Best Electric Family Cars

Gone are the days when your only options were petrol or diesel. Today, families can also choose from a growing range of electric cars. There are plenty of benefits of doing so, including:

• Cost savings - charging an electric car is cheaper than filling up a tank with petrol or diesel, reducing your family’s monthly expenses. Not only that, maintenance costs are usually lower with an EV as they have fewer moving parts, so there’s less to go wrong! 
• More environmentally friendly - electric cars don’t have an exhaust so they can’t produce any emissions to pollute the atmosphere. 
• Convenience - there’s no stopping at the petrol station during the school run. With an electric car, you can use a home charger to top up your car’s charge as you sleep. How’s that for multi-tasking?
• Technology - as the new kids on the block, electric cars feature some of the latest car tech to improve efficiency and keep every journey enjoyable.

With so many benefits, it’s easy to see why so many families are switching to an electric car. If you’re considering it but don’t know where to start, take a look at our round-up of the best electric family cars, based on our customer’s favourites. 

The 10 Best Electric Cars for Families

1. Tesla Model 3

What’s a rundown of the best electric cars without Tesla? Elon Musk’s brainchild produces some of the most sought-after, high-tech EVs on the market and the Model 3 is a perfect choice for families. 

At a glance: 

• 390 miles range from a single charge
• Get up to 175 miles from a 15-minute charge
• A large touchscreen infotainment system allows you to navigate your way and stream your favourite songs, or watch a movie or play games when parked up. 

Why families love the Tesla Model 3:

Let’s face it; the Model 3 is a cool family car, guaranteeing approval from even the most nonchalant teen! It has all the bells and whistles you’d expect from a tech-savvy entrepreneur, but aside from the nice-to-haves, the car does the essentials so well. 

Take safety for example; a wealth of onboard safety tech works to prevent an accident from happening in the first place. 360-degree cameras monitor potential hazards around your car, collision warning systems alert you to any potential accidents and automatic emergency braking and lane departure avoidance react on your behalf

There is plenty of space inside the Model 3 for everything you need for family life. You’ll fit two car seats in the rear comfortably, while day-to-day luggage is a perfect fit for the front boot (or ‘frunk’ as it’s known). Pushchairs and suitcases can be stowed in the spacious rear boot.

1. Nissan LEAF

We’re not exaggerating when we say the Nissan LEAF is the car that started the electric car hype here in the UK. First released in 2010, this ground-breaking EV has advanced over the years, now offering an impressive electric-only range for families. 

At a glance:

• 168 miles range from a single charge
• Charge from 20% to 80% in around 60 minutes
• Available on select models, your LEAF can even park itself, no matter how tight the space!

Why families love the Nissan LEAF:

The Nissan Leaf is a great choice if you’re looking for an affordable electric family car that isn’t too large. That said, there’s enough space for everyone in the LEAF. The spacious boot easily provides enough space for a pushchair or a couple of suitcases for family holidays. 

If you’re planning on using your car to commute to the office, the LEAF not being a huge family car has its benefits. A lower centre of gravity improves handling around corners while automatic parking is a blessing in multi-storey car parks! 

A host of on-board tech keeps your family safe. Highlights include traffic sign recognition which alerts you to changing speed limits, intelligent cruise control and a driver alertness warning, which monitors patterns in your driving to warn you if it’s time to take a break. 

Throw in Apple Play and Android Auto and what more could you want from your electric family car?

1. Hyundai Kona Electric

The first electric SUV on our list is the Hyundai Kona Electric, winner of the prestigious Car of the Year award at the Auto Express New Car Awards 2023. It’s also available as a hybrid or with petrol or diesel power options, but the all-electric option is the pick of the bunch if you’re looking for a greener way of motoring. 

At a glance:

• 319 miles range from a single charge
• Get 100 miles from a 15-minute charge. 
• Sustainable materials are used throughout the cabin, including seat covers and carpets, for extra green credentials. 

Why families love the Hyundai Kona:

Let’s start with the obvious; space. Being an SUV, you’ll have an abundance of space to play with. The rear boot swallows up three large suitcases with ease, so there is plenty of room for a pushchair. You’ll find even more storage under the rear boot floor; lifting easily, it’s the perfect place to keep items out of sight, from sports equipment to towels to dry off muddy dogs! 

You’ll find a secondary boot at the front of the car where the engine would be on a petrol or diesel vehicle. Although small, you’ll have enough room for your motoring essentials that would usually clutter your main boot, such as a de-icer and an ice scraper! 

A wealth of on-board tech adds to the raft of plus points the Hyundai Kona Electric has. The innovative head-up projection displays essential info such as directions and speed on your windscreen, so you needn’t take your eyes off the road. A built-in EV route planner will help guide your way and plot out your nearest charging stops, and listening to your tunes has never been easier with integrated Amazon Music capability and a powerful BOSE sound system. 

