Best family cars in the UK
High quality family cars from rated and reviewed dealers
Last updated April 22, 2025 by
Tom Wiltshire
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.
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.
The Carwow road test team spends 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.
2025
Car of the Year Award
What's good
What’s not so good
Best for: everything
The winner of the ‘Family Values’ category in the 2025 Carwow Car of the Year awards was never going to be at the bottom of this list, was it? The Hyundai Santa Fe is such an accomplished all-rounder that it didn’t just take home one gong, either - we named it our overall Car of the Year, and it helped Hyundai to secure its Brand of the Year award too.
The Santa Fe scores so highly as a family car because it’s been so thoroughly thought-through. Starting with the rear seats - there are five of them, making the Santa Fe capable of seating seven passengers in comfort, even if there are adults in the third row.
Boot space with all three rows of seats in place is enough for the weekly shop, but lower them and you have a five-seater with loads of room for even the bulkiest of buggies. Got something smaller to carry about? No problem - just pick from one of the interior cubbyholes, which seem to number in the dozens. The Santa Fe has a whopping 17 cupholders, perfect for those days when all seven of your passengers require 2.4 drinks each.
The Santa Fe scored a full five stars in Euro NCAP safety testing, when equipped with the safety pack (which UK cars get as standard) and there are four ISOFIX points in the rear, too.
And don’t think that just because it’s shaped like a brick - albeit a cyberpunk, LED-laden brick - that it drives like one. The Santa Fe’s two engine choices (self-charging or plug-in hybrid) aren’t exactly powerful, but they’re more than capable of shifting this big SUV around, and it strikes a great balance between being comfortable over bumps but without feeling flobbery in the bends.
And at around ⅔ the price of an equivalent SUV from a more prestigious brand, the Hyundai Santa Fe even represents pretty good value for money. It’s by no means cheap, but it feels like a seriously well-designed and high-quality car that’s well deserving of a place on your driveway.
The winner of the ‘Family Values’ category in the 2025 Carwow Car of the Year awards was never going to be at the bottom of this list, was it? The Hyundai Santa Fe is such an accomplished all-rounder that it didn’t just take home one gong, either - we named it our overall Car of the Year, and it helped Hyundai to secure its Brand of the Year award too.
The Santa Fe scores so highly as a family car because it’s been so thoroughly thought-through. Starting with the rear seats - there are five of them, making the Santa Fe capable of seating seven passengers in comfort, even if there are adults in the third row.
Boot space with all three rows of seats in place is enough for the weekly shop, but lower them and you have a five-seater with loads of room for even the bulkiest of buggies. Got something smaller to carry about? No problem - just pick from one of the interior cubbyholes, which seem to number in the dozens. The Santa Fe has a whopping 17 cupholders, perfect for those days when all seven of your passengers require 2.4 drinks each.
The Santa Fe scored a full five stars in Euro NCAP safety testing, when equipped with the safety pack (which UK cars get as standard) and there are four ISOFIX points in the rear, too.
And don’t think that just because it’s shaped like a brick - albeit a cyberpunk, LED-laden brick - that it drives like one. The Santa Fe’s two engine choices (self-charging or plug-in hybrid) aren’t exactly powerful, but they’re more than capable of shifting this big SUV around, and it strikes a great balance between being comfortable over bumps but without feeling flobbery in the bends.
And at around ⅔ the price of an equivalent SUV from a more prestigious brand, the Hyundai Santa Fe even represents pretty good value for money. It’s by no means cheap, but it feels like a seriously well-designed and high-quality car that’s well deserving of a place on your driveway.
Best for: spaciousness
The Skoda Superb proves that you don’t need a massive overblown SUV if you just want a big boot and loads of space in the rear seats. Step into the discreetly handsome Superb’s interior and you’ll be bowled over - there are limousines with less room.
That capacious nature extends to the boot, which has a mammoth 645 litres of space - or 690 litres if you go for the somehow-even-roomier Superb Estate. It’ll be one seriously hoarding family that manages to fill that up.
That huge rear bench is the perfect spot for lanky teenagers or those gigantic child seats that look more like a padded dentist’s chair - you won’t struggle for space, and the front seat passengers can still enjoy putting their seats back as far as they’ll go.
