Best family cars in the UK

High quality family cars from rated and reviewed dealers

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2025 Hyundai Santa Fe, RHD, green, exterior front three quarter view static
Last updated April 22, 2025 by Tom Wiltshire

Best family cars of 2025

Choosing a family car can be a fraught process, because it truly has to be the consummate all-rounder. The perfect family car has an impossible task - buyers demand that it’s affordable but doesn’t feel cheap, spacious inside yet easy to park, has a faultless safety record and yet is uncomplicated with super-low running costs.

Decades ago, the default family car in the UK would have been a mid-sized saloon - or perhaps the estate version for particularly large crowds. In the 1990s and 2000s, hatchbacks such as the Volkswagen Golf became the typical option - with the rise of the seven-seat MPV catering for those who needed lots of seats.

In 2025, though, you’ll probably find yourself drawn to an SUV as a family car - you’ll find plenty on our top 10 list below. The good news is that SUVs these days come in all shapes and sizes - from small SUVs to big seven-seater SUVs, and with various electric or hybrid powertrain options in addition to more traditional choices.

But there are still some alternatives out there which use a more traditional bodystyle to great effect, and some of our all-time favourite family car options are hatchbacks or MPVs.

There are options for all budgets, whether you’re trying to keep costs low or considering splashing out on something seriously posh. And there’s something for every size of family too, whether you’ve got just the one offspring or a whole litter of them.

Some factors are common to all of these cars, though - they’re all cheap to run, great to drive, practical for their size and a pleasure to own.

The Carwow road test team spends loads of seat time in all the best family cars on sale today, so we know what we’re talking about when we recommend them. Many of our writers have families of their own but you can rest assured that all of us are making sure child seats fit in the back, buggies can go in the boot and that the surfaces can stand up to sticky fingers.

Hyundai Santa Fe
2025
Car of the Year Award

1. Hyundai Santa Fe

10/10
Hyundai Santa Fe review

What's good

  • Vast, spacious interior
  • Looks ace
  • Surprisingly economical

What’s not so good

  • Alternatives have bigger boots
  • No diesel or full-electric versions
  • Not very exciting to drive
Best for: everything

The winner of the ‘Family Values’ category in the 2025 Carwow Car of the Year awards was never going to be at the bottom of this list, was it? The Hyundai Santa Fe is such an accomplished all-rounder that it didn’t just take home one gong, either - we named it our overall Car of the Year, and it helped Hyundai to secure its Brand of the Year award too.

The Santa Fe scores so highly as a family car because it’s been so thoroughly thought-through. Starting with the rear seats - there are five of them, making the Santa Fe capable of seating seven passengers in comfort, even if there are adults in the third row.

Boot space with all three rows of seats in place is enough for the weekly shop, but lower them and you have a five-seater with loads of room for even the bulkiest of buggies. Got something smaller to carry about? No problem - just pick from one of the interior cubbyholes, which seem to number in the dozens. The Santa Fe has a whopping 17 cupholders, perfect for those days when all seven of your passengers require 2.4 drinks each.

The Santa Fe scored a full five stars in Euro NCAP safety testing, when equipped with the safety pack (which UK cars get as standard) and there are four ISOFIX points in the rear, too.

And don’t think that just because it’s shaped like a brick - albeit a cyberpunk, LED-laden brick - that it drives like one. The Santa Fe’s two engine choices (self-charging or plug-in hybrid) aren’t exactly powerful, but they’re more than capable of shifting this big SUV around, and it strikes a great balance between being comfortable over bumps but without feeling flobbery in the bends.

And at around ⅔ the price of an equivalent SUV from a more prestigious brand, the Hyundai Santa Fe even represents pretty good value for money. It’s by no means cheap, but it feels like a seriously well-designed and high-quality car that’s well deserving of a place on your driveway.

What's good

  • Vast, spacious interior
  • Looks ace
  • Surprisingly economical

What’s not so good

  • Alternatives have bigger boots
  • No diesel or full-electric versions
  • Not very exciting to drive
Skoda Superb
2025
Comfortable Cruiser Award

2. Skoda Superb

9/10
Skoda Superb review

What's good

  • Hugely practical
  • Comfortable motorway cruiser
  • Well-made interior

What’s not so good

  • Suspension is firm around town
  • Confusing digital driver's display
  • Hatchback isn't available as a PHEV
Best for: spaciousness

The Skoda Superb proves that you don’t need a massive overblown SUV if you just want a big boot and loads of space in the rear seats. Step into the discreetly handsome Superb’s interior and you’ll be bowled over - there are limousines with less room.

