Triple test: BMW X5 hybrid vs Porsche Cayenne hybrid vs Jaguar I-Pace

Diesel has traditionally been the default fuel in the large SUV market, but with new post-dieselgate customer and manufacturer attitudes towards the low-CO2, high-particulate fuel, electrification has come to the fore as a viable alternative.

This test looks at three of the best alternatively fuelled premium SUVs, each from a manufacturer whose focus has switched to address market changes in recent years. Porsche has stopped making diesels altogether, BMW is pushing towards an increasingly electrified range and Jaguar was the first mainstream manufacturer to seriously take on Tesla with its own fully electric answer to the problem.

Each of the cars here has an on-board charger and a charging flap, but each takes a different approach to electrification. All sit in the same price bracket and offer a similar combination of performance, comfort and premium appointments –  but which works best as being an everyday luxury SUV?

BMW X5 xDrive45e

Pros: Great electric range, high quality, comfortable

Cons: Slow charging, pricey options, rivals more fun

 

Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid

Pros: Sporty drive, practicality, quality interior

Cons: Limited electric range, expensive options, least efficient

 

Jaguar I-Pace EV400 SE

Pros: Low running costs, fun to drive, practical

Cons: Shorter long-distance range, slightly lower-quality interior, average infotainment

The improved BMW X5 is the newest car here and boasts a class-leading electric range, while the older Porsche Cayenne is the most focused on being the keen driver's choice; Jaguar, meanwhile, has left plug-in hybrid technology for its sister brand Land Rover, opting instead to champion electric cars and position its I-Pace as a sound alternative to internal-combustion-engined cars.

Read on to find out which of these sophisticated SUVs comes out on top...