If you think an EV is a short range option that could never be your primary means of transportation, you’re living firmly in the past. The best electric family cars will do in excess of 300 miles per charge, and because electric motors and batteries are easier to package than combustion engines and fuel tanks, most have more space inside for passengers and luggage.
You have plenty of choice, too. Just like their petrol and diesel equivalents, the best family electric cars come in a wide variety of different shapes and sizes. In this top 10 list alone, we have hatchbacks and SUVs of all shapes, sizes and budgets to suit most drivers. There’s even an electric estate car for those trading up from a battered old Volvo.
Granted, making the switch to electric will require some forward planning. Even the best EVs can’t drive as far as a good diesel without stopping to recharge, so you’ll need to factor charging stops into your schedule. If you’re fortunate enough to have a driveway, you could think about having a wallbox charger installed – but they don’t come cheap. Expect to spend around £1,000 to have one fitted.
Despite these drawbacks, we think an electric car could serve your family well. Most family journeys are local, which is the ideal stomping ground for an EV. And if you can charge up at home (public charge points are notoriously expensive at the moment), you could save hundreds of pounds in fuel costs compared to a petrol or diesel car. Scroll down to learn more, or alternatively check out the used electric cars for sale on Parkers. We even have a guide showing you how to buy a used EV.
Top 10 best electric family cars
The best family electric car you can buy
It's EV credentials also shine through, the generous 87kWh battery delivers an impressive range of up to 300 miles on a single charge. Add to that its exceptional value, whether leasing or financing through PCP, and the Scenic E-Tech emerges as a compelling choice the overall best electric SUV out there.
Read our full Renault Scenic E-Tech review
Pros
- Practical interior
- Long range
- Exceptional value for money
Cons
- High loading lip
- No twin-motor option
Cut-price executive motoring with added practicality
In Pro S Match trim, it offers an official range of 436 miles, making it an exclusive member of the 400-mile EV club. Even the base model offers 386 miles which is nothing to be sniffed at. It's arguably the best ID car of them all, with good interior quality and a much improved infotainment system. You can even get it in a gigantic estate form.
To find out more, read our full Volkswagen ID.7 review
Pros
- Maximum range of 436 miles
- Comfortable ride
- The interior and boot is huge
Cons
- Heat pump is optional
- Fiddling climate controls
A class-leading seven-seat e-SUV
Crucially, the Ioniq 9 comes as standard with a 110kWh battery - 10kWh up on the EV9 - and slips through the air more cleanly. This boosts range to 385 miles if you opt for the single motor Premium model, with twin-motor versions not much less efficient. We've only tried the rapid Performance variant so far, but our experience with the single-motor EV9 suggests even that will have adequate acceleration.
The Ioniq 9 even takes the sting out of charging as the 800-volt/350kW capability means a 24 minute 10-80% charge time. It's even good to drive, favouring comfort over performance, but still proving more agile than you might expect.
To find out more, read our full Hyundai Ioniq 9 review
Pros
- Well-equipped and spacious
- Useable third row seats
- Fast charging speeds
Cons
- Some cheap interior plastics
- Leasing deals aren't the most competitive
Hugely practical, keenly priced
Even so, its 470 litre boot is a good size, if not Scenic big, and even has a set of shelves that's perfect for storing loose items. Rear seat space is even more impressive, with plenty of room for tall adults even with similarly-sized individuals up front. Headroom is good too, and the interior feels well put together and is a pleasant place to be.
You should get around 200 miles of real-world range from the 60 and well over 250 from the 85, making them viable main family cars. This is especially true when you consider the sub-30 minute 10-80% rapid charge time both cars are capable of. Factor in keen pricing, and the Elroq is a great family car in a relatively compact package.
To find out more, read our full Skoda Elroq review
Pros
- Keen pricing
- Spacious interior
- Big boot
Cons
- Not particularly exciting to drive
- You'll probaby want to add options
A great small SUV
The interior looks modern and a few physical controls help usability over touchscreen-only rivals, although it's worth pointing out entry-level models don't feel as plush inside as fancier ones. Space is certainly impressive for the size of the car, with enough head and legroom for six-footers in the back.
It's comfier than most of its rivals and whilst not as keen as a Renault 4 or Skoda Elroq, the EV3 still handles in a secure fashion with plenty of grip and no nausea inducing pitch and roll. It's by no means the cheapest option, but it is a very well-rounded and appealing family electric car.
To find out more, read our full Kia EV3 review
Pros
- Good efficiency
- Comfortable ride
- Practical, pleasant interior
Cons
- The larger Elroq is cheaper
- Touchscreen is a little fiddly
Makes the excellent MG4 seem pointless
Avoid the entry-level 47kWh pack and instead go for the Long Range to get 62kWh and an official range of nearly 300 miles. The punchy acceleration is a pleasant surprise as is the supple suspension that makes it comfier than many rivals. It's not the sharpest SUV in the bends as a result, but that's not the end of the world in a family SUV.
