When it feels like you’re constantly ferrying little ones to and fro and/or running errands, you need a family car that’s reliable and practical. But given that you spend so many hours on the road – and, let’s face it, quite a few camping out waiting for the kids to finish whatever activity they’re up to that day – you want one that’s not a total bore either.
With that in mind, we’ve pulled together a list of the very best family-friendly cars mums and dads are sure to love in 2020. Whatever your budget or the size of your brood, there’s sure to be one you like the sound of.
Feel free to browse the full list, or jump to the cars that best match your budget using the links below:
1. £12k – £18k
2. £18k – £22k
3. £22k – £25k
4. £25k – £30k
5. £30k+
Best New Cars for Mums and Dads: £12k – £18k
Looking for affordable family cars with mum and dad-friendly features and glowing independent reviews? We’ve got you covered.
New Volkswagen Polo – from £15,390
Boot space: 280 litres
Euro NCAP safety rating: 5 star
Family friendly features: Dust/pollen filter, ISOFIX Preparation 2 rear child seats, Bluetooth connectivity
One of the most spacious superminis and best small family cars around, the Volkswagen Polo is renowned for its low running costs and excellent handling, and you’d be hard pressed to find a car that’s received higher praise from industry experts – What Car? gave it a 5* review and Auto Express rated it as one of the ten best super minis to buy in 2018/2019.
Kia Stonic – from £17,755
Boot space: 352 litres
Euro NCAP safety rating: 5 stars
Family friendly features: ISOFIX on outer rear seats, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, roof rails
Kia have a reputation for producing especially reliable cars, and the Stonic – “a handsome car” according to AutoCar – falls firmly into that category. The higher ride height means you’ll have a good view of the road (and makes wresting kids into car seat just that bit easier). It’s worth noting too that the safety rating rises to 5 stars if you opt to upgrade the entry-level safety kit.
SEAT Arona – £17,760
Boot space: 400 litres
Euro NCAP safety rating: 5 star
Family friendly features: Autonomous emergency braking, ISOFIX child seat anchor points, infotainment system
Launched in late 2017, this compact crossover is, as The Independent points out, “a smart, well-made entry into a very popular part of the market.” The interior feels really spacious given the cars diminutive dimensions, and the boot space leaps up to 823 litres when the rear seats are folded down.
Best New Cars for Mums and Dads: £18k – £22k
Below you’ll find some of the top-rated family cars under £22k. We regularly have some fantastic finance deals across our range – just click through to any car to see our latest offers.
Mazda CX-3 – from £19,130
Boot space: 350 litres
Euro NCAP safety rating: 4 star
Family friendly features: ISOFIX system on outer rear seats, 60/40 split folding rear seat, USB/iPod/auxiliary input connections
The Mazda CX-3 is a stylish, compact SUV designed to turn heads – AutoExpress love its “neat exterior styling”. Boasting Mazda’s award-winning Skyactiv Technology engine, it’s a pleasure to drive whether you’re heading out on the motorway for a family day out or running a few errands around town.
Peugeot 2008 – from £20,150
Boot space: 422 litres
Euro NCAP safety rating: 5 star
Family friendly features: Refrigerated glovebox, child safety lock, ISOFIX on outer rear seats
This hatchback-SUV hybrid – referred to by Top Gear as “208’s taller, flashier, more off-roadery cousin” – offers lots of head room and rear seats that fold flat, so there’s tons of space for your little ones (and all their stuff too).
Volkswagen T-Roc – from £20,490
Boot space: 445 litres
Euro NCAP safety rating: 5 star
Family friendly features: Six air bags, eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system, ISOFIX child seat anchor points
Undoubtedly one of the strongest cars in its class, the T-Roc is great fun to drive (The Telegraph highlights its “crisp steering” and “agile chassis”) and offers competitive running costs. There are plenty of personalisation options to choose from, and there’s lots of room in the back for three.
Best New Cars for Mums and Dads: £22k-£25k
Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross – from £22,535
Boot space: 374 litres
Euro NCAP safety rating: 5 stars
Family friendly features: Room for five adults, premium audio system, calm interior ambient lighting
The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is one eye-catching small SUV, with a bold exterior design with a sloping roofline reminiscent of a sports car. Interior space isn’t compromised, though, with room for five and some impressive levels of kit. There’s even optional four wheel drive, so you needn’t be put off by a little bit of bad weather.
Audi Q2 – from £22,720
Boot space: 405 litres
Euro NCAP safety rating: 5 star
Family friendly features: MMI infotainment system, ISOFIX child seat anchor points, folding rear seats
The Q2 boasts a driving experience that’s hard to beat – gear changes are slick, it handles brilliantly and the driver’s set up is highly adjustable so getting comfy’s easy. What Car? have praised its “classy, user-friendly interior”, and this is certainly the kind of car you won’t mind spending lots of time in.
SEAT Ateca – from £22,725
Boot space: 510 litres
Euro NCAP safety rating: 5 star
Family friendly features: ISOFIX on outer rear seats, USB connectivity, side airbags
Named ‘Best family SUV less than £20,000′ in the WhatCar? Car of the Year awards 2018, and winning Best Car for Families in the AutoTrader New Car Awards 2019, the SEAT Ateca handles brilliantly and offers an especially refined drive. Getting properly comfortable is easy thanks to the highly adjustable steering wheel and driver’s seat, and there are plenty of handy storage options in the cabin.
