Honda Fit EV

Despite what friends and family might tell you, however, you don’t need a big gas-guzzling car to raise a family. Check out three electric vehicles that can work well for family life.

Car and Driver’s drive review of the Honda Fit EV in its May 2013 issue is pretty much what you would expect from an auto buff rag: a brutal take-down on electric vehicles. But to dismiss the review as a bad review of a single electric car—or as standard fare from gearheads who revel in the rev of a gas-powered engine—would be to miss an opportunity to better understand persistent resistance to EVs.

Though still a lease-only vehicle, the Honda Fit EV will begin to arrive at select East Coast dealership later this month. Priced at $389 per month for a 36-month lease, it's unlikely the Fit EV can compete with substantially cheaper electric offerings.