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Best Family Cars 2024
When you have a family, small or large, it is important to have a practical car that can take your loved ones from A to B.
For some, a 7-seater
SUV will do the trick for the sheer versatility and large seating capacity. Others might want to opt for a saloon or hatchback car that still offers the flexibility to hold a smaller-sized family in.
No matter what the preference in vehicle is, you will want to have a rough idea on what car models to look for when browsing for your family car.
Our top picks in this article will give you a broad outlook on what family-friendly vehicles to consider.
Best Family Cars
1. Vauxhall Astra
Vauxhall have been a top-selling UK car brand for a number of years now, making a name for themselves with models such as the Corsa, Insignia, and Mokka.
One Vauxhall model that has stood the test of time is the
Astra, a hatchback/saloon car unveiled by Vauxhall back in 1980.
The Astra was Vauxhall’s pivot to front-wheel driving vehicles. The reason for Vauxhall’s change in design was to allow for more interior space, thus creating the brand’s most popular small family car to date.
Replacing the out-dated Viva going into the 1980s, the Vauxhall Astra quickly became a popular alternative to other family cars on the market, such as the Volvo 240 and Ford Escort.
Fast-forward over 40 years, the Vauxhall Astra has become one of Vauxhall’s best-selling vehicles.
The family-friendly aspects of the Astra has seen the vehicle garner much praise from the automotive industry. The 2023 Business Car Awards saw the Vauxhall Astra receive ‘Best Family Car of the Year’ for the second year in a row, just to give one example.
With reasonable pricing and great functionality, the Astra is a great choice for small families looking to have that perfect family car.
2. Land Rover Discovery
The
Land Rover Discovery entails everything a 7-seater SUV should be – powerful, versatile, and spacious 4x4 capable of holding families of many sizes.
But it comes as no surprise that the Discovery is a great family car option knowing that
Land Rover are at the helm of the model, as the British car brand has specialised in SUV production for decades.
The Discovery has been on UK roads since 1989, with Land Rover releasing a sister-like model to the popular Range Rover.
It initially arrived exclusively as a 3-door SUV, but has evolved into the established 7-seater 4x4 it is today.
This development has positioned the Discovery to be targeted towards large families due to the seating capacity and interior space of the model.
To ensure that the Discovery model could target more than just larger-sized families, Land Rover unveiled the
Discovery Sport, a smaller variant of the original Discovery that offered 5-seater capacity, as well as 7-seater options.
The introduction of the Discovery Sport enhanced the model as a top attraction in the motoring world, targeting large families with the 7-seater Discovery, and small families with the Discovery Sport.
For the sheer versatility of the model, it is hard to argue that the Discovery is not a top choice in all kinds of families.
3. Dacia Jogger
Another 7-seater makes the list, this being one of Dacia’s recent successes – the
Dacia Jogger.
Dacia have taken immense pride in their SUV development, having models such as the Dacia Logan, Sandero, and their Dacia Duster.
Dacia’s Jogger, however, stands tall amongst their variety of family cars, offering a 7-seater budget SUV that is available brand-new from only £19,290.
The Jogger arrives with two powertrain options of either a petrol or mild-hybrid diesel output.
Particularly for the price of the model, the Jogger offers safe driving capabilities along with sleek exterior design, making the Romanian SUV a top pick for families.
And the early years of the model’s tenure has come with big appraisal, such as the Jogger winning at the Car of the Year awards in 2023, being named ‘Best Large Family Car’.
A budget-friendly option paired with great exterior and interior features; the Dacia Jogger should be a heavily considered family vehicle for anybody.
4. Nissan Qashqai
Just like Land Rover and Dacia,
Nissan are known for their impactful 4x4/SUV manufacturing. SUVs such as the X-Trail, Juke, and Navara are some of the first Nissan 4x4s that come to mind.
None of these SUV models, however, are more popular today than the
Nissan Qashqai.
Evidence of the Qashqai’s popularity is there for us all to see – it was the UK’s best-selling car in 2022 and UK’s second best-selling car in 2023.
So, what makes the Qashqai so popular amongst British drivers? Simple, it’s a safe car to drive, great interior technology, and is the definition of a practical SUV.
Safeness of the car has been heralded by many critics, such as What Car? who awarded the Nissan Qashqai with their Safety Award in 2022.
The 5-door SUV family car has a maximum engine power output of 106 kW and a maximum torque of 200 NM (petrol).
Safety of the vehicle further entails just how well suited it is for being a great family car.
5. Ford Focus
As the bulk of this list is containing SUVs, we still can’t forget about one of the UK’s favourite family hatchback car, the
Ford Focus.
Much like the aforementioned Astra, the Focus entails everything a hatchback family vehicle should be.
When
Ford released the Focus back in 1998, it was released as a practical and affordable vehicle that offered dimensions to suit all family sizes.
Flying the flag for Ford in the family car segment, the Ford Focus has evolved into one of the leading
car models for the American car brand, particularly in the UK.
The car’s evolution has seen it grow from strength to strength, being named AA’s ‘Best Family Hatchback’ in 2023, with AA stating that “The Focus has always stood for sensible motoring with a dynamic twist, and the updated model lives up to that billing.”
With an overall length of 4378mm, the Focus gives that practical interior space that makes it stand out amongst fellow family hatchbacks, like the
Volkswagen Golf and
SEAT Leon.
The fourth and current generation of the Focus gives families a fun vehicle to have their merry journeys in, putting the model right near the top of best family cars you can own.
6. Volkswagen ID. Buzz
For the sixth and final pick for our top family cars, this vehicle is definitely the most unique.
The
Volkswagen ID. Buzz is a 6 or 7-seater electric vehicle that was released by
Volkswagen in 2023.
The ID. Buzz has a unique and stylish design, making it firmly stand out amongst other electric family cars such as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Skoda Enyaq iV.
Much like the 7-seater SUVs mentioned earlier, the large seating capacity of the ID. Buzz gives that practicality that a family car needs, and given it’s an
electric vehicle, it should be here to stay.
Power outputs of the ID. Buzz is a respectable 204 PS, allowing the car to accelerate from 0-62mph in 10.2 seconds.
Electric range of the 77kWh battery powered vehicle is 258 miles (fully charged), giving a steady mileage for long journeys with the family.
What Car? even named the ID. Buzz their overall ‘Car of the Year’ winner in 2023, with the award being the most prestigious accolade the ID.Buzz has collected to this day.
Innovation is something that VW are not shy of producing; however, the ID. Buzz is right up there with being their most innovative modern vehicle to date, making it perfect for both small and large families.
Final Thoughts
As there has been a spike in popularity of SUVs, they have been taking over the family car segment for the last few years.
These specific types of models are generally suited to large families, with 7-seater SUVs being best suited due to the practicality of those types of vehicles.
However, don’t count out hatchback cars, as their sleek designs and driving capabilities still hold up strong for families, particularly those that are smaller in count.
Hatchback family cars like the Vauxhall Astra and Ford Focus still remain in UK motorists’ hearts for good reason, meaning they are just as much of a candidate as the SUVs listed here today.
Nonetheless, with the motoring industry ever-growing, there are many family car options out there, just make sure you pick the right one!