What are the best family cars?

Choosing the perfect car for you and your family can make life easier for everyone. Whether it’s the school run, a day out with the grandparents or a long drive to your holiday cottage in the Cotswolds, finding the right car for the job can make all the difference. The best family cars keep both kids and grown-ups comfortable and safe, and offer plenty of space for people and all the things they bring with them.

How we chose these cars

For this guide, we’ve factored in all of the above and used our expertise to come up with our top ten family cars. We’ve been careful to make sure there are options to suit a variety of budgets and family sizes, and although our focus is on used cars many of these are also available brand-new. Here, in no particular order, are our recommendations for the best family cars you can buy.

1. Dacia Jogger

You might not be familiar with the Dacia Jogger but if you want maximum practicality for the lowest price, and you want the newest car possible, maybe you should get to know it better. Dacia is a Romanian car brand owned by Renault that makes the UK’s cheapest new car, the Sandero. The Jogger costs a bit more than that but it’s by far the cheapest new seven-seater car you can buy. 

It’s not just the low price that makes the Jogger so appealing. The front two rows of seats offer vast headroom and legroom and, unlike some seven-seaters, the Jogger has enough space in the two third-row seats for adults to sit comfortably. When you don’t need them they can be folded away, or removed altogether for a boot that puts most large SUVs to shame. All versions have low running costs, and there’s the option of a hybrid version that gives almost 60mpg, according to official figures.

2. Skoda Kodiaq

When it comes to ticking the boxes for what makes a great family car, few cars tick as many as the Skoda Kodiaq. Roomy? Check. Comfortable? Check. Full of safety gadgets? Check. Great value? Check. All of this is wrapped up in a subtly stylish SUV that’s easy to park, despite being able to carry up to seven people. Five-seat and seven-seat versions are available – it’s easy to fold away the seven-seater’s third-row seats and in five-seat mode both have a huge boot. 

Inside and out the Kodiaq has a high-quality look and feel, yet it costs less than equivalent premium-brand SUVs. The wealth of high-tech gadgets it comes with is impressive, as are a  range of features that Skoda calls ‘Simply Clever’. These include a ticket holder for the windscreen, bespoke umbrellas concealed in the front doors and an ice scraper that clips out of the fuel filler cap – all things that help to make your sometimes frantic and fast-paced family life on the move that bit easier.

3. Citroen C5 Aircross

Comfort is what the Citroen C5 Aircross does best, with a smooth ride, cushy seats and a quiet interior. None of which guarantee that long journeys with your offspring will be peaceful and stress-free, but it certainly might help!

The C5 Aircross is also one of the few five-seater cars that has space for three child seats across the back seat, which could be a deal-breaker for some families. Few SUVs this size are as cost-effective as the C5 Aircross – as well as being comparatively cheap to buy it has a range of petrol or diesel engines that give excellent fuel economy.

4. Tesla Model 3

There are lots of electric cars that make great family cars but the Tesla Model 3 is one of the best. It’s the only saloon car on this list but it has a lot of space inside and a large boot. There’s also a ‘frunk’ (front trunk) under the bonnet – an extra storage space that’s large enough to carry more than just the charging cables. 

It’s been around a while but the Tesla Model 3 remains at the cutting edge of technology, with a minimalist, high-tech interior and a longer battery range than many similar EVs. Many versions will cover more than 300 miles with a fully charged battery, according to official figures, and that’s probably further than you can go on a family trip without someone needing a ‘comfort break’. Fast and stylish, the Model 3 is more affordable than you might think and gives you access to the excellent Tesla Supercharger network of chargers.

5. Volvo XC40

Volvo nailed it with its first compact SUV, the XC40. It doesn’t hurt that the XC40 looks great and is available with a range of gorgeous colour combinations, but there’s a lot more to it than good design. It’s also got a very family-friendly interior, with ample space for four adults, lots of storage areas for clutter (including huge door bins) and a big boot. 

It comes with a mass of high-tech safety kit, including features that read the road ahead and can brake or even steer the car to help prevent a collision. Most XC40s have an automatic gearbox and, in addition to petrol and diesel models, there’s the choice of a pure-electric version.

6. Skoda Superb Estate

Only the largest SUVs can match the Skoda Superb Estate for load space, so if you want to take everything along for the family holiday or you have some hairy, four-legged family members that take up boot space it’s an excellent fit. 

Back-seat legroom is vast, which allows everyone to stretch out and makes it less likely that your little darlings will spend their journeys kicking the seats in front. There are lots of different versions to choose from – some give you just the basics while others allow you to travel in the lap of luxury, but all offer great value for money.

7. Kia Niro

If you’re looking for a family car that could reduce your carbon footprint, look no further than the Kia Niro. Unusually, it’s available either as a hybrid, plug-in hybrid or pure-electric model. The hybrid version is the cheapest to buy, but the plug-in hybrid could be a good choice if you have a home charger, while the electric version could give even lower running costs and has a battery range of about 280 miles. 

The latest Niro (pictured) – introduced in 2022 – is a sharp-looking car that blends bits of hatchback and SUV. It’s very spacious given that it’s no longer than most mid-sized hatchbacks and the interior has a high-end, high-tech look. Even the entry-level versions are well-equipped, with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration, LED headlights and a rear-view camera.

8. Peugeot 5008

If you want MPV-style practicality but prefer the rugged looks and raised driving position of an SUV the Peugeot 5008 could be the car for you. It’s basically a longer version of the hugely popular 3008, with seven seats rather than five. Legroom and headroom in the pair of third-row seats is limited but they’re perfect if friends or family members decide to tag along on a day trip. 

Another MPV-style bonus is the fact that the 5008 has three individual second-row seats, each usefully wide and with an Isofix child seat fitting. Quiet engines and a smooth ride help to keep the peace on board. While the 5008’s high-tech dashboard design and unusually small steering wheel take a bit of getting used to, the interior is exceptionally stylish and feels built to withstand the demands of family life.

9. Audi Q5

Audi makes a lot of SUVs of varying sizes but you’d be hard pushed to find one that’s a better all-rounder, or as well-suited to family life, as the Audi Q5. You might call it ‘right-sized’, for a start, offering masses of passenger space and a big boot, without being as immense as the Q7. The rear seat back has a 40/20/40 split-folding function (most cars have a 60/40 split) that makes it easy to adapt to different needs and most versions have a sliding rear seat that allows you to prioritise legroom or load space. Great for those trips to the tip, or if you want to chuck your child’s bike in the back. 

As well as being versatile the Q5’s interior is beautifully designed and feels rock-solid. The feelgood factor continues with a comfortable ride, some powerful engine options and, with every version, the reassurance of four-wheel drive.

10. Volkswagen Touran

We couldn’t have a list of the best family cars without at least one MPV and our recommendation is the Volkswagen Touran – a seven-seater that takes up little more space on the road than a Ford Focus. While it doesn’t have the sliding side doors of some MPVs the Touran gives you the kind of space and versatility that makes journeys with lots of people less stressful. From large door openings that make it easy to get child seats in and out to third-row seats that fold away in an instant, it’s a car entirely geared towards family life. 

Just as impressive is that despite its spacious interior the Touran feels much like a Volkswagen Golf when you’re behind the wheel. Ownership costs are more akin to a hatchback than an MPV, too, and because it’s been around for a while there are some very affordable second hand VW Touran’s out there.