E-Tron, I-Pace, EQC... 3 electric SUVs looking to make their mark in SA

There's a silent race brewing between Europe's luxury automakers. 

The aim is to establish a footprint in the electric vehicle (EV) SUV market, and in 2019 is where it's all come to a head. In South Africa, the only pure EV SUV on sale is the Jaguar I-Pace, which we drove in February. It has a claimed range of 400km after being fully charged. 

Around the same time, Mercedes-Benz brought in a prototype of their electric SUV, the EQC, to South Africa for the motoring press to have a poke around. The EQC will arrive in the second half of 2019. 

Also featured is the new Audi E-Tron, a Q5-sized EV, slated to make its local debut in the final quarter of 2019. 

Audi E-Tron facts: 

Power: 320kW

Range: 400km

Engine: Two electric motors on each axle and 95kwh battery. 

Weight: 2490kg

0-100km/h: 5.7 seconds (claimed) 

Top speed: 200km/h

Due: Q4 2019

Jaguar I-Pace facts: 

Power: 294kW

Range: 470km

Engine: Two electric motors on each axle and 90kWh lithium-ion battery. 

Weight: 2133kg

0-100km/h: 4.8 seconds (claimed) 

Top speed: 200km/h

Due: Available now 

Mercedes-Benz EQC facts: 

Power: 300kW

Range: More than 450km

Engine: Two electric motors on each axle and 80kwh lithum-ion battery. 

Weight: 2425kg

0-100km/h: 5.1 seconds (claimed) 

Top speed: 180km/h

Due: Second half of 2019

Image: Motorpress