Top 10 best electric family cars 2023

Electric cars come in all shapes and sizes these days, from hatchbacks to seven-seat SUVs, which can make choosing the right one to be your next family car a bit of a daunting task. That’s why we’ve sorted through the plethora of EVs on sale today to find the best electric family cars – all offering a strong level of practicality, efficiency and value-for-money.

There are more than a few electric SUVs that fit these criteria as they offer a high driving position, easy access, lots of cabin space, and a big boot in most cases. But zero-emissions hatchbacks are a great option for those looking for that same blend of spaciousness, practicality and style, just in a slightly more compact package.

If neither of those offer the levels of practicality or versatility you’re after, a few brands have put an electric twist on the humble estate car and no-nonsense MPV – and you can find examples of both on our list below. The majority of these EVs also offer well over 200 miles of range, while some are able to cover 300 on a charge no problem, so you needn’t worry about completing the school run before the battery goes flat.

So without further ado, here’s our list of the best family EVs you can buy. Once you’re finished, make sure to check out the winners of the 2023 DrivingElectric Awards and our list of the best electric cars as well to see what’s impressed us the most over the past year. Also, don't forget to follow DrivingElectric on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube for the very latest news and reviews.

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1. Skoda Enyaq

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 has won our Best Electric Family Car award two years in a row now 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.

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2. MG4 EV

The MG4 is one of the most versatile EVs on the market right now, not to mention our 2023 Car of the Year. The electric hatchback offers everything you’d expect from a family car – spacious cabin, lengthy kit list, lots of safety systems and a comfortable ride – all for less than £27,000. Upgrade to the Long Range model (for £2.500 extra) and you also get a 281-mile range, plus 150kW rapid charging capability. The MG’s only real shortcoming is its relatively small 363-litre boot, which is still usable and doesn’t have any load lip to contend with, but some may find themselves pushing the carrying capacity every now and again.

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Read our full review of the MG4 EV to find out more.

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3. Kia Niro EV

The Niro EV offers great value, decent range and plenty of space in a sharp-looking package. The official range is 285 miles, which is excellent for an affordable family car, and a 10-80% charge takes 45 minutes from most rapid chargers. On the road, the Niro EV is comfortable, refined and efficient, so the claimed range is accurate in our experience. It’s not the cheapest entry on this list, but the Niro EV does come with loads of standard kit at least. Also available as a hybrid and plug-in hybrid, Kia’s baby electric SUV remains one of the best value EVs around. 

Read our full review of the Kia Niro EV to find out more.

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4. MG5 EV

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. 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.

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5. Hyundai Ioniq 5

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 around £43,000. For that, you get a 240-mile range, but there is a version capable of over 300 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. 

Read our full review of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 to find out more.

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6. Volkswagen ID. Buzz

It may be the styling of the ID. Buzz that draws you in, but beneath the Microbus-inspired looks, this is a very capable family EV. Even the best electric SUVs out there can’t match the space or family-friendly features of this funky-looking minibus, and some might even struggle to match it for refinement, too. Volkswagen revealed a LWB version with seven seats that’s coming in 2024 if you need the extra carrying capacity, as well as teasing a high-performance GTX model. For now though, the ID. Buzz is a five-seater only, but a very spacious one at that.

Read our full review of the Volkswagen ID. Buzz to find out more.

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7. Renault Megane E-Tech

The faithful Renault Megane is now electric only, but it looks better than ever and is still 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.

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8. 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 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.

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9. Audi Q8 e-tron

The newly-renamed Audi Q8 e-tron is the ideal candidate if you’re looking for a family car that’s as posh as it is practical. On the inside, the Q8 feels suitably luxurious; everything you touch feels impeccable, while the tri-screen infotainment setup is easy to use and looks impressive. On the road, standard air suspension irons out almost all of the bumps and quattro four-wheel-drive helps maintain traction in slippery weather. Opt for the mid-spec Q8 e-tron 55 and you’ll get a range of up to 333 miles, while the hot SQ8 e-tron can do 0-62mph in a rapid 4.5 seconds.

Read our full review of the Mercedes EQB to find out more.

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10. Mercedes EQB

Derived from the combustion-engined Mercedes GLB, the EQB was the first electric SUV from Mercedes to be offered with seven seats – the German brand now also offers the seven-seat EQS SUV flagship. Despite being quite a bit smaller, the EQB’s boxy styling ensures no shortage of passenger space inside, although it’s really only children or short adults that will be able to get comfortable in the third row of seats. Both versions of the EQB get all-wheel drive thanks to a dual-motor setup, plus rapid charging and a driving range of over 250 miles, though with prices starting from over £55,000 it's one of the most expensive entries on this list.

Read our full review of the Mercedes EQB to find out more.

Best electric family cars on sale now

1. Skoda Enyaq
2. MG4 EV
3. Kia Niro EV
4. MG5 EV
5. Hyundai Ioniq 5
6. Volkswagen ID. Buzz
7. Renault Megane E-Tech
8. Tesla Model Y
9. Audi Q8 e-tron
10. Mercedes EQB