Best cheap family cars in the UK
High quality and affordable cars for families from rated and reviewed dealers
Last updated June 20, 2025 by
Neil Briscoe
What are the best cheap family cars you can buy in the UK in 2025?
Family motoring is almost always tightly-budgeted motoring. Once the kids start arriving, costs go up — nursery fees, school fees, university fees, deposits for that week in Lanzarote. It all starts to add up, and that means that your transport needs to be affordable, and that’s where the best cheap family cars come in.
The lower the monthly repayments, the more cash you’ll have to spend on trainers, big Saturday shops, and Xbox subscriptions. Then it has to be roomy — not necessarily big, but spacious enough to fit everyone and the dog in. It needs to be reliable — because unexpected garage bills in the bagging area are never nice — and it needs to be robustly built, to survive several years of kicks, thumps, scrapes, scratches, spilled Ribena and rubbed-in Marmite. That’s a tough list, but all of the cars below meet most of it.
You might notice that not all of the cars in this list are in Wowscore order – that's because we've ranked them with a focus on affordability and practicality, because that's what's most important if you're looking for a cheap family car.
Carwow’s expert reviews team has driven and tested every car in this list, putting in the hours to find the best cars for every need so you don’t have to. You can read the short summaries below, then click through to the full, in-depth review for all the juicy details once you’ve picked your favourites.
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The Dacia Jogger feels almost like a cheat-code for family driving. It gives you slightly more than you’re expecting at almost every turn, so that with that low price and small monthly repayments, it sometimes seems too good to be true.
Let’s not run away with ourselves here; the Jogger isn’t Rolls-Royce refined, nor Ferrari levels of fun, and it sure as heck ain’t fast, but it gives you just enough of everything in those categories — it’s refined enough, it’s accurate enough in corners that you won’t feel like it’s going to topple over, and it’s quick enough to get out of its own way.
The basic 1.0-litre 90hp petrol engine is surprisingly peppy, but the hybrid Jogger is the one to go for. That’s not only because it’s more economical all-round, but also because it’s the only Jogger with an automatic gearbox, and the manual version has a really awkward gear shift.
Inside, the Jogger is truly surprising. Most big seven seaters struggle to leave enough room in the third row for children, but in the Jogger’s way-back seats, fully grown adults will fit. In fact, a six-footer will be more comfortable in row three than in row two, which is just slightly on the small side, thanks to the Jogger actually being based on the small Sandero hatchback.
Up front, there’s a dashboard. It’s cheap, it’s basic, but it does all the stuff you need, including a simple touchscreen that runs Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The dials tell you how fast you’re going and how much fuel you have left. Do you seriously need more than that? There’s lots of storage space, but the slightly small front seats might give you back-ache on a very long drive.
Most of all, the Jogger is versatile. Don’t need the seats in the boot? They lift out entirely to give you masses of cargo space. Need somewhere to sleep? There’s an optional ‘Sleep Pack’ that clips into the boot and unfurls into a surprisingly comfy futon bed that turns the Jogger into a mini-camper van. It costs buttons to buy and buttons to run. Hard to beat, really.
Let’s not run away with ourselves here; the Jogger isn’t Rolls-Royce refined, nor Ferrari levels of fun, and it sure as heck ain’t fast, but it gives you just enough of everything in those categories — it’s refined enough, it’s accurate enough in corners that you won’t feel like it’s going to topple over, and it’s quick enough to get out of its own way.
The basic 1.0-litre 90hp petrol engine is surprisingly peppy, but the hybrid Jogger is the one to go for. That’s not only because it’s more economical all-round, but also because it’s the only Jogger with an automatic gearbox, and the manual version has a really awkward gear shift.
Inside, the Jogger is truly surprising. Most big seven seaters struggle to leave enough room in the third row for children, but in the Jogger’s way-back seats, fully grown adults will fit. In fact, a six-footer will be more comfortable in row three than in row two, which is just slightly on the small side, thanks to the Jogger actually being based on the small Sandero hatchback.
Up front, there’s a dashboard. It’s cheap, it’s basic, but it does all the stuff you need, including a simple touchscreen that runs Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The dials tell you how fast you’re going and how much fuel you have left. Do you seriously need more than that? There’s lots of storage space, but the slightly small front seats might give you back-ache on a very long drive.
Most of all, the Jogger is versatile. Don’t need the seats in the boot? They lift out entirely to give you masses of cargo space. Need somewhere to sleep? There’s an optional ‘Sleep Pack’ that clips into the boot and unfurls into a surprisingly comfy futon bed that turns the Jogger into a mini-camper van. It costs buttons to buy and buttons to run. Hard to beat, really.
2025
Comfortable Cruiser Award
Highly Commended
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There aren’t many roomy family SUVs with a price point starting below £30,000 these days, but the Citroen C5 Aircross is one of them. You’ll have to be quick, though — an all-new, high-tech, electric and hybrid C5 Aircross is on the way and that will be pricier than this one.
This C5 Aircross is still a game family hauler, though. It’s great for long journeys with the kids because the suspension is so soft that the small ones will be gently rocked off to sleep before you’ve gotten to the end of the first motorway slip road. No wonder it was Highly Commended in the Comfortable Cruiser category of the 2025 Carwow Car of the Year Awards.
It helps too that the back seats are roomy (a little narrow in the middle, but not too bad) and that there are ISOFIX points in the outer two rear seats as well as the front passenger seat. There’s a big boot too, and you can make it bigger by sliding those back seats forward to free up more space (assuming everyone in the back seat has little legs). That stretches the boot space to 720 litres and only the likes of the massive Skoda Kodiaq can beat that.
You get a bit less boot space if you go for the plug-in hybrid version of the C5 Aircross, but it’s not a massive penalty and you get a useable electric range for short journeys around town (assuming you can charge up at home). For longer-haul drivers, a diesel is still available, which is terrific for motorway fuel economy, but it’s a bit underpowered.
The C5 Aircross isn’t the most dynamic car around, and actually it leans a lot in corners and feels a little bit ‘boaty’ at times, but it’s exceptionally comfortable.
This C5 Aircross is still a game family hauler, though. It’s great for long journeys with the kids because the suspension is so soft that the small ones will be gently rocked off to sleep before you’ve gotten to the end of the first motorway slip road. No wonder it was Highly Commended in the Comfortable Cruiser category of the 2025 Carwow Car of the Year Awards.
It helps too that the back seats are roomy (a little narrow in the middle, but not too bad) and that there are ISOFIX points in the outer two rear seats as well as the front passenger seat. There’s a big boot too, and you can make it bigger by sliding those back seats forward to free up more space (assuming everyone in the back seat has little legs). That stretches the boot space to 720 litres and only the likes of the massive Skoda Kodiaq can beat that.
You get a bit less boot space if you go for the plug-in hybrid version of the C5 Aircross, but it’s not a massive penalty and you get a useable electric range for short journeys around town (assuming you can charge up at home). For longer-haul drivers, a diesel is still available, which is terrific for motorway fuel economy, but it’s a bit underpowered.
The C5 Aircross isn’t the most dynamic car around, and actually it leans a lot in corners and feels a little bit ‘boaty’ at times, but it’s exceptionally comfortable.
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The MG HS really is something of a bargain – not only is it affordable to buy, it comes with a long seven-year warranty to help keep a lid on any longer term costs. You can have it in a basic 1.5-litre petrol version, or there are hybrid and plug-in hybrid models too. The plug-in hybrid is pretty impressive, with a lengthy 70-odd-mile electric range which means that most days you really could just treat it as a fully electric car. The basic petrol automatic is best avoided though — its gearbox is too jerky and annoying.
It’s roomy in the back seats too, and very comfy up front with better quality for the cabin than we’ve seen from previous MG models. Basically, it feels as if you’re not being punished for buying on a budget, and you can add nice options like tan-coloured (fake) leather which looks rather classy.
Of course, there are shortcomings. The touchscreen is enough to drive you mad with how fiddly and inconsistent it is to use, and the MG HS isn’t much fun to drive either, although it must be said that it feels a bit more plugged-into the road than alternatives such as the BYD Seal-U. The plug-in hybrid version weighs a bit more too, so it suffers in the ride comfort department.
Still, there are other upsides. The boot — 507 litres — is big enough for most family purposes, and there’s plenty of standard equipment for your not very much money. And as long as you avoid tight and twisty roads, the MG HS is just fine to drive — acceptably smooth and refined on long motorway runs, and nippy enough to drive around town. It’s even quite good looking, although a bit Generic Big SUV in its styling. Get it in metallic grey and you could easily lose it in a car park.
It’s roomy in the back seats too, and very comfy up front with better quality for the cabin than we’ve seen from previous MG models. Basically, it feels as if you’re not being punished for buying on a budget, and you can add nice options like tan-coloured (fake) leather which looks rather classy.
Of course, there are shortcomings. The touchscreen is enough to drive you mad with how fiddly and inconsistent it is to use, and the MG HS isn’t much fun to drive either, although it must be said that it feels a bit more plugged-into the road than alternatives such as the BYD Seal-U. The plug-in hybrid version weighs a bit more too, so it suffers in the ride comfort department.
Still, there are other upsides. The boot — 507 litres — is big enough for most family purposes, and there’s plenty of standard equipment for your not very much money. And as long as you avoid tight and twisty roads, the MG HS is just fine to drive — acceptably smooth and refined on long motorway runs, and nippy enough to drive around town. It’s even quite good looking, although a bit Generic Big SUV in its styling. Get it in metallic grey and you could easily lose it in a car park.
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Another Dacia in the top ten? Well, given that Dacia is one of the very few brands that still offers genuinely affordable cars, perhaps that shouldn’t be much of a surprise. The Bigster might have a slightly silly name, but it’s a deadly serious thing for Dacia, moving the brand up into a bigger, more expensive SUV market where customers are more demanding.
The rest of the Bigster is pretty much as you’d expect from Dacia. It’s full of cheap, but robust, plastics and has a big 612-litre boot so it’s hugely practical. It’s basically — mechanically and spiritually — a bigger version of the popular Duster, but with way more space in the back seats and a good deal more comfort and refinement up front.
You can get a basic version with a 1.2-litre petrol turbo engine and a manual gearbox, but there’s also an impressive 1.8-litre hybrid with a standard automatic gearbox, or the option of four-wheel drive for the 1.2 petrol. It’s not the most sophisticated car to drive, but the Bigster feels honest, solid, and thoroughly decent.
The rest of the Bigster is pretty much as you’d expect from Dacia. It’s full of cheap, but robust, plastics and has a big 612-litre boot so it’s hugely practical. It’s basically — mechanically and spiritually — a bigger version of the popular Duster, but with way more space in the back seats and a good deal more comfort and refinement up front.
You can get a basic version with a 1.2-litre petrol turbo engine and a manual gearbox, but there’s also an impressive 1.8-litre hybrid with a standard automatic gearbox, or the option of four-wheel drive for the 1.2 petrol. It’s not the most sophisticated car to drive, but the Bigster feels honest, solid, and thoroughly decent.
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The Nissan Qashqai isn’t the cheapest family SUV around by a long shot, but there are excellent deals to be had through Carwow, which makes for a much more palatable price. And it’s an excellent car whatever the cost.
The Qashqai is, of course, well-known to almost all British families, so much so that it’s almost default transport these days. Nissan has updated the Qashqai recently, making it more refined than before, and compared to the slightly-cheap-feeling original 2007 Qashqai, this version seems positively luxurious. It’s also very practical, with roomy back seats, doors that open really wide (handy for child car seats), and a reasonable — although not massive — boot.
There’s a turbo petrol engine which is probably the best one to go for, as the Qashqai e-Power hybrid is a little odd (it’s only ever driven by its electric motor and the petrol engine is only there to keep the tiny battery topped off with charge) and slightly tricky to get the best fuel economy from.
You’d never describe the Qashqai as a driver’s car, but it’s certainly not bad to drive, with excellent comfort levels, and it’s quiet and refined on long journeys. The big screens on the dash are also a little easier to use than some others.
The Qashqai is, of course, well-known to almost all British families, so much so that it’s almost default transport these days. Nissan has updated the Qashqai recently, making it more refined than before, and compared to the slightly-cheap-feeling original 2007 Qashqai, this version seems positively luxurious. It’s also very practical, with roomy back seats, doors that open really wide (handy for child car seats), and a reasonable — although not massive — boot.
There’s a turbo petrol engine which is probably the best one to go for, as the Qashqai e-Power hybrid is a little odd (it’s only ever driven by its electric motor and the petrol engine is only there to keep the tiny battery topped off with charge) and slightly tricky to get the best fuel economy from.
You’d never describe the Qashqai as a driver’s car, but it’s certainly not bad to drive, with excellent comfort levels, and it’s quiet and refined on long journeys. The big screens on the dash are also a little easier to use than some others.
Battery range up to 46 miles
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Skoda is an old hand at making cars that are just a bit more practical than you expect them to be, and the Octavia Estate is a perfect example of that. It’s based on the same basic set of mechanical bits that you find under a VW Golf, but check out the back seats — there’s way more space and much more legroom. Then check out the boot — there’s way more space again, with a luggage capacity of 640 litres, which is loads more than most alternatives manage. If you’re thinking that an SUV is always going to be the most practical family car, think again.
It’s also a very nice car just to sit in. The cabin isn’t exciting or anything, but it’s well-made, and you can have a nice soft tweedy material on the dashboard that makes it seem a bit more welcoming. The boot is full of handy hanging hooks and tie-down points, and there are the usual clever touches such as the umbrella in the driver’s door, and the ice scraper clipped into the fuel flap.
Engine choices are basically a 1.5-litre turbo petrol, which is economical enough for most, or a 2.0-litre turbo diesel, which is for non-stop motorway drivers. The Octavia majors on comfort, although you’ll notice a lot of tyre roar on coarse tarmac. It’s not much fun to drive, unless you upgrade to the speedy vRS version.
It’s also a very nice car just to sit in. The cabin isn’t exciting or anything, but it’s well-made, and you can have a nice soft tweedy material on the dashboard that makes it seem a bit more welcoming. The boot is full of handy hanging hooks and tie-down points, and there are the usual clever touches such as the umbrella in the driver’s door, and the ice scraper clipped into the fuel flap.
Engine choices are basically a 1.5-litre turbo petrol, which is economical enough for most, or a 2.0-litre turbo diesel, which is for non-stop motorway drivers. The Octavia majors on comfort, although you’ll notice a lot of tyre roar on coarse tarmac. It’s not much fun to drive, unless you upgrade to the speedy vRS version.
MG really is going from strength to strength at the moment, and the S5 EV is one of its best cars yet. It replaces the old electric ZS, but it’s a quantum leap forward in terms of sophistication. The interior is MG’s best yet, with a genuinely high-quality feel, and the company is listening to criticism, as it’s brought back physical controls for the air conditioning so that it’s easier to use the touchscreen. There’s even a handy shortcut button to turn off the annoying driver assistance modes.
The MG S5 is not only well-priced, it’s also going to be really cheap to run if you can charge up at home (especially on an overnight cheap rate) as the big-battery version has a commendable, if not exceptional, 298-mile range. It’s even pretty good to drive, with more verve in corners than you might expect, although the suspension does tend to struggle a bit over bumps, making the MG feel a little clunky at times.
There’s loads of space in the back seat, and a useful 453-litre boot so you’ll not be stuck for places to put people and stuff. Go for the small battery version if you want the lowest price, but remember that does mean living with a 211-mile range, at most.
The MG S5 is not only well-priced, it’s also going to be really cheap to run if you can charge up at home (especially on an overnight cheap rate) as the big-battery version has a commendable, if not exceptional, 298-mile range. It’s even pretty good to drive, with more verve in corners than you might expect, although the suspension does tend to struggle a bit over bumps, making the MG feel a little clunky at times.
There’s loads of space in the back seat, and a useful 453-litre boot so you’ll not be stuck for places to put people and stuff. Go for the small battery version if you want the lowest price, but remember that does mean living with a 211-mile range, at most.
A third Dacia on this list? Yeah, of course there is — Dacia really is the ultimate budget brand. This latest Duster does move the needle a little though, as it’s the first overtly-stylish Dacia (the Bigster has followed in its footsteps). Previous Dacias, and Dusters, have felt that styling was a needless luxury, but this one goes all rugged with a chunky bonnet and some fetching outdoors-y colour schemes. Basically, Dacia wants to be an affordable rival for Jeep, and the Duster is the first step on that road.
The cabin is really cheap, as before, but there are enough nice patterns and surfaces moulded into the plastics to stop them feeling depressing. Space is decent, although you do have to sit a bit bolt-upright in the back seats.
The boot holds a very healthy 472 litres, and you can go for petrol or hybrid versions. The hybrid is the smoothest to drive, but the four-wheel drive version, with a manual gearbox, feels properly rugged, almost like a Toyota Land Cruiser in miniature.
Tech levels are pretty basic, but the 10.0-inch touchscreen runs Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so you can hardly complain. Basic versions just get a clamp for your mobile phone and a USB socket, which is kind of refreshing compared to the rash of big touchscreens popping up everywhere else.
The cabin is really cheap, as before, but there are enough nice patterns and surfaces moulded into the plastics to stop them feeling depressing. Space is decent, although you do have to sit a bit bolt-upright in the back seats.
The boot holds a very healthy 472 litres, and you can go for petrol or hybrid versions. The hybrid is the smoothest to drive, but the four-wheel drive version, with a manual gearbox, feels properly rugged, almost like a Toyota Land Cruiser in miniature.
Tech levels are pretty basic, but the 10.0-inch touchscreen runs Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, so you can hardly complain. Basic versions just get a clamp for your mobile phone and a USB socket, which is kind of refreshing compared to the rash of big touchscreens popping up everywhere else.
As far as all-electric cars go, Kia has boxed really clever for families by turning its compact EV into, basically, a box. Seriously, the EV3 looks almost totally square whichever angle you look at it from, although the corners and edges have been smoothed off, and styling touches from the bigger, grander EV9 have been air-dropped in. You wouldn’t call the EV3 handsome, exactly, but you might call it funky…
Inside, there are more EV9 bits — big screens, high quality, proper buttons — but obviously there’s a bit less space. The back seats have good legroom, but taller passengers will feel a bit like they’re being squeezed up into the roof. The boot’s big too, holding up to 460 litres of luggage, which is more than decent.
The basic versions of the EV3 — and therefore the most affordable — come with a small-ish battery and a 270-mile range, which is pretty much enough for most people. You can get an impressive big-battery version which will cover a claimed 375 miles on one charge, but obviously that makes the EV3 more expensive.
Inside, there are more EV9 bits — big screens, high quality, proper buttons — but obviously there’s a bit less space. The back seats have good legroom, but taller passengers will feel a bit like they’re being squeezed up into the roof. The boot’s big too, holding up to 460 litres of luggage, which is more than decent.
The basic versions of the EV3 — and therefore the most affordable — come with a small-ish battery and a 270-mile range, which is pretty much enough for most people. You can get an impressive big-battery version which will cover a claimed 375 miles on one charge, but obviously that makes the EV3 more expensive.
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Good news: The Renault Symbioz is affordable and stylish. More good news: The Renault Symbioz is adding a petrol engine that makes it costs even less than before, and up until now the Symbioz has only been available with a 1.6-litre hybrid engine, which is very economical, but whose gearbox makes some odd noises and doesn’t always feel all that natural to drive.
The Symbioz is closely related to the (slightly) smaller Captur, but it has roomier back seats and a bigger boot, which holds up to 434 litres of luggage, which is pretty generous.
It’s not the most exciting car in the world to drive — far from it — but it looks smart on the outside, is well-made inside, and comes with a good Google-based infotainment system that’s easier than most to use because Renault has been smart enough to keep physical buttons for the air conditioning.
The Symbioz is closely related to the (slightly) smaller Captur, but it has roomier back seats and a bigger boot, which holds up to 434 litres of luggage, which is pretty generous.
It’s not the most exciting car in the world to drive — far from it — but it looks smart on the outside, is well-made inside, and comes with a good Google-based infotainment system that’s easier than most to use because Renault has been smart enough to keep physical buttons for the air conditioning.
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How to choose the best cheap family car for you
First of all you have to ask yourself what you really need. Do you need seven seats? Do you need a big boot? Do you need something that’s fun to drive on the way home from the school run? Do you need a hybrid that can sneak in and out of ULEZ areas? There are cheap family cars that meet all, some, or none of those demands so make sure you have your own parameters set out before you start shopping.
Then you need to find a car at the right price, whether that’s buying up front for cash, or taking out some sort of finance package. That’s where Carwow can really help with our car finder service. Not only can we help you find the car that meets your needs, we can also help you find the best price, or the best finance and leasing deals, and we can even help you sell your old car.
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