Our top 5 electric family cars

Modern-day electric cars are more efficient and affordable than ever. We have models that are big enough to accommodate your whole family, yet still pack enough juice to power through the miles. They are also more practical and feature more dynamic on-road performances. It’s no wonder more, and more commuters are making the switch from their fossil powered rivals.

But with new models popping up every couple of months, it can be daunting figuring out what’s really good out there. If you are considering getting one for the family, we’ve rounded up a list of our top 5 electric family cars to help you make a more educated choice. Let’s dive right in!

With one of the best combinations of usability, range and affordability, the Kia e-Niro is quick to stand out among its company of peers. The 64kWh battery on this baby allows it to cover up to whopping 282 miles when fully charged. This is impressive by any standard and should carry your average family through a week before needing more juice. When compared to its rivals, the car’s acceleration falls a bit short, but starting at only £29,595, it’s still quite the bang for your buck.

The whole build of the electric machine is geared towards accommodating a family. By this, we are talking about the extra broad room at the back, which is enough to fit up to 3 kids. The design itself is not too flashy, but still easy on the eyes. You also get other handy features like driver assist, extra safety protocols and a modern touchscreen dashboard. All these features work in unison to make the car both practical and easy to drive. It is no wonder the Kia e-Niro crowns the list.

The Jaguar I-Pace is one of Jaguar’s first ideas of an electric SUV. But from the nature of its design, space, comfort and functionality, it’s apparent that they did not come to play. The I-Pace comes packed with a 90 kWh Battery, working together with the latest software upgrades to push its range to 292 miles. It features an overall classy design but is still spacious enough to house 4 full-sized adults without breaking a sweat. It also has a decent-sized boot, making it the perfect family car.

But the most promising feature on the I-pace isn’t its appeal, but rather the performance. It brags one of the most flawless handling experiences in an electric vehicle. Perhaps this stems from Jaguar’s vast experience in the car manufacturing industry. At around £65,000, the I-Pace is not for those working on a budget. But with everything you stand to gain, it proves itself quite the worthy investment.

Of course, you can’t mention the word electric car without the name Tesla popping up. Perhaps this is why, despite being one of the older models from the firm, the Model S is still relevant to date. Everything, from its range to the handling, to the techy appeal, allows the timeless piece to hold its top place 8 years down the line.

On design, the Tesla Model S can best be described as a work of art. It features Tesla’s signature minimalist style, coupled with space-edge technology that just oozes elegance and futurism. But it is not all looks with this EV. It also boasts of an impressive 100-kWh battery pack which gives it an equally impressive 373-mile range. This is by far superior in every way. The setting is wide enough to accommodate 5 adults and is tweaked with Tesla’s other prime features like dual-motor all-wheel drive and adaptive air suspension. Not to forget its ludicrous acceleration, going from 0-60 in 2.3 seconds.

As if that is not enough, you also get access to Tesla’s super-efficient charging tech, constantly supported by the ever-expanding Tesla supercharger network. Its £76,990 price tag might be a bit much, but if you can afford it, you’ll surely appreciate its worth.

Coming closely after its older brother is the Tesla Model X. Judging by Tesla’s impressive catalogue and keenness to production; it is no surprise to have two of their cars on our list. The Model X is pretty remarkable. It’s engineered to incorporate a sporty appeal, yet is still spacious enough to rival your typical SUV. You’ll especially appreciate its falcon-wing doors, which are intuitively fashioned to open upwards, then outwards. The doors are also integrated with proximity sensors so they can conveniently open even in tight spaces.

Being one of Tesla’s first SUV-type models, the Model X is vastly spacious. In fact, it can accommodate as many as 7 adults. It has a 351-mile range, and despite its heavyweight, can reach 0-60 in 2.6 seconds. Of course, it also comes with all the perks you’d expect from a Tesla, including safety and autopilot technologies. But as you’d expect, quality doesn’t come cheap. A brand new standard version of the car will cost you about £82,000.

Being one of their first semi-electric cars, BMW took a bold approach to the BMW i3. The model is both electric and gasoline driven, meaning you can switch between the two when one runs out. The 2019 version of the car comes equipped with a 42kWh battery, which hits an EPA range of 153 miles on full-charge. This is further backed by a 0.6 L two-cylinder generator bumping up the range to a total 200 miles.

The BMW i3 has a fairly compact design, but it still proves itself a worthy adversary. The i3’s high-roof hatchback design allows its interior quite the space, allowing it to comfortably accommodate a small family of 4. It also has an additional cargo area with 15.1 cubic feet, to hold more luggage and golf clubs. Additionally, its rear seats can be folded flat, to reveal up to 36.9 cubic feet for when you want to store more. The i3 goes from 0-60 in 7.3 seconds and reaches a top speed of 93mph.

Other features you’ll find handy from the BMW include automatic climate, auto-dimming exterior and interior mirrors, dynamic cruise control and rain-sensing automatic headlights.

All in all, electric cars have come to be as efficient as their fossil powered counterparts, if not more. We have reviewed some of the most outstanding of them, but there are still some other honourable mentions like VW e-Golf, which has also been turning heads lately. But it’s just a tip of the iceberg. With technology constantly evolving, we are seeing newer, more competitive models popping up every day.

Electric cars are the way to a cleaner, greener future. As you’ve seen, these cars are getting faster and better performing than most gas-powered models. We hope our list opened your eyes to all the potential of the machines.