What is the Best Family Electric Car? (2024)

There are plenty of electric vehicles (EVs) well suited to families. If you’re looking to switch to an EV, but need it to have enough space to support a growing family, you may have several key considerations:

 

• Price (less than £45,000)

• Space (5-7 seats)

• Boot Space (350L+ with the seats up)

• Safety (4 or 5* NCAP rating)

• Range (At least 200 miles on a single charge)

• Insurance Costs (Standard model in Insurance Group 30 or below)

 

We take these considerations into account and recommend the 5 best family electric cars below.

 

What Family-sized Electric Cars are Available?

There are currently several family electric cars available for less than £45,000. Here are our choices for the top 5 best electric family cars currently available in the UK:

 

• Kia e-Niro

• MG ZS EV

• Peugeot e-2008

• Volkswagen ID.3

• Volkswagen ID.4

 

If you don't like the options we've recommended, the runners-up would be the Citroën e-C4, DS Crossback E-Tense, Hyundai Kona Electric, Kia Soul EV, Mazda MX-30, MG 5 EV, Renault Megane e-Tech, and Vauxhall Mokka-e. All are available for less than £45,000.

 

Kia e-Niro

Pros:  Easy to drive and comfortable

Cons: More expensive

 

The e-Niro is a practical, comfortable, easy-to-drive electric car with reasonable trim levels, available with a decent range and at an accessible price point.

 

However, it doesn't charge as quickly as other models, and is more expensive than some of its competitors.

 

Read the full WhatCar? review of the Kia e-Niro.

 

MG ZS EV

Pros: Lots of space and good value

Cons: Noisy on motorways and at high speeds

 

The ZS provides great value for money when it comes to an electric car. It has plenty of interior and boot space for all the family and the long-range model is much cheaper than several of its closest rivals.

 

However, you do have to accept mediocre ride comfort and more noise when driving on the motorway.

 

Read the full WhatCar? review of the MG ZS EV.

 

Peugeot e-2008

Pros: Quiet and lots of boot space

Cons: Shorter range

 

The e-2008 is a stylish, comfortable, and quiet family electric car, with plenty of boot space to store everything you might need.

 

However, many of its rivals have a longer range and the handling isn't very good.

Read the full WhatCar? review of the Peugeot e-2008.

 

Volkswagen ID.3

Pros: Good range and a fun drive

Cons: Lower quality interior and infotainment system

 

The ID.3 was voted the small electric car of the year by WhatCar?, but it's also a very good option if you need a family electric car.

 

It has good range and is fun and nippy to drive but is let down by the interior and infotainment system quality.

 

Read the full WhatCar? review of the Volkswagen ID.3.

 

 

Volkswagen ID.4

Pros: Large boot and very safe

Cons: Not as fast as many rivals

 

 The ID.4 is another very solid electric family car. Its large boot is the main selling point, but it also comes with an excellent Euro NCAP safety score, plenty of tech as standard, and great range figures.

 

However, not all the trim lines are worth forking out for and many of its rivals are faster, easier to use and retain their value better.

 

Read the full WhatCar? review of the Volkswagen ID.4.

 

If you don't like any of our recommended seven-seater electric cars, you can also choose from the following models:

• Volvo XC90 Recharge
• Mercedes EQS SUV
• Citroën e-SpaceTourer
• Mercedes EQV
• Vauxhall Vivaro-e Life
• Volkswagen ID Buzz
• Volvo EX90
• Nissan e-NV200 Combi

 

Read More

Why Should I Buy an Electric Car?

If you’re interested in owning an electric car, you need all the facts to make an informed decision. Read this article to find out all the positives and negatives of owning and driving an EV. It could be the best thing you do this year.

 

How Much Does an Electric Car Cost?

Find out how much each of these seven seater electric cars cost in this guide to get an idea of budget before committing to any of them.

 

How Much Does it Cost to Charge an Electric Car? (UK)

Charging an electric car is cheaper than refuelling a petrol or diesel car. Read this article to find out exactly how much it costs and why it is cheaper than refuelling an ICE.

 

How Much Does It Cost to Run an Electric Car? (Vs an ICE)

Before you commit to buying an electric car, you need to know how much it costs to drive one day-to-day. Read this article to learn more about electric car running costs, including insurance, servicing, tax and charging.

 

How Can I Afford an Electric Car?

As electric cars are still so expensive, many drivers are worried about how they can afford to own an EV. In this article, we discuss what finance options are available, the Government grants and other ways to own an electric car.

 

How Much Does Electric Car Insurance Cost On Average? (UK)

On average, an electric car is more expensive to insure than a petrol or diesel model – usually because a brand-new EV is equipped with expensive, complicated technology. Of course, car insurance isn’t a straightforward figure and will depend on a wide variety of factors.