Life’s pretty good in the front of the Superb, too. Its classy design hides a plethora of smart features, such as the configurable dials on the dashboard which strike a nice balance between the flexibility of a touchscreen and the tactility of physical switchgear. There are loads of Skoda’s ‘Simply Clever’ features too - spot the clip on the windscreen to hold a parking ticket, or the brilliant little nubbins in the cupholders which can keep a bottle still and allow you to open it one-handed.
There are a selection of petrol and diesel engines on offer, or if you go for the estate an impressively long-ranged plug-in hybrid. All versions are easy to drive, comfortable over all surfaces and as relaxing as a warm bath when you hit the motorway - no wonder we named the Superb ‘Comfortable Cruiser’ in the 2025 Carwow Car of the Year awards.
The Skoda Superb proves that you don’t need a massive overblown SUV if you just want a big boot and loads of space in the rear seats. Step into the discreetly handsome Superb’s interior and you’ll be bowled over - there are limousines with less room.
That capacious nature extends to the boot, which has a mammoth 645 litres of space - or 690 litres if you go for the somehow-even-roomier Superb Estate. It’ll be one seriously hoarding family that manages to fill that up.
That huge rear bench is the perfect spot for lanky teenagers or those gigantic child seats that look more like a padded dentist’s chair - you won’t struggle for space, and the front seat passengers can still enjoy putting their seats back as far as they’ll go.
Life’s pretty good in the front of the Superb, too. Its classy design hides a plethora of smart features, such as the configurable dials on the dashboard which strike a nice balance between the flexibility of a touchscreen and the tactility of physical switchgear. There are loads of Skoda’s ‘Simply Clever’ features too - spot the clip on the windscreen to hold a parking ticket, or the brilliant little nubbins in the cupholders which can keep a bottle still and allow you to open it one-handed.
There are a selection of petrol and diesel engines on offer, or if you go for the estate an impressively long-ranged plug-in hybrid. All versions are easy to drive, comfortable over all surfaces and as relaxing as a warm bath when you hit the motorway - no wonder we named the Superb ‘Comfortable Cruiser’ in the 2025 Carwow Car of the Year awards.
2025
Comfortable Cruiser Award
Highly Commended
What's good
What’s not so good
Best for: value
The Citroen C5 Aircross is one of those cars that requires a second look. You don’t often think of Citroen as a hyper-cheap brand - not in the same breath as, say, Dacia or MG - but the value proposition offered by the C5 Aircross is every bit as tempting as a Dacia Bigster or MG HS. This big, comfortable family SUV has a rock-bottom list price and with Carwow discounts can often be even cheaper still.
That would be easily explained if the Citroen C5 Aircross felt as cheap as its price tag - but it doesn’t. Despite costing less than many small hatchbacks, this is a proper SUV with all the tech you’re used to, nice interior materials and even some high-tech features such as Citroen’s ‘Advanced Comfort’ suspension that makes mincemeat of bumps around town.
Three engine options cover most bases - the 1.2-litre hybrid sounds weedy but is actually more than powerful enough, and the plug-in hybrid is a decent option for those who can charge up at home. Long-distance drivers will be thrilled to see that a plain ‘n’ simple diesel engine is still offered, too - an increasing rarity among SUVs these days, and one that’s a real draw for those who cover really high mileages.
On the family car front, there’s a big boot - slightly reduced in the hybrid models - but the C5 Aircross’ real trump card is in the back seats. Instead of a single bench, you get three individual rear chairs, all capable of sliding and folding and all with their own ISOFIX points, allowing you to carry three child seats abreast if you’re careful. That’s seriously useful for bigger families.
The Citroen C5 Aircross is one of those cars that requires a second look. You don’t often think of Citroen as a hyper-cheap brand - not in the same breath as, say, Dacia or MG - but the value proposition offered by the C5 Aircross is every bit as tempting as a Dacia Bigster or MG HS. This big, comfortable family SUV has a rock-bottom list price and with Carwow discounts can often be even cheaper still.
That would be easily explained if the Citroen C5 Aircross felt as cheap as its price tag - but it doesn’t. Despite costing less than many small hatchbacks, this is a proper SUV with all the tech you’re used to, nice interior materials and even some high-tech features such as Citroen’s ‘Advanced Comfort’ suspension that makes mincemeat of bumps around town.
Three engine options cover most bases - the 1.2-litre hybrid sounds weedy but is actually more than powerful enough, and the plug-in hybrid is a decent option for those who can charge up at home. Long-distance drivers will be thrilled to see that a plain ‘n’ simple diesel engine is still offered, too - an increasing rarity among SUVs these days, and one that’s a real draw for those who cover really high mileages.
