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High quality cars for families from rated and reviewed dealers

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Best family cars of 2022

The best family cars have always had an enticing mixture of practicality, low running costs, reliability, and a hint of enjoyment for the driver, once the kids have been dropped off and you’ve got the road and the car to yourself. So, which is the best family car in the UK right now?

skoda Kodiaq

1. Skoda Kodiaq

9/10
carwow price from
£291* / month (£31,189)
The big Skoda follows the classic Czech template of offering maximum space for the money, allied to high quality and a sense of sensible style. It’s not the cheapest car by any means, and it’s going to be relatively thirsty to run, but in terms of family space-per-Pound, it’s hard to beat.
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audi Q4 e-tron

2. Audi Q4 e-tron

9/10
Battery range up to 314 miles
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£442* / month (£44,580)
You want to keep your teenagers happy that you’re not destroying their planet, but still want to own and drive something stylish? Step forward the all-electric Audi Q4 e-Tron, which combines one of the most desirable badges in motoring, with a roomy cabin, a big boot, and an efficient and long-range electric powertrain.
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tesla Model 3

3. Tesla Model 3

9/10
Battery range up to 374 miles
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£506* / month (£48,490)
Speaking of keeping your teenagers happy, they’ll surely not be able to argue with you driving the most zeitgeist-y car of them all? The Model 3 has good cabin space, and seriously impressive electric range and performance. The boot isn’t the biggest (upgrade to the Model Y SUV if you need more space there) but the Model 3’s engaging driving experience compensates. Mind the quality, though.
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volvo XC40

4. Volvo XC40

9/10
Battery range up to 26 miles
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£343* / month (£31,833)
If a family car should be (a) safe, and (b) square (so that it’s practical), then the Volvo XC40 is a winner. Hardly anything on the road is safer, and that Lego-like styling means you get a roomy boot and plenty of rear seat space for growing kids. It is pricey, though.
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bmw 3 Series Touring

5. BMW 3 Series Touring

9/10
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£422* / month (£37,127)
So, you want to haul your family around, and have space in the boot for luggage/shopping/a Labrador, but you don’t want to sacrifice either driver appeal or a desirable image. Well, the 3 Series Touring is your one-stop-shop. All the performance and driver involvement you’d expect, but with more boot. Plug-in hybrid 330e makes the most sense, but there is a 510hp M3 Touring on the way…
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volkswagen Golf

6. Volkswagen Golf

9/10
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£250* / month (£23,994)
The Golf couldn’t be more of an Acme of family motoring if Wile E. Coyote was driving it. Sensible in the extreme, the current Golf has styling that’s a bit droopy, and a hugely frustrating touch-screen setup, but counters that with good engines and excellent comfort and refinement. Only a small (380-litre) boot holds it back these days, but families should probably go for the more spacious (611-litre boot) Golf Estate anyway.
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skoda Enyaq

7. Skoda Enyaq

8/10
Battery range up to 338 miles
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£476* / month (£38,480)
If the Audi Q4 e-Tron allows you to keep the teens and yourself happy, then the (mechanically-identical) Enyaq does the same job for slightly less money. It may not have the image of the Audi, but the Enyaq’s cabin is actually nicer, and it has a larger (580-litre) boot. Swoopy coupe version is also available, and you can get more than 300 miles out of a battery charge.
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nissan Qashqai

8. Nissan Qashqai

8/10
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£202* / month (£23,596)
Nissan got there first with a family crossover, way back in 2007 with the original Qashqai, and that experience shows. The current Qashqai may not be the most thrilling car to drive, but it’s roomy, practical (big boot, wide-opening back doors), and well-made. 1.3 turbo petrol is nice; ePower range-extender hybrid is interesting.
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mercedes A-Class

9. Mercedes A-Class

8/10
Battery range up to 40 miles
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£344* / month (£29,771)
For when a VW Golf isn’t quite classy enough, Mercedes has the A-Class. For a bit more than Golf money, you get a classy all-digital cabin (which is roomier than you might think) and a broad engine lineup that runs from compact diesels through plug-in hybrids all the way to the 421hp AMG A45. Slightly crashy ride quality doesn’t feel very Merc-like, though.
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peugeot 3008

10. Peugeot 3008

8/10
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£316* / month (£25,885)
A revelation when launched (it replaced the dumpy-looking original 3008), Peugeot’s mid-size crossover has mellowed, and now faces much stronger opposition than once it did. The 3008 has kept up, though, thanks to a smart cabin and improved engine choices that now include a plug-in hybrid model. Good quality, but the driving seat can feel a little cramped.
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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 always at full stretch. These days, it’s definitely worth looking long and hard at electric-powered cars.

The all-but unquestionable answer here is the Dacia Jogger. No, it’s not the most stylish car around, nor the one with the best safety rating, but on a value-for-money scale, it’s unbeatable and is roomier than most of the competition.

If you’re trying to carry five, you probably don’t want 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.

In terms of family-sized cars with the most frugal powertrains, you could look at the Hyundai Ioniq Electric (which scores a tough-to-beat 4.5 miles per kWh), or a Toyota Corolla 1.8 Hybrid (up to 62mpg). If you’re still keen on diesel, then look at Skoda Octavia 2.0 TDI 116hp (which can get up to 68mpg).

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

While there are family cars with better individual safety ratings in some categories, the car with the best combined adult and child occupant protection rating is the Nissan Qashqai, which scores 91% in both categories, according to Euro NCAP. The Skoda Enyaq has a higher adult occupant rating (94%) but loses out on child occupant protection (89%). The only car with a better overall occupant rating than the Qashqai is the all-electric Mercedes EQS, but that’s only a family car if the family has won the lottery.

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

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