Want your next family car to be electric? Here are 10 of the best battery-powered cars and SUVs to choose from
Electric cars are great for families. An EV is better suited to short trips across town, perhaps to nursery or to football practice, than petrol and diesel cars, as there’s no engine that needs warming up.
With zero exhaust emissions, you won’t be polluting the air outside the primary school, either. Servicing costs should be cheaper, and modern EV batteries are usually covered under warranty until 100,000 miles – giving peace of mind for used EV buyers.
The best electric family cars can travel 200 miles or more on a full charge, and offer fast-charging for long journeys. So, whether that’s for exciting holidays or the necessary visits to extended family, an electric car should take it all in its stride. And, when you need to wait for the car to charge, there’s a science lesson about electricity that you could teach. Or an excuse to go to the restaurant with the Golden Arches…
Best electric cars for families
1. Renault Scenic E-Tech
The reborn Renault Scenic won the 2024 Car of the Year award, and that’s kind of all we need to say, isn’t it? Why? Well, the sharp-suited Scenic is as focused on practicality as its predecessors, but it also has a sustainable interior with the latest cutting-edge tech – and more equipment than you could shake a stick at.
As every Scenic gets a big battery, you can expect up to 379 miles between charges. Insurance costs are even quite reasonable. The Scenic doesn’t offer a pointlessly fast version that saps all your battery power, but it still has impressive-enough performance and a comfortable ride – which we reckon is more important than sportiness in a family SUV.
Shop used Renault Scenic E-Tech cars for sale or read our Renault Scenic E-Tech review
2. Hyundai Ioniq 5
Perhaps the most exciting normal car you can buy, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is a great family car and an even better EV. It’s a lot bigger than it might look in pictures, so there’s plenty of space in the lounge-inspired interior. There are studio apartments with less interior space than an Ioniq 5. Actually, there are mansions with less tech than the Ioniq 5. Some versions even allow you to use the car’s battery to power electrical devices – perfect for a weekend wild camping trip (or power cuts).
Entry-level versions get a 240-mile range and one electric motor, or there are dual-motor four-wheel drive versions with around 300 miles of range and sports car pace. All get the Ioniq 5’s wonderful retro styling and interesting details. Also check out the Hyundai Ioniq 6 if you’d rather a sleeker, ‘streamliner’ look.
Shop used Hyundai Ioniq 5 cars for sale or read our Hyundai Ioniq 5 review
3. Kia EV3
With one fell swoop, Kia has usurped its previous EV efforts with the EV3. Its futuristic styling has been pinched from the flagship EV9, its tech has been borrowed from the equally impressive EV6, and its price undercuts the similarly sized Niro EV. We’re not mathematicians, but £36,000 for 375 miles would leave Countdown’s best brains stumped. Or, save £3,000 and the entry-level model still does 270 miles on a freshly fed battery.
Inside, it’s more spacious than you’d expect, with acres of passenger space and a roomy 460-litre boot. And yet, it takes up less space on the road than a Ford Focus, so it’s even very easy to park – whether you choose to use the standard-fit sensors and reversing camera or not.
Read our Kia EV3 review or shop used Kia electric cars for sale
4. Skoda Enyaq
Take one look at the Enyaq and you’d probably think Skoda has been making electric SUVs for decades. Nope, the Enyaq is its first attempt. Skoda’s VW Group backing helps, with the Enyaq benefitting from the same batteries and motors as cars like the Volkswagen ID.4 and Audi Q4 e-tron.
About the size of a Skoda Kodiaq but with five seats instead of seven, the Enyaq offers plenty of passenger space and a big boot. The interior is well made and as easy to use as you’d expect from a Skoda, and there’s a long list of kit as well. It may be more expensive than other Skodas, but you don’t feel like you’re being shortchanged. Even the smaller battery option offers around 250 miles on a full charge – we’ve regularly got around 200 miles from a full charge in cold weather.
