There is a car for every stage of life. Whether it’s the used car in which you learn to drive or the hard-earned upgrade after landing that new job, every car plays a different role. So, when it’s time to start or expand a family, you’d better make sure you have the right car for the job. This will be the car in which you’ll make countless school runs, watch your children grow out of their booster seats, and probably have to endure many repetitions of “are we there yet” on family holidays. No ordinary car can handle that, and that’s why we’ve compiled a list of the best family cars in the UK.
Many types of cars have been included, including SUVs, saloons, and estates. Whether you’re looking for the best family cars for camping or the best budget family cars to save money for a family holiday test, we have something for you.
MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF A FAMILY CAR
As we mentioned earlier, not just any car can make a good family car. In addition to the usual expectations you’d have from a car, such as its performance, durability, reliability, and appearance, family cars need to have that little something extra to meet the challenge of being the faithful steed of your family unit.
When considering what we think are the best family cars for 2020, we took 4 main qualities into account.
- Rear Seat Space
One of the most important factors is the amount of space in the back of a family car. Cramped rear seats will always lead to school squabbles and make holiday drives feel endless. Not to mention the space needed for baby or booster seats, or the irritation that can arise when there’s no middle seat, family cars are going to need plenty of space in the back and in the boot for the weekly shop, inflated bags, pushchairs, and everything else that comes with a family. - Good Child Safety
Efficient performance and practicality aren’t enough for a family car. It must also be safe. Fortunately, most cars come standard with excellent safety features, and many on this list have the latest means of protecting your children. These features go far beyond the simple child locks and adequate space for child seats that were expected in older vehicles. Some of the features you should look for are active stability systems and brake assist to help limit passenger jolts, power window switches and electric windows with an anti-pinch or auto-reverse system to protect children’s hands, and the ISOFIX or LATCH system to help child safety seats be installed quickly and securely.
- Fuel Economy
As with any car these days, good fuel economy can make the difference between a used vehicle and the best in its class. For a family car, it’s doubly important to reduce costs and not have to refuel as often, saving you time. A good target when considering fuel economy is to try to find a car that does around 40 miles per gallon. 40 miles per gallon will give you a decent range and won’t break the bank. Even better, most of the 40 mpg cars on our list are surprisingly affordable, so you won’t have to spend a fortune on your new fuel-efficient family carrier. - Inexpensive to Maintain
Having a family is a bit like signing a phone contract – they always come with a host of costs you had no idea about before signing up. So it’s extremely important that when choosing a car, you try to pick one that won’t add to the expenses. This means the cars on our list are reliable and unlikely to break down, will have parts that can be replaced cheaply, and their maintenance (the type of oil needed, for example) won’t eat into your family budget more than necessary.
BEST FAMILY CARS IN THE UK
1. KIA CEED ESTATE
Kia has a reputation for being as good as anything out there, and the Ceed is no exception. This affordable saloon is one of the best family cars for 5 people, with impressive technical features fitted as standard with a 1.0 or 1.4 litre petrol engine or a 1.6 litre diesel engine. These will achieve between 52 and 74mpg respectively.
2. DACIA DUSTER
Finding some of the best cheap family cars is a real challenge, but the Dacia Duster is hard to beat for space and functionality, especially given its extremely affordable price. It may lack some technology, but the sacrifices are worth it, and it will certainly get you, your family, and all your gear where you need to go.
3. TOYOTA COROLLA
This incredibly modern and attractive hatchback might seem a bit pricey, starting from £24,140, but that gets you a hybrid powertrain and a powerful 2.0 litre engine, with 16-inch alloys, adaptive cruise control, a 4.2-inch TFT screen between the dials, and heated front seats with lumbar support as standard, offering great comfort for the whole family.
4. FORD GALAXY
The Galaxy has long been a staple for families, and that doesn’t look set to change. On the latest model, they’ve increased the interior space to make it even more spacious and packed it with tons of luxury features. If you’re looking for one of the best 7-seater family cars with comfort and style, look no further.
5. SUBARU OUTBACK
The Subaru Outback offers a practical and reliable alternative to SUVs and saloons, providing excellent load space, good ground clearance, and even off-road capabilities, making it a great car for family adventures. The 2.5 litre or turbocharged 2.4 litre engines offer plenty of power, but only 33 mpg.
6. VOLKSWAGEN TOURAN
The Touran is made for family life and comes with seven seats as standard. The second and third rows can be folded down to create a flat floor. With five seats in place, up to 917 litres of boot space is offered. You can also fit three Isofix child seats in the second row and two more in the back.
7. VAUXHALL ZAFIRA TOURER
The Zafira Tourer is a more upmarket compact MPV with three rows of cleverly folding seats and is probably the most handsome MPV on the market. Starting from the relatively affordable £21,000, the diesel ecoFlex stop-start version now averages nearly 69 mpg, resulting in decidedly tax-friendly CO2 levels. Even the 1.4 litre will do around 45 mpg.
8. VOLKSWAGEN MULTIVAN
The VW Multivan is less of a big car and more of a small room. You can actually stand up and walk around in it, as the middle section is huge and perfect for a large or growing family. The seats also swivel, and you can move them back and forth on rails. It’s a truly versatile family car.
9. RENAULT TRAFIC
The Renault Trafic is an excellent all-round vehicle that is popular in Europe and has generous equipment levels to make it a comfortable drive for the whole family. It has an efficient engine and a very responsive automatic gearbox that will reduce driving stress, even if the children don’t.