10 best electric vehicles for families

When you have a family, choosing and buying a car can seem like a huge feat. Your car needs to be able to fit everything you need for your babies and kiddos, be easy to drive, reliable so you're not stuck on the side of the road with a crying baby, and dare we say, a little stylish too? That's a lot to consider!

Some parents these days are starting to consider all electric vehicles (EVs) or hybrids for their next car , to cut down on emissions and to save a bit at the gas pump. But which ones are best for growing families ?

For the last decade, I've covered electric vehicles and I drive one too: My wife and I have driven a Tesla Model 3 for five years now. We now have a 9-month-old daughter, so I know the joys and the pain points of driving an EV with a growing family. With the help of Brian Moody, the executive editor of Kelly Blue Book , and Emily Thomas, the director of vehicle safety for Consumer Reports and also a mom of two young children, I put together this list that highlights the best of the family EVs, to hopefully help you make the decision that's right for you and your family.

How we chose the best EVs for families

EVs and hybrids are still up and coming, according to a July BabyCenter survey of almost 500 parents, with just 3% of parents surveyed driving EVs and 8% driving hybrids. However, many experts anticipate interest is going to grow as more families who wouldn’t be the first adopters of a new technology start to see the benefits of electric driving – and start to see their neighbors buy EVs, too. But which EVs should you consider as a parent?

In addition to my own auto expertise, and the help of both Moody and Thomas we selected the best EVs for growing families based on the following factors:

• Safety features : These vehicles come with your standard modern safety and accident-avoidance features such as automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection. Some include more advanced parent-focused tech, too, such as rear seat belt reminders and rear occupant alerts to make sure kids are not accidentally left in a car.

• Range: All the EVs we chose get at least 220 miles on a single battery charge, since any less than that would be inconvenient for families because it would require more charging stops and range anxiety.

• Convenience: We considered how easy it is to get kids in and out of their car seats , and other factors that will make a parent’s life a little easier, like sliding doors or collapsible seats.

• Style: Carmakers want their EVs to project the sleek, futuristic style people associate with a new technology, which means their looks can be more varied and interesting than what you’d get from a plain-jane gas-burning car. We chose EVs that are not only practical for families, but also fun and stylish.

• Price : EVs tend to be expensive, at least with regards to the upfront cost of buying one, so we made sure these deliver the most bang for your buck.

• Cargo space: A family EV needs plenty of space for a growing family's things, like strollers , diaper bags , suitcases, and toys , so these do.