Top 10 best electric family cars 2024
From hatchbacks to SUVs, here are our top picks for the best family EVs on the market right now
There are now many different electric family cars available, from hatchbacks to seven-seat SUVs, and choosing the right one from such a vast array of options can feel overwhelming. To help with this decision-making process, we've sifted through the wide range of electric cars currently on the market to compile a list of the best electric family cars available in the UK. All of them offer a good balance of practicality, efficiency, and value for money.
A natural starting point would be an electric SUV, which ticks many key boxes for a family car, such as easy access, spacious interiors, and generous boot space. However, EV hatchbacks can also be a great choice, offering a compact and stylish design with a high level of practicality, often at a much lower price than most SUVs.
If neither of those options suits your needs, some brands now offer electric estate cars with large boots or MPVs with masses of space for larger families. Either way, you won’t be short on choice. Range anxiety is also becoming a thing of the past, with most electric family cars now providing over 200 miles on a single charge, and some reaching close to 400 miles – more than enough for those school runs.
Best electric family cars on sale now
Read on to find our list of the best electric family cars, all courtesy of our expert road testers. If you have a pet to worry about, take a look at our list of the best electric cars for dog owners.
1. Skoda Enyaq
- Prices from £36,970
- Maximum WLTP combined range: 339 miles
Skoda put all its family-car know-how into making the Enyaq and knocked it out for the park as far as we’re concerned. The Enyaq tops the list as our favourite electric family car thanks to its spacious cabin, refinement, vast 585-litre boot and handy ‘Simply Clever’ features that Skoda has become known for, like umbrellas hidden in the doors.
Visibility is also excellent, it’s easy to fit a child seat if needed, and the Skoda’s starting price, range and rapid charging speeds are all highly competitive. If you’re happy to sacrifice a little bit of boot space, the sleeker Enyaq Coupe carries extra supermarket car park kudos, as does the high-performance Enyaq vRS.
Read our full review of the Skoda Enyaq to find out more.
2. Hyundai Kona Electric
- Prices from £34,995
- Maximum WLTP combined range: 319 miles
The original Hyundai Kona Electric was already a pretty good electric family car, but the Korean maker has truly outdone itself for the model’s second generation. Its futuristic styling may divide people but it’s hard to deny the superb value-for-money the Kona offers. Two versions are available, with top models capable of over 300 miles on a charge.
Out on the road, the new electric Kona feels a lot more grown-up to drive than the outgoing car, while Hyundai has ensured the Kona’s interior is outfitted with a good balance of touchscreen and physical controls. Then, of course, there’s that five-year warranty, which is just the cherry on the top of a superbly impressive cake.
Read our full review of the Hyundai Kona Electric find out more.
3. Tesla Model Y
The Model Y is the electric SUV to beat in many people’s eyes as it boasts a very spacious cabin, slick infotainment and boatloads of practicality. The 117-litre ‘frunk’ under the bonnet is paired with an 854-litre boot, and you get over 2,000 litres of space to play with when you fold the rear seats down. Performance is still staggering, but perhaps more important is that Long Range versions of the Model Y can cover more than 330 miles on a charge. Of course, one of the added bonuses of Tesla ownership is full access to the brand’s Superchargers, which only need about half-an-hour to recharge the Model Y’s battery from 0-80% – ideal on long journeys.
Read our full review of the Tesla Model Y to find out more.
4. Renault Scenic
- Prices from £37,495
- Maximum WLTP combined range: 379 miles
With the growing number of electric family cars on the market, it’s difficult to stand out, but the Renault Scenic manages to do just that. Not only does it boast the highest quoted range on this list, but its start price is also nearly £10,000 less than its closest rival in terms of range, the Tesla Model Y. The Scenic’s appeal isn’t limited to its range either. Even at the entry-level Techno model, Renault has equipped it with an impressive array of standard features, including LED headlights, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a host of driver assistance systems.
Long-distance family driving holidays should be hassle-free as well. The top-spec Scenic supports up to 150kW rapid charging, and according to Renault, charging from 15 to 80 per cent takes just 37 minutes. The Scenic also impresses with its spaciousness. The rear seats comfortably accommodate three adults side-by-side, and the boot offers a generous 545-litre capacity, providing ample space for the average family’s needs.
Read our full review of the Renault Scenic find out more.
