Family cars come in all shapes and sizes. Although maybe not that small...
Family cars come in all shapes and sizes. Although maybe not that small...
When it comes to buying a family vehicle, there are lots of conflicting opinions and recommendations. Many families with three, four or even five children think the only solution is to go large and embrace that most beige of concepts – practicality.
But not every family car has to be a box on wheels that’s expensive to run, intimidating at the traffic lights and boring to drive. There are plenty of efficient and safety-conscious cars across all segments, offering good looks and an exciting experience behind the wheel, too.
Who says you have to give up on style when you have kids? For smaller families, the 5-door SEAT Ibiza offers cool supermini status and also easily fits a pram and bags in the boot. Isofix points for easy car seat installation and a high safety rating tick all the baby-friendly boxes, but this car doesn’t compromise on flair or power. It’s basically the automotive equivalent of ‘flaunting your curves’ in a bikini after you’ve had kids (but with a LOT less effort).
If you’re looking for an affordable car that’s fun to drive on the school run and can also handle the motorway like a pro, look no further than the good old Vauxhall Astra. It might be as familiar to British families as oven chips and Peppa Pig, but the Astra’s latest incarnation might come as a surprise. Its light steering, groundbreaking new tech and high quality engines earned it the title of European Car of the Year in 2016.
This car says ‘I am what I am’. What’s more, the kids will love its Lego-like side airbumps and colourful personalisation options. Its SUV-style design gives this compact car both a lot more interior space and presence on the road, and its zippy handling makes driving an easy and cheerful experience. It’s not hard to make a statement and be fearless with the unconventional Cactus, which is guaranteed to add a splash of colour to even the most mundane family journeys to the supermarket.
This compact hatchback is ideal for families with young children, and it’s got excellent handling and fuel efficiency for the driver, too. With a bigger boot than most cars in its class, and a comfortably designed interior, you won’t be packed in like sardines. And you can operate the air con, heater and window controls from the 9.7-inch dashboard touchscreen - handy to keep tempers from fraying during long journeys. It’s also USB and Bluetooth connected, meaning your little angels won’t get bored and try to climb through the sunroof on the M6.
The new Renault Scenic - with its ingenious modular seating and 572 litres of boot space - might be on a large family’s wishlist, but at the more affordable end of Renault’s range is the Captur, a bold and exciting crossover with enough room to carry your family AND express your personality. Keyless entry makes carrying kids and opening the car a breeze, while clever safety features like driver assist, rear parking sensors and a speed limiter help keep family life accident-free. Its boot also has a moveable shelf which you can re-configure to make deeper (handy for slotting in prams and to hide secret shopping purchases) and it also has the parental holy grail - removable, washable seat covers.
It might not be the cheapest car in its class, but this hatchback’s sleek, sporty exterior means you’ll be the baddest dad/mum in the soft play car park by a country mile. It takes corners with razor sharp finesse, boasts alloy wheels, stylish bodywork and the latest infotainment tech. It also has room to fit three wriggling children in the back, plus Isofix points, front and side airbags, useful cubbyholes and cup holders, a Euro NCAP five star rating and anti-skid electronics. All bases are covered.
