Electric cars are the new normal. They are rapidly being adopted by UK buyers and, in 2035, pure petrol and diesel models will no longer be available as new cars.
More and more pure electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid models are hitting the market, and before long, they are expected to cost the same as a car powered by a conventional internal combustion engine. Motorists also get the added benefit of low running costs, as electricity is considerably cheaper than diesel or petrol.
Cost is a critical factor for families, and space, practicality and reliability are also well up there. Our list of zero-emission models below tick all of those boxes and more, and we reckon they’re the best electric family cars in the new and used market.
The Best Electric Cars for Families 2024
- Hyundai Kona Electric (2023-)
- Peugeot e-2008 (2019-)
- Volkswagen ID.3 (2020-)
- MG ZS EV (2017-)
- Kia Niro EV (2022-)
- Ford Mustang Mach-E (2021-)
- Skoda Enyaq IV (2021-)
- Mercedes-Benz EQB (2022-)
Hyundai Kona Electric (2023-)
Hyundai is ahead of the curve with the change to electric mobility, and for some time now, the brand has been making some of the best electric cars out there, and the latest second-generation Kona Electric is one of them. The first-generation Kona Electric was a very popular electric car, but its successor is a step on in a number of ways.
For starters, this small five-seater SUV is much roomier than before. There’s much more legroom and headroom in the back, and much more boot space, too. The stylishly minimalist interior has a high-quality finish, and the retro-futuristic styling means it stands out a mile in the car park.
The Kona is also available in petrol and hybrid forms, but the electric version is the best of the lot to drive, and by quite a margin. That’s because the car was designed as an EV first, and the weight of the battery pack compresses the suspension, giving a more comfortable ride.
Two powertrain options are offered, an entry-level one with a 154bhp motor and a 48kWh battery for up to 234 miles of range on a single charge, and a long range one with a 215bhp motor and a 65kWh battery for a range of up to 319 miles. If your budget stretches, we’d also recommend checking out the Kona’s big brother – the Hyundai Ioniq 5 - which is also a cracking choice.
Hyundai Kona Review
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Peugeot e-2008 (2019-)
The trend for SUVs is unlikely to diminish in the age of electrification – if anything, they’re a pretty good match. Car buyers like a raised ride height, which can be an advantage for EVs, because it allows manufacturers to position the battery pack beneath the cabin floor, lowering the centre of gravity and improving the handling of high-sided vehicles.
The Peugeot e-2008 is a good example of this. It uses the same architecture as the Peugeot e-208 and the Vauxhall Corsa Electric superminis, so it’s compact – more crossover than SUV – but it adds the space and appealing characteristics of a compact electric SUV. Early versions a 50kWh battery with an official 214-mile range (expect something nearer 170 miles in the real world), and the electric motor produced 134bhp, which was enough to get it from 0-62mph in 8.5 seconds. The battery and motor were both upgraded in 2023 for a shade more power and range.
Not class-leading figures, then, but the e-2008 does have the capacity to use 100kW rapid chargers, so you can top up the battery to 80% in about 30 minutes, which makes it infinitely more practical for families undertaking longer trips.
Peugeot 2008 Review
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Volkswagen ID.3 (2020-)
Volkswagen previously made a handful of electric versions of its existing models, such as the e-Up city car and the e-Golf family hatchback, but the ID.3 is the first electric vehicle it built from the ground up, and was just the start of a much bigger ID-branded model offensive.
The ID.3 is clearly a VW, despite looking unlike any other car the company has previously produced. It’s certainly futuristic, in a similar way to the BMW i3 electric city car, but the well-built interior is reminiscent of the Golf and there’s enough cabin space to rival the mid-sized Passat. The two-screen set-up on the dashboard – one in the centre to control infotainment functions and another beyond the steering wheel with the driving info – reflects the abundance of technology on board, too.
There have been various different versions of the ID.3, with battery sizes of 45kWh, 58kWh and 77kWh. All have different ranges – officially, 205 miles, 260 miles and 340 miles – and charging rates, so it’s worth spending time working out which version best suits your needs. On the road, it feels solid and consistent, replicating the kind of driving experience we’ve come to expect from Volkswagen. If you like the sound of the ID.3’s attributes but want something a bit roomier and a lot funkier, then check out the ID.Buzz, but do bear in mind that it’s a lot more expensive.
Volkswagen ID.3 Review
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MG ZS EV (2017-)
It’s hard to argue with the value for money you get with the MG ZS, even with a costly electric powertrain. The price new is more akin to that of a family hatchback, and it comes with a surprising amount of standard equipment. New car buyers are particularly fond of electric SUVs, so the ZS EV is very much a car for the times. It’s very spacious inside and the ride is comfortable, but the trade-off for affordability is an interior that lacks the quality fit and finish of other models on our list.