5. Kia EV9
- Prices from £65,025
- Maximum WLTP combined range: 349 miles
For a long time, if you were after a seven-seat electric car, you were limited to either a dowdy van-based MPV, or a top-of-the-range SUV like the Tesla Model X. The Kia EV9 has arrived to sit neatly in the middle, offering people-hauling practicality without a sky-high price tag. We’re big fans of Kia’s new design language, while the EV9’s piles of interior tech and 314-mile range are sure to appeal to families planning long road trips.
“What could make the EV9 even better?” we hear you ask. Well, how about a long list of standard equipment, ultra-fast charging and an industry-leading seven-year warranty? We think that’ll do quite nicely and makes the EV9 more than worthy of our Best Premium Electric Car award for 2024.
Read our full review of the Kia EV9 to find out more.
6. MG5 EV
- Prices from £30,995
- Maximum WLTP combined range: 250 miles
The MG5 is far from the most exciting electric car you can buy, but an update in 2022 introduced a much-needed styling, interior and technology upgrade that brought the electric estate bang up-to-date. Supple suspension means the MG5 rides nicely over bumps, while light steering makes it perfect for nipping around town. Offering a respectable 250 miles of range and a roomy 479-litre boot, the MG5 is by far the cheapest electric ‘wagon’ you can buy; starting at around £31,000, a Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo costs more than twice as much.
Read our full review of the MG5 EV to find out more.
7. Hyundai Ioniq 5
- Prices from £39,900
- Maximum WLTP combined range: 354 miles
Hyundai’s latest electric family car has garnered plenty of attention for its retro-inspired styling, but its ultra-rapid charging capability, enormous boot, luxury-car-like ride quality and interior comfort are what won it a place on this list. The Ioniq 5 is also reasonably priced for an electric car that offers so much, starting from just under £40,000.
For that, you get a 240-mile range, but there is a version capable of over 350 miles on a charge should you want a bit more range. Plus, all models can be topped up from 10-80% in just 18 minutes if you find a fast enough charging point. Feeling the need for speed? There’s now also an N-tuned version which is, in our opinion, one of the most enjoyable EVs out there to drive.
Read our full review of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 to find out more.
8. Volkswagen ID. Buzz
- Prices from £59,035
- Maximum WLTP combined range: 293 miles
It may be the styling of the ID. Buzz that draws you in, but buried beneath the VW’s retro looks is a very capable family EV. The ID.Buzz’s long list of family-friendly features makes up for its rather lofty price tag; a neat option is the removable ‘Buzz box’ centre console, which can double as a drinks cooler for family picnics.
The Volkswagen ID. Buzz is also available as a LWB version with seven seats if you need the extra carrying capacity, as well as a high-performance ID. Buzz GTX model. The ID. Buzz offers up to a cavernous 1,121 litres of space – enough to carry all your family’s luggage, plus the kitchen sink to boot.
Read our full review of the Volkswagen ID. Buzz to find out more.
9. Renault Megane E-Tech
- Prices from £33,995
- Maximum WLTP combined range: 285 miles
The faithful Renault Megane is now electric only, but it looks better than ever and remains a great family car option. Boot space stands at 440 litres, which for context is nearly 100 litres more than the MG4 EV offers, although you do have to deal with a large load lip.
At least the French hatchback’s light, quick steering makes it easy to manoeuvre around town and tight car parks. It’s also comfortable and very refined, with little road or wind noise able to make its way into the cabin. Speaking of the cabin, it’s spacious, there’s lots of storage dotted around and it features a slick, easy to use, Google-powered infotainment system.
Read our full review of the Renault Megane E-Tech to find out more.
10. Nissan Ariya
- Prices from £39,645
- Maximum WLTP combined range: 329 miles
Forget what you already know about Nissan; the Ariya is a premium-feeling product that can trouble even posh German rivals when it comes to cabin quality and refinement. The main highlight has to be the Nissan Ariya’s well-dressed interior, which features a dual-screen infotainment system and several nods to the brand's Japanese heritage.
It may be a spacious family SUV, but the Ariya is pretty enjoyable to drive, too; nicely weighted steering and tight body control make it one of the more enjoyable cars to drive in its class, with top-of-the-range e4ORCE+ models able to do 0-62mph in five seconds. It is rather expensive to buy but low running costs and strong residuals should make that high starting price a bit easier to swallow.
Read our full review of the Nissan Ariya to find out more.
Best electric family cars on sale now
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