Best family electric car 2022
British households are waking up to the fact that the best electric cars offer an alluring and future-proof alternative to regular petrol and diesel vehicles.
The best family electric cars need to offer plenty of space for passengers, both in the front and the rear. They need to have practical interiors, and commodious boots with ample room for luggage.
They must also be relatively affordable, so the family budget isn’t stretched too far. And they need to have a good haul of ‘added extra’ features, to impress both adults and kids alike.
Turning the family car electric should only enhance all this. EVs are generally more practical than regular cars, thanks to their added space efficiency. And their technology-packed nature means gadgets and convenience features are a given.
Here, we pick out the 10 best family electric cars you can buy: EVs that cater for everyone and show families how exciting the future of electric motoring can be.
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 1,710 litres with the rear seats folded. Pick either the 60 or 80 battery – they offer driving ranges of up to 255 or 336 miles respectively – then choose Loft, Lodge, Lounge or Suite interior designs. You can also have the lower-riding and racier Enyaq iV Sportline, which has an all-wheel-drive option as well.
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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. In 2021, it was this country’s second-best-selling car. Prices are premium-level, starting from £43,000, with the top-selling Long Range priced from £50,000, 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 408hp power output and 0-62mph acceleration in just 4.9 seconds. There’s now a more affordable 231hp 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.3
The ID.3 is Volkswagen’s all-electric alternative to the famous Golf hatchback. Similar in size, the ID.3 has a much more futuristic appearance, with crisp lines and big alloy wheels. Inside, it is very modern, with buttons replaced by a central touchscreen, plus another digital display ahead of the driver. Buyers can select radical colour schemes, although more conventional ones are also available. As a car built from the ground up to be electric, the ID.3 is more spacious inside than an equivalent Golf, with a decent 385-litre boot. The most affordable models have a 52kWh battery, while the range-topping 77kWh version stretches the electric driving range to an impressive 338 miles.
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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 is no more distinctive electric car currently on sale. Prices start from around £37,000, for which you get a rear-wheel-drive model with a 58kWh battery and 238-mile range. A larger 73kWh battery extends the range to almost 300 miles, and Hyundai also offers an all-wheel-drive Ioniq 5 that produces more than 300hp. 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 £41,000, 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-e
The Vauxhall Combo-e 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-e is able to use public rapid chargers. Recent price cuts make it a great value family electric car, starting from £29,610 once the government’s £1,500 Plug-in Car Grant is deducted.
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Citroen e-C4
The Citroen e-C4 is an all-electric version of the C4 five-door hatchback. Like its siblings, it has a crossover-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. With 136hp and a 50kWh battery, performance and range are fine for everyday use, while the comfortable ride gives a really luxurious feel of isolation across scarred city streets.
Cupra Born
The Cupra Born is the sporty Spanish brand’s first all-electric car. Derived from the Volkswagen ID.3, it has a much bolder look, with liberal use of copper accents and some distinctive colour and alloy wheel options. It’s moodier and more driver-focused inside as well, although the inherent space efficiency of the ID.3 platform means it remains family-friendly and flexible. At the moment, it is available with a single 58kWh battery option and 204hp power output, which gives a 263-mile range. Expect bigger batteries and more power to come later, to take advantage of the Cupra Born’s firmer suspension and sharper handling. Prices for the entry-level V1 start from around £34,000, with V2 and V3 grades adding more equipment.
MG5 EV
The MG5 EV 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 156hp is enough to haul heavy loads, and muster a decent 0-62mph time of 7.3 seconds. The 61.1kWh Long Range battery has a 250-mile electric driving range, and can rapid-charge to 80 percent in around an hour. The simple model range is well-equipped throughout, and prices start from less than £28,000 once the Plug-in Car Grant is subtracted. The MG5 EV 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 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. The Volkswagen ID.3 impresses too, with a 338-mile range and lower prices than the Tesla. 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 less than £30,000. The practical MG5 EV costs under £28,000, while the enormous, van-like Vauxhall Combo-e 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.