If outright range is what you need, then you’re better off with a Volkswagen ID.3 or the Skoda Enyaq IV. The original ZS had a 163-mile range, which was fine for day-today driving but just not quite so well cut out for motorway trips. However, updated versions known as Standard Range and Long Range arrived in 2022, promising 198 and 273 miles.
The exceptional value for money and massive cabin are hard to argue with, so the ZS EV represents an excellent budget step into family electric car ownership.
MG ZS Review
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Kia Niro EV (2022-)
Right up until the very day it was replaced, the first-generation Kia e-Niro was one of the very best electric cars you could buy. Granted, it had a face that only a mother could love, but it had the space, practicality, equipment quality, range and dynamic polish to be a truly dazzling electric car.
It was replaced by the second-generation model in 2022, at which point the name was changed, becoming the Niro EV. In truth, it’s not a vast step forward in any area compared with its predecessor, but importanly it makes small incremental steps forward in each and every area, and when it’s already coming from such a high baseline, that still makes it one of the finest electric family cars on sale.
Thankfully, the styling is way smarter and more cohesive, while the interior quality and on-board tech - most notably the excellent infotainment system - have seem marked improvements, as has practicality, with more passenger space and a bigger boot. It’s much more family-friendly than popular electric car alternatives like the Nissan Leaf. It’s also great to drive, with a comfortable ride and surprisingly agile handling.
Kia Niro Review
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Ford Mustang Mach-E (2021-)
If you like your family cars with a sporty edge and electric power, then they don’t get much better than the Ford Mustang Mach-E. The swooping roofline, galloping horse badges and slatted taillights nod to Mustangs of old, but the Mach-E blends nostalgia with practical family SUV qualities. It’s available with two battery sizes – 68kWh, Standard Range and 88kWh Long Range – and both are offered with rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The official WLTP range is either 248- and 379 miles, depending on which model you go for, neither of which are bad at all.
In keeping with the Mustang’s heritage, the Mach-E is tremendous fun to drive, but it’s also very practical. There’s loads of room in the back and it has a 402-litre boot with the rear seats in place. The front of the cabin is yet another strong suit, because it’s incredibly smart and brimming with tech. Every Mach-E comes with a huge 15.5-inch touchscreen system, and Ford has clearly followed Tesla’s lead in this respect.
It does start to get expensive if you go for the Long Range version, and some of the materials inside could do with being a little more high-grade for the price, although the Standard Range model starts at more sensible money.
Ford Mustang Mach-E Review
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Skoda Enyaq IV (2021-)
The Skoda Enyaq IV was the outright winner of our electric SUV megatest, which more or less says it all. It is simply a phenomenal all-round family car, and has one of the most spacious interiors and, in bigger battery ‘80’ guise, one of the best official ranges on our list at 333 miles. There is also a smaller battery version, known as the 60, which is cheaper and has a still respectable range of 256 miles.
Skoda’s cars are known for their roomy interiors, and the Enyaq very much lives up to that. It has a huge 585-litre boot and there’s a frankly ridiculous amount of space in the back. Both are reduced a smidge if you go for the rakishly styled coupe version, though.
Standard equipment is very generous, as every model comes with the likes of part-leather seats, cruise control and climate control, automatic lights, a 13-inch touchscreen system, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, satnav and parking sensors, so there’s more than enough to justify the price. There’s also an optional fast charging upgrade, which reduces the time for a 100-mile top-up to around 20 minutes at charging points that are powerful enough.
The Enyaq IV is so comprehensive that we think its combination of range, equipment and practicality now sets the standard for electric family cars, and with its sensible pricing, it puts more expensive rivals – such as the Audi Q4 e-Tron and the Mercedes EQA – to shame.
Skoda Enyaq Review
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Mercedes-Benz EQB (2022-)
Right now, there aren’t that many cars that combine seven seats and an electric powertrain, but the Mercedes EQB is one of the few that does, and does it in a surprisingly compact footprint. Indeed, it’s smaller on the road than both a Tesla Model 3 and Tesla Model Y - it’s only a fraction bigger than a Volvo XC40 - and yet it packs in as many chairs as most big MPVs. We won’t pretend these chairs are the roomiest of their type, but they’re very useful to have. And when you don’t need them, you can fold the extra chairs down into the floor for as much boot space as in some small estate cars.
That versatility isn’t the sum total of the EQB’s achievements, either. Like most Mercs, it has a gorgeously trimmed interior that’s packed with safety and luxury equipment, plus a cutting edge infotainment system. It’s a comfortable and pleasnt car to drive, too. Single-motor and twin-motor variants are offered with varying levels of power and range, and the most long-legged version has an official range of up to 321 miles. It supports rapid charging of up to 100kW, so find yourself a powerful enough public charging station, and you can get a 100-mile top up in 20 minutes. It doesn’t have sports car performance like many electric cars do, but performance is easy and effortless.
Mercedes-Benz EQB Review
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