Best Family Cars: Which One Should You Pick?

Audi Q2

The Audi Q2 starts the list as a fantastic compact SUV that is affordable yet spacious and with all the technology you would expect from an Audi. Available from £23,300, the Audi Q2 is the smallest SUV that the German manufacturer offers, yet it still comfortably fits up to five occupants. Boot space is also impressive, with 405 litres on offer (approx. 10 carry-on suitcases).

Practicality continues with the on-board technology that comes as standard. Cruise control, rear parking sensors and Bluetooth connectivity through a 7” colour MMI screen are all offered from the base ‘Technik’ specification. Add to this Audi’s standard-fit vehicle and pedestrian recognition safety system and you’ve got a great all-round package that can handle your everyday family needs, and at an affordable price.

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BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer

A fantastic option for those with a larger family is the BMW 2 Series Gran Tourer. Offering an extra two seats as standard over its Active Tourer sibling and available from £28,510, the 2 Series Gran Tourer seats up to seven people with ease while maintaining the elegant contours and contemporary design of the rest of the BMW range. But don’t worry, just because it has seven seats this doesn’t mean it has no boot space; BMW have integrated a flexible seating system, meaning putting down the rear and middle seats is easy, and gives you access to a staggering 1,820 litres of luggage space.

There are plenty of options you can specify to make your everyday journeys easier, such as BMW Park Assist. This makes parallel and bay parking a breeze, and when matched with real-time traffic information, this ensures you’re always on time for wherever you need to be.

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New Honda Jazz

The new Honda Jazz is the perfect option for those looking for practicality in a more compact package. Despite its small dimensions, the new Jazz can hold up to 1,205 litres of cargo capacity with the rear seats easily folded down, and its ergonomic design means more room for you, your passengers and your possessions.

One of the key selling points of the new Jazz is its powertrain which features Honda Hybrid Technology – e:HEV. This makes short journeys seriously efficient, while offering a smooth and responsive drive. A wide panoramic view of the road ahead enhances the driving experience further, and an array technology to keep you digitally connected means the new Jazz is definitely an ideal choice for the daily school run, as well as a weekend adventurer.

The new Honda Jazz is available from £18,985.

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Range Rover Evoque

For a combination of elegant design and spacious interior in a compact car, look no further than the Range Rover Evoque. Although it’s the smallest SUV that Land Rover produces, the Evoque offers practicality throughout, and still comes with the fantastic build quality and luxury feel of its older siblings. Even with five occupants, you have 591 litres of boot space, which increases further to 1,383 litres with the back seats down.

Safety is another great selling point, with ISOFIX seats and a comprehensive airbag system as standard, and it’s proven to perform in dangerous situations with a five star rating from Euro NCAP in 2019.

Available from £36,000, the Range Rover Evoque comes equipped as standard with Pivi, a 10” Touchscreen that features DAB digital radio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

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Mercedes-Benz A-Class Saloon

Want something bigger than a hatchback but smaller than a saloon? The Mercedes-Benz A-Class Saloon does just this and combines the looks of the A-Class with the space of a saloon. This makes it a great city car that also has the capability to be a weekend explorer when needed.

The A-Class Saloon in base specification is available from £25,850, and a range of driver assistance and interior technology are available, making manoeuvring around a city or on country roads a pleasure.

Whilst this pick doesn’t have the best boot capacity on our list (405 litres), it certainly makes up for this as an everyday car that is stylish, safe, and efficient.

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MINI Clubman

When you think of MINI you don’t tend to think of space; the MINI Clubman however has proven to be a viable option for families - offering space, versatility, and just as importantly, fun.

A unique yet contemporary design, along with a stylish interior and split rear doors, definitely sets the Clubman apart from the other options on this list. The split rear doors open automatically by the move of your feet under the boot for easy loading, and open to a boot with a capacity of 360 litres with the seats up.

It’s got space for five people, and can keep your passengers entertained with the optional 6.5” smart infotainment screen that offers phone integration so that you can play your own music and make calls on the move. The MINI Clubman is also a very affordable car, with a base price from £22,195.

