What are the best small family cars?

Finding the perfect car for your family is no small feat. You need something spacious, economical yet powerful, and of course, safe and reliable. But you don’t want to spend a fortune or end up with a car so large it’s a nightmare to park. You want a family car, but small. A small family car, if you will. Something that can thread through city streets but also take the gang on a weekend getaway. A blend of practicality and efficiency.

Such cars exist, and there are lots of them. So we’ve compiled a list of the best small family cars available today, covering a range of body styles and fuel types. Read on and find out the pros and cons of each one, all to help you make an informed decision about your next car

Best overall small family car: Skoda Octavia

The Skoda Octavia has been a family favourite for years, and for very good reason. It sets benchmarks for practicality and spaciousness, with a massive 590-litre boot that’s as roomy as many much larger cars. It’s efficient, too, with petrol and plug-in hybrid versions available, and both hatchback and estate models, too. The interior, while not exactly luxurious, is durable for family life, and it’s terrific value for money when you consider the amount of car you get for your cash. Is it exciting? Not really. Is it fun to drive? Nope. But it’s entirely capable in just about every area, and absolutely outstanding in lots.

Best affordable small family car: Dacia Sandero

If you’re on a tight budget, the Dacia Sandero is hard to beat. Dacia has built a justifiable reputation for creating cars that undercut just about everything on price, but not on quality and usability. The Sandero is one of the most affordable new cars on the market, but it boasts impressive interior space and a comfortable ride. A facelift in 2023 improved cabin quality and added extra safety features, and it should prove pretty reliable, too. That said, its safety feature list lags somewhat behind other manufacturers (Dacia doesn’t think people want to pay for them), which could put some people off. And the tech offerings, while adequate, aren’t as impressive as more expensive cars. Still, think of all the money you’re saving.

Best hybrid small family car: Toyota Corolla

To save an extra few quid on fuel, you could consider a hybrid, which mixes petrol power with an electric motor. Toyota has decades of hybrid experience, and the Corolla promises north of 60mpg and unrivalled reliability, while still providing space for all the family. Not the most space, mind – if you carry lots of stuff or have gangly teenagers in the back, you might want to consider the Touring Sport estate version instead. But if your occupants fit the bill, they’ll experience a quiet and refined ride while you smugly smile to yourself about how low your fuel bills are.

Best small electric family car: Renault Megane E-Tech Electric

Renault's latest Megane is a world away from the cars of the same name that preceded it, and not just because it’s completely electric. This is a hatchback that looks a bit like an SUV, can manage up to 280 miles on battery power alone and has lots of space inside for fulfilling family duties. The design is achingly modern, the cabin feels like a much more premium car and its tech is super-advanced, especially in 2024-onwards cars, which should impress the kids. Downsides? The boot isn’t the biggest, and it doesn’t feel as sporty as Renault would have you believe. Those are minor quibbles, however.

Best small family SUV: Renault Captur

There’s a reason the world has gone mad for SUVs. The high ride height and, often, extra space over a hatchback is particularly appealing for families, and we reckon the latest Renault Captur is the pick of the small family SUVs right now. Clever features, like a sliding rear bench that let you prioritise legroom or boot space, give it flexibility in its practicality, and it’s available as a full-hybrid or a plug-in hybrid to enhance fuel economy and save pennies at the pumps. A smooth ride and a fantastic infotainment system are the icing on the cake. Sure, it’s not particularly engaging to drive, and it gets pricey if you go for one of the fully loaded top trims, but for family transport with a raised ride height, there’s not much better.

Best small family car for safety: Volkswagen Golf

Volkswagen doesn’t make a particular song and dance about how safe its ever-popular Golf hatchback is, but it’s hiding its light under a bushel. With great ratings from independent safety organisation Euro NCAP, it’s packed with safety features as standard across all models. And on top of that, it’s a great car – full of infotainment tech, refined and comfortable, and equally happy nipping around town or trekking across the countryside. It’s a remarkably solid all-rounder.