In association with Pod
Electric Car Awards 2025: Best electric family car
With fully electric and plug-in hybrid cars now coming in all shapes and sizes, we’ve named the best new and used buys in every class. Here we look at the best electric family cars...
Cupra Born 59kWh e-boost 230 V1
Psychologists think birth order can affect the way children develop certain behavioural traits. This sees the eldest child tending to fall into the stereotype of being ‘the mature one’, while the youngest tends to be a bit more outgoing and fun-loving. Well, it’s fair to say that the Cupra Born follows that pattern.
You see, while our favourite electric family car is closely related to the Volkswagen ID 3, the Born arrived a little later with a slightly more vibrant take on life. It looks more exuberant outside and is smarter and plusher inside. And – in true Cupra style – it’s also more fun to drive.
Even our preferred entry-level V1 version looks and feels the part, with its 19in alloy wheels, copper highlights inside and out, a sports steering wheel and supportive front seats that hold you in place when you want to drive with a bit more gusto. And that’s something the Born will encourage you to do more often than the ID 3.
Its 228bhp electric motor unlocks a 6.7sec 0-62mph time; that makes it noticeably swifter than the Renault Megane and most versions of the ID 3, and that extra pace isn’t squandered on a twisty road. Indeed, the Born outhandles its rivals, feeling keener to turn in to corners and being endowed with plenty of grip and neat body control. And when the mood takes you, the sharpest driving modes are accessed via a handy dedicated button on the steering wheel, rather than via a fiddly touchscreen menu.
It’s true that both the Megane and MG 4 Long Range can travel farther on a fully charged battery, but the Born’s 264-mile official range will cover several days’ worth of short trips, and it’s still 24 miles more than our favourite Pure Match version of the ID 3. It’s also worth noting the Born’s battery can be topped up quicker than any MG 4’s or Megane’s, taking 24 minutes to charge from 10-80%, with a peak rate of 165kW.
Practicality is far from forgotten, either; there’s plenty of room for four six-footers and more rear seat space than in the Megane. And while that car has a bigger boot, the Born can still hold six carry-on suitcases; that’s one more than the ID 3 can handle, thanks to the Born’s load area being a slightly more practical shape.
Make no mistake: the ID 3 is also a fantastic electric family car. It’s just that its younger stablemate is even better in lots of small ways that really add up. Yes, the Born costs a little more to buy, but that money goes a long way. And that’s before we even mention the Born’s five-year warranty trouncing the ID 3’s three-year cover.
Best used electric family car
Cupra Born 58kWh V1 (2022-present)
Price from £16,000
Worth the small premium over a used Volkswagen ID 3 for its sharper handling and more appealing interior. A comfortable ride and decent range are additional benefits.
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