The best trekking / SUV e-MTBs 2026

Canyon Pathlite:ON 7 SUV

from £2,799

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If you want a more “bike-first” trekking/SUV option that still has proper off-road manners, the Pathlite:ON 7 SUV is aimed squarely at mixed terrain riding where you’ll hit everything from tarmac to gravel to bridleway mud in a single loop. The feel is closer to a sporty trekking hardtail than a laid-back tourer: stable, predictable, and designed to be ridden regularly rather than saved for special occasions. It makes particular sense if you like the idea of going exploring after work — not just rolling along easy paths, but taking the rougher cut-throughs too.

The other key point here is how configurable this category has become. In practice, battery size can be a deciding factor: smaller for a slightly lighter, nimbler feel, or bigger if your rides include lots of climbing, winter drag, or you simply don’t want to think about range. That’s why bikes like this work well in a UK context: you can choose a setup that matches your actual riding rather than buying “too much bike” and carrying it around.

Cube Kathmandu Hybrid Pro 800

£3,299

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If you want a comfort-led trekking e-bike for long mixed routes — bridleways, forest roads, towpaths and country lanes — the Kathmandu Hybrid Pro 800 is the classic template. The riding position is designed for hours in the saddle rather than aggressive descending, and the whole point is “do the distance” practicality: steady handling, predictable support on climbs, and the sort of real-world equipment that makes the bike useful in winter as well as summer. It’s a strong choice if your off-road is more about surfaces than features, and you’d rather arrive less battered than you would on a more stretched-out, sporty chassis.

Where it also makes sense for UK riders is ownership. Trekking bikes tend to live hard lives: wet roads, gritty towpaths, commuting mileage, and the occasional loaded-up weekend ride. A Kathmandu-style build leans into that reality with durable parts and a setup that’s happy being used frequently. It’s not trying to be a trail bike — but if your definition of “adventure” is linking routes and riding further, it’s exactly the right sort of tool.

Trek Powerfly+ 4 Equipped 800 Wh Gen 5

£3,400

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If your rides look like “e-MTB routes” but your bike needs to function as transport too, the Powerfly+ Equipped idea is simple: take a hardtail e-MTB foundation and add the practical kit that makes it usable day-to-day. That’s why it suits UK bridleway riders so well. You get the confident stance and off-road robustness that works on rutted tracks and winter surfaces, but you also get the everyday stuff that stops you needing a second bike for commuting, errands, or riding in the dark.

It’s also a sensible choice if you’re the kind of rider who wants one bike to do most things. A trekking tourer can feel slightly out of its depth once the bridleway gets properly churned, while a trail hardtail without equipment can be a pain to live with in real weather. This middle ground is where “SUV e-bikes” earn the name — and for UK riders who ride in all seasons, that’s often the sweet spot.

Haibike Trekking 7

£3,899

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If you want a trekking e-bike that leans “properly sporty” without losing day-to-day practicality, the Trekking 7 sits in that modern SUV space: capable enough for rough bridleways and forest tracks, but built to be used as transport too. This is the kind of bike that suits UK riders who rack up steady mileage in mixed conditions — commuting in the week, exploring at the weekend, and not wanting to swap bikes depending on the route. It’s also a strong match for riders who value a higher-capacity battery for longer rides or for winter range confidence.

The key with bikes like this is honest expectations. They’re designed to be versatile, not extreme. That usually means stable steering, comfort-first decisions, and parts chosen for durability. If your “off-road” includes proper technical trail riding, you’ll want a dedicated e-MTB. But if your routes are 80% surfaces and 20% rough-stuff, a Trekking 7 style setup can be exactly the right balance.

Merida eBIG.TOUR 675 EQ

£3,950 (RRP £4,250)

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Best for riders who want a fully-equipped, low step-through “SUV e-bike” that can handle bridleway links, towpaths and rough lanes as confidently as day-to-day riding. The eBIG.TOUR 675 EQ takes a hardtail e-bike platform and turns it into a proper UK all-rounder: mudguards and lights for winter mileage, a rear rack for commuting or longer day rides, and a frame shape that makes frequent stops and starts (or loading up) far less of a faff than a traditional high top tube.

The headline spec is the combination of Shimano’s EP6 drive unit with a large 750Wh internal battery, which is exactly what this category is about: making longer mixed routes feel normal, especially when it’s cold, muddy, or you’re carrying extra kit. A 100mm SR Suntour air fork and 29in wheels with 2.2in tyres add comfort and stability on broken surfaces, while the SRAM NX Eagle 12-speed drivetrain gives a wide gear range for steep, stop-start UK climbs. The key trade-off is intent: this is an exploration and practicality bike first, not a trail-centre hardtail, so it’s happiest on routes rather than repeated technical descents.

FOCUS AVENTURA² 6.9

£5,299

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If your riding is more “big, mixed days” than short blasts, the AVENTURA² 6.9 is the sort of trekking/SUV bike that makes bridleway linking feel straightforward. It’s built around a high-capacity battery and a motor that’s happy grinding up long climbs, and it’s aimed at riders who want to go further without treating every rough section as an obstacle course. In UK terms, it suits the rider who wants to cover distance across lanes, tracks, towpaths and forest roads — and who values a comfortable cockpit and a calm, stable ride.

This is also one of the better fits if you want an adventure e-bike that can do proper utility work. That matters because trekking/SUV bikes tend to become the “default bike” in a household: commuting, shopping runs, winter riding, day rides, and occasional touring. If you’re investing at this level, you’re generally buying into that idea — one bike that gets used constantly, rather than a specialist machine that only comes out for trail-centre days.

Riese & Müller Delite4

£6,399

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If you want a premium “ride anything, ride all year” adventure e-bike rather than a trail e-MTB, the Delite4 sits right at the top of this category. The big difference here is refinement: comfort over distance, stability when surfaces get sketchy, and the sort of high-end finish that’s designed to stand up to heavy use. For UK riders who ride in all seasons — wet lanes, gritty towpaths, bridleway links and winter commuting — that matters, because the bike is expected to do a lot of work and do it reliably.

It’s also the kind of bike you buy when you want one machine to replace several. A Delite-style build makes sense if your riding isn’t about technical descending, but it is about covering ground: longer routes, more carrying, and less compromise. You’re paying for a complete ownership experience as much as the ride itself — and in this segment, that’s often exactly what buyers want.