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 2019. 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. £10k – £17k
2. £17k – £20k
3. £20k – £22k
4. £22k – £25k+
5. £25k – £30k+
Best New Cars for Mums and Dads: £10k – £17k
Looking for affordable family cars with mum and dad-friendly features and glowing independent reviews? We’ve got you covered.
New Volkswagen Polo – from £14,235
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.
New Kia Soul – from £14,725
Boot space: 354 litres
Euro NCAP safety rating: 4 star
Family friendly features: DAB radio and Bluetooth, folding rear seats, ISOFIX child seat anchor points
You’ll either love or hate the chunky body shape of this small SUV… Offering great visibility and plenty of space on-board, it comes with Kia’s industry-leading warranty, plus What Car? notes that the build quality feels “a cut above rivals such as the Nissan Juke and Renault Captur”.
New Kia Stonic – from £16,540
Boot space: 352 litres
Euro NCAP safety rating: 3 star
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 Auto Car – 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.
New SEAT Arona – £16,905
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: £17k – £20k
Below you’ll find some of the top-rated family cars under £20k. We regularly have some fantastic finance deals across our range – just click through to any car to see our latest offers.
New Peugeot 2008 SUV – from £17,424
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).
New Mazda CX-3 – from £18,995 
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 – Auto Express loves 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.
New Volkswagen T-Roc – from £19,270
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: £20k – £22k
We’re here to help you find your perfect family vehicle. Below are some brilliant options from Vauxhall, Audi, and MINI.
New SEAT Ateca – from £21,880
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 What Car? Car of the Year awards 2018, and winning Best Car for Families in the Auto Trader 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.
New Audi A3 – from £21,810
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 What Car?. Plus the efficient diesel engine means there’s no tax to pay which adds up to lots of savings in the long run.
New Audi Q2 – from £21,660
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.
Best New Cars for Mums and Dads: £22k – £25k
Looking to invest a little more in your new family car? Here’s our suggestions for the ‘up to £25k’ price bracket.
New Volkswagen Passat Estate – from £22,025
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.
New Peugeot 3008 – from £22,765
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
What Car? 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 Auto Trader New Car Awards 2019.
Best New Cars for Mums and Dads: £25k – £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.
New Mazda CX-5 – from £25,595
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. What Car? 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 Auto Trader New Car Awards 2019 in which the CX-5 won Best Car for Dog Owners.
New 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. Auto Express rate the Q3 as a “practical, well-built and desirable crossover”.
New Vauxhall Zafira – from £29,200
Boot space: 645 litres (when third row of seats folded down)
Euro NCAP safety rating: 5 star
Family friendly features: Front seat backrest storage nets, ISOFIX system on outer rear seats, two individual fold flat third row seats, child locks on rear doors
This seven-seater’s big enough for the kids and their friends! Auto Express note that “with the innovative Flex7 seating arrangement, loads of storage compartments and a big boot with seats folded away, the Zafira scores very highly on the practicality count” – but it’s also got a cabin that feels especially luxurious for its price point.
Range Rover Evoque – from £31,190
Boot space: 472 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 provides the same performance and versatility of its siblings but in a more compact form. Described in a What Car? review as having one of the best driving positions of any small SUV.
Jaguar F-Pace – from £36,210
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 SUV – from £36,425
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 4-wheel-drive GLC has plenty of room inside and if 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 £47,105
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 2019). ***
