The best family cars, according to experts

Finding the best family car can feel like an overwhelming journey. After all, it’s not only a big-ticket purchase, but it will also be a key component in the lives of you and your family for years to come.

So, it’s natural to want to do your due diligence and choose the right one for your particular household and needs. 

To ensure we provide the best, most reliable information for such an important investment, we’ve teamed up with auto experts and gathered their recommendations on the best cars for families, as well as their key advice to consider before making the big decision.

Read more: 15 handy car accessories you need in your car

The best family cars in the UK

Best overall family car

Honda Accord

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From £12,950 at Cinch

Best used family car

Toyota Camry

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From £24,500 at Cinch

Best large family car

Land Rover Range Rover Evoque

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From £15,850 at Cinch

Best small family car

Ford Fiesta Zetec

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From £7,500 at Cinch

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What is the best family car?

Ah, a common question — and, unfortunately, one without a simple answer.

Depending on your lifestyle, family set up, activity preferences, pets and average miles driven, your ideal family car will differ.

So, rather than focus on the best style of car, it’s more important to consider the key factors that go into deciding which car is best for your family.

Joe Giranda, Director of Sales and Marketing for CFR Classic, confirms this approach, stating there are many important factors to consider when choosing the best family car.

‘A great family car should be roomy, reliable and fuel-efficient while also providing enough power for easy acceleration and overtaking,’ he advises.

‘Additionally, safety features like airbags and lane departure warnings should be taken into account when selecting your vehicle.’

What features should you look for in an ideal family car? 

Like Giranda, Matthew Walters, Head of Consultancy Services and Customer Value at LeasePlan UK, stresses the importance of considering key factors when car shopping, and reveals a general guide of what features to look for when buying the best family car.

Safety

‘This is arguably the most important aspect and shouldn’t be compromised on, but luckily modern cars tend to be well-equipped. 

‘Euro NCAP ratings are designed to offer a user-friendly comparison of safety features fitted to new vehicles — including detailed information about occupant protection and

technology which can prevent a crash in the first place. However, it’s worth bearing in mind that the testing became a lot tougher in 2020, and this is reflected in lower scores even for comparable cars.’

Practicality

‘Think carefully about how you use your car. If local parking is limited, and you don’t have regular load-carrying needs, it could be worth considering a smaller car. 

‘ISOFIX mounting points are a must if you have young children, as they make it easy to secure booster seats, but options for larger families are still quite limited. Booster seats are a requirement for children under 12 years old or 135cm tall, and even some large SUVs don’t have space for more than two in the back.’ 

Budget and running costs

‘Most new car buyers are using Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) or Personal Contract Hire (PCH or leasing), which both effectively cover the cost of the depreciation during the vehicle’s first few years on the road rather than the full price and keep the monthly costs low.  

‘Each has its own advantages; PCP has options to buy the vehicle outright at the end of the term, PCH is more like a long-term rental and enables you to bundle all running costs apart from the fuel into a fixed monthly payment for easier budgeting. 

‘The common factor is that monthly costs will favour cars that hold their value well — so that premium-brand model could be more affordable than expected.’

What cars would you avoid for families and why? 

Sorry, but sports cars are off the agenda! 

‘They’re much smaller, so they are less practical, tend to be riskier with the capacity for higher speeds, and will incur a higher running cost. 

‘So, although they look great, it’s not the best choice for families,’ advises Walters.

A breakdown of the best family cars available online now

So, now that we’ve broken down the key elements to look for when shopping, as well as which cars to avoid, it’s time to delve deeper and reveal the best cars for your family, across a range of styles and sizes.  

Best overall family car

Honda Accord

£12,950

From £12,950 at Cinch

Specifications

• Automatic

• 2.2l engine

• Sedan

• Bluetooth

• Cruise control

• Lockable glove box

According to Giranda, the Honda Accord is a great option for families who need reliable transportation without sacrificing style or comfort. 

A trustworthy and reliable model, the Honda offers ‘plenty of boot space for big food shops or luggage, and excellent fuel economy ratings as well as advanced safety features at an affordable price,’ he comments.

‘Honda cars are known for their durability and reliability, and the high quality of most of its ten generations of the Accord is an example of that. The Accord started out as a simple mode of transportation, but it has evolved into a capable family sedan with multiple engine options and several comfort and security features,’ writes Way.com.

If you’re on the fence about the design of this vehicle, Giranda also highly rates the Subaru Outback, which features many of the same benefits as the Accord.