1. Kia Niro

The next SUV to make our list is the Kia Niro. A popular choice with families, the car combines everything your family is looking for - space, safety and innovative technology to make every journey easier - in a surprisingly affordable package.

At a glance:

• 285 miles range on a single charge
• Charge to 80% in around 40 minutes
• Enough space for the whole family inside this spacious SUV

Why families love the Kia Niro:

As an SUV, you’ll have plenty of space to seat the whole family comfortably, with enough boot space for all the luggage that comes with them. However, what’s most impressive about the Niro is the standard of tech it packs.

Parking in a busy supermarket or shopping centre car park? Use the Niro’s Find My Car feature as part of the Kia Connect app to easily locate your vehicle. And if the car next to you has parked too close, use the Remote Smart Parking Assist feature on your key to automatically move your car out of the parking spot for you, without having to squeeze into the car at all. 

Voice recognition technology allows for hands-free navigation control; simply say where you want to go and your car will direct you there. You’ll also find directions and your road positioning projected onto the windscreen, so you can keep your eyes on the road. 

1. Volkswagen ID.4

Whether it’s the iconic Golf or the compact Polo, Volkswagen as a brand has long been a popular choice, especially for families. The brand’s all-electric SUV, the Volkswagen ID.4, isn’t about to change that, providing the perfect option for eco-conscious families who don’t want to compromise on comfort, space or performance.

At a glance:

• 337 miles on a single charge
• Charge to 80% in around 28 minutes
• Some models are available with an optional heat pump to protect your car’s range when using the heater in winter. 

Why families love the Volkswagen ID.4:

The ID.4 is designed for adventure. You’ll have plenty of space in the boot for your weekly grocery shop and a pushchair, while the folding rear seats provide more space when you need it. 

Got a car full of passengers so can’t fold the rear seats down? No problem. The ID.4 comes with a built-in tow bar capable of towing 750kg unbraked and 1000kg brake. With the option to easily tow a trailer, you’ll have all the space you need for any cumbersome camping or sporting equipment. Plus, the bar folds out of sight into the bumper when you’re not using it. 

The tech inside the ID.4 doesn’t disappoint, with plenty of features to keep your focus on the road ahead. By saying “Hello ID”, you can control the radio, navigation and your phone with your voice, so there’s no need to get distracted by buttons and dials. 

App Connect is another handy feature, which allows you to mirror your favourite apps on your phone to your car. Download Audible and keep the little ones entertained with their favourite stories as you travel. 

1. Audi Q4 e-tron

If you’re looking for something a little more luxurious, you can’t go past the Audi Q4 e-tron. This all-electronic compact SUV is practical and stylish, with all the creature comforts your family needs.

At a glance:

• 329 miles on a single charge
• Charge to 80% in 28 minutes
• Advanced features, such as heated seats, are available as standard with no extra charge.

Why families love the Audi Q4 e-tron:

As cliché as it might seem, sometimes you just want a cool family car; one that doesn’t look or feel like you’re driving a school bus around town. Something that looks the part but also has enough power under the bonnet when you need to put your foot down.

The Q4 e-tron has exactly that, going from 0-62mph in just 6.7 seconds. Rapid off the mark, the 19-inch alloys included as standard on the entry-level model give this car a real sports-inspired look.

Inside, there’s plenty of tech to make every journey a breeze. Heated front seats with electric lumbar support keep the driver and front passenger comfortable throughout even the longest journey. In the rear, a flat floor means even the middle seat has enough leg room and with the my Audi app, you can pre-condition the inside temperature of your car so it’s just right before you even step inside. 

The tech doesn’t stop there. Configure your dashboard to display the most important info, such as charge remaining, and a heads-up display projects directions, speed and more onto the windscreen, so you needn’t take your eyes off the road. Other handy features include parking sensors, reversing cameras and lane departure warnings. 

1. Ford Mustang Mach–E 

The iconic car has been electrified. With a whole host of new technology on board and an all-electric powertrain, the Mach-E edition of the Ford Mustang is one of the best yet, and a perfect choice for families. 

At a glance:

• 372 miles on a single charge
• Charge to 80% in just 33 minutes
• The e-latch system automatically unlocks your car when your key is near. 

Why families love the Ford Mustang Mach-E:

Capable of achieving 0-62mph in just 3.8 seconds, the Ford Mustang Mach-E delivers far more than just on-the-road performance. This reimagined muscle car has practicality and safety at its heart. 

Let’s start with the boot. Hands full? Waggle your foot beneath the tailgate and the boot will open automatically; ideal for when you’re juggling everything that comes with family life.

