relaxed, since passing maneuvers and short on-ramps no longer require careful planning or a noisy downshift.
There is also a practical upside that enthusiasts are starting to appreciate. Electric SUVs are proving they can handle serious road trip duty, with one case study of a long drive across Brazil concluding that an SUV powered by batteries is ready to take on that kind of car trip and, thanks to instant torque, does not need to rev up like combustion cars to feel quick, as described in a travel feature that opens with the line But is an electric SUV ready. Combine that with the growing number of performance-oriented EVs on the horizon, including new models highlighted in previews of 25 new EVs that drivers will actually want to drive in 2026, and it is clear that the four hot-rod SUVs on sale now are just the start of a broader shift toward electric performance that does not sacrifice practicality.
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