Top 10 towing EVs for active families

Whether your family's jam is surfing, skiing, snowboarding, running, team sports or hiking, some electric vehicles (EVs) cater for this better than others.

For families whose chosen pastimes require towing a trailer full of equipment, perhaps a boat or jet-skis, then it’s vital to understand that not all EVs can tow. And for those that do, battery range will diminish much more quickly, and finding a charging station that is usable with a trailer on the back can be challenging.

Even if you don’t intend to tow, the availability of a tow bar means you can attach bike racks, storage capsules or even hitch-mounted tents that have less effect on battery range than rooftop tents.

If you need ample room for surfboards or skis inside the vehicle needs rear seats with a 60:40 split or, even better, individual rear seats that can fold to make space for long items alongside you and the kids.

Life with inflatable paddle boards or boats is easier with an electric pump for inflation and deflation, so a household or 12V socket in the boot will be helpful for plugging in the pump.

For runners, whether it’s the bitumen or the trails, having a boot that fits a single or double running pram (and their oversized wheels) without a fuss is vital.

I have driven hundreds of cars with my family onboard over the last 10 years, so I’ve put together this list of five-seat EVs that have some great features for active families, ranked by towing capacity and battery range.

1. Porsche Cayenne S Electric: 3500kg towing capacity, 571km range

You’ll need a big budget, but the Porsche Cayenne S will reward you with the highest towing capacity of all the models on this list at up to 3500kg (depending on how you spec it), as well as three individually folding seatbacks, a big boot, and plenty of dealer-fitted roof carrying options.

This luxury five-seat large family SUV’s towing capacity makes it a great option for those who need to tow a horse float, big boat, or large caravan.

Its 571km battery range is also suitable for family road trips, allowing a morning of driving before needing to charge at a lunch stop while everyone's eating. Or enough to get you to a sports event and back again.

Porsche also offers a range of optional roof rails, roof carrier systems for extra storage, and equipment such as bikes and even a roof-top tent.

The interior is beautifully upholstered and very spacious. There are ISOFIX anchors in the two outer rear seats and top-tether points for all three rear seats, where three child seats fit nicely. Legroom is excellent, with room for a 186cm-tall driver in front of a rear-facing infant capsule.

All three rear seatbacks are individual, so families with one or two children in the back can fold one flat, using the electric adjustment, in order to transport longer items like surfboards and skis.

The Cayenne has a 90-litre frunk and big 781L boot, which is plenty for a twin running pram, your golf clubs, or your family’s sports gear.

Although there is no household power outlet, a 12-volt socket in the boot can power a pump or run a small fridge while travelling along.

2. Porsche Macan 4: 2500kg towing capacity, 509km range

Bear with me, I promise there are more affordable options further down this list! The Porsche Macan 4 is a luxury five-seat mid-size family SUV with 2500kg of towing capacity.

Its 509km battery range is more than enough for my family's week of school runs and after-school activities. It will easily get you to the kids’ away games and back at the weekend.

The Porsche Macan’s rear seats have individual seatbacks, so families that don’t need to use all three can lower one to load longer sports items like surfboards through from the boot into the cabin.

The Macan fits three child seats nicely across the back seats, although legroom is tighter for front occupants when the child seats are rear-facing.

Its 540L boot is generous enough to fit a good amount of sports gear, or a twin running pram fits with its big wheels removed, and there’s another 84L of storage in the frunk.

Unlike the Cayenne Electric, the Macan EV can be optioned with a 240-volt household power socket in the boot, allowing regular household appliances to be powered directly from the car.

3. Audi SQ6 e-tron: 2400kg towing capacity, 568km range

The Audi SQ6 e-tron is a luxury mid-size electric family SUV with 2400kg of towing capacity, which is enough to tow a decent-sized boat.

Its 568km battery range is enough for local driving during the week, before it needs topping up for a weekend trip to a sports game, and gives you some headroom for towing a camper trailer on weekends away.

Audi’s SQ6 e-tron has a clean and clutter free-interior and, although the rear seats will only fit two child seats as they’re not wide enough for a third, there is enough legroom for a 184cm driver to sit in front of a rear-facing child seat.

The good news for active families is that all three of the SQ6’s rear seatbacks are individual, so you can fold one forward to transport long sports items easily, while the 526L boot fits a double running pram and there is plenty of room for kids' sports gear or instruments.

There is also a 64L frunk and a 12V socket on the right side of the boot, which is the perfect location for plugging in an electric pump or travel fridge for family refreshments, although there is no household-style power socket.

4. KGM Musso EV AWD: 2300kg towing capacity, 380km range

The KGM Musso EV AWD is an electric ute option for active families who want to easily transport their bikes or camping gear, and the 2300kg braked towing capacity is pretty good for an EV of this size.

As well as being able to tow more than the Toyota HiLux BEV, the Musso EV has a fair bit more battery range, although its off-road ability is limited to unsealed roads, unlike the more go-anywhere (but not very far) Toyota.

The interior is modern and functional, with some good features for families. The rear seats have a backrest recline like the Kia Tasman and GWM Cannon Alpha, which can help with reducing head-flop for kids in forward-facing child seats.

It has ISOFIX points in the two outer rear seats and top-tether anchors in all three rear seats, making it one of few dual-cab utes that has the hardware to install three child seats in the back.

The 907L tray will easily fit a double running pram, surf boards, bikes, or whatever camping gear your active family needs, and is easily hosed out if the gear gets wet and muddy.

There’s no power outlet in the tray, but you can use an adapter to run mains-voltage devices from the charging socket when parked.

5. Polestar 3 Dual Motor: 2200kg towing capacity, 635km range

The Polestar 3 Dual Motor is a luxury five-seat electric family SUV with 2200kg of towing capacity and enough battery range to get your jet-skis to a distant boat ramp.