Best used family car

Toyota Camry

£24,500

From £24,500 at Cinch

Specifications

• Automatic

• 2.5l engine

• Saloon

• Six speakers

• Voice recognition 

• WiFi connectivity 

If you’re wondering what the best family car is to buy second hand, there are plenty of great options. Giranda recommends the Toyota Camry for a few reasons.

‘It’s a reliable and fuel-efficient sedan with plenty of room to seat passengers and cargo,’ he says.

Giranda also recommends the Honda Odyssey as a good option to buy second hand, particularly if you’re looking for a car to seat large families. 

‘It’s one of the best seven seater family cars, as it offers excellent safety ratings and enough seating and space for extended families or friends,’ he says. 

Best large family car

Land Rover Range Rover Evoque

£15,850

From £15,850 at Cinch

Specifications

• Manual

• 2.0l engine

• SUV

• Four wheel drive

• Keyless entry

• Electric folding seats

If you’re looking for a fantastic driving experience in a luxury family car, we’d recommend this Land Rover. 

Why? 

Well, where do we start — it boasts privacy glass, keyless entry, electric folding seats, heated seats and a park pilot, as well as being a four wheel drive — perfect for long family trips and holidays.

Best small family car

Ford Fiesta Zetec

£7,500

From £7,500 at Cinch

Specifications

• Manual

• 1.4l engine

• Hatchback 

• Quickclear heated windscreen

• Tyre mobility kit

• Electronic brake force distribution

It may be a small family car, but the Ford Fiesta has been around for decades for a reason. 

Despite its compact nature, this car feels surprisingly roomy inside and has such comfortable seating that it feels premium.

Plus, we love the EcoBoost feature that helps to manage fuel consumption, keeping the cost of running the car low — ideal if you’re partaking in family days out over the years.

Best SUV family car

Hyundai Tucson

£11,950

From £11,950 at Cinch

Specifications

• Manual

• 1.7l engine

• SUV

• Childproof rear door locks

• Bluetooth

• Heated seats

Winner of the Mid-size SUV Of The Year at the Auto Express New Car Awards in both 2021 and 2022, the Hyundai Tucson is a powerhouse SUV.

Boasting a big boot (620-litre) and containing all-important family-friendly features including child proof rear door locks, adaptive cruise control for long journeys, plenty of space for growing children and Bluetooth connectivity enabling you to connect your favourite family tunes, this SUV is a winner in our book, too.

Best electric family car

Hyundai Ioniq 5

£35,000

From £35,000 at Cinch

Specifications

• Electric

• 1.7l engine

• Hatchback

• Heated seats

• Heated steering wheel

• Sat nav

Looking to go electric?

There are some great family-sized electric cars on the market and, while they might cost a little more upfront, they’ll save you big in the long run. No more topping up that petrol tank for £1.50 a litre!

Walter agrees, stating ‘although monthly finance payments will be higher for an electric car, they can balance this out with lower fuel and maintenance costs, and they offer some unique advantages.  

‘If you have somewhere to plug in at home, then you can charge overnight while the car is not in use and take advantage of low-cost energy tariffs to save even more money.’  

Walter goes on to explain, 'although electric family cars with 200-250 miles of battery range might sound limited compared to a full tank of diesel, they only need enough range between rest stops, where you can charge’.

And the newer, best electric car models, such as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 have rapid charge capabilities, meaning the odd stop for a battery top-up won’t slow you down much at all. In fact, these stops are usually perfectly timed for the next snack and toilet break for the kids.

Best hybrid family car

Nissan Qashqai

£10,100

£10,100 at Cinch

Specifications

• Manual

• 1.5l engine

• SUV

• Apple CarPlay

• Steering wheel audio controls

• Adaptive cruise control

If you’d like to do your bit for the planet, but aren’t quite ready to commit to an entirely electric vehicle, a hybrid is a great option.

The Nissan Qashqai is available as a petrol hybrid car or just with a petrol engine, and is a car that perfectly accommodates busy family life, as it’s comfortable and practical with masses of interior space. 

We can see this vehicle being ideal for the school run, with room for your kids and their friends.

Best affordable family car

Kia Rio

£10,950

From £10,950 at Cinch

Specifications

• Manual

• 1.0l engine

• Hatchback

• Door deadlocks

• Heated front seats

• Driver’s seat height adjuster

Family cars can be expensive — and with the prices of petrol and diesel frequently on the rise, it makes sense to find a family car that’s more on the affordable side.

