Electric 4×4 cars: models, features and buying tips
All-wheel-drive EVs are efficient and a pleasure to drive even on bumpy terrain. Comparis presents models, benefits and buying tips.
30.07.2024
iStock/Marcus Lindstrom
1. All-wheel-drive electric cars: popular models
More and more manufacturers are offering electric cars with 4×4 drive. Comparis provides an overview of some of the most popular all-wheel-drive electric cars today.
2. Electric 4x4 cars: what’s unique about these vehicles?
An electric 4x4 car is environmentally friendly, quiet and efficient – and it allows you to move safely on different terrain.
All-wheel drive offers many advantages. Especially people who regularly travel in the mountains or elsewhere on uneven trails benefit from these advantages.
Improved traction and stability
A major advantage of all-wheel-drive electric vehicles is their improved traction and stability. Driving force is distributed to all four wheels with 4x4 systems. This gives you better traction and less wheel spin. This is particularly helpful in slippery or uneven road conditions.
In addition, driving stability in corners is increased. The more even distribution of power to all four wheels makes the vehicle more stable. Especially in wet or icy road conditions.
Higher power and better acceleration
All-wheel-drive electric cars can make efficient use of the available power on difficult terrain.
This means even in difficult weather conditions, on rough terrain and on steep climbs, electric cars with 4x4 drive perform well on the road.
Better off-road capability
On unpaved roads or off-road terrain, electric 4x4 vehicles are usually the better choice than vehicles with rear or front-wheel drive.
Greater safety
Improved traction and stability reduce the risk of accidents in difficult driving conditions. Particularly in bad weather conditions with rain, snow or ice, you are safer on the road with a 4x4.
Versatility
All-wheel-drive electric vehicles are versatile. They are suitable for daily city driving and for driving on difficult surfaces, such as in the mountains. This makes electric 4x4 cars interesting for drivers who like to be flexible.
Good to know: all-wheel drive is not necessary in all situations. That’s why there are more and more electric vehicles that automatically switch back and forth between all-wheel drive and front or rear-wheel drive – depending on the driving conditions. In this way, the vehicle ensures energy efficiency is kept as high as possible.
3. What should I bear in mind when buying an electric car with 4x4 drive?
Big differences exist between electric cars with 4x4 drive, for example in terms of equipment, energy consumption and range.
Answering these questions will help you when deciding to buy:
Electric vehicles are significantly more efficient than petrol or diesel cars. However, there are also differences in energy consumption between different electric car models. The Tesla Model 3, for example, performs well here: the electric car with all-wheel drive consumes only around 14kWh hours per 100km. Depending on the charging station, this costs between 5–15 francs.
Most electric 4x4 cars are quite capable of handling longer distances. Nevertheless, it’s worth taking a look at the range. Do you like to plan road trips and drive for hours without making any stops? Then a car with a very long range may be right for you – such as the Mercedes-Benz EQS. Depending on the equipment, this can cover up to 672km. This is equivalent to the distance from Zurich to Brussels.
Do you regularly go on holiday by car? In that case, it’s useful to have a lot of storage space in the vehicle. The Tesla X is one of the frontrunners in this respect: with the rear seats folded up, it has a boot volume of 720 litres. With the rear seats folded down, the capacity increases to an impressive 2,487 litres.
Thanks to new charging technology, long charging breaks are no longer necessary. Depending on the model, you will be back on the road after around 30 minutes. The charging speed depends not only on the charging station, but also on the vehicle model.
4. How much does an all-wheel-drive electric car cost?
The entry-level prices for electric cars with 4x4 drive are usually higher than for electric cars with front or rear-wheel drive. The prices range from around 50,000 francs to well over 100,000 francs.
Compare different models and their features to find the best value for money. Buying an electric 4x4 car second-hand offers a lot of potential for savings. After just a few thousand kilometres, the value drops sharply.
Besides the acquisition costs, it’s worth considering the running costs. It turns out that electric cars with and without 4x4 drive are cheaper to maintain than comparable petrol or diesel vehicles.
5. How much does insurance for an electric car with 4x4 drive cost?
Car insurance for electric cars with all-wheel drive tends to be cheaper than policies for 4x4s with combustion engines. With Comparis, you can compare premiums and benefits for liability, partial and full casco insurance and in some cases save a substantial amount of money.
This article was first published on 30.07.2024
