Copyright ABC News
There are many criteria for choosing the perfect sport utility vehicle: comfort, space, utility and affordability. Then there's the performance factor. Rivian, the startup electric carmaker, launched its second-gen Quad-Motor R1S and R1T models earlier this year. The drive unit's four motors deliver 1,025 horsepower and 1,198 lb-ft of torque, giving it "supercar levels of performance," Luke Lynch, Rivian's chief engineer, told ABC News. Slam on the accelerator and the hefty vehicles take off like a torpedo, posting a 0 to 60 mph sprint of 2.5 seconds. "2.5 seconds for a seven-seater SUV? That's crazy. In sport mode, the suspension is lower and stiffer. It feels more like a sports car than an SUV," Lynch said, adding that Rivian's Quad-Motor models tick all the boxes on most Americans' new vehicle wish lists. "Drivers only need one car with this Rivian. It feels more like a sports car than an SUV. You can enjoy it just as much as you would a weekend car," Lynch said. Electric SUVs like the R1S are proliferating at dealerships, giving consumers a wide choice. But the larger question industry watchers are now asking is: Will consumers buy them? The $7,500 federal tax credit for EVs expired on Sept. 30, leaving consumers with fewer financial incentives to trade in their gas-powered vehicle. Tyson Jominy, vice president of data and analytics at J.D. Power, said "a lot of consumers" have already bought an EV in the last two years. EV market share fell to 2.5% in October, down from 8% in September, according to J.D. Power data. "The [consumer] pool has dried up dramatically, as expected," Jominy told ABC News. "A lot of automakers have stepped in with incentives to get rid of what's on the ground already, but there are not a lot of EVs out there." Tesla, the longtime industry leader, has seen its share of the market bounce back with the launch of the refreshed Model Y and Model 3, he noted. Sales may be slipping, but EVs could still account for 8-9% of the total U.S. auto market in 2025, Jominy pointed out. "There are a lot of EV owners who say they will never go back to an ICE [internal combustion engine] car. Long-term EV growth will continue," he noted. One of the newest electric SUVs that's getting a lot of attention this year has been the Lucid Gravity, a seven-seat people hauler that resembles a minivan, makes 850 hp and can travel an estimated 450 miles on a single charge. "The response has been phenomenal, we're super proud of the Gravity," Marc Winterhoff, Lucid's interim CEO, told ABC News. Winterhoff acknowledged the stiff competition in the desirable SUV segment, so the Gravity had to be "category defining" to stand out, he said. "What we did with this car -- we basically packed so many different things into it," he said. "Our third row has more space than the competitors, it's very sporty and drives fantastic." Mercedes-Benz's hot-selling G-Class SUV went electric last year, and consumer demand for the all-new G 580 has been positive, according to Bart Herring, vice president of sales and product management at Mercedes-Benz USA. "We’re seeing strong interest from customers who value the iconic G-Class design paired with progressive technology," he told ABC News. "Early sales figures reflect healthy demand, underscoring the G-Class' enduring appeal in a new era." The brand's designers did not tweak the ute's boxy, rugged looks for the G 580, a decision that was intentional, said Herring. "It was designed to closely resemble its gas-powered counterparts," he noted. What's totally new to the G 580 version is the technology inside. A transparent hood function offers a digital view of the terrain below, charging stations are integrated into the GPS and four individual motors distribute up to 579 hp and 859 lb-ft of torque to the wheels. For consumers who may miss the ferocious V8 sound in the gas-powered models, Herring said the "G-ROAR sound experience," which mimics the tones of combustion engines, "adds unique sensory layer to the drive." Tony Quiroga, editor-in-chief of Car and Driver, said there are so many great choices for consumers who are looking to make a switch to an EV. The Gravity and G 580 are on his list, along with the Porsche Macan EV, updated Tesla Model Y and the Cadillac Lyriq. Cadillac in particular has increased its electric SUV options; there's the Lyriq, Escalade IQ, Optiq and Vistiq. According to a Cadillac spokesperson, these new models are bringing younger customers to the brand, which has reported 13 straight quarters of sales growth. "We're seeing a really nice resurgence for Cadillac," Quiroga told ABC News. "They ride well, have great range and space inside, they're refined and really quick." For Porsche enthusiasts, the Macan EV meets the brand's high standards: "Great design, super fun to drive and it's a daily driver and performance SUV at the same time," Quiroga said. As for the bestselling Model Y, Quiroga was impressed with the improvements Tesla made in the latest version. "You get a ton of SUV for the money. It's quieter, nicer to drive, really solid," he noted. "There are no buttons in the interior, which takes some getting used to, but it has amazing range and good value." For consumers debating whether to get a "base" electric model or splurge for the higher performance variant, Quiroga recommended the former. The top performance models "just accelerate faster ... but you're not always going to use that 0-60 mph time," he said. "With an ICE car, you can exploit all the power. But with an EV, you're paying for a little bit more power and bragging rights. The experience is not that much different." Aamir Ahmed, global head of Jeep brand off-road and EVs, said longtime Jeep customers will approve of the automaker's first electric, the Wagoneer S, which went on sale late last year. "The Wagoneer S has a ton of traditional Jeep elements in it," he told ABC News. "It's also blazingly fast, with insane torque, and you have so many more comforts." Ahmed said many of his car enthusiast friends prefer an EV as their commuter car because they're quieter and can be charged at home. "You don't have to change who you are because of your car," he said. Lynch, the Rivian engineer, said outdoorsy types can feel confident taking their R1S or R1T Quads with them on the trails or national parks. The Quad models exclusively offer the new Kick mode, which makes it easier for drivers to steer in tight off-road conditions or on a switchback dirt path. "Quad models are great to take camping," he said. "They're very utilitarian -- there's a tent on the roof, a cooler in the back, power outlets in the rear bed. The vehicle is that capable."