Inside the main boot, there’s enough space for a pushchair or a couple of suitcases, and there’s even a smaller cubby hole under the boot floor to provide additional storage. It doesn’t end there though; the 100-litres offered at the front of the car is more than enough space for charging cables and your other motoring essentials. 

There’s plenty of futuristic tech to make your life easier. Believe it or not, there are no door handles on the Mach-E. Instead, the doors have e-Latch buttons you press to open, automatically unlocking when your key is near. Wireless phone chargers are included as standard in the cabin, while an innovative heat-recycling system ensures the most driving range from your charge. Oh and did we mention it has a 5-star NCAP safety rating to boot?

1. Nissan Ariya

At number eight, it’s the second entry from Nissan on our list of the best electric family cars. This time, it’s the Nissan Ariya, a compact crossover that’s more than up for the job as your next family car. 

At a glance:

• 330 miles from a single charge
• Get 217 miles from a 30-minute charge. 
• Dividable boot to help you make sense of your stuff!

Why families love the Nissan Ariya:

The build of the Nissan Ariya is very impressive. With almost 50/50 weight distribution throughout the vehicle, you’ll feel grounded and secure on the road. All-weather traction and all-wheel drive technology on some models control each wheel separately, delivering maximum grip in even the toughest conditions. 

The Ariya’s boot isn’t the largest on the market but you’ll still have enough room for the weekly shop and school bags. Plus handy features help you make the most of the space you do have. The boot floor can be clipped up vertically, creating separate sections for your stuff. This also means you can alter the height of the boot floor to remove any lip, which comes in handy when lifting heavy loads. 

The Ariya shares similar tech as the LEAF, including head-up display and ProPilot automatic parking. The built-in wireless phone charger will surely come in handy, as will the heat pump. Standard on all models, it’s designed to maintain your car’s range even in lower temperatures.

1. Polestar 2

The Polestar 2 rivals Tesla as one of the coolest electric cars out there. It perfectly bundles speed, space and technology into a surprisingly affordable, family-friendly hatchback.

At a glance:

• 406 miles on a single charge 
• 80% charge in 28 minutes
• Space-age tech detects what you need when on the road, without you even realising. 

Why families love the Polestar 2:

If you like clever tech designed to make your life easier and more comfortable, the Polestar 2 has it all in abundance. First off, you don’t need to turn a key or push a button to start the engine. Clever sensors in the driver's seat detect when you’re onboard, starting the engine hands-free. You’ll need to have a key fob or smartphone with a digital key with you, so there are no safety concerns. 

Share a car with your other half? Sick of them adjusting the seats and switching the radio station? You can create driver profiles with the Polestar 2 for up to six drivers. The car will detect who’s driving and automatically adjust the seat and mirror position, and load up your favourite apps and playlists.

The onboard tech extends to driver and passenger safety, too. The dashboard and rear-view mirror automatically adapt to varying brightness levels, keeping essential displays readable and preventing you from being dazzled by other drivers’ lights. Likewise, a light in the wing mirror will flash to alert you should you drift between lanes, while 360-degree cameras give you a clear view of the hazards around you. 

1. Kia EV6

Another entry from Kia to make our list of the best electric cars for families is the Kia EV6. Building on the spec of the Niro, the EV6 impresses on all fronts, proving to be an excellent choice for families. 

At a glance:

• 328 miles range from a single charge.
• Charges to 80% in just 18 minutes
• Ultra-fast charging times, so you can get back on the road quickly. 

Why families love the Kia EV6:

If you think owning an electric car is a lot of standing around waiting for charging to finish, think again. The Kia EV6 is equipped to charge at 350kW. With a compatible charging point, you’ll gain 62 miles of range in just four minutes. That’s barely enough time to grab a coffee!

Spend lots of time outdoors on camping adventures? A clever feature of the EV6 brings your creature comforts to the wilderness. The Vehicle to Load (V2L) system is capable of using your EV battery to power other household items, such as kettles and toasters. Will you use it often? Probably not, but it’s good to know it’s there. 

There’s plenty of space for passengers inside, with enough leg room and a totally flat floor so nobody has to sit with their knees raised. In the back, the sloping roof does restrict headroom for taller passengers, but won’t impact younger travellers. To the boot, you’ll have enough space to stow a large pushchair comfortably. 

To go totally green, look out for models with interiors made from recycled plastic and materials. 

We’ve covered 10 of the most popular electric cars for families and hopefully, you’re feeling inspired about which model could be right for you. 

There are far more EVs available here at FamilyCarDeals though. If you haven’t found your perfect match just yet, browse our entire range of electric cars. Get a great deal on your next car with flexible payment options to suit your budget. 

Still unsure? Read our guide: Should I get a family car?