Shop used Skoda Enyaq cars for sale or read our Skoda Enyaq review – or check out the slightly smaller Skoda Elroq
5. MG4
The MG4 isn’t super expensive as a new car so, on the used market, it’s seriously impressive value. Because it was developed as an electric car from the ground up, the wheels are pushed out to each corner to free up interior space, so your passengers can enjoy class-leading legroom. Up front, the minimalist interior looks modern, and the twin-screen layout gives you all the major information in a mostly easy way without feeling cluttered.
The mid-range battery allows a 281-mile range, and the driving experience is easy peasy. It’s comfortable, too, feeling perfectly set up for the horrors of UK roads.
Shop used MG4 cars for sale or read our MG4 review
6. Tesla Model 3/Y
Like it or not, you can’t have a best electric cars list without mentioning Tesla. The Tesla Model 3 makes an Audi A4 look prehistoric when it comes to its powertrain and the accompanying statistics. Despite being Tesla’s cheapest car, the Model 3 is one of the longest-range electric cars on sale, offering up to 374 miles between top-ups in the Long Range version. But it also drives beautifully and makes light work of long motorway journeys.
Okay, you’ll need to factor in high insurance costs and build quality that isn’t quite as good as an Audi. But, have a play with the tech, and you’ll probably end up smitten. There’s space for four adults in the Model 3, or consider the more spacious Model Y.
Shop used Tesla Model 3 cars for sale
7. Volkswagen ID. Buzz
Yes, the Volkswagen ID. Buzz could feel more premium inside and it probably should offer more of the versatility of old-school MPVs, but we’ll forgive it. Its retro-inspired styling really stands out – we physically can’t help our jaws dropping – and it’s one of the coolest cars on the road. How times have changed where a people carrier is so cool.
A big part of the Buzz’s appeal is that it’s electric. Using the same batteries and motors as the top-spec ID.3, this funnily named blob can travel over 250 miles on a full charge. An 80% top-up at a 170kW public charger takes half an hour – any longer and you’d get fed up with onlookers asking questions about it and taking pictures. Five and seven-seat versions are available.
Read our Volkswagen ID. Buzz review
8. Peugeot e-3008
Peugeot sells electric cars in every size, so there's something that's bound to suit your needs with a lion badge on its grille. If you can get away with a traditional hatchback, there's the e-308, while you're catered for by the e-5008 and e-Rifter if you need lots of space and the availability of seven seats. We've picked the new e-3008 for this list because it's the most stylish – which is a must-have attribute of any family car, of course...
The e-3008 makes sense for families, though, because its 510-litre boot is more than big enough for when you need to take the PE equipment and the food tech ingredients in on the same day. There's plenty of rear-seat space for kids to stretch out in, and a fantastic interior up front for the adults to enjoy. The standard battery offers up to 327 miles on a charge, or there's a new long-range model that cracks the 400-mile mark.
Shop used Peugeot e-3008 cars for sale or read our Peugeot 3008 review
9. Cupra Born
Cupra’s first EV is a reskinned Volkswagen ID.3, featuring a sportier bent and a more premium-feeling interior than the VW. Like the MG4, there are acres of rear-seat space but it’s still not a big car, so it’s easy to thread through tight city streets.
Importantly for keen drivers, it feels like the hot hatch it’s styled to be, with instant acceleration, agile steering and a range-topping VZ model with adaptive dampers and bucket seats. Despite sharing so much with the ID.3, the Born definitely feels sportier – although, by the same token, if you don’t want so much sportiness then the VW will suit you better.
Shop used Cupra Born cars for sale or read our Cupra Born review
10. Ford Explorer
The Ford Explorer pulls off a clever trick – it looks big in pictures, and it feels big inside, but it's actually a bit smaller than you expect. It's a lot shorter than the Skoda Enyaq and Volkswagen ID.4, making it helpfully easier to park on a congested high street. The 470-litre boot is very useful, and there's a huge amount of interior storage further forward – including a secret compartment behind the touchscreen.
Opt for the Long Range battery and you'll see up to 374 miles from a full charge. Even on the motorway, you should get around 280 miles, Ford says.
Shop used Ford Explorer cars for sale or read our Ford Explorer review
