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Best family cars in the UK

High quality family cars from rated and reviewed dealers

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Rated 4.5/5 from 74,659 reviews
2025 Hyundai Santa Fe, RHD, green, exterior front three quarter view static
Last updated October 19, 2025 by Darren Cassey

Best family cars of 2025

Choosing a family car can be a fraught process, because it truly has to be the consummate all-rounder. The perfect family car has an impossible task - buyers demand that it’s affordable but doesn’t feel cheap, spacious inside yet easy to park, has a faultless safety record and yet is uncomplicated with super-low running costs.

Decades ago, the default family car in the UK would have been a mid-sized saloon - or perhaps the estate version for particularly large crowds. In the 1990s and 2000s, hatchbacks such as the Volkswagen Golf became the typical option - with the rise of the seven-seat MPV catering for those who needed lots of seats.

In 2025, though, you’ll probably find yourself drawn to an SUV as a family car - you’ll find plenty on our top 10 list below. The good news is that SUVs these days come in all shapes and sizes - from small SUVs to big seven-seater SUVs, and with various electric or hybrid powertrain options in addition to more traditional choices.

But there are still some alternatives out there which use a more traditional bodystyle to great effect, and some of our all-time favourite family car options are hatchbacks or MPVs.

There are options for all budgets, whether you’re trying to keep costs low or considering splashing out on something seriously posh. And there’s something for every size of family too, whether you’ve got just the one offspring or a whole litter of them.

There’s a Skoda Superb if you want roominess mixed with classiness mixed with affordability, or a Toyota Corolla Touring Sports hybrid if you want the ultimate in fuel economy. Need lots of seats? Consider a VW Multivan or a Kia EV9. Or if you want bragging rights at the school gate, get a BMW X5.

Some factors are common to all of these cars, though - they’re all cheap to run, great to drive, practical for their size and a pleasure to own.

Our expert reviews team gets loads of seat time in all the best family cars on sale today, so we know what we’re talking about when we recommend them. Many of our writers have families of their own but you can rest assured that all of us are making sure child seats fit in the back, buggies can go in the boot and that the surfaces can stand up to sticky fingers.

Hyundai Santa Fe
2025
Car of the Year Award

1. Hyundai Santa Fe

10/10
Hyundai Santa Fe review
Key features: The Hyundai Santa Fe is a big old beast with futuristic styling, space for seven and efficient hybrid engines to keep running costs down. There’s so much storage in the cabin you’ll struggle to fill it and even with all seven seats in place the boot is big enough for a weekly shop.
Who is it for?: It’s for families who need lots of seats and/or space, like the idea of electrification but don’t want to go fully electric just yet, and like their cars to really stand out on the road.
Why is it number 1?: The Hyundai Santa Fe is so good it was crowned Carwow Car of the Year 2025 for its combination of practicality and desirability.

What's good

  • Vast, spacious interior
  • Looks ace
  • Surprisingly economical

What’s not so good

  • Alternatives have bigger boots
  • No diesel or full-electric versions
  • Not very exciting to drive
BMW X5
2025
Adventurer's Choice Award

2. BMW X5

10/10
BMW X5 review
Battery range up to 45 miles
Key features: Nothing else is such a good all-rounder as the BMW X5. It’s properly posh inside and out, drives really well and has enough space for most families. The twin-screen setup inside is modern and works well, and although the 650-litre boot is down on alternatives, that’s still loads of space.
Who is it for?: The BMW X5 is a car for anyone who wants a posh family car that’s genuinely rewarding to drive when you take the scenic route home.
Why is it number 2?: It’s practical and good to drive, yet also feels really premium inside, so you feel like you’re buying with your head and your heart at the same time.

What's good

  • Powerful yet efficient engines
  • High quality interior
  • Fun to drive for an SUV

What’s not so good

  • Lumbar adjustment optional
  • M50d's fake engine noise
  • Firm on large alloy wheels
Skoda Superb
2025
Comfortable Cruiser Award

3. Skoda Superb

9/10
Skoda Superb review
Key features: The Skoda Superb is available as both a saloon and an estate with a choice of petrol and diesel engines (and a plug-in hybrid if you go for the estate). Practicality is its key selling point, with a roomy cabin and a massive 645 litres of boot space. And it’s so comfy it won the Comfortable Cruiser award at the Carwow Car of the Year Awards 2-25.
Who is it for?: With acres of space it’s the ideal car for anyone who wants something practical but doesn’t want the obvious choice of an SUV.
Why is it number 3?: Because not only is it spacious, the Skoda Superb has retained its value for money position despite feeling more upmarket inside than ever.

