Best family electric car 2024
It wasn't that long ago when the idea of a family electric car was an oxymoron. You could buy a very good family car or a decent electric car, but for several reasons, finding one that ticked both boxes was very difficult.
Time moves on, and there are now dozens of great family electric cars to choose from, including stylish SUVs, practical MPVs and even a cavernous estate.
Almost all of them offer enough electric range to handle a week's worth of school runs, while many can tackle a round trip to the seaside, even if you live in the Derbyshire village of Coton in the Elms, reportedly the furthest point from the sea in all the UK.
The cars on our list have at least five seats, while one gives you the option of seven. You'll find plenty of space in the boot for your bucket and spades, picnic hampers and whatever else you decide to take to the beach, with enough kit on board to keep the driver and passengers occupied on a long trip.
And because they're electric, there's no engine noise to distract you from the regular cries of “are we nearly there yet?” That's probably the only downside of a family electric car.
Before you slap on your suncream and dust off your 'kiss me quick' hat, take our look at some of the best family electric cars you can buy right now.
Best family electric cars
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Skoda Enyaq iV
Skoda is a master of the affordable family car, and it has taken all its expertise into the electric arena with the Enyaq iV. Measuring just over 4.6 metres long, the Enyaq iV has the high-up seating position so beloved of SUV drivers. The front seats feel open-plan and there is lots of legroom and headroom in the rear, plus neat touches such as seatback tables and pockets for smartphones. Behind them is a yawning great 585-litre boot, which expands to 1710 litres with the rear seats folded. Pick either the 60 or 80 battery – they offer driving ranges of up to 246 or 330 miles respectively – then choose Loft, Lounge, Suite or ecoSuite interior designs. You can also have the lower-riding and racier Enyaq iV Sportline Plus and vRS models, along with the Enyaq Coupe iV.
Tesla Model 3
The Tesla Model 3 is the family electric car all youngsters want to be seen in. A favourite of YouTube stars the world over, the Model 3 four-door saloon is also increasingly popular here in the UK. Prices are premium-level, starting from £43,000, with the top-selling Long Range priced from £51,000, but owners get plenty in return. The Model 3 offers a range of up to 374 miles, eye-popping acceleration and access to Tesla’s brilliant Supercharger network, plus a superb infotainment system that enjoys regular over-the-air updates. The Model 3 is roomy, exciting to drive, far from boring to live with, and has a top-notch five-star Euro NCAP crash test score. Overall, it’s easy to see the appeal.
Volvo XC40 Recharge
Volvo’s first pure electric car, the XC40 Recharge is a high-power EV version of the regular XC40, itself very popular among family buyers. Volvo initially only offered the car in Twin Motor guise, with a startling 408PS power output and 0-62mph acceleration in just 4.9 seconds. There’s now a more affordable 238PS Single Motor version, which is still swift and offers a 264-mile driving range. The squat XC40 Recharge has a rugged appearance and a high-quality cabin, which includes a Google-based infotainment system. Rear-seat accommodation is roomy and a 419-litre boot is backed up by an additional area under the bonnet for stowing charging cables. Volvo’s exemplary safety standards mean the XC40 Recharge is highly praised by Euro NCAP as well.
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Volkswagen ID.4
Sharing many of the same mechanicals as the Skoda Enyaq iV, the ID.4 also mirrors its qualities, but with the distinctive Volkswagen look. There’s room for three child seats thanks to two Isofix mounting points in the back and one on the front passenger seat, and there’s plenty of legroom for larger passengers, too. The dashboard is smart and free from visual clutter, although the touchscreen-only controls for just about everything bar the steering may take some getting used to. With a choice of two batteries – 52kWh or 77kWh – you can have a battery range of up to 328 miles, and there’s even a performance version called the ID.4 GTX, if you want to take the kids to school and then have some fun behind the wheel.
Hyundai Ioniq 5
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 looks like no other family car on the market. Its extreme origami-style design is guaranteed to turn heads. Indeed, there are precious few more distinctive electric cars currently on sale. Prices start from around £43,500, for which you get a rear-wheel-drive model with a 58kWh battery and 238-mile range. A larger 77.4kWh battery extends the range to 315 miles, and Hyundai also offers an all-wheel-drive Ioniq. All models get a voluminous 527-litre boot, and the boxy shape delivers plenty of space inside for families. The open-plan interior is also a very special place to be, with colour screens high up on the dashboard and plenty of stowage space beneath. Owners can even fully recline the driver’s seat, so they can snooze while their Ioniq 5 recharges.