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New SEAT Ateca

The new SEAT Ateca is another great compact SUV that really performs as a family car. Starting from £23,670, you can expect space throughout and fantastic standard equipment, including Full Link smartphone integration, a wireless phone charger, and LED headlamps and taillights.

Safety is a very important aspect of the new Ateca; Pre-Crash Assist, Travel Assist, Side Assist, and Predictive Active Cruise Control are all available to keep you and your family safe, while a raised ride height gives you an excellent view of the road ahead.

SEAT has not compromised on design with the new Ateca either; a redesigned front grille and all new alloy wheel options make this a compact SUV that looks like more than just a family car.

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Škoda KAMIQ

If the SEAT Ateca is slightly over budget, then Škoda’s equivalent, the KAMIQ, offers a very similar level of practicality and quality for a smaller price. Available from £18,295, the Škoda KAMIQ is a versatile compact family SUV, combining the higher ground clearance and elevated seating position of an SUV with the nimbleness and usability of a compact car.

The new generation infotainment systems in the KAMIQ let you enjoy displays of up to 9.2”, which is complimented by the Virtual Cockpit, featuring a 10.25” screen and five display modes. You’ll also be able to enjoy internet connectivity in the city and on country roads thanks to its built-in eSIM card.

There is a generous amount of room for all five occupants, and with a 400 litre boot, the KAMIQ is as versatile as some of its larger rivals. This is proven as the KAMIQ won ‘Small SUV for less than £20,000’ at the What Car? Car of the Year Awards 2020.

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Toyota Corolla

Another highly performing family car is the Toyota Corolla, which offers versatility and choice for buyers through a hatchback, saloon or estate variant. Whichever you choose, you can expect the latest in safety technology as standard, as well as the choice between two self-charging hybrid powertrains – 1.8-litre and a new 2.0-litre system.

The hybrid systems offer fantastic fuel efficiency on shorter journeys, and reduce CO2 emissions at the same time. This makes the Toyota Corolla perfect for the school run, and with the hatchback’s compact body and reversing camera you won’t need to worry about parking.

Load space in the Corolla Touring Sports is a rewarding 598 litres for the 1.8 hybrid variant; ample room for your holiday belongings. Available from £24,185 and having been named the What Car? Car of the Year for 2020 in the Best Hybrid category, the Corolla Hybrid is an obvious contender if you’re thinking about your next family car.

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New Volkswagen Golf 8

The new Volkswagen Golf 8, the latest iteration of the iconic Golf nameplate, is a fantastic prospect as an all-rounder for families and other audiences alike. The previous Mk 7 Golf proved to be great choice as a daily commuter, and the Golf 8 enhances things further with Volkswagen’s Innovision Cockpit as standard and a growing choice of efficient petrol, diesel, and hybrid engines – it will come to have the widest choice of engines in its class, in fact.

Boot space is impressive, and you can fit five people in the car with ease. You also get a helping hand from a wide range of driver assistance systems; Adaptive Cruise Control, Park Assist and Travel Assist are all available to make every journey more manageable.

The new Golf 8 can be yours from £23,300, and is a suitable choice for families who value efficiency and quality as much as practicality and reliability.

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Volvo XC40

If you’d like a compact family SUV with a more premium feel, the Volvo XC40 definitely ticks the box. With all the space and practicality of a normal compact SUV, the XC40 takes things further with an expressive interior, fantastic build quality and one of the most comprehensive safety systems in its class. The XC40 is also the first ever Volvo model to win the prestigious European Car of the Year award.

You’re spoilt for choice when it comes to engines; from a 3-cylinder petrol engine to a Twin Engine plug-in hybrid AWD option, you will be able to find the model for you.

Volvo’s ‘Sensus’ infotainment system comes with every XC40, so you’ll always be connected on the move, and it even features in-car entertainment applications such as Spotify - perfect for when you’re on a long journey. Available from £25,420, the XC40 offers the practicality and comfort you’d expect from a Volvo SUV while maintaining the high quality of its older siblings.

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