Creating the least anxiety on long journeys of all the cars on this list, the Polestar 3’s 635km range should be able to cover more than a family’s entire week of local driving before needing to charge.

I haven’t yet tried fitting child seats in the Polestar 3, but it has the hardware for three across with ISOFIX anchors in the two outer rear seats, and top-tether points on the back of all three.

For families that only need to use one or two of the outboard seats, there is a ski hatch in the central seatback.

With 597L of boot space, it should be practical for running prams and sports equipment.

The Polestar 3 also has a 23.8L frunk, and a good-sized storage area under the boot floor for the charging cables, first-aid kit, etc.

The Polestar 3 features a 12V socket on the right-hand side of the boot, which can power a travel fridge or a pump for camping gear, although there is no household-style socket for plugging in mains-voltage devices.

6. Toyota Hilux BEV: 2000kg towing capacity, 240km range

The Toyota Hilux BEV makes a practical option for active families who need to cart their bikes or camping gear easily, although its 2000kg towing capacity is a long way off the diesel version’s 3500kg, so you won’t be able to haul much more than a trailer.

If your kids are always at the local bike park or mountain bike track then the Hilux BEV could make carting their bikes around much easier. With a battery range of just 240km, it’s only really enough for local driving (but to be honest, still further than my kids get before they’re screaming for us to stop for a break).

The Hilux BEV has a functional interior with ISOFIX and top-tether mounts for the two outer rear seats only, where two child seats fit nicely. With forward-facing child seats there is very good legroom, but when the child seats are rear-facing you are limited to a 180cm driver in front, and there are no rear air vents.

Its 1000L tray easily fits a twin running pram or, for active families that like kayaking, surfing, camping or paddle boarding, you can easily throw all that in. I love the ease of a ute tray for putting the whole family's bikes or beach gear in the back on days out, and not worrying if your gear gets muddy, sandy or wet as you can hose it out afterwards.

You have the option to use the HiLux BEV off-road, so it does give families that flexibility, but city-dwelling families might run out of battery range before they reach the bush!

7. Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD: 1600kg towing capacity, 600km range

The Tesla Model Y is a very popular five-seat SUV with families. Its 1600kg towing capacity is enough for a small trailer and the one I tested was fitted with a bike rack on the tow hitch, which was excellent for my family.

For family life, the Tesla’s 600km of range is the best for the money in this list. You could do most family day trips or weekends away within that range, or you can get there and top it up while the kids’ games are underway.

The Model Y fits three child seats across its back seats, leaving legroom for a 180cm tall driver in front of rear-facing child seats.

Its 854L boot easily fits a twin running pram or your kids’ sports gear, and the Tesla has an 88L frunk too. The rear seatbacks are individual so you can fold one flat to accommodate long items when only using two of the rear seats.

The 12V socket in the boot makes pumping up tyres or water inflatables quick and simple on family days out, although the only way to run 240V electrical devices is via an adapter that plugs into the charging port while parked.

8. Deepal E07 Multitruck: 1500kg towing capacity, 550km range

The crazy-looking Deepal E07 Multitruck is where car meets ute and, in theory, it should be the height of practicality for active families. With a low 1500kg towing capacity you can get most things in the tray/boot and still tow a small trailer.

Purpose-made accessory ski carriers, bike holders, roof storage options and more are available for the Multitruck, too.

A battery range of 550km should get you through the week with ease, and a top-up will be required while you stop for lunch and a leg stretch on the way to the furthest-away game at the weekend.

The Deepal E07 Multitruck has ISOFIX mounts in the two outer rear seats and top-tether anchors in all three rear seats. I have not tested it yet, but it does have the hardware for three child seats in the back.

Boot/tray space is where this vehicle gets interesting for active households. Underneath the retractable glass boot lid is 524L of cargo space, but keep the lid retracted and it becomes a ute tray that promises to be practical for family life by transforming from a good-sized SUV boot to a bike-carrying tub when needed.

The interior is modern and luxurious, and the household-style power outlet in the tray allows you to take the travel fridge or pump up the paddle boards and bike tyres on the go.

9. Subaru Trailseeker AWD: 1500kg towing capacity, 533km range

Subaru’s Trailseeker AWD is a five-seat mid-size electric SUV with a 1500kg towing capacity, which is enough for a modest trailer full of outdoor gear.

Up to 533km of battery range is great for family life and ample to take everyone to their activities, while three child seats fit nicely across its back seats, leaving space for a 182cm-tall driver in front of rear-facing child seats.

A twin running pram fits easily in the 609L boot, but a 240V household socket for plugging in fridges or camping equipment only comes with the top-spec Touring version, which has a slightly smaller 595L boot and reduced 488km battery range.

There are lots of genuine accessories for active families you can add on to the Trailseeker, such as bike racks and ski holders.

10. Toyota bZ4X Touring: 1500kg towing capacity, 488km range

Much the same car as the Trailseeker, the Toyota bZ4X Touring is a five-seat electric family SUV with a 1500kg towing capacity – enough for small boat trailers or attaching bike racks to the tow hitch.

Boot space in the bZ4X Touring model is 603L, which is plenty of room for a twin running pram and, if you only need two child seats in the back, you can fold one seatback flat to accommodate longer equipment.

A 488km battery range is plenty for the school run as well as everyone's extra-curricular activities before needing to charge.

Three child seats fit across the rear seats in the bZ4X Touring, with room for a 182cm tall driver in front of a rear-facing child seat, or a taller driver ahead of forward-facing child restraints.

There’s a household electrical socket on the right-hand side of the boot, which can power a travel fridge or camping gear.

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