Equipment levels are certainly high for the money, just don't expect the latest tech or a long options list like you might see on rivals. Similarly, you won't find lots of clever little details like Skoda, Renault and Kia offer, just lots of space to do what you see fit.
To find out more, read our full MG S5 review
Pros
- Incredible value
- Spacious
- Comfortable
Cons
- Efficiency could be better
- Not the sharpest steer
Small, cheap, practical and desirable
Its official range of 199 miles is more like 130-140 in the real world if you're gentle, but a 27 minute 10-80% rapid charge time means longer journeys aren't out of the question. It's around town that you'll really appreciate the nippy sub-20mph performance, supple ride and diminutive proportions.
All this comes for a little over £20,000, or less than some petrol powered rivals making it cheap to buy as well as run.
To find out more, read our full Fiat Grande Panda review
Pros
- Sensible yet desirable
- Comfortable ride
- Affordable pricing
Cons
- Driving range not great
- High rear floor
Best for space on a budget
It's pretty comfortable, but there are issues. It's not particularly quick and the 50kWh battery is only good for about 120 miles of range. It's also clearly a van, giving an image that most SUV-loving buyers will steer clear of.
Read our full Citroen e-Berlingo review
Pros
- Ample interior space
- Comfortable ride
- Massive boot
Cons
- Disappointing range
- It's clearly a van with windows
Plush and practical
The driving experience is nothing to write home about, but it is the most efficient electric seven seat family car we've tested by some margin. Expect around 250 miles of real world range out of the 73kWh version, with a larger 97kWh pack on the way. There's also a twin motor version that bumps the acceleration from sluggish to sprightly.
To find out more, read our full Peugeot E-5008 review
Pros
- Efficient for a seven seat EV
- Plush interior
- Good third row space
Cons
- Sluggish performance from single motor models
- No fun to drive
Like an R5 but more family-friendly
This makes it feel peppy on the road and it's still good fun to chuck around corners. Range is officially just shy of 250 miles, and we managed around 200 in the real world in summer. Rapid charging from 10-80% takes 30 minutes.
Inside you'll find just enough rear legroom - although rivals like the EV3 offer more of this - a big 420-litre boot and an attractive yet user friendly interior with useful physical controls for the heating.
Read our full Renault 4 review
Pros
- Big boot
- Good to drive
- Interior quality and layout
Cons
- Ride can be a little choppy
- Rear space could be better
Electric family cars to avoid
The increasing number of electric car brands and models means tonnes of great options out there, but you’ll still see the odd duffer. We’d certainly avoid the GWM Ora 03 family hatch given its tiny boot and second-rate driving dynamics especially given that it’s not all that cheap, although you can do much worse.
That would be the Skywell BE11, a car we expected to be entirely forgettable, but which still haunts us with how bad it is. We’ve no complaints regarding its size and equipment levels for the price, just everything else. It doesn’t ride or handle well, has unimpressive performance, a so-so range and isn’t even that cheap. Avoid at all costs.
Should I buy an electric family car?
Electric cars are starting to make sense for families because manufacturers have finally managed to increase their maximum range figures to an acceptable level. Most of the cars on this list can cover at least 200 miles on a charge, which is ample for most commuting and school-run requirements. Plus, if you have a charging point installed at home, you’ll rarely worry about running out of power because you’ll be able to charge up every night.
EVs make particular sense for families trapped in emission-controlled areas, such as the newly expanded London Ultra-Low Emission Zone. Electric cars don’t pay the daily £12.50 charge – and if you drive around the ULEZ every day, you could save upwards of £4,000 every year by switching to an electric car. You’ll save on fuel costs if you can charge up at home, too.
What is the best small family electric car?
We reckon your best bet will be the MG 4 EV. Manufacturers haven’t yet moved en masse into the electric city car and supermini classes so, for the time being, the MG 4 offers the most attractive mix of compact dimensions and affordable pricing. There are fresh, smaller competitors on the way, though, such as the Volkswagen ID.2 and Cupra Raval.
What is the best electric car for a large family?
You’ll probably need an electric car with seven seats, which means your choices are limited. There are plenty of seven-seat electric MPVs from Stellantis, such as the Vauxhall Vivaro Life Electric and the Peugeot e-Rifter. If you don’t want to drive around in something that looks like a van, you could try the Mercedes EQB or Kia EV9.
How long does it take to charge an electric family car?
That depends on the size of the car’s battery pack and the charging tech it’s compatible with. The Ioniq 5 is one of the fastest-charging electric family cars on sale, taking just 18 minutes to charge to 80 per cent capacity at a 220kW DC rapid charger. On average, most electric family cars on sale today can charge from 20 to 80 per cent capacity in around 30 minutes – and they can easily take on a full charge overnight from a domestic 7kW wallbox charger.
Which family electric car has the longest range?
The Mercedes EQS 450+ has the longest electric range of any electric car on sale today – and it’s a spacious saloon which means it would make a great family car. The only problem is its price. It costs well over £100,000, which makes it the ideal family car for the top one per cent of earners. Out of this list, the ID.7 and Renault Scenic E-Tech rate highly.
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