‘If you're looking for an affordable family car, the Kia Rio is a great option,’ says Giranda. 

‘It offers great fuel economy, plenty of interior space and comes with a reliable engine. Additionally, features like Bluetooth connectivity and rear parking sensors make it even better value for your money.’

Best value family car

Vauxhall Astra

£9,200

From £9,200 at Cinch

Specifications

• Manual

• 1.6l engine

• Estate

• Pollen filter

• Cruise control and speed limiter

• Apple CarPlay/Android Auto

The Vauxhall Astra is a classic family car to drive and, while its price point is on par with other models, it takes the cake as the best value vehicle in our round-up.

Why?

Not only is its upfront price on the lower side, it’s comfortable to sit in over long periods of time and it’s cheap to insure, maintain and repair. And, as far as petrol engines go these days, it’s also pretty cheap to run.

While its affordability is undoubtedly appealing, it's not the only reason to opt for a Vauxhall Astra. It’s known for being a reliable vehicle, which is key when it comes to choosing a family car and, with a good network of Vauxhall dealers around the country, should you ever need assistance, there’s bound to be one relatively nearby.

For those of you shopping on a more stringent budget, we hear you.

And the good news is, if you’re wondering what the best car to buy for £2k or under is, Vauxhall Astras are still a great choice. As one of the best cheap family cars on the market, there are plenty of Vauxhall Astras available under this price point. 

So, just because you’re working within more limited means, doesn’t mean your family will miss out.

What makes a car engine better than a competitor?

So, you’ve had the lowdown on what to look for prior to shopping and seen some of our experts’ top picks, but you’re curious about the nitty gritty and would like to understand more about engines. 

Never fear, we’ve tackled that, too. 

‘A car engine's superiority over a competitor depends on several factors, but most importantly, it comes down to the design and technology that goes into the build of the engine,’ comments Giranda. 

Giranda breaks down the key components to look for that make a car engine better than its competitors.

Engine displacement 

‘The larger the engine displacement, the more power it can generate. This is important for ensuring that your car has enough oomph when you need it,’ he reveals.

Valvetrain design

‘Valves open and close at certain points in an engine’s cycle allowing fuel and air to enter or exit the combustion chamber. A good valvetrain design ensures maximum efficiency from your vehicle's engine by maximising airflow and fuel delivery as well as exhaust scavenging capabilities. 

Fuel injection system

‘Fuel injection systems ensure that your car engine is receiving the right amount of gasoline at the right time. Modern fuel injection systems are more efficient than ever before, resulting in better acceleration and improved fuel economy.

Turbocharging technology

‘Turbochargers allow engines to generate more power without significantly increasing the size of their displacement. This makes turbocharged cars incredibly powerful even in small packages,’ finishes Giranda.

What budget should you allow for the best family car? 

According to Walters, this varies significantly on a range of factors, like whether you buy new or used, your particular non-negotiable car features, and the size of your family.

As we’ve seen in the list above, the prices of a good used family car can range anywhere from £10k-£50k, with cheaper models even being able to be found for less than £2,000. It all depends on the car’s specific specifications and features — and your own preferences.

Walters adds to this stating, on top of the purchase price of a vehicle, ‘it is also worth keeping in mind that the average running cost of a petrol/diesel car is currently almost £220 a month.’

So make sure you factor this monthly cost into your budget, too. Or, opt for electric!

The best family car: Our verdict

Well, your journey’s come to an end. 

You’ve heard from our experts on their top considerations for shopping for your perfect family car and worked through our round-up of the best models on the market.

When it comes to value and affordability, the Vauxhall Astra takes the cake, while our experts also recommended the Honda Accord as a great family car overall — perfect for reliable transportation in comfort and style.

And, if budget isn’t so much your concern, we’d suggest the Toyota Camry, recommended by our expert for its fuel efficiency, spacious interior and reliability.

Meet the experts

Joe Giranda is the Director of Sales and Marketing for CFR Classic, specialising in international car shipping and relocation. With decades of experience under his belt as a customer service rep, sales manager operations manager and marketing manager at CFR, cars are Giranda’s passion and he offers a wealth of knowledge.

Matthew Walters is Head of Consultancy Services and Customer Value at LeasePlan UK. Having worked for some of the UK’s largest fleets, Walters joined LeasePlanUK in 2005 where his passion for sustainable futures, especially for all things EV, has led to a natural platform as a spokesperson and champion for LeasePlan UK.

Prices updated on 17/03/2023. We are not responsible for any changes to the prices mentioned above.