What's good

  • Hugely practical
  • Comfortable motorway cruiser
  • Well-made interior

What’s not so good

  • Suspension is firm around town
  • Confusing digital driver's display
  • Hatchback isn't available as a PHEV

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Citroen C5 Aircross

4. Citroen C5 Aircross

9/10
Citroen C5 Aircross review
Key features: The Citroen C5 Aircross has been updated with sharp, modern looks and a spacious cabin with a large portrait-orientated screen in the centre. Interior storage is great and at 651 litres the boot is bigger than in most alternatives. You also have a choice of two hybrid engines, and there’s the all-electric e-C5 Aircross too.
Who is it for?: Not only is the C5 Aircross practical, it’s also very comfortable, so it’s great for families who take regular road trips.
Why is it number 4?: Because it’s practical, comfortable, and now has the styling to be genuinely desirable, too.

What's good

  • Incredibly comfortable
  • Smooth plug-in hybrid engine
  • Very well priced

What’s not so good

  • Not fun to drive
  • Fiddly infotainment
  • Some scratchy interior plastics
Dacia Duster
2025
Smart Spender Award

5. Dacia Duster

9/10
Dacia Duster review
Key features: The Dacia Duster is a rugged and off-road ready SUV, but it’s also incredibly affordable, which makes it brilliant budget-friendly family transport. The interior isn’t particularly plush and it lacks some of the tech you get on more expensive models, but it’ll stand up to whatever family life throws at it. It comes with a petrol engine, but if you can stretch your budget a bit there’s also a hybrid version.
Who is it for?: Families who want a new car but don’t want to spend too much cash.
Why is it number 5?: The Dacia Duster is incredible value for money, and its rugged design is genuinely appealing, but being cheaper does mean there are some scratchy plastics inside and some desirable tech missing.

What's good

  • Great value
  • Four-wheel drive available
  • Keeps the Duster's character intact

What’s not so good

  • Cheap plastics inside
  • Seats don't fold totally flat
  • No more diesel option
Kia EV9
2025
Outstanding EV Award

6. Kia EV9

9/10
Kia EV9 review
Battery range up to 349 miles
Key features: There aren’t a huge amount of electric seven seaters to choose from, the Kia EV9 is one – and a good one, at that. It’s available with a choice of six- or seven-seat layouts and has a hugely roomy interior. Range is pretty good at up to 349 miles, but it’s not particularly efficient. At least you get very fast public charge speeds, helping make long journeys easier.
Who is it for?: If you need seven seats and want an electric car, it’s the best one you can buy.
Why is it number 6?: Space, practicality and fast charging make the EV9 a great all-rounder, but it’s important to note it isn’t cheap.

What's good

  • Spacious interior
  • Super-fast charging
  • Electric seven-seater

What’s not so good

  • Not particularly quiet at high speeds
  • Baffling climate screen position
  • Badge snobbery a factor at this price
Volkswagen Multivan

7. Volkswagen Multivan

8/10
Volkswagen Multivan review
Key features: If you want the most practicality from your family car, forget SUVs and go for an MPV like the Volkswagen Multivan. It has loads of space in every seat, and you can even remove some chairs for extra load space. It gets all the tech you want from Volkswagen’s cars, and has a plug-in hybrid engine option to keep running costs low.
Who is it for?: The Multivan is a great option if you regularly carry a lot of adults around in your car, because there’s plenty of space wherever you’re sitting.
Why is it number 7?: Practicality is its forte, but the van-like shape won’t appeal to everyone.

What's good

  • Great to drive
  • Useful engine line-up with plug-in hybrid option
  • Superbly practical interior

What’s not so good

  • Only seats seven
  • Jiggly over bumps when lightly loaded
  • Seats have to be removed rather than folding flat
Skoda Kodiaq
2025
Adventurer's Choice Award
Highly Commended

8. Skoda Kodiaq

8/10
Skoda Kodiaq review
Key features: Skoda is known for building clever practical touches into its cars and the Kodiaq is no different, meaning there’s plenty of space and storage for all the family. There’s a choice of five- and seven-seat layouts, as well as petrol, diesel and hybrid engines.
Who is it for?: Families who want practicality above all else, but also want something with a nice cabin that’s also good to drive.
Why is it number 8?: There’s little to complain about with Skoda Kodiaq, but it does lose some marks for not being quite as cheap as you might hope, and you can’t get the hybrid version with seven seats.

What's good

  • Clever, spacious interior
  • Huge boot
  • Still available as a diesel

What’s not so good

  • Plug-in hybrid not available with seven seats
  • Some expensive optional extras
  • Alternatives are more fun to drive
Toyota Corolla Touring Sports

9. Toyota Corolla Touring Sports

8/10
Toyota Corolla Touring Sports review
Key features: The key selling point of the Toyota Corolla Touring Sports is its hybrid engine, which is incredibly efficient. It’s also really easy and relaxing to drive, and you get lots of tech included as standard. At 598 litres the boot is big, but the Volkswagen Golf Estate has more capacity. The warranty can be extended up to ten years with annual servicing, too.
Who is it for?: People who want something a bit different from your usual SUV family car, and want low running costs too.
Why is it number 9?: It’s a strong all-rounder and it’s perfect for people who want a car that will last, with the long warranty an added bonus. It does lose some marks for practicality compared with alternatives, but it should be spacious enough for most.

What's good

  • Impressive fuel economy
  • Lots of tech as standard
  • Effortless to drive

What’s not so good

  • Forgettable styling
  • Alternatives have bigger boots
  • High starting price
Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate

10. Mercedes E-Class Estate

8/10
Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate review
Key features: A major update in 2024 gave the Mercedes E-Class Estate a high-tech interior, with some trims getting a massive ‘Superscreen’ setup – namely three screens that dominate the dashboard up front. There’s no electric version, but just about every other type of engine you can imagine, even a diesel plug-in hybrid. The boot is massive at 615 litres, too.
Who is it for?: This is the ideal car for someone who wants a posh family car that can stand up to hard work, particularly long distance driving.
Why is it number 10?: Pros include the fact it’s incredibly comfortable and perfect for motorway mile munching, and the big boot makes it perfect for family life. But it’s very expensive and some of the tech is overwhelming.

What's good

  • Far more comfortable than E-Class saloon
  • Huge boot
  • Impressive fuel economy, especially from the diesels

What’s not so good

  • No longer the most practical estate
  • Tech can feel gimmicky
  • Hugely pricey

Family cars to avoid

Omoda 5

The Omoda 5 is an example of a Chinese SUV that’s come to the UK guns blazing, offering striking looks and loads of standard kit at a highly competitive price - but it’s just nowhere near as refined as the typical alternatives. The 1.6-litre petrol engine is powerful but very thirsty and polluting, and the infotainment system is annoying to use.

Fiat 600

Fiat has actually made a rather good car in the 600 and 600e. It’s comfortable and efficient, and it’s actually quite good value, but for a small SUV it’s really impractical. Rear passengers will find their knees in the seatbacks, it’s a squeeze for three adults and the 385-litre boot leaves a lot to be desired – an adequate car, just not for family life

Have you considered getting GAP insurance for your new family car?

Carwow has partnered with MotorEasy to provide GAP insurance. GAP insurance covers the difference between the amount you paid for your car, or owe on your car if you have finance, and the amount an insurance company would give you if your car is declared a total loss or write-off. This can protect you financially from a shortfall of potentially thousands of pounds. MotorEasy is offering a 15% discount to all Carwow customers who take out GAP insurance with them.

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Advice about family cars

Family cars FAQs

There are three overriding concerns for family buyers. Space, so that you can fit everyone in. Reliability, because you don’t want a non-starter on the school run. And economy, because family budgets are often at full stretch. These days, it’s definitely worth looking long and hard at electric cars.

There are a few great options here. For example, the Volkswagen Multivan, which offers palatial space for seven in an immensely practical package. There's also the Kia EV9 if you're looking for an electric SUV. Neither are particularly cheap, though, so an honourable mention goes to the Dacia Jogger, which is incredibly good value - but we wouldn't blame you if its poor crash safety rating turned you off.

If you’re trying to carry five, you probably don’t need to go down the route of a seven-seater, but you’ll still want a car with three individual seats in the back. This means you’re best looking for an MPV, such as the Volkswagen Touran, Peugeot 5008, or the (now electric-only) Citroen e-Berlingo or Vauxhall Combo-e Life.

If you're looking for an efficient electric car, the Tesla Model 3 is a great option – we saw a brilliant 4.6mi/kWh during our time with the car. If you do a lot of motorway miles, the 150hp diesel in the Skoda Superb sees 58mpg in official tests. If your budget can stretch to a plug-in hybrid car, and you can keep the batteries regularly charged, the payoff will be ultra-low running costs. The Citroen C5 Aircross and BMW 3 Series Touring have plug-in hybrid options.

Want to save money at the pumps? Check out our guide on how to improve your car's MPG.

Safety experts Euro NCAP test cars in a number of areas, from occupant protection to driver assistance technology. Some of the models that have scored very well for both adult and child protection include the Mercedes E-Class, Volkswagen Passat, Skoda Superb and Volkswagen Tiguan.

To find out more on car safety, read our explainer guide on Euro NCAP ratings.

The Citroen C5 Aircross and Renault Clio are the best-value cars in this list. The Renault costs less, but it is quite a small car. The Citroen is particularly impressive because its pricing is similar to much smaller cars, meaning you get more for your money.

According to the 2024 Driver Power owner satisfaction survey, the most reliable family cars are the Toyota RAV4, Skoda Kodiaq and Mazda CX-5.

Brands from Japan and Korea tend to rank the highest in surveys, meaning the most reliable family cars tend to come from the likes of Toyota, Kia and Honda, among others. It's worth noting that Kia offers a seven-year warranty on all models, as does Chinese-owned MG. You can check out the most reliable car manufacturers here.

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