That capacious nature extends to the boot, which has a mammoth 645 litres of space - or 690 litres if you go for the somehow-even-roomier Superb Estate. It’ll be one seriously hoarding family that manages to fill that up.

That huge rear bench is the perfect spot for lanky teenagers or those gigantic child seats that look more like a padded dentist’s chair - you won’t struggle for space, and the front seat passengers can still enjoy putting their seats back as far as they’ll go.

Life’s pretty good in the front of the Superb, too. Its classy design hides a plethora of smart features, such as the configurable dials on the dashboard which strike a nice balance between the flexibility of a touchscreen and the tactility of physical switchgear. There are loads of Skoda’s ‘Simply Clever’ features too - spot the clip on the windscreen to hold a parking ticket, or the brilliant little nubbins in the cupholders which can keep a bottle still and allow you to open it one-handed.

There are a selection of petrol and diesel engines on offer, or if you go for the estate an impressively long-ranged plug-in hybrid. All versions are easy to drive, comfortable over all surfaces and as relaxing as a warm bath when you hit the motorway - no wonder we named the Superb ‘Comfortable Cruiser’ in the 2025 Carwow Car of the Year awards.

What's good

  • Hugely practical
  • Comfortable motorway cruiser
  • Well-made interior

What’s not so good

  • Suspension is firm around town
  • Confusing digital driver's display
  • Hatchback isn't available as a PHEV
Citroen C5 Aircross
2025
Comfortable Cruiser Award
Highly Commended

3. Citroen C5 Aircross

9/10
Citroen C5 Aircross review

What's good

  • Chic styling
  • Big boot
  • Comfortable to drive

What’s not so good

  • Some cheap bits inside
  • Awkward infotainment system
  • Rear seats are a bit tight
Best for: value

The Citroen C5 Aircross is one of those cars that requires a second look. You don’t often think of Citroen as a hyper-cheap brand - not in the same breath as, say, Dacia or MG - but the value proposition offered by the C5 Aircross is every bit as tempting as a Dacia Bigster or MG HS. This big, comfortable family SUV has a rock-bottom list price and with Carwow discounts can often be even cheaper still.

That would be easily explained if the Citroen C5 Aircross felt as cheap as its price tag - but it doesn’t. Despite costing less than many small hatchbacks, this is a proper SUV with all the tech you’re used to, nice interior materials and even some high-tech features such as Citroen’s ‘Advanced Comfort’ suspension that makes mincemeat of bumps around town.

Three engine options cover most bases - the 1.2-litre hybrid sounds weedy but is actually more than powerful enough, and the plug-in hybrid is a decent option for those who can charge up at home. Long-distance drivers will be thrilled to see that a plain ‘n’ simple diesel engine is still offered, too - an increasing rarity among SUVs these days, and one that’s a real draw for those who cover really high mileages.

On the family car front, there’s a big boot - slightly reduced in the hybrid models - but the C5 Aircross’ real trump card is in the back seats. Instead of a single bench, you get three individual rear chairs, all capable of sliding and folding and all with their own ISOFIX points, allowing you to carry three child seats abreast if you’re careful. That’s seriously useful for bigger families.

What's good

  • Chic styling
  • Big boot
  • Comfortable to drive

What’s not so good

  • Some cheap bits inside
  • Awkward infotainment system
  • Rear seats are a bit tight

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Dacia Duster
2025
Smart Spender Award

4. Dacia Duster

9/10
Dacia Duster review

What's good

  • Great value
  • Four-wheel drive available
  • Keeps the Duster's character intact

What’s not so good

  • Cheap plastics inside
  • Seats don't fold totally flat
  • No more diesel option
Best for: rugged simplicity

You might think the Dacia Duster’s three-star Euro NCAP safety rating immediately disqualifies it from contention as a family car, but dive a little deeper and you might be reassured to find that in terms of crash protection, it actually scored four stars. Dacia prefers to spend its development money on passive safety features, rather than the high-tech active safety kit required to get a high score for from Euro NCAP.

Are there safer cars? Certainly - but the Duster is by no means dangerous to travel in.

In fact, it’s rather a delight. The interior is cheap, but in a clever way - Dacia’s focused on the things you interact with, and made the rest of the car hardwearing rather than luxurious. You get a simple touchscreen infotainment with a reduced interface, but most drivers will simply plumb into Apple CarPlay or Android Auto instead.

You also get plenty of space in the back seats and a huge boot, plus Dacia’s smart YouClip system which lets you attach phone mounts, tablet holders, pencil pots - or whatever the 3D-printing community comes up with next - to a series of points in the interior.

An efficient hybrid engine is available but so is a four-wheel drive version, which performs surprisingly well on the tough stuff.

