EVs for Families
The best electric cars for families
If you’re buying a car for the family then it comes with a rather particular set of requirements. You want it to be spacious, of course, but also robust enough that it can put up with the rigours of daily life. Some clever tech is handy, too, while low running costs can help to make things even easier.
It’s why an electric vehicle could make for a perfect family car. Fortunately, there’s a variety of them on sale today, offering all you could need to transport the family. Let’s check out some of the best around.
Volkswagen ID.4
Volkswagen didn’t hang around with its range of electric vehicles, building on the ID.3 with the slightly more spacious ID.4.
The ID.4 is a great option for families thanks to its well-made interior and plentiful headroom that’ll mean even taller kids have plenty of space to stretch out. It’s also kitted out with three ISOFIX points – one in the front and two in the back – which means it’s ideal if you’re got a number of kids in child seats.
The ID.4 also has more than enough boot space for longer trips, offering up to 543 litres which is about right for several suitcases, or plenty of weekend bags. It’ll easily swallow up the weekly shop, too. Plus, big-battery versions will manage up to 328 miles of range, so it’ll be more than up to the challenge of road trips.
SKODA Enyaq
Skoda’s Enyaq takes the electric SUV recipe and adds some, well, Skoda-ness.
It’s built with the same platform as the ID.4 in fact, so it offers similar levels of space and practicality, as well as the ability to fit three car seats with ISOFIX points. It’s got the same well-sized boot, too, which is nicely square and easy to access thanks to a low load lip.
Inside, the Enyaq is kitted out with plenty of robust materials that’ll stand up to the test of time. Plus, you get loads of Skoda’s ‘Simply Clever’ features that help to make daily life a little easier. There’s an ice scraper in the boot door, for instance, as well as umbrellas in the doors.
Audi Q8 e-tron
Audi’s Q8 e-tron is the largest electric SUV that the firm offers and, as a result, it’s able to offer the most amount of space. The switch to the Q8 name – it used to be known just as ‘e-tron’ has also brought a fresh new exterior design, incorporating more dynamic-looking lights and Audi’s recently-redesigned logo.
But how does it fare for families? Very well, in fact. It’s also able to offer three ISOFIX points – one up front and two in the back – while its 605-litre boot is impressively spacious. You’ll also find a number of USB-C charging points dotted throughout the Q8 e-tron’s cabin, meaning that older kids – and adults – can keep their devices topped up throughout the journey.
Up front, there’s Audi’s clever infotainment system which keeps all key information such as media and navigation in one place, so making sure you’ve got the right directions in place should prove easy.
Porsche Taycan
The Porsche Taycan might not be the most obvious family-friendly EV, but it’s definitely up to the challenge. Especially if you consider the estate-like Cross Turismo version, which takes the Taycan recipe and adds in some more boot accessibility as well as some serious cool points.
Two ISOFIX points are fitted to the Taycan – on the outside rear seats – while a wide variety of assistance systems help to ensure that both driver and passenger are as safe as possible.
Of course, the Taycan comes with boat-loads of performance, but certain models are also able to deliver around 300 miles of range, while super-fast charging means that you and the family shouldn’t have to wait around at the plug for too long. A number of versions are available, too, including variants such as the 4S and the powerful Turbo.
Mercedes-Benz EQC
The Mercedes EQC is the car which sparked off the firm’s new generation of electric vehicles and it’s one which happens to be a great fit for families.
You can think of it as an electric alternative to the GLC, so it’s got the same spacious interior and clever on-board technology that you get with that conventionally-driven model.
With 255 miles of range on offer it’s great for longer journeys, but its impressive ride quality and quiet driving experience make it well-suited to shorter trips too.
The EQC comes with two ISOFIX child seat mounting points, but older kids will also appreciate the car’s spacious rear seats. It’s got an impressive 500 litres of boot space to offer, and if you need more room you can fold down the rear seats to expand this to 1,060 litres.
BMW iX3
Though BMW’s striking iX might be the electric SUV grabbing the headlines, it’s the iX3 which could be the best choice for families.
It’s remarkably similar to the conventional X3 – so it’ll feel familiar from the get-go – while its 510-litre boot only suffers a small penalty in terms of size over petrol and diesel-powered versions.
Its boxy design also means that there’s plenty of head and legroom for both front and rear passengers, too.
There are two ISOFIX points available in the iX3, while the doors open nice and wide so fixing those child seats in place shouldn’t be too much of a hassle. Up to 285 miles of range means that the iX3 has more than enough in the ‘tank’ for longer journeys, too.
An electric car to suit your lifestyle
For city driving
Ideal for city and town driving, small electric cars make a lot of sense.
For the budget conscious
Electric cars at the more affordable end of the market.
For pure driving fun
The same level of fun and excitement as a combustion-engined car.