Years ago, Americans envisioned electric vehicles as relatively small. Recently, car manufacturers have recognized the need for larger vehicles capable of accommodating car seats and growing families.
It’s essential to consider which vehicles have the easiest, fastest charging for last-second trips and options with a decent range. Choosing a family vehicle with good crash test scores and reliable electronic safety systems is also paramount.
This article explores 15 of the best electric vehicles currently available for families.
Kia EV9
The Kia EV9 has a rather important distinction—it has plenty of space for kids and adults. Your teens won’t object to sitting in the back due to a lack of leg space because it’s ample. You’ll also find its third-row seating is especially easy to access, with captain’s chairs in the second row that leave enough room to move around even when a car seat is installed.
Safety-wise, the EV9 includes features like automatic lane changing and braking. These are helpful when navigating turns or lane changes and if you need to slow down unexpectedly.
Add a relatively low price tag of $54,900 and fast DC charging from 20 to 80% in less than an hour, and you have a family winner.
Hyundai IONIQ 5
The IONIQ 5 isn’t as big as the EV9. Still, many reports say it can comfortably fit a couple of car seats in the back, and that’s more than enough room. Hyundai also made the IONIQ 5 fun to drive with sporty turning and faster acceleration.
Hyundai includes fast DC charging, which is excellent when you’re in a hurry and don’t have time to wait hours for the battery to charge.
The IONIQ 5 has many available safety features, including autonomous driving, forward collision assist, and lane keep assist to ensure the whole family is out of harm’s way.
Volkswagen ID.4
The ID.4 sits somewhere in the middle of the IONIQ 5 and the EV9 in terms of interior space. It’s not cramped, but you don’t get third-row seating, either. Still, it has enough room for two car seats and a stroller in the back, which is essential for budding families.
With models starting at $42,000, it’s not the cheapest SUV, but you will get at least 206 miles to the charge. The Pro S model offers a 250-mile range, which is great if you are on the road a bit more and don’t have the time to recharge. This driver detailed their trips for a week and didn’t seem worried about battery life.
The ID.4 has great standard safety features, which help earn it an IIHS Top Safety Pick + Rating.
Chevrolet Equinox EV
The Equinox is a staple of Chevrolet’s family lineup, so why not electrify it? Available in all-wheel drive, the Equinox EV can accommodate three in the back. The cargo space isn’t huge but will fit a stroller and groceries.
Its most significant standout feature is its 285-mile range. It also has a surprisingly competitive starting MSRP of around $35,000, a few thousand less than most others.
Volvo XC40 Recharge
The XC40 is possibly the most luxurious vehicle on our list. Volvo builds great family vehicles with a sincere focus on safety. Besides being a safe option for you and yours, it’s also spacious and fun to drive.
The XC40 is available with all-wheel drive, which reduces available mileage from 293 to 254. Still, we think it’s totally worth it to conquer snow days. Prices start a bit higher, with lower trim levels reaching $50,000, but we think you’ll find it worth the price.
Ford Mustang Mach-E
I know what you’re thinking: why is a Mustang on a family car list? Well, this is no ordinary Mustang. The Mach-E combines muscle car attitude with SUV size. You can even fit a car seat in the back. Surprisingly, the Mach-E also has a two-level trunk to expand overall storage space.
The Mach-E is a ton of fun to drive and makes road trips and running errands fun. In true Mustang fashion, it accelerates from 0 to 60 in 3.7 seconds. You can also upgrade the battery pack to get 300 miles of range, which will reduce range anxiety when you have many places to go.
Toyota bZ4X
Toyota’s first all-electric crossover SUV looks fantastic and easily has enough room for the family. You’ll even find that a flat backseat floor provides rear passengers more legroom, so they are less likely to kick your seat. The single-motor edition provides 201 horsepower, while a dual-motor edition is available with 214. Overall, the dual-motor edition provides decent mileage, with up to 252 miles of range. You also get all-wheel drive in the longer range, a more powerful edition that will help in some climates and terrains.
Unlike many electric SUVs of the same size, it’s not slow. While 6.3 seconds for 0 to 60 doesn’t compete with the Mach-E, it still does pretty well.
Hyundai Kona
The Kona is priced slightly higher than the Equinox EV, at around $40,000. You can fit the family in the back with some room to spare. The Kona isn’t especially quick, with a 133-horsepower electric motor powering the base model front wheel drive edition. You can also get a bigger package with 201 horsepower.
Capable of going 261 miles on a single charge, its recharging time isn’t bad: It goes from 10% to 80% in about 40 minutes.
Kia Niro EV
Kia is making a name in the EV space with another addition that fits families. While the Niro EV isn’t especially big, you’ll have no problem putting a car seat in the back and doing a grocery run. The Niro puts out 201 horsepower and is relatively quick, as it can get from 0 to 60 in 6.7 seconds.
The backseat on the Niro EV is incredibly comfortable, with air conditioning vents built into the central console. Some EVs limit this to just a front vent.
For safety, having standard smart cruise control and front collision avoidance helps in unexpected and potentially distracting situations.
Subaru Solterra
The Solterra and bZ4X look the same and drive much the same because Toyota and Subaru worked together on them. You’ll pay more for the Solterra with a more upscale interior and, in Subaru tradition, standard all-wheel drive.
With a 300-mile range, the Solterra provides enough juice for most families to get around for a week. Families who travel with cargo will love the Solterra, which has plenty of legroom and space in the trunk. On the Limited and Touring trims, even the rear passengers have the benefit of heated rear seats.
The Solterra will cost more, but some might consider the upgrades and all-wheel drive worth it, especially in cold climates.
Tesla Model Y
The Tesla Model Y gets many important qualities of a family SUV right. First, it’s the Top Safety Pick + from the IIHS. Second, it gets pretty good range with up to 320 miles on a charge. The Model Y offers a third row, which means ample room for car seats.
Families who sing together will love that the Model Y has a rare feature: ‘Caraoke.’ That’s right, the Model Y displays the lyrics to your songs for all to see. You can even turn off the artist’s voice just to hear your own.
It’s priced at around $45,000, making it slightly more than similar vehicles on this list. Overall, it’s hard to argue against a Tesla.
BMW iX
The iX is the most expensive vehicle on our list so far, with a starting MSRP of around $87,250. For the price, you do get a lot. 35.5 cubic feet of space behind the second row is more than average. In addition to fantastic performance and a fun vehicle to drive, you’ll also get 300+ miles of range.
Have you ever driven off without checking to see if the kids are buckled in? The iX helps with that and provides a warning, and not just for the front seat. Another cool tech feature that is rather uncommon is an interior camera. Snap a photo to check on the status of your passengers without turning around.
Rivian R1S
The Rivian R1S is a little more obscure, but it’s a great family vehicle with seven seats. Its large battery pack offers a range of 400 miles, which helps reduce range anxiety for many family drivers.
Nissan Ariya
The best part about the Ariya is that it looks cool. As an EV, it can fit the family and is comparatively inexpensive as a $45,000 vehicle. For the price, the higher end of their range is good, with 305 miles available.
Chevrolet Bolt EUV
The Bolt offers good value for a small family, starting just under $30,000. This vehicle has been around in Chevrolet’s lineup for a while and was among their first electric cars. It’s pretty fast, too. We suggest checking it out if you want to save money.
These Are The 15 Best Electric Vehicles for Families
Family vehicles are an essential component of the future of electric vehicles. Thankfully, families now have a much wider selection. It’s looking like families will have more third-row vehicles to choose from in lower price ranges. We wish you the best in your vehicle search.
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