What's good

  • Great value
  • Four-wheel drive available
  • Keeps the Duster's character intact

What’s not so good

  • Cheap plastics inside
  • Seats don't fold totally flat
  • No more diesel option
BMW X5
2025
Adventurer's Choice Award

5. BMW X5

10/10
BMW X5 review
Battery range up to 45 miles

What's good

  • Powerful yet efficient engines
  • High quality interior
  • Fun to drive for an SUV

What’s not so good

  • Lumbar adjustment optional
  • M50d's fake engine noise
  • Firm on large alloy wheels
Best for: driving pleasure

The BMW X5 ain’t cheap - nor is it pretty. But if you move past those two snags, you’ll find a fantastic large SUV that ticks just about every other box.

The X5 is so good that we named it Adventurers’ Choice in the 2025 Carwow Car of the Year awards, but it could just as easily have taken the Family Values or Comfortable Cruiser gongs.

The X5’s supremacy starts with its engine lineup. Even the cheapest model has a creamy-smooth six-cylinder, which is powerful, sounds great and is surprisingly efficient. Although if you want efficiency, go for the X5 plug-in hybrid, which pairs another six-pot engine with a large battery and electric motor making for great performance with an all-electric range of around 60 miles - a superbly usable everyday figure.

The plug-in X5 gets five seats and a massive boot, but plain petrol or diesel ones have the option of seven seats making them even more flexible for large families. The interior is beautifully crafted and packed with tech, but it’s also roomy and hardwearing enough for the most demanding of tots. And if you need more space, you can always go for the closely-related - and somehow even uglier - BMW X7 instead.

What's good

  • Powerful yet efficient engines
  • High quality interior
  • Fun to drive for an SUV

What’s not so good

  • Lumbar adjustment optional
  • M50d's fake engine noise
  • Firm on large alloy wheels
Volkswagen Multivan

6. Volkswagen Multivan

8/10
Volkswagen Multivan review

What's good

  • Great to drive
  • Useful engine line-up with plug-in hybrid option
  • Superbly practical interior

What’s not so good

  • Only seats seven
  • Jiggly over bumps when lightly loaded
  • Seats have to be removed rather than folding flat
Best for: big families

There aren’t many MPVs of any description left on sale in the UK any more, but the ones that are left are pretty good. The Multivan, though, is more than just ‘pretty good’.

Despite its name - and its slab-sided looks - the Multivan isn’t actually based on the same oily bits as the Volkswagen Transporter van. Instead, under the skin it’s more closely related to the Volkswagen Golf hatchback, which means you get car-like driving dynamics and comfort, plenty of technology and access to the more modern engines in Volkswagen’s line-up - including a plug-in hybrid.

Seven seats come as standard, and all of them slide and recline individually making for a very flexible interior. Up front, there’s a flat floor giving you step-through access, and plenty of storage in the tall, flat dashboard.

Electric sliding doors make getting in and out, or loading up a bulky child seat, really easy. While boot space in the standard wheelbase model is a bit tight with all the seats in place, there’s a long-wheelbase model which gets loads of room.

What's good

  • Great to drive
  • Useful engine line-up with plug-in hybrid option
  • Superbly practical interior

What’s not so good

  • Only seats seven
  • Jiggly over bumps when lightly loaded
  • Seats have to be removed rather than folding flat
Toyota Corolla Touring Sports

7. Toyota Corolla Touring Sports

8/10
Toyota Corolla Touring Sports review

What's good

  • Impressive fuel economy
  • Lots of tech as standard
  • Effortless to drive

What’s not so good

  • Forgettable styling
  • Alternatives have bigger boots
  • High starting price
Best for: dependability

The default family hatchback choice is often the Volkswagen Golf - but why should it be? The Toyota Corolla is equally as storied a nameplate, and when it comes to its reputation for reliability and longevity it beats the Volkswagen - and just about every alternative - into a cocked hat.

The Corolla uses the same hybrid engines as the Prius, which have proved themselves in thousands of Ubers the world over to be almost comically reliable. Add on to that up to ten years of warranty cover - you get an extra year every time you service at a Toyota-approved centre - and you’ve got a car that will probably outlast a monarchy or two.

The Corolla is also pretty good in other respects. It’s great to drive, with keen handling and nice accurate steering, even if the CVT gearbox is a bit lifeless. The interior may be dark and drab, but it’s beautifully built and after the Corolla’s most recent facelift the technology is much easier to use.

The standard Corolla hatchback has a fairly pokey boot and back seat, so go for the Touring Sports estate, which feels much roomier.

