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Best automatic family cars in the UK

High-quality automatic family cars from rated and reviewed dealers

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Rated 4.4/5 from 72,309 reviews

Best automatic family cars of 2025

Family cars need to be able to tackle a diverse range of tasks and the last thing you need is to be fumbling around with a gear stick while stuck in heavy traffic. Below are some of the very best automatic family cars for you to pick from.

BMW 3 Series

1. BMW 3 Series

9/10
BMW 3 Series review
Battery range up to 34 miles
It’s long been the benchmark sporty saloon and the BMW 3 Series still offers a class-leading mix of performance, luxury and tech. Options can get pricey quickly but thankfully a quick and smooth eight-speed automatic gearbox is standard on all but the base trim.

What's good

  • Still the best-in-class to drive
  • Excellent new screens in the cabin
  • Touring estate is very practical

What’s not so good

  • No more physical buttons for air-con
  • Plug-in hybrid models lose lots of boot space
  • Expensive options
Tesla Model 3

2. Tesla Model 3

9/10
Tesla Model 3 review
Battery range up to 436 miles
The Model 3 has quickly become one of the most popular EVs on sale, thanks to its impressive range, performance and interior space. The boot is decent and there is additional storage space under the bonnet, too. It can get expensive though, and build quality is not as good as some rivals.

What's good

  • Very fast
  • Massive range
  • Loads of tech

What’s not so good

  • Can be awkward using the screen for everything
  • German saloons still higher quality
  • Controls can be a little fiddly

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Volvo XC40

3. Volvo XC40

7/10
Volvo XC40 review
Battery range up to 26 miles
From its chunky exterior to the cool minimalist interior, the Volvo XC40 is refreshingly different from its SUV competitors. The infotainment can be finicky but aside from that it is a great family-friendly vehicle. The standard fitment 8-speed automatic transmission makes city driving a pleasure.

What's good

  • Sophisticated styling
  • Comfortable on the road
  • Plenty of room for passengers

What’s not so good

  • Ageing interior design
  • Some trims not up to scratch
  • Fiddly infotainment system
Skoda Kodiaq (2017-2024)

4. Skoda Kodiaq

9/10
Skoda Kodiaq (2017-2024) review
For a solid family SUV capable of taking seven occupants and plenty of luggage, the Skoda Kodiaq is a great option. It doesn’t have the most advanced tech but it's spacious and relaxing to drive, particularly when you pick the optional seven-speed DSG transmission.

What's good

  • Good value for money
  • Loads of space inside
  • Smart-looking interior

What’s not so good

  • Over-the-shoulder blindspots
  • VW Tiguan has more tech
  • A little bumpy at low speeds
Kia EV6

5. Kia EV6

9/10
Kia EV6 review
Battery range up to 361 miles
Electric family cars offer smooth and unflustered performance and the Kia EV6 adds some advanced tech and plenty of interior space into the mix. It can get a bit bumpy over bad roads and some rivals have larger boots, but that hardly detracts from what is a very accomplished family-friendly EV.

What's good

  • Stylish design inside and out
  • Good to drive
  • Fast charging and clever vehicle-to-load tech

What’s not so good

  • Firmer ride than some alternatives
  • Rear visibility isn't great
  • The boot could be larger
Peugeot 2008

6. Peugeot 2008

7/10
Peugeot 2008 review
The Peugeot 2008 combines a smart exterior design with a refreshingly different interior layout. It can be had with an eight-speed automatic on petrol models which really makes it easy to navigate through morning traffic. It’s a bit tight in the rear for adults, but it has a big boot.

What's good

  • Stylish exterior design
  • Fun and cheap to run
  • 3D dashboard display

What’s not so good

  • Adults cramped in the back
  • Sluggish automatic gearbox
  • Infotainment system can be a pain to navigate
Skoda Superb (2019-2023)

7. Skoda Superb

9/10
Skoda Superb (2019-2023) review
Battery range up to 45 miles
With oodles of passenger space, plenty of equipment and good pricing, the Skoda Superb really lives up to its name. Seven-speed dual-clutch DSG models are a perfect match for this comfy cruiser, although some alternatives are better to drive and have plusher interiors.

What's good

  • Huge interior space
  • Generous standard equipment
  • Competitive pricing across the board

What’s not so good

  • VW Passat is a touch plusher inside…
  • …and slightly more comfortable
  • Lacks the most up-to-date equipment
BMW X1 (2015-2022)

8. BMW X1

9/10
BMW X1 (2015-2022) review
Battery range up to 35 miles
Well-built and fun to drive, the BMW X1 also offers decent interior space for a family of four. Seven-speed dual-clutch or 8-speed automatic transmissions are available, depending on the trim, and the infotainment system is great, too. It can get pricey with too many options and the boot isn’t the biggest in its class.
Skoda Karoq

9. Skoda Karoq

9/10
Skoda Karoq review
The Karoq is spacious and comfortable with very attractive pricing, although it lacks the design flair of some rivals. The optional seven-speed dual-clutch DSG gearbox is great, and it’s nice to drive as long as you avoid the slow base models.

What's good

  • Clever rear seats
  • Feels solidly built
  • Comfortable to drive

What’s not so good

  • Slightly drab styling
  • Entry-level cars feel slow
  • Expensive range-topping models
Ford Focus

10. Ford Focus

7/10
Ford Focus review
The Focus has always been sporty to drive with decent engines, it also comes with plenty of kit while still being affordable. The automatic versions make for a very competent family car, although some rivals have higher quality interiors and larger boots.

What's good

  • New infotainment screen is easy to use
  • Great fun to drive
  • Spacious cabin

What’s not so good

  • Not the bargain it once was
  • Boot is average for the class
  • Not much engine choice

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Advice about automatic family cars

Automatic family cars FAQs

The BMW 3 Series regularly comes out on top in customer surveys; however it has some strong rivals like the fully electric Tesla Model 3 which is currently the best-selling EV in the UK. The Kia Sportage is another family favourite.

Every modern car has ISOFIX attachments to secure child seats in the rear, however it can be a strain to load your child into a low-slung saloon or one that has a narrow rear door opening or tight rear seats. That makes higher riding and more spacious SUVs like the BMW X1, Peugeot 2008 and Skoda Kodiaq ideal options.

The Skoda Superb has an enormous boot with 625 litres of luggage space with the rear seats up. This is more than any of its saloon rivals as well as many large SUVs aside from the largest models like the Audi Q7 which offers 865 litres. If you still prefer the Skoda then the Estate version has 660 litres of space behind the rear seats, more than any other Estate rival.

The Volkswagen Golf, Skoda Kodiaq and Mazda CX-5 regularly score highly in customer satisfaction surveys and do very well in the reliability stakes. Kia is another top performer and comes with an above-average seven-year warranty.

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