Kia EV6
The Kia EV6 is the swoopy, coupe-like alternative to the Hyundai Ioniq 5. Both share the same electric underpinnings, but Kia has chosen a sportier look, compared to Hyundai’s bold modernism. The curvaceous EV6 is certainly a beauty, winning plenty of critical acclaim. Priced from around £45,000, it can cover 328 miles on a full charge with the largest battery option. Kia also offers a high-performance GT flagship, which reaches 62mph in just 3.5 seconds. Inside, occupants sit high, and the flat-floor cabin is practical and comfortable. Kia’s high-tech infotainment systems are comprehensive but easy to use, and will easily direct you to public charging points. Use a rapid charger and the EV6 can top up from 10 to 80 percent charge in as little as 18 minutes.
Vauxhall Combo Life Electric
The Vauxhall Combo Life Electric – formerly the Combo-e Life – is a surprise contender here, but has family electric car credentials in abundance. For starters, its van-derived nature makes it exceptionally roomy inside, with acres of space for heads, legs and elbows. It’s so spacious, children will be able to stand up, something aided by the sliding rear doors and flat floor. The boot is similarly mammoth, with more space than any conventional car could dream of. In the long-wheelbase version, there’s even enough room for a third row of seats. The 50kWh battery gives a range of 174 miles, and the Combo Life Electric is able to use public rapid chargers. Both the Design and Ultimate trims are available with five seats (M) or seven (XL).
Citroen e-C4
The Citroen e-C4 is an all-electric version of the C4 five-door hatchback. Like its siblings, it has an SUV-style design, one that aims to offer something a bit different to the norm in this sector. The interior is focused on practicality, with neat touches including an optional tablet device holder in the dashboard. There’s even a drawer to complement the glovebox. Legroom in the rear is good and headroom is sufficient for growing children, despite the sloping roofline. Power comes from a 136PS electric motor and a 50kWh battery pack, with up to 260 miles of range available from a full charge. There's also a new e-C4 X saloon, which is a less practical alternative to the hatchback.
BMW iX3
Many modern EVs are built from the ground up as electric cars, but BMW felt that its X3 was so well respected as a petrol and diesel model there there was no point changing a winning formula. This is the result. The iX3 is little more than an electric X3, but that’s not a bad thing at all. The features that so many customers love are all retained, such as a plush, classy interior, great road manners and a comfortable ride. But it now comes with the added bonus of zero tailpipe emissions, a strong electric motor and a battery that’ll take you up to 285 miles on a single charge. Sure, it’s got a little less boot space than the regular X3 (those batteries have to go somewhere), but there’s lots of space in the back, with two Isofix child seat mounting points.
MG5 EV Long Range
The MG5 EV Long Range is a rarity in the family electric car sector: a pure EV estate with a voluminous boot and plenty of space for five people. The load bay swallows 578 litres of luggage, which expands further with the rear seats folded flat. An output of 156PS is enough to haul heavy loads, and muster a decent 0-62mph time of 7.3 seconds. The 61kWh Long Range battery has a 250-mile electric driving range, and can rapid-charge to 80 percent in around an hour. Prices start from £31,000 for the SE trim, rising to £33,500 for the Trophy version. Either way, the MG5 EV Long Range is a great choice for fans of traditional family estate cars who are looking to go electric.
What is the best family electric car for range?
The family cars with the biggest range tend to be the premium models. The BMW iX will get you up to 382 miles per charge, while the Polestar 3 is close behind with a 379-mile range. Of the cars we’ve listed here, the Tesla Model 3 is the leading family electric car in terms of range. It can travel for up to 374 miles between charges – and the public Tesla Supercharger network makes things painless when you do need to top-up. You also get up to 328 miles in the Kia EV6.
How spacious are family electric cars?
Because electric cars don’t have large engines taking up space, and they tend to pack their batteries out of the way beneath the seats or floor, they are generally more spacious than petrol or diesel equivalents. Most of our best family electric cars have roomy interiors and large boots, plus the added bonus of open-plan cabins that boast plenty of stowage space.
What is the cheapest family electric car?
The best-selling Tesla Model 3 might cost north of £43,000, but several family-sized electric cars are on sale today for around the £30,000 mark. The practical MG5 EV costs from £31,000, while the enormous, van-like Vauxhall Combo Life Electric is also a bit of a bargain. In terms of metal for your money, it’s hard to beat. Citroen has reduced prices of its e-C4 to attract more bargain-minded electric car buyers, too.
Full Electric, petrol or a Hybrid but twith 7 seats
