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High quality family cars from rated and reviewed dealers

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Rated 4.5/5 from 61,550 reviews
Red 2024 Skoda Superb driving on a country road, front quarter view.
Last updated August 30, 2024 by Darren Cassey

Best family cars of 2024

The best family cars provide a mixture of practicality, affordability and reliability, but also offer some driver enjoyment for when you’ve dropped the kids off at school and still want something pleasant to drive the rest of the time.

So which family car is the best right now? There are loads of options that could appeal depending on your needs and budget, so our expert reviews team has put together their favourite family cars from a wide cross section of models, including big and small, electric family cars and seven-seaters.

Skoda Superb

1. Skoda Superb

9/10
Skoda Superb review
The Skoda Superb has long been one of the best value cars you can buy, and the latest model continues this trend. It’s ridiculously practical thanks to its spacious interior and huge boot, and it’s a pleasure to drive, particularly if you do big miles. SUVs might be the trendy option, but few even get close to having the all-round ability that the Superb does. And if you need even more space it’s also available as an estate. Downsides? Well, it’s perhaps not quite as comfortable over bumps around town as you might hope for, and you can’t get the hatchback version with the plug-in hybrid engine, so company car buyers will have to look to the estate.
Citroen C5 Aircross
2024
Family Values Award

2. Citroen C5 Aircross

9/10
Citroen C5 Aircross review
The Citroen C5 Aircross is stonking value, comfortable to drive, cheap to run and has oodles of space. No wonder it took home the Family Values trophy at the 2024 Carwow Car of the Year awards. It's priced more closely to much smaller SUVs than it is to anything of a similar size, which makes it a unique proposition. But cheap would mean nothing if it wasn't also cheerful - good thing it's also very comfortable over bumps, nicely efficient and even looks stylish.
Tesla Model 3
2024
Outstanding EV Award

3. Tesla Model 3

9/10
Tesla Model 3 review
Battery range up to 436 miles
One of the best electric family cars you can buy is the Tesla Model 3. Sure, the Model Y is more practical, but the Model 3 has enough space for most people and is much more fun and comfortable to drive. There’s no such thing as range anxiety because even the cheapest version has an official range of 318 miles, and the motor is very efficient which means you’ll pay less in electricity during your ownership. It’s also quick and packed full of technology, though using the infotainment touchscreen for everything isn’t always the easiest, and the likes of Audi, Mercedes and BMW offer better interior quality.

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BMW 3 Series Touring

4. BMW 3 Series Touring

9/10
BMW 3 Series Touring review
So, you want to haul your family around and have space in the boot for luggage/shopping/Labradors, 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 - it's simply one of the best estate cars you can buy. The plug-in hybrid 330e makes the most sense, but then again, if you're not worried about being sensible, there is the 510hp M3 Touring…
Honda Civic
2024
Comfortable Cruiser Award
Highly Commended

5. Honda Civic

9/10
Honda Civic review
Generation after generation of Honda Civic has made a sensible family car, but not necessarily a fun one. Well, the latest iteration puts that right. It’s responsive and fun on a country road, but easy to drive in town and comfy on the motorway. The boot is big enough for a family holiday, and the petrol-electric hybrid engine is very economical to run. Larger families will need more space, but if there are only a few of you the Civic does a great job.
Skoda Karoq

6. Skoda Karoq

9/10
Skoda Karoq review
The Skoda Karoq follows the classic Czech template of offering maximum space for the money, allied to high quality and a sense of sensible style. It has a very flexible interior, with clever rear seats that also have loads of space. 'Clever' is the name of the game, actually - the inside's packed with useful touches that just make life a bit easier, like a rubbish bin in the door pocket or a hidden umbrella.
Kia EV9

7. Kia EV9

9/10
Kia EV9 review
Battery range up to 349 miles
Let’s get the negative out of the way first – the Kia EV9 is by no means a cheap car, and it’s not quite posh enough inside to justify its price tag. However, if you’re looking for a big, practical electric SUV it’s tough to beat, and it even comes with seven seats. The cabin is huge so there’s room for even the biggest families, and you get super-fast charging, so even though it’s not hugely efficient you won’t be spending hours waiting for it to charge on a road trip. Oh, and it looks fantastic, doesn’t it?
Renault Clio

8. Renault Clio

9/10
Renault Clio review
The Renault Clio is one of the best small cars in the business, but don’t let its size fool you into thinking it can’t work as a family car. Sure, the tight rear seats might be a bit of a squeeze for a weekend away with a couple of teenagers, but it’s a good choice for a growing family thanks to its impressively spacious boot. The Clio is an absolute bargain if you go for the petrol model, but spend a bit more and you can get a smooth hybrid engine that will be super-cheap to run.
Nissan Qashqai
2024
Family Values Award
Highly Commended

9. Nissan Qashqai

8/10
Nissan Qashqai review
The Nissan Qashqai is as synonymous with family life as smelly nappies and days out at the park. The latest model is the best version yet, and an update in 2024 gave it a sharp new look, slick integration with Google apps such as Maps, and some posher top-spec trims. It doesn’t have a particularly big boot, and the e-Power hybrid version isn’t hugely efficient, but the Qashqai is a fantastic all-rounder. You get loads of standard equipment, it’s comfortable to drive, and there’s plenty of room for most families inside.
Volkswagen Passat

10. Volkswagen Passat

8/10
Volkswagen Passat review
The Volkswagen Passat is yet more proof you don’t need an SUV if you want something spacious and practical for all the family. The latest generation is only available as an estate, but that means you get a huge boot to go with a smooth driving experience and high-quality interior. It’s a bit of a shame there are no diesel engines considering how good the Passat is when driving long distances on the motorway. It also shares much of its mechanical underpinnings with the Skoda Superb, which is just as good but costs less, making it more appealing if you’re not worried about having a posh badge on the bonnet.

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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 often at full stretch. These days, it’s definitely worth looking long and hard at electric cars.

There are a few great options here. For example, the Volkswagen Multivan, which offers palatial space for seven in an immensely practical package. There's also the Kia EV9 if you're looking for an electric SUV. Neither are particularly cheap, though, so an honourable mention goes to the Dacia Jogger, which is incredibly good value - but we wouldn't blame you if its poor crash safety rating turned you off.

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

If you're looking for an efficient electric car, the Tesla Model 3 is a great option – we saw a brilliant 4.6mi/kWh during our time with the car. If you do a lot of motorway miles, the 150hp diesel in the Skoda Superb sees 58mpg in official tests. If your budget can stretch to a plug-in hybrid car, and you can keep the batteries regularly charged, the payoff will be ultra-low running costs. The Citroen C5 Aircross and BMW 3 Series Touring have plug-in hybrid options.

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

Safety experts Euro NCAP test cars in a number of areas, from occupant protection to driver assistance technology. Some of the models that have scored very well for both adult and child protection include the Mercedes E-Class, Volkswagen Passat, Skoda Superb and Volkswagen Tiguan.

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

The Citroen C5 Aircross and Renault Clio are the best-value cars in this list. The Renault costs less, but it is quite a small car. The Citroen is particularly impressive because its pricing is similar to much smaller cars, meaning you get more for your money.

According to the 2024 Driver Power owner satisfaction survey, the most reliable family cars are the Toyota RAV4, Skoda Kodiaq and Mazda CX-5.

Brands from Japan and Korea tend to rank the highest in surveys, meaning the most reliable family cars tend to come from the likes of Toyota, Kia and Honda, among others. It's worth noting that Kia offers a seven-year warranty on all models, as does Chinese-owned MG. You can check out the most reliable car manufacturers here.

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