On the family car front, there’s a big boot - slightly reduced in the hybrid models - but the C5 Aircross’ real trump card is in the back seats. Instead of a single bench, you get three individual rear chairs, all capable of sliding and folding and all with their own ISOFIX points, allowing you to carry three child seats abreast if you’re careful. That’s seriously useful for bigger families.
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Best for: rugged simplicity
You might think the Dacia Duster’s three-star Euro NCAP safety rating immediately disqualifies it from contention as a family car, but dive a little deeper and you might be reassured to find that in terms of crash protection, it actually scored four stars. Dacia prefers to spend its development money on passive safety features, rather than the high-tech active safety kit required to get a high score for from Euro NCAP.
Are there safer cars? Certainly - but the Duster is by no means dangerous to travel in.
In fact, it’s rather a delight. The interior is cheap, but in a clever way - Dacia’s focused on the things you interact with, and made the rest of the car hardwearing rather than luxurious. You get a simple touchscreen infotainment with a reduced interface, but most drivers will simply plumb into Apple CarPlay or Android Auto instead.
You also get plenty of space in the back seats and a huge boot, plus Dacia’s smart YouClip system which lets you attach phone mounts, tablet holders, pencil pots - or whatever the 3D-printing community comes up with next - to a series of points in the interior.
An efficient hybrid engine is available but so is a four-wheel drive version, which performs surprisingly well on the tough stuff.
You might think the Dacia Duster’s three-star Euro NCAP safety rating immediately disqualifies it from contention as a family car, but dive a little deeper and you might be reassured to find that in terms of crash protection, it actually scored four stars. Dacia prefers to spend its development money on passive safety features, rather than the high-tech active safety kit required to get a high score for from Euro NCAP.
Are there safer cars? Certainly - but the Duster is by no means dangerous to travel in.
In fact, it’s rather a delight. The interior is cheap, but in a clever way - Dacia’s focused on the things you interact with, and made the rest of the car hardwearing rather than luxurious. You get a simple touchscreen infotainment with a reduced interface, but most drivers will simply plumb into Apple CarPlay or Android Auto instead.
You also get plenty of space in the back seats and a huge boot, plus Dacia’s smart YouClip system which lets you attach phone mounts, tablet holders, pencil pots - or whatever the 3D-printing community comes up with next - to a series of points in the interior.
An efficient hybrid engine is available but so is a four-wheel drive version, which performs surprisingly well on the tough stuff.
2025
Adventurer's Choice Award
Battery range up to 45 miles
What's good
What’s not so good
Best for: driving pleasure
The BMW X5 ain’t cheap - nor is it pretty. But if you move past those two snags, you’ll find a fantastic large SUV that ticks just about every other box.
The X5 is so good that we named it Adventurers’ Choice in the 2025 Carwow Car of the Year awards, but it could just as easily have taken the Family Values or Comfortable Cruiser gongs.
The X5’s supremacy starts with its engine lineup. Even the cheapest model has a creamy-smooth six-cylinder, which is powerful, sounds great and is surprisingly efficient. Although if you want efficiency, go for the X5 plug-in hybrid, which pairs another six-pot engine with a large battery and electric motor making for great performance with an all-electric range of around 60 miles - a superbly usable everyday figure.
The plug-in X5 gets five seats and a massive boot, but plain petrol or diesel ones have the option of seven seats making them even more flexible for large families. The interior is beautifully crafted and packed with tech, but it’s also roomy and hardwearing enough for the most demanding of tots. And if you need more space, you can always go for the closely-related - and somehow even uglier - BMW X7 instead.
The BMW X5 ain’t cheap - nor is it pretty. But if you move past those two snags, you’ll find a fantastic large SUV that ticks just about every other box.
The X5 is so good that we named it Adventurers’ Choice in the 2025 Carwow Car of the Year awards, but it could just as easily have taken the Family Values or Comfortable Cruiser gongs.
The X5’s supremacy starts with its engine lineup. Even the cheapest model has a creamy-smooth six-cylinder, which is powerful, sounds great and is surprisingly efficient. Although if you want efficiency, go for the X5 plug-in hybrid, which pairs another six-pot engine with a large battery and electric motor making for great performance with an all-electric range of around 60 miles - a superbly usable everyday figure.
