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Original poster

Best fully electric family car

110 replies

mobear · 29/12/2021 14:04

Any recommendations? We’re only a family of 3 but would like extra space for camping/ driving holidays and ferrying DS’ friends around when he’s older. We’re currently looking at the Kia e-niro or Audi Q4 and likely to run it into the ground rather than upgrade.

OP posts:
CrimbleCrumble1 · 02/01/2022 17:16

It’s this one I think.

Best fully electric family car
Original poster
mobear · 02/01/2022 17:17

@CrimbleCrumble1 Did you have to pay for it when you ordered it? I’m hoping they’re not expecting it all up front when there’s a 10 month wait for delivery.

OP posts:
CrimbleCrumble1 · 02/01/2022 17:20

No, I think we only paid £1000 deposit.

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OwBist · 02/01/2022 17:31

I have a Kona from Onto. The range and "toys" have been fine for me, but then I also have easy access to a lot of charging points. Onto don't have a massive range, so it may not work, but it will let you know if you can live with a fully electric car.

SadieAdler · 02/01/2022 17:38

We have a Q4. It was a cancelled order, so we got it about 2 weeks after we first enquired. Audi gave us a free Pod Point, although to buy it would only be a few hundred pounds.

I love the Q4, it's as big as a Q5, with a bigger boot. My advice is to upgrade to the 40 (at least) for the increased range. They claim it's 316 but our dealer told us to expect 260/270.

Q4's take months just now though...so I'd check a few dealers and see what they have available.

Original poster
mobear · 02/01/2022 18:07

@SadieAdler 10 months, I was told! We’re not in a rush though, what is important is that we get the right car.

OP posts:
Shade17 · 02/01/2022 18:17

Also consider the level of performance you require. I didn’t even bother testing the Q4 due to lack of performance.

SadieAdler · 02/01/2022 18:17

@mobear From what I have seen on Q4 forums, peoples delivery dates are getting continually pushed back. The value of ours has gone up because people want one quicker. But if you're willing to wait, fair enough. I love ours...but it has its flaws in my opinion. Mostly around the fact that very little comes as standard with the car, including a lot of things that people assume are standard. If you decide to go for a Q4 be very sure what all the optional extras are, especially if you are choosing to discount them. We have an S-Line and front parking sensors don't even come as standard for example. As our previous car had then we didn't want to go without so could only go for one which had the comfort and sound upgrade.

RandomMess · 02/01/2022 18:22

I loved the E-Niro on test drive and had great reviews on Honest John and another website, possibly Top Gear??

Original poster
mobear · 02/01/2022 18:27

@SadieAdler Thanks for the tip! I think we’ll go for the middle or high end spec if we go with the Q4. Our current car is a low-tech 10 year old hatchback so I’m sure anything will feel like a vast improvement! (I didn’t even know you could get front sensors!). We also plan to test drive the Kia and the Tesla Model 3, but I’ll look into the other suggestions on this thread tonight.

OP posts:
Original poster
mobear · 02/01/2022 18:27

@Shade17 What do you mean by performance?

OP posts:
Original poster
mobear · 02/01/2022 18:28

@RandomMess It is really well-reviewed, I just don’t like the interior, but maybe it will bowl me over when I test drive it.

OP posts:
Shade17 · 02/01/2022 18:30

What do you mean by performance?

Acceleration etc. You’ll see the difference when you test drive the Q4 and the Tesla. For me, one of the main selling points of an EV is the grunt.

BonnesVacances · 02/01/2022 18:31

[quote mobear]@YesitsBess That’s kind of the way we view it, we don’t drive a long distances often and live in London so I’m guessing we’ll figure it out as we go along![/quote]
Have you considered a plug in hybrid? They have an approx 30 mile electric range for short journeys. Then your long distances will be on fuel with no range anxiety.

RandomMess · 02/01/2022 18:32

It was good on all the speed bumps and pot holes and great on the hilly motorway too.

The passenger seat had really spacious knee/leg room which is something most cars don't have but an essential on our list 🤣

Oblahdeeoblahdoe · 02/01/2022 18:42

My SiL had a Tesla for 4 years and said he'd never have another one. It had loads of problems and spent a lot of time in the garage being repaired. We're going to test drive a Kia EV6 and an Ioniq. The Jaguar iPace looks great but I can't justify the extra ££££s

WouldIBeATwat · 02/01/2022 20:26

@Shade17

What do you mean by performance?

Acceleration etc. You’ll see the difference when you test drive the Q4 and the Tesla. For me, one of the main selling points of an EV is the grunt.

I thought that. I was mildly impressed.

Then I got in my jap import and drove home laughing. Just doesn’t compare for me.

(Am on the list to try a Tesla but not holding out much hope.)

Original poster
mobear · 02/01/2022 20:46

@Shade17 Performance isn’t very important to me, and what put me off about the Tesla was the cabin noise on motorways and the fact you have to do everything through the touch screen. I could probably get used to it but DP would struggle. That said, we’re still going to give it a test drive.

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Original poster
mobear · 02/01/2022 20:48

@BonnesVacances We’re trying to future proof as we will probably run this car into the ground. I think you also loose internal space with a hybrid, having to house both a battery and an engine? I remember years ago my parents looked at the Prius but the battery took up so much room and they couldn’t afford to loose the boot space.

OP posts:
Scottishnewbie2022 · 02/01/2022 20:50

I desperately want an Eniaq (totally not how you spell it!)

Shade17 · 02/01/2022 20:51

I thought that. I was mildly impressed.

Then I got in my jap import and drove home laughing. Just doesn’t compare for me.

Yeah, the Enyaq is dog shit in terms of performance, absolutely no point in buying an EV that slow. EVs are a bit of a one-trick pony but laugh-out-loud when you’re in a quick one.

Riverlee · 02/01/2022 20:51

We have a Tesla and love it. My dh loves driving it, and soon adapted to the touch screen. He worried about driving long distances and having to top up, but found it not to be a problem - he would have stopped and got a coffee/toilet stop anyway. As a passenger, it’s very smooth and my tall dc fit comfortably in it.

Fifth Gear are currently doing a series called Fifth Gear Recharge which is solely focusing on electric cars.

fifth gear recharged

Indecisivelurcher · 02/01/2022 20:54

I've got an electric MG5 estate and it's great. So great that my mums just got one too!

user1477249785 · 02/01/2022 20:57

I have a Hyundai kona and I don't love it. If I were buying now, I'd buy the new VW which looks awesome

SellFridges · 02/01/2022 20:57

We also have a Tesla and it’s safe to say we are in love. Had it four months and no complaints at all from us. It’s ridiculously fast, looks good and as it’s a company car it’s actually costing less than our old car before we even think about fuel. We had a BMW Active Tourer previously and the boot space on the Tesla is a bit bigger, especially when you count the Frunk. We comfortably had five people in it for long ish journeys over Christmas.

We reliably get 230 miles from it on long journeys and usually top it up when we stop for a wee.