For most of us with little people in tow, the purchase of a new family car, whether new or a used purchase, is a significant investment not just of money, but in emotional equity as well.
Think about it: a family car isn't just your own transport, it's where you'll spend a significant amount of time with your kids, from family days out and holidays to taking them to sports matches and bringing them home caked in mud.
Eventually, you'll become the taxi of Mum and Dad, dropping off grumpy, silent teenagers and collecting them again when you'd rather be tucked up in bed.
The family car has to cope with it all, the good times and the bad; it's the fly on the wall to so many happy moments, floods of tears and high-volume arguments.
Despite the fact you'll rely on it to keep the most precious things in your life safe, all of the above increases the pressure to make the right choice.
Add in the additional complexity that is switching to electric, and who could be blamed for finding it all rather stressful?
So, to help, here are five new family electric vehicles (EVs) to suit different budgets and requirements…
The value offering – MG4
The MG brand has been completely reinvigorated in the guise of an electric car manufacturer that offers smart, practical cars at great prices.
There is nothing wrong with that: in fact, given the typically high cost of entry for many EVs, MG has captured significant chunks of the new car market in the UK with this tactic in recent years.
The “4” is the car that has really put it on the map. It is surprisingly fun to drive, distinctive in design and starts from just £27,000 or so; no coincidence, then, that you see lots of them on the road.
The luxury seven-seater Volvo – EX90
Even today, the link between Volvo and family cars is as ironclad as the XC90's safety record, with the outgoing model a massive global hit over the past decade.
Recognizing its status as the upwardly mobile school run chariot of choice, Volvo has had no compunction in hiking the price of its new, electric-only replacement, badged – naturally – EX90.
A family-oriented car this may be, but it's for the well-heeled only given it retails from just shy of £100,000. Lesser variants, with just one electric motor rather than the current two, should bring that entry point down when they arrive.
For now, though, this slick piece of Scandi design sits in its own niche, offering genuine seven-seat practicality within a hushed cocoon from the outside world.
The stylish Korean – Hyundai Kona Electric
Hyundai, along with sister marque Kia, has really found its feet in recent years, and never more so than with its EV range, which has combined cutting-edge technology with a daring approach to design notably lacking in many rivals. The Kona is a perfect example of the design-led, medium-sized SUV crossover that has become so popular in recent years, and as a family EV it is hard to beat.
It is bold on the outside, bright and airy on the inside, and comes with a very extensive list of standard equipment included.
There are two sizes of battery available, with the range going from 234 to 305 miles, and there's a heat pump as standard, so cold weather running shouldn't decrease the battery's charge so drastically.
The infotainment screen is impressive, but mercifully Hyundai has kept physical buttons for the audio system and climate control so you won't have to take your eyes off the road to adjust them.
The all-American – Ford Mustang Mach-E
Once the novelty of telling everyone that your new family “wheels” is a Ford Mustang has worn off, you will be left with an entirely decent family vehicle in Ford's first all-electric production car. That makes it a very important product for the Blue Oval, and it is largely an opportunity it has not wasted, with decent road manners, excellent safety equipment and a practical range.
There is a GT model with 480bhp if you really feel the need, but it is expensive and slightly unnecessary – the lesser models are hardly slow.
The Czech mate – Skoda Enyaq iV
Skoda has long been a popular choice for families looking for VW group quality at a slightly more affordable price, and while the brand has moved upmarket in recent years, its offerings still often strike a sweet spot.
Take the Enyaq iV, which shares plenty under the skin with the Volkswagen ID.4 and the Audi Q4 e-tron, but has a far less irritating interior to interact with than the former, and a lower price and more conventional looks than either.
This is a comfortable, spacious and practical electric car with good refinement. The interior is spacious and the boot on the generous side, while the infotainment system is clear and responsive. A hierarchy of battery sizes equates to a range figure of 249 to 348 miles.