The plug-in X5 gets five seats and a massive boot, but plain petrol or diesel ones have the option of seven seats making them even more flexible for large families. The interior is beautifully crafted and packed with tech, but it’s also roomy and hardwearing enough for the most demanding of tots. And if you need more space, you can always go for the closely-related - and somehow even uglier - BMW X7 instead.
What's good
What’s not so good
Best for: big families
There aren’t many MPVs of any description left on sale in the UK any more, but the ones that are left are pretty good. The Multivan, though, is more than just ‘pretty good’.
Despite its name - and its slab-sided looks - the Multivan isn’t actually based on the same oily bits as the Volkswagen Transporter van. Instead, under the skin it’s more closely related to the Volkswagen Golf hatchback, which means you get car-like driving dynamics and comfort, plenty of technology and access to the more modern engines in Volkswagen’s line-up - including a plug-in hybrid.
Seven seats come as standard, and all of them slide and recline individually making for a very flexible interior. Up front, there’s a flat floor giving you step-through access, and plenty of storage in the tall, flat dashboard.
Electric sliding doors make getting in and out, or loading up a bulky child seat, really easy. While boot space in the standard wheelbase model is a bit tight with all the seats in place, there’s a long-wheelbase model which gets loads of room.
There aren’t many MPVs of any description left on sale in the UK any more, but the ones that are left are pretty good. The Multivan, though, is more than just ‘pretty good’.
Despite its name - and its slab-sided looks - the Multivan isn’t actually based on the same oily bits as the Volkswagen Transporter van. Instead, under the skin it’s more closely related to the Volkswagen Golf hatchback, which means you get car-like driving dynamics and comfort, plenty of technology and access to the more modern engines in Volkswagen’s line-up - including a plug-in hybrid.
Seven seats come as standard, and all of them slide and recline individually making for a very flexible interior. Up front, there’s a flat floor giving you step-through access, and plenty of storage in the tall, flat dashboard.
Electric sliding doors make getting in and out, or loading up a bulky child seat, really easy. While boot space in the standard wheelbase model is a bit tight with all the seats in place, there’s a long-wheelbase model which gets loads of room.
What's good
What’s not so good
Best for: dependability
The default family hatchback choice is often the Volkswagen Golf - but why should it be? The Toyota Corolla is equally as storied a nameplate, and when it comes to its reputation for reliability and longevity it beats the Volkswagen - and just about every alternative - into a cocked hat.
The Corolla uses the same hybrid engines as the Prius, which have proved themselves in thousands of Ubers the world over to be almost comically reliable. Add on to that up to ten years of warranty cover - you get an extra year every time you service at a Toyota-approved centre - and you’ve got a car that will probably outlast a monarchy or two.
The Corolla is also pretty good in other respects. It’s great to drive, with keen handling and nice accurate steering, even if the CVT gearbox is a bit lifeless. The interior may be dark and drab, but it’s beautifully built and after the Corolla’s most recent facelift the technology is much easier to use.
The standard Corolla hatchback has a fairly pokey boot and back seat, so go for the Touring Sports estate, which feels much roomier.
The default family hatchback choice is often the Volkswagen Golf - but why should it be? The Toyota Corolla is equally as storied a nameplate, and when it comes to its reputation for reliability and longevity it beats the Volkswagen - and just about every alternative - into a cocked hat.
The Corolla uses the same hybrid engines as the Prius, which have proved themselves in thousands of Ubers the world over to be almost comically reliable. Add on to that up to ten years of warranty cover - you get an extra year every time you service at a Toyota-approved centre - and you’ve got a car that will probably outlast a monarchy or two.
The Corolla is also pretty good in other respects. It’s great to drive, with keen handling and nice accurate steering, even if the CVT gearbox is a bit lifeless. The interior may be dark and drab, but it’s beautifully built and after the Corolla’s most recent facelift the technology is much easier to use.
The standard Corolla hatchback has a fairly pokey boot and back seat, so go for the Touring Sports estate, which feels much roomier.
2025
Outstanding EV Award
Battery range up to 349 miles
What's good
What’s not so good
Best for: an electric seven-seater
The Kia EV9 is almost as eye-catching as the Hyundai Santa Fe with its blocky silhouette, but under the skin lies a fully electric powertrain - with great performance and a huge battery pack giving up to 349 miles of range.
With seven seats in a pretty luxurious interior, the EV9 certainly punches above its badge - you wouldn’t think you were sat inside a Kia if you didn’t already know. Material quality is high and the layout - barring the stupid climate control screen - is intuitive, plus there’s loads of room for passengers and cubbyholes for them to stash things in.