Audi A3 – from £22,725
Boot space: 380 litres
Euro NCAP safety rating: 5 star
Family friendly features: Manual rear child locks, ISOFIX child seat preparation and airbag deactivation, storage compartment under front seats, two USB ports
For those in search of a little luxury in their family car, the Audi A3’s a great shout. As spacious as it is stylish, it’s 380-litre boot is “easy to access and…practically shaped” according to WhatCar?. Plus the efficient diesel engine means there’s no tax to pay which adds up to lots of savings in the long run.
Best New Cars for Mums and Dads: £25k – £30k
Looking to invest a little more in your new family car? Here’s our suggestions for the ‘up to £30k’ price bracket.
Volkswagen Passat Estate – from £25,580
Boot space: 650 litres
Euro NCAP safety rating: 5 star
Family friendly features: Nine airbags, ISOFIX child seat anchor points, touchscreen display
It may have been around for over 40 years, but there’s nothing outdated about the Volkswagen Passat. As The Telegraph points out, this large estate is “hard to fault” when it comes to space – there’s plenty of legroom, a cavernous boot and the rear seat fold completely flat when you need extra loading space. You can find out more about the Passat by watching the video below.
Peugeot 3008 – from £25,865
Boot space: 512 litres
Euro NCAP safety rating: 5 star
Family friendly features: Height adjustable front seatbelts, child lock control of rear doors and windows, ISOFIX on front passenger and rear outer seats
WhatCar? says that no other car in its class “equal the 3008 for upmarket feel.” This roomy model offers a supportive driver’s seat, dusk sensing lights and rain-sensing wipers are standard throughout the range to give you a couple less things to worry about, we can see why it won New Car of the Year in the AutoTrader New Car Awards 2019.
Mazda CX-5 – from £26,400
Boot space: 503 litres
Euro NCAP safety rating: 5 star
Family friendly features: Adaptive LED headlights, blind spot monitoring, lane-keep assist
The long family drive’s sure to fly by in the Mazda CX-5. WhatCar? awarded the CX-5, five stars and called it “a very practical family car with some clever tricks up its sleeve to take the stress out of daily life”. Plus the i-ACTIVSENSE safety technology features provide you with an extra level of reassurance, this was recognised in the AutoTrader New Car Awards 2019 in which the CX-5 won Best Car for Dog Owners.
Audi Q3 – from £27,910
Boot space: 460 litres
Euro NCAP safety rating: 5 star
Family friendly features: First aid kit, split folding rear seats, electrically operated child locks on rear doors, ISOFIX on front passenger and rear outer seats, seatbelt warning light
This nifty SUV is powerful and great fun to drive (a blessing if you’re stuck doing the school run every day) but it also ranks highly in the safety stakes – six airbags and electronic stability control come as standard. AutoExpress rate the Q3 as a “practical, well-built and desirable crossover”.
Best New Cars for Mums and Dads: £30k+
If you’re looking for a high-spec family car with plenty of space and innovative, practical features, you’ll find our top recommendations for 2018 below.
Range Rover Evoque – from £31,190
Boot space: 591 litres
Euro NCAP safety rating: 5 star
Family friendly features: Rear seat centre armrest, auto climate control with air filtration and Isofix child seat preparation
The smallest of the Land Rover family, the Range Rover Evoque has been totally refreshed and revised, with an updated look and brand new interior. It’s still the same super comfortable small SUV, though, providing stylish transport for all the family. And for the driver, WhatCar? explain the Evoque has one of the best driving positions of any small SUV.
Jaguar F-PACE – from £36,820
Boot space: 650 litres
Euro NCAP safety rating: 5 star
Family friendly features: Power child locks, shopping hook in boot and Interior front door handles with separate locking switches
Going on sale in 2016, by 2017 the F-Pace had won Top Gear’s World Car of the Year award, credited for its spacious interior and overall appearance this luxury performance SUV is guaranteed to cause some envy amongst the other mums! Not to mention winning Brand with the Best Features in the Auto Trader New Car Awards 2019.
Mercedes-Benz GLC – from £40,620
Boot space: 550 litres
Euro NCAP safety rating: 5 star
Family friendly features: Sat nav as standard, keyless start, ISOFIX child seat anchor points
Top Gear have highlighted the GLC’s “Refinement, solidity, space, [and] off-road-ability”. The four-wheel-drive GLC has plenty of room inside and is filled with premium finishes as standard. And for additional piece of mind, you can take your pick from an array of advanced safety options including Collision Prevention Assist Plus and Attention Assist.
Land Rover Discovery – from £47,745
Boot space: 1,137 litres (with the rear seats folded down)
Euro NCAP safety rating: 5 star
Family friendly features: USB charging points and under floor storage, intelligent seat fold, Touch and Connect Pro
Updated in 2017, and winner of the Large Premium SUV of the Year 2018 in the Auto Express awards this off-road SUV’s spacious, luxurious interior leaves no compromise on performance. Whilst the range of in cabin technology will keep your passengers entertained on those longer journeys.
Still not sure which car’s right for you and your family? Our teams are happy to answer any questions you have about these or any other models – either give us a call to chat, or drop into your local dealership. Or if you’re ready to start looking at the cars we currently have available, you can start your search here.
*** Please note, all prices shown are based on the MRRPs at the time of going live (Jan 2020). ***
