The Best Electric SUV For Less Than $50,000 For Growing Families

What’s the best all-electric SUV for growing families that don’t have a seven-figure annual income or a trust fund they inherited from a tech tycoon uncle? Well, there are more great electric vehicle options out there today than there have ever been before, but one model priced at less than $50,000 is ideal for parents with small children.

There’s one critical amenity that sets this utility vehicle apart from nearly all its rivals. And no, it’s not hands-free driving capability, enough range to drive across the country on a single charge, or even warp drive levels of acceleration. The feature in question is much more understated than that, but also far more practical: a third-row seat.

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including Edmunds.com and KBB.com.

The Tesla Model Y Serves As The Perfect Budget EV For Growing Families

Unlike nearly every other SUV in its price range, the Tesla Model Y is offered with an available third-row seat and room for up to seven people. Now don’t get too excited, this rear-most bench is a tight fit for adult passengers, but it’s the perfect place to put children. Be aware, that the third row does cost an extra $2,000, and it’s only available on the Long Range all-wheel-drive model, but it’s still a handy feature to have. Unfortunately, you can’t get seating for seven in the base, rear-drive version of the Model Y or even in the fancier Performance trim.

Specifications

Of course, aside from that, this Tesla has plenty of other feathers in its proverbial cap, attributes that make it an excellent choice for families. Another benefit of this electric SUV is its excellent safety ratings. The Model Y earned a five-star score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). These are the highest awards each organization hands out.

Awards From Top Safety Agencies

If a collision is unavoidable, you should be well protected in this Tesla, but it’s far better to prevent a crash in the first place than deal with the consequences afterward. Fortunately, the Model Y comes with plenty of standard safety equipment, features like automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and blind spot monitoring to name just a few.

You’ll Be Well Protected In A Crash

With a rigid body structure and low center of gravity thanks to the husky battery pack that’s mounted in the floor (a feature common to nearly every modern EV), this Tesla is extremely safe both in a wreck and while navigating corners. The laundry list of advanced driver assistance technologies not only eases the captain’s burdens, but also helps prevent collisions before they even happen.

Proven Reliability And Long-Term Durability

Of course, no vehicle is perfect, but EVs do have one huge advantage over their combustion-powered counterparts: they have way fewer moving parts. There are no piston rings or valve keepers, bearing inserts, timing chains, camshafts, exhaust manifolds, or any of the sensors needed by a modern engine. With dramatically fewer moving parts, there’s that much less to go wrong.

Thanks to Tesla’s proven technology, the Model Y should be very reliable. Backing this up, the automaker provides a generous 8-year/120,000-mile battery warranty, whichever comes first. Additionally, real-world data suggests that degradation of the pack is estimated to only be around 10 to 15 percent over the course of 200,000 miles, longer than many drivers would keep the vehicle.

There’s Very Little Maintenance To Do

Another advantage of EVs, which partly stems from their reduced parts count, is that they require far less maintenance than gasoline- or diesel-powered vehicles. There are no spark plugs to replace, no engine air filters to worry about, no catalytic converters to lose sleep over and you never have to change any crankcase oil.

Keeping their vehicles fresh, Tesla is also very good about pushing out software updates. These are enhancements that help modernize their EVs by fixing potential issues and adding new functionality.

Over-The-Air Updates and Continual Improvement

With its minimal maintenance requirements, proven battery technology and over-the-air-update capability, the Model Y should be a very dependable EV. Additionally, since this vehicle has been in production for several years, engineers should have ironed out any major mechanical issues.

The Model Y has had numerous recalls, as many as 22 for the 2020 model year, though these have dropped to almost nothing in subsequent years, further proof that Tesla has been squashing bugs and fixing problems.

A Spacious And Comfortable Ride For Families

As mentioned earlier, the third-row seat in this SUV is not particularly large, but the rest of the cabin has plenty of room. There’s ample passenger space in the first- and second-row seats, with nearly 42 inches of legroom up front and almost 41 in the middle row. Additionally, these seats should be pleasingly comfortable, and cushy yet also supportive.

The Tesla Model Y Is Practical For Kids And Parents

Aside from passengers, the Model Y also has a surprising amount of cargo space. Fold the rear two rows down and this SUV has 67.9 cubic feet of junk-hauling room. When you factor in the front trunk, which clocks in at 4.1 cubic feet, you get a total of 72 cubes, which is more than offered by a Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Underscoring this Tesla’s family-focused bonafides, the vehicle also has a range of child-friendly features. This includes a low step-in height, easy-to-access rear doors and built-in child locks, so kids can’t open the doors at inopportune moments. There’s also a standard glass roof for added headroom and an airy feel inside.

A Great Road Trip Vehicle

Thanks to the Model Y’s large cargo area, respectable interior storage compartments, and generous amounts of passenger space in the first two rows, this Tesla is a great road trip vehicle. It also has room for up to seven people or plenty of sports gear, luggage, strollers, or groceries.

There are two other aspects of the Model Y that make it a great cross-country cruiser. One is the generous range this vehicle provides. The Long Range all-wheel-drive trim is rated at an exceedingly impressive 311 miles on a charge when fitted with standard 19-inch wheels. The base version of this SUV has even longer legs, and 337 miles of range according to the U.S. EPA. But even if you opt for the Performance trim (which can hit 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds), the distance this SUV can drive on charge is still pretty impressive: 277 miles.

The other attribute of the Model Y that makes it such a great road trip vehicle is how quickly it DC fast-charges. When hooked to an appropriate charger, this Tesla can absorb around 215 miles of range – hitting roughly an 80-percent state of charge – in just 28 minutes.

Affordable Ownership And Long-Term Savings

The Tesla Model Y offers a lot of great features, though this vehicle is also a good value. The base price for an entry-level model is currently $46,630 including $1,390 in destination and a non-refundable $250 order fee. The Long Range all-wheel-drive model is a touch pricier, checking out for around $51,630 with delivery, the order fee, and $2,000 for the optional third-row seat.

Making this SUV even more affordable, however, it should still be eligible for up to $7,500 in federal tax credits. Be aware, though, with the new presidential administration it remains to be seen how much longer this discount will be available.

EVs Can Save You Big Money

Beyond all that, you’ll also save money by charging the Model Y at home compared to buying gasoline. There are some variables, but Tesla estimates this vehicle can save you $6,000 over five years compared to a car that gets 25 miles per gallon (this includes 10,000 miles per year, gas priced at $3.90 per gallon and electricity going for 16 cents per kilowatt-hour).

Another big advantage of this vehicle is instant and unfettered access to

Tesla’s industry-leading Supercharger network.
There are some 60,000 locations around the world, plenty of which are spread across the U.S., making it a snap to drive across your home state or even the country if you want.

An Excellent Choice For Families

Overall, the Tesla Model Y is an excellent all-electric SUV for families thanks to its spacious cabin and available third-row seat. Additionally, this vehicle can help you save big money on fuel, maintenance, and repairs, plus it’s extremely safe, offers great technology, and should last for many years and hundreds of thousands of miles. The current version of this utility vehicle is already a strong offering, but

Tesla will be offering even more with the “Juniper” update
, it promises to bring some welcome enhancements to the Model Y, interior and exterior cosmetic tweaks, and likely some technical upgrades as well.