The best electric family cars – driven, rated and ranked

Best for: Interior flexibility

As well as being arguably the most characterful model on this list, the ID Buzz is probably the most versatile. 

Driving the LWB is as simple as driving the SWB. It rides pliantly, is incredibly endearing and is quicker than before, both on the road and when charging.

Matt Saunders, Road test editor

It comes as standard in short-wheelbase form with five seats, but its true potential is realised in long-wheelbase guise.

In the ID Buzz LWB, you can choose seven seats as standard in a 2/3/2 configuration, or drop down to six seats in a 2/2/2 configuration. 

A further boon for the ID Buzz is its adaptability. If you go for the seven-seater, you can remove the rear seats to create a cavernous 1340-litre cargo space.  

Power starts from 201bhp in entry-level SWB variants and the LWB gets 282bhp. All-wheel-drive GTX models get a punchier 335bhp plus all-wheel drive.

Best for: Ride comfort

The Volkswagen ID 7 is the German giant's first electric saloon and estate. Think Volkswagen Arteon, but built for the electric age. 

The ID 7 offers more space and more rolling refinement than many of its direct rivals

Matt Saunders, Road test editor

Powered by an 86kWh battery as standard, all versions of the ID 7 offer more than 350 miles of range and an equally impressive maximum charging speed of 200kW. Pro S models even have a claimed range of 433 miles. 

The ID 7 is also capable of considerable pace, with 282bhp and 402lb ft available if you opt for single-motor variants. That's enough to dispatch 0-62mph in 6.6sec.

Further appeal comes in the form of its class-leading ride comfort and competitive driving range. Rear space is limousine-esque, while boot space measures 532 litres in the saloon and 605 litres in the estate-bodied ID 7 Tourer. 

Best for: Leg room

The Kia EV9 is the biggest car on this list and makes a real case for being the best in class if you're a driver with a large family. 

With its 800V charging capability, the EV9 promises to shade its rivals and save owners time, with a 10-80% DC rapid charge possible in a claimed 24 minutes.

Matt Saunders, Road test editor

Aside from the ID Buzz, few alternatives offer more space than Kia's largest SUV. It boasts a degree of versatility matched only by the ID Buzz, with easily manoeuvrable seats that easily tumble and fold.

The EV9 comes with seven seats as standard, while top-spec GT Line S versions can be selected with six seats, swapping the usual sliding bench with swivelling captain's chairs.

Whichever configuration you choose, people in the third row can expect as much space as those in the BMW iX. Impressive. Boot space is similarly adaptable, with 333 litres in a seven-seat layout, and 828 litres with the third row folded down. Plus, there's a 90-litre frunk (52 litres in dual-motor variants). 

Best for: Boot space

The influential Tesla Model Y gained a significant update in 2025, receiving a design refresh and some comfort adjustments. 

Despite the suspension changes, it’s still on the firmer, noisier end of the spectrum, but the worst edges have definitely been taken off.

Illya Verpraet, Road Tester

That means it's a better family car than ever. While the previous Model Y suffered from a lumpy, firm ride, the new version is slightly easier to live with, and softens out sharper bumps much more competently. 

Power is plentiful in the Model Y, which is one of the punchier cars on this list for pace. Entry-level, standard-range cars come with 279bhp, while dual-motor versions produce 375bhp and will cover 0-62mph in 4.8sec. 

As for range, the Model Y is one of the more long-legged electric family cars. You'll get 311 miles out of standard-range models, rising to 387 miles in long-range variants. 

Practicality is also a strong point in the Model Y, which offers a cavernous 854-litre boot, plus a 117-litre frunk. 

Best for: Daily driving

The Enyaq has been on sale since 2020, but it's just been given a significant overhaul for 2025. 

With a drag coefficient of 0.24, the Enyaq Coupé is the most aerodynamic car Skoda has made

Illya Verpraet, Road Tester

As well as ushering in Skoda's new design language, the latest Enyaq is also more aerodynamic than before and comes with a more premium level of interior equipment. 

Heated front seats are included as standard, along with tri-zone climate control, which should keep the entire family cool through summer and toasty in the winter months. 

The Enyaq is more spacious than many of its rivals. Its 585-litre boot is far bigger than the Volkswagen ID 4's and the Audi Q4 E-tron's, and it also beats the Kia EV6's and Hyundai Ioniq 5's. Fold the seats down and you'll get a massive 1710 litres. 

Entry-level cars have a 63kWh battery for 277 miles of range, but you're likely to prefer the 85 and 85x if you habitually do longer journeys. They get an 82kWh unit that enables an impressive range of 370 miles and 346 miles respectively.

Best for: Style

Don't be mistaken: there's certainly plenty of substance behind the Ioniq 5's style. 

The Ioniq 5 is extremely spacious, with plenty of head room and space across the shoulders.

Illya Verpraet, Road Tester

Larger on the inside than it might seem, the retro-designed SUV-cum-hatchback is like a sort of automotive Tardis, although admittedly it looks more like a Cyberman. 

Thanks to its flat floor, it's one of the more spacious EVs for rear passenger leg room, offering as much space as a BMW i5. Add in a 520-litre boot, and you've got a very practical option indeed. 

The Ioniq 5 comes with a 63kWh battery as standard, with up to 273 miles of range. The next step up is a 84kWh unit that provides up to 354 miles of range. 

Perhaps the biggest draw for many will be the Ioniq 5's price. At just below £40,000, it's one of the cheaper models on this list. 

Best for: Kerb appeal

Given the success of its internal-combustion counterpart, the Porsche Macan Electric always had a tough job on its hands, but it stands out as one of the best electric family cars on sale.

The Macan Electric's drivability in everyday environments is first-rate.

Matt Prior, Editor-at-large

There are four versions of the Macan EV: the base Macan, Macan 4, Macan 4S and Macan Turbo Electric.

All but the entry-level car use a dual-motor set-up, but each uses the same 95kWh battery. Power ranges from 356bhp on entry cars to to 631bhp and 833lb ft on the range-topping Turbo.  

The Macan Electric is great to drive, with sharp, responsive handling and punchy performance.

For the best bang-for-your-buck, we'd recommend one of the lower-level models, because they're more manageable on the road in day-to-day driving, and their handling feels more natural.

Best for: Interior ambience

The Renault Scenic is the cheapest option on this list, with prices starting from just over £37,000. 

The fifth-generation Scenic has conformed to today’s SUV norm, but it has an appealing blend of style, interior tech and driving range

Richard Lane, Deputy road test editor

For that, you get a well-equipped family SUV with dual-zone climate control, automatic headlights and wipers, wireless smartphone mirroring, a heat pump and heated front seats as standard.

For its size, the Scenic has an impressive 545 litres of boot space, which puts it ahead of the Volkswagen ID 7 and the Hyundai Ioniq 5. However, leg room isn't as plentiful as in the Hyundai. 

Two battery sizes are available, starting with a 60kWh standard-range variant with 260 miles of range.

A 87kWh long-range version has up to a claimed 379 miles of range, which puts the Scenic near the top of the class for potential driving distance.