What's good

  • Impressive fuel economy
  • Lots of tech as standard
  • Effortless to drive

What’s not so good

  • Forgettable styling
  • Alternatives have bigger boots
  • High starting price
Kia EV9
2025
Outstanding EV Award

8. Kia EV9

9/10
Kia EV9 review
Battery range up to 349 miles

What's good

  • Spacious interior
  • Super-fast charging
  • Electric seven-seater

What’s not so good

  • Not particularly quiet at high speeds
  • Baffling climate screen position
  • Badge snobbery a factor at this price
Best for: an electric seven-seater

The Kia EV9 is almost as eye-catching as the Hyundai Santa Fe with its blocky silhouette, but under the skin lies a fully electric powertrain - with great performance and a huge battery pack giving up to 349 miles of range. 

With seven seats in a pretty luxurious interior, the EV9 certainly punches above its badge - you wouldn’t think you were sat inside a Kia if you didn’t already know. Material quality is high and the layout - barring the stupid climate control screen - is intuitive, plus there’s loads of room for passengers and cubbyholes for them to stash things in.

It’s great to drive, being both powerful and comfortable - and four ISOFIX points plus a good-sized boot should cover all but the most demanding families. Sure, it’s a bit enormous, and quite brash, but if you want the best electric seven-seater on the market, this is it.

What's good

  • Spacious interior
  • Super-fast charging
  • Electric seven-seater

What’s not so good

  • Not particularly quiet at high speeds
  • Baffling climate screen position
  • Badge snobbery a factor at this price
Skoda Kodiaq
2025
Adventurer's Choice Award
Highly Commended

9. Skoda Kodiaq

8/10
Skoda Kodiaq review

What's good

  • Clever, spacious interior
  • Huge boot
  • Still available as a diesel

What’s not so good

  • Plug-in hybrid not available with seven seats
  • Some expensive optional extras
  • Alternatives are more fun to drive
Best for: clever features

The Skoda Kodiaq is essentially the SUV version of the Skoda Superb (above) and shares much of its mechanical bits and technology. That’s fantastic news - it means you get the same great range of engines, including the super-useful plug-in hybrid variant.

You also get similarly cavernous interior space. The second row of seats has room for even the lankiest teens to stretch out, and if you go for a petrol or diesel version you even get some surprisingly roomy third row seats as well. Fold them down - or go for a PHEV - and you’ll find one of the biggest boots in the business.

The Kodiaq is supremely comfortable to drive, and the interior has been made with one eye on a big sign saying ‘COMMON SENSE’. More cars should be made like this - motorists’ blood pressure would collectively drop by several points.

What's good

  • Clever, spacious interior
  • Huge boot
  • Still available as a diesel

What’s not so good

  • Plug-in hybrid not available with seven seats
  • Some expensive optional extras
  • Alternatives are more fun to drive
Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate

10. Mercedes E-Class Estate

8/10
Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate review

What's good

  • Far more comfortable than E-Class saloon
  • Huge boot
  • Impressive fuel economy, especially from the diesels

What’s not so good

  • No longer the most practical estate
  • Tech can feel gimmicky
  • Hugely pricey
Best for: feeling fancy

The Mercedes E-Class Estate is a car that feels like a treat to drive. The E-Class range as a whole is closer than ever to the idea of a true luxury car, with outstanding comfort levels and all the latest technology wrapped in a package that still manages to stay the right side of classy no matter how many glitzy LEDs Merc installs on it.

All E-Class Estate models get a huge boot and plenty of space in the back seats, while under the bonnet you can have everything from a rorty, sporty six-cylinder to a super-efficient diesel four-pot. Of particular note is the E 300 de diesel plug-in hybrid - unique to Mercedes, this powertrain offers plenty of electric range as well as the promise of diesel fuel economy on longer runs.

The dashboard is very high-tech with the option ‘Superscreen’ infotainment system, but spec it carefully and the E-Class is no more intimidating than any alternative. Feeling like an S-Class that’s been scaled down just a little, the E-Class is pretty pricey but feels worth the money.

What's good

  • Far more comfortable than E-Class saloon
  • Huge boot
  • Impressive fuel economy, especially from the diesels

What’s not so good

  • No longer the most practical estate
  • Tech can feel gimmicky
  • Hugely pricey

Have you considered getting GAP insurance for your new family car?

Carwow has partnered with MotorEasy to provide GAP insurance. GAP insurance covers the difference between the amount you paid for your car, or owe on your car if you have finance, and the amount an insurance company would give you if your car is declared a total loss or write-off. This can protect you financially from a shortfall of potentially thousands of pounds. MotorEasy is offering a 15% discount to all Carwow customers who take out GAP insurance with them.

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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.