We take a look at cars that fit your family and express your personality.
We take a look at cars that fit your family and express your personality.
When it comes to families, one size doesn’t fit all, and the cars you choose should be unique to your needs. From huge people carriers with all the bells, whistles and climate control you can wish for, to zippy little crossovers that rule the school run, there’s bound to be a perfect match for your family.
Families with an adventurous spirit don’t have to settle for boringly practical MPVs. Rather than feeling like a bus driver on a school trip to the Cairngorms, you could be driving something exciting. The Ford S-MAX is a seven-seater with a twist – it’s fun to drive, with a range of 2.0-litre turbo diesel engines and intelligent all-wheel drive that seamlessly navigates even the most demanding surfaces; plus there’s room in the panoramic 700-litre boot for all your kit. Or if you’re a smaller family, you could liven things up with the MINI Countryman, which effortlessly manages to be a big grown-up off-road SUV while still being cute, compact and quirky.
If you’re transporting precious cargo and you’re suffering from six months of interrupted sleep, your car requirements will probably include: an armoury of safety features, Isofix points, a comfortable and smooth ride that won’t jolt them awake, boot space for the pram AND enough room for a sneaky backseat nappy change. Tall order? Step forward the Renault Captur and the SEAT Ibiza, which are fully equipped for the job.
Families with toddlers can be identified a mile away – they have a harassed air and carry large bags filled with everything from spare pants to healthy snacks. What you need is plenty of storage and entertainment options to stop the kids driving