Opel Zafira, Peugeot Traveller, Mercedes Vito or EQV or the converted Fiat Ducato – if you need a lot of space in your electric vehicle, you have almost always ended up in a commercial vehicle. It may be that – just like in the old world – there is now also plenty of paint and leather, as with the Mercedes EQV, but you feel more like a bus driver at the wheel, sweat quickly when maneuvering and have to get on the bus more often than you already did range squint. Not to mention the lack of prestige and performance.
But times are changing: Because more and more manufacturers are jumping on the electric bandwagon and the model range is growing, more and more vans and SUVs with seven seats that are not based on a small van or van are coming onto the market. Although they are usually significantly more expensive, they also make more – and usually go further and better. Five candidates.
VW ID.Buzz
As the electric grandson of the legendary Bulli, the VW ID.Buzz naturally also has a commercial vehicle history and is now also available as a panel van.
But if now soon and also gets more power for the battery and motor: The battery grows from 77 to an optional 85 kWh and the power to 339 hp at best, so that in the future around 500 kilometers are possible and the top speed from a meager 140 to 160 km/h increases.
The only catch: the price. Although VW has not yet named it. But if the “short” bus starts at 64,581 euros, the long one will hardly be available for less than 70,000 euros.
Kia EV9
Kia EV9
While the Korean model looks like an SUV from the outside, it wants to be a genuine van on the inside
(Photo: Kia)
The price is also the catch with the Kia EV9, because the Koreans’ electric flagship will not be available for less than 70,000 euros, and with all the extras it could even reach six figures. But you also get two cars in one. Because while the Korean colossus of five meters makes an SUV on the outside, it wants to be a real van on the inside.
It is not for nothing that between the Frunk and a large trunk there are three rows of seats with reclining seats in the front and in the middle the choice between a bench for three or rotating individual seats.
Incidentally, the electrical engineering for this is better than that of all European competitors: the battery has a capacity of 99.8 kWh, works with an operating voltage of 800 volts for particularly short charging times and is sufficient for 541 kilometers at best, and even with the 204 hp motor 160 km/h inside. If you order the top model, you get two engines and therefore all-wheel drive, has 385 hp and, at a top speed of 200 km/h, feels like Captain Future in the space shuttle.
Tesla Model X
Tesla Model X
The vehicle is one of the few SUVs to offer the option of a third row of seats.
(Photo: Tesla Motors)
Although the Tesla Model X is now one of the veterans at the charging station, it still makes a powerful impression with its Falcon doors and, with a length of 5.06 meters and a wheelbase of 2.97 meters, is one of the few SUVs that offers the option of one third row of seats.
And since the Americans thoroughly revised their top model for the first time, the quiet treadmill has also attracted die-hard petrolheads. After all, it delivers up to 1020 hp and boasts of being the most powerful SUV of all time – and with a top speed of 262 km/h it is correspondingly fast.
The energy for this is supplied by a 100 kWh battery, which should enable a standard range of 576 kilometers at best. Of course, the pleasure is not cheap: the Model X with 670 hp is in the list at 113,490 euros and as a plaid with three engines it costs a proud 133,490 euros.
HiPhi X
HiPhi X
Against this car from China, Elon Musk’s Model X looks like a vintage car.
(Photo: HiPhi)
Against this X model from China, Elon Musk’s Model X looks like a classic car. Because the Chinese newcomer HiPhi has installed almost every gimmick in its 5.20 meter long X for 123,000 euros that was last seen in any design studies.
From the self-programmable pixel displays at the front and rear to the TV-sized screen in front of the passenger and the lounge chairs in the first two rows with a champagne fridge in between. If you have family or many friends, you can also get the car with three rows of seats and even save 14,000 euros.
No matter how it is configured – access has never been so easy. Because HiPhi combines the best of the luxury world with the X, opens the doors in opposite directions like a Rolls-Royce and also opens the roof like the original Mercedes SL or the X model.
The Chinese also want to score points when driving, installing adaptive dampers, rear-axle steering and a drive that is on par with the western top league: Although the limit is already 200 km/h and charging is only 100 kW. But the two engines come up to 598 hp and 820 Nm and with 97 kWh it should be possible to cover 460 kilometers in the standard cycle.
Maxus Mifa-9
Maxus Mifa-9
The Chinese SAIC subsidiary is now also pushing into the company and family front.
(Photo: Maxus)
The name is a tongue twister and the brand is only known from commercial vehicles. But with the Mifa-9, the Chinese SAIC subsidiary Maxus is now also pushing into the company and family front. There is not only a slick spaceship design, but with a length of 5.27 meters and a wheelbase of 3.20 meters, there is above all plenty of space – including electric sliding doors and recliners in the second row.
In the flat car floor there is a battery of 90 kWh for 440 kilometers and the drive is taken over by an electric motor with 285 hp, with which up to 180 km/h are possible.
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