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Compare the best electric family cars

High quality electric cars from rated and reviewed dealers

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Rated 4.5/5 from 60,970 reviews
Last updated October 11, 2024 by Darren Cassey

Best electric cars for families 2024

The number of electric cars on sale in the UK is growing all the time, and now there are plenty of choices if you want a zero-emission car that can carry your family and all their things. To help you navigate the options available, Carwow’s expert car reviews team has put together this list of the best electric family cars.

Each of the EVs in this list is practical, with a spacious cabin and/or a big boot, while also having a decent range so you’re not worrying about your next top up while the kids are causing chaos in the back. There’s a mix of body styles too, including SUVs, hatchbacks, saloons and estates, so there’s really something for everyone.

Kia EV9

1. Kia EV9

9/10
Kia EV9 review
Battery range up to 349 miles
If you want maximum space for your family without going too wild on price, the Kia EV9 is a fantastic family car. Sure, it feels like a lot of money for something with a Kia badge on the bonnet, but it’s actually not unreasonable compared with similarly sized electric SUVs. It’s also offered with six or seven seats, and if you don’t need them all for people you can fold the third row and utilise the big boot instead. It’s not very efficient, but you do at least get super-fast charging to make long journeys a bit less painful.
Volkswagen ID. Buzz

2. Volkswagen ID Buzz

9/10
Volkswagen ID. Buzz review
Battery range up to 291 miles
The Volkswagen ID Buzz channels the retro charm of VW’s classic campers, which gives it instant cool points. Don’t think it’s form over function though, because there’s loads of space inside for people and their things, and it’s also great to drive. More importantly, you can’t help but smile when you sit behind the wheel, and electric cars with character are few and far between. It’s pretty expensive for something that doesn’t feel particularly posh inside, though, and the infotainment is a bit rubbish.
Kia EV6

3. Kia EV6

9/10
Kia EV6 review
Battery range up to 361 miles
For a seriously stylish yet seriously capable family EV, it’s hard to beat the Kia EV6. This head-turner is just as good to drive as it looks, and is brimmed with technology too. It may not have the biggest boot out there, but you’ll have a good amount of legroom in the back. The EV6 also has a stylishly designed cabin, which places the driver in the centre of the action, and the overall impression that comes across from this excellent EV is that it is as much designed for family life as it is to provide a rewarding driving experience. An excellent all-rounder.

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MG MG4 EV
2024
Urban Living Award
Highly Commended

4. MG4 EV

9/10
MG MG4 EV review
Battery range up to 323 miles
We really, really rate the MG4. Even the Extended Range version, with its larger battery, is cheap by EV standards. It's also genuinely rewarding to drive. Factor in the fact that there's decent space for families inside (even if the boot could be larger), and that it gets stand out looks, and it's clear that the MG4 EV has a lot going for it. It does feel a bit cheap inside, and the infotainment can be tricky to get to grips with, though.
Hyundai Ioniq 5

5. Hyundai Ioniq 5

9/10
Hyundai Ioniq 5 review
Battery range up to 354 miles
If you’re after a super-spacious interior for the whole family, look no further than the Hyundai Ioniq 5. Not only is there loads of room, it feels pretty posh too, while there's an all-wheel drive model for those who want a little more grip and performance at the expense of battery range. Then there's the looks: there's no getting away from the Ioniq 5's futuristic style, which may draw too much attention for some, but will be just the ticket for others, looking, as it does, like a car that was designed in the future and sent back to today.
BMW iX

6. BMW iX

9/10
BMW iX review
Battery range up to 382 miles
Look past the wacky styling on the outside and the BMW iX is a fantastic posh family SUV. It has one of the best interiors on sale today, with its large, sweeping screens and floating centre console, while also being spacious enough for family life – even if interior storage options could be better. Go for the big battery and you get massive range.
BMW i5
2024
Comfortable Cruiser Award

7. BMW i5

9/10
BMW i5 review
Battery range up to 354 miles
Like the idea of the iX but don’t want to go down the SUV route? The BMW i5 is another quality option. Its interior doesn’t quite have the wow factor of the iX, but it’s still brilliantly put together and looks ultra high-tech. It’s just about one of the comfiest cars on the road, and if you need a bit more boot space you can get it in estate-shaped Touring form. However, much like the iX, it can get very expensive depending how you spec it...
Skoda Enyaq
2024
Smart Spender Award
Highly Commended

8. Skoda Enyaq

8/10
Skoda Enyaq review
Battery range up to 358 miles
With a spacious interior and a huge boot, the Skoda Enyaq is the ideal choice if you want an EV to haul the family and all their things for trips away. It’s decent to drive and has a good range too. The Enyaq embodies everything Skoda has been known for in recent times, because it’s hugely practical and just about the perfect car for family duties. Plus, while it's not a small car, the commanding driving position and excellent visibility make it a doddle to drive, even around town. It is a little bit expensive when you consider alternatives that are nicer inside, though.
Cupra Born

9. Cupra Born

8/10
Cupra Born review
Battery range up to 366 miles
If you’re after an electric car that’s affordable yet stylish, practical yet not too bulky, give the Cupra Born a look. You get smooth electric motors that are really efficient, which helps to keep your electricity costs down, and the big battery version in particular has impressive range. The boot is a good size without being massive, and there’s plenty of space in the back seats for a child seat. The main downside is the infotainment system, which is pretty sluggish and tricky to use.
Tesla Model Y
2024
Family Values Award
Highly Commended

10. Tesla Model Y

8/10
Tesla Model Y review
Battery range up to 372 miles
The Tesla Model 3 is more fun and comfortable to drive, but the Tesla Model Y makes for a slightly better family car, because you get a massive boot and a more spacious interior. It’s pretty uncomfortable over bumps, but is otherwise great to drive, particularly on a twisty road. There’s also a Long Range version that can go over 370 miles on a charge, which is about 100 miles further than before.

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Everything you need to know about going electric

Electric family cars FAQs

The Government removed the £1,500 plug-in car grant for EVs in June 2022, though an extension was put in place until March 2023 for orders that had already been placed due to delays in supplying new cars.

Other than that, company car drivers will be able to make use of super-low Benefit-in-Kind tax rates for electric cars, while EVs are exempt from road tax until 2025.

This depends entirely on how much the electricity you're filling it up with is. Some smart home energy tariffs offer discounted electricity overnight, charging around 7 pence per kiloWatt hour, while public charging can cost around 75p/kWh. Once you know the price of electricity, working out how much it costs to charge an EV comes down to knowing how large its battery pack is. A car with a 100kWh battery will cost £75 to charge from full to empty at 75p/kWh, or £7 at 7p/kWh. Naturally, costs over time vary wildly depending on the model and the type of driving you do, but if you have an EV-friendly tariff you can expect to pay £5 for around 250-300 miles of range.

Again, this entirely depends on the speed of the charger you are using, and the speed at which an EV can take a charge. A home 'wallbox' charger will typically deliver electricity at seven kiloWatts, taking 14.2 hours to charge a 100kWh battery pack. Find a 100kW rapid public charger and it will theoretically take just an hour to charge the same battery - though note that EVs tend to slow down their rate of charge as they near full, while charging can also be slower when the ambient temperature is very high or low. A good rule of thumb for fast chargers is that they will typically top up your car from 10-80% in around half an hour.

Any car can be a family car depending on the size and needs of your family, but the MG4, which starts at around £27,000, is a strong contender for this honour. The Citroen e-C3 is even cheaper, but it will be too small for most families.

The Kia EV9 is the best compromise of space, cost and range. However, it's still far from cheap, so the Kia EV6 and MG4 EV are more affordable alternatives.

Unless you want to go for a vast seven-seater like the Kia EV9, the Kia EV6, Skoda Enyaq and BMW i5 are all spacious options for big families.

You should apply the same principles for making this decision as you would for a new or used petrol or diesel car, considering issues like depreciation, service history and specification - although if you're buying an older second-hand EV, it is worth asking whether the battery has suffered any degradation - even if this has proven to be far less serious a problem than was once feared.

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