It’s great to drive, being both powerful and comfortable - and four ISOFIX points plus a good-sized boot should cover all but the most demanding families. Sure, it’s a bit enormous, and quite brash, but if you want the best electric seven-seater on the market, this is it.
The Kia EV9 is almost as eye-catching as the Hyundai Santa Fe with its blocky silhouette, but under the skin lies a fully electric powertrain - with great performance and a huge battery pack giving up to 349 miles of range.
With seven seats in a pretty luxurious interior, the EV9 certainly punches above its badge - you wouldn’t think you were sat inside a Kia if you didn’t already know. Material quality is high and the layout - barring the stupid climate control screen - is intuitive, plus there’s loads of room for passengers and cubbyholes for them to stash things in.
It’s great to drive, being both powerful and comfortable - and four ISOFIX points plus a good-sized boot should cover all but the most demanding families. Sure, it’s a bit enormous, and quite brash, but if you want the best electric seven-seater on the market, this is it.
2025
Adventurer's Choice Award
Highly Commended
What's good
What’s not so good
Best for: clever features
The Skoda Kodiaq is essentially the SUV version of the Skoda Superb (above) and shares much of its mechanical bits and technology. That’s fantastic news - it means you get the same great range of engines, including the super-useful plug-in hybrid variant.
You also get similarly cavernous interior space. The second row of seats has room for even the lankiest teens to stretch out, and if you go for a petrol or diesel version you even get some surprisingly roomy third row seats as well. Fold them down - or go for a PHEV - and you’ll find one of the biggest boots in the business.
The Kodiaq is supremely comfortable to drive, and the interior has been made with one eye on a big sign saying ‘COMMON SENSE’. More cars should be made like this - motorists’ blood pressure would collectively drop by several points.
The Skoda Kodiaq is essentially the SUV version of the Skoda Superb (above) and shares much of its mechanical bits and technology. That’s fantastic news - it means you get the same great range of engines, including the super-useful plug-in hybrid variant.
You also get similarly cavernous interior space. The second row of seats has room for even the lankiest teens to stretch out, and if you go for a petrol or diesel version you even get some surprisingly roomy third row seats as well. Fold them down - or go for a PHEV - and you’ll find one of the biggest boots in the business.
The Kodiaq is supremely comfortable to drive, and the interior has been made with one eye on a big sign saying ‘COMMON SENSE’. More cars should be made like this - motorists’ blood pressure would collectively drop by several points.
What's good
What’s not so good
Best for: feeling fancy
The Mercedes E-Class Estate is a car that feels like a treat to drive. The E-Class range as a whole is closer than ever to the idea of a true luxury car, with outstanding comfort levels and all the latest technology wrapped in a package that still manages to stay the right side of classy no matter how many glitzy LEDs Merc installs on it.
All E-Class Estate models get a huge boot and plenty of space in the back seats, while under the bonnet you can have everything from a rorty, sporty six-cylinder to a super-efficient diesel four-pot. Of particular note is the E 300 de diesel plug-in hybrid - unique to Mercedes, this powertrain offers plenty of electric range as well as the promise of diesel fuel economy on longer runs.
The dashboard is very high-tech with the option ‘Superscreen’ infotainment system, but spec it carefully and the E-Class is no more intimidating than any alternative. Feeling like an S-Class that’s been scaled down just a little, the E-Class is pretty pricey but feels worth the money.
The Mercedes E-Class Estate is a car that feels like a treat to drive. The E-Class range as a whole is closer than ever to the idea of a true luxury car, with outstanding comfort levels and all the latest technology wrapped in a package that still manages to stay the right side of classy no matter how many glitzy LEDs Merc installs on it.
All E-Class Estate models get a huge boot and plenty of space in the back seats, while under the bonnet you can have everything from a rorty, sporty six-cylinder to a super-efficient diesel four-pot. Of particular note is the E 300 de diesel plug-in hybrid - unique to Mercedes, this powertrain offers plenty of electric range as well as the promise of diesel fuel economy on longer runs.
The dashboard is very high-tech with the option ‘Superscreen’ infotainment system, but spec it carefully and the E-Class is no more intimidating than any alternative. Feeling like an S-Class that’s been scaled down just a little, the E-Class is pretty pricey but feels worth the money.
Family cars to avoid
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