Our top 10 family cars
We pick the best for a mix of usability, running costs and space
FAMILY cars come in all shapes and sizes, catering for new families up to larger ones that need plenty of space for children and the clutter that can sometimes come with them.
We’re majoring on family-focused practicality here, with a range of top picks that include the humble compact family hatchback – of which there are a few new and improved examples on the market – to the cover-all solution that a sevenseat MPV or, increasingly, a large SUV provides.
We have petrol, diesel, hybrid and pure-electric power, depending on what you’re looking for, as well as cars that’ll keep keen drivers engaged. One thing they all have in common is they deliver the kind of versatility and usability that families need.
This wide breadth of models means there’s also a vehicle available for just about every budget, another key consideration for many people when selecting their next family car. Plus they should all be fuel-efficient and therefore cheap to run.
We’ll also give you some tips on what to look for in your next family car with our buying advice, and if you’re not fully sold on any of our top 10, there is a trio of talented alternatives to consider, plus two new cars that could be worth waiting for.
While eco cars have to be efficient and sports cars good fun, luxury cars quiet, comfy and full of tech and city cars easy to drive and cheap to run, the family-car class is arguably the most demanding. So with these attributes required, plus affordability, let’s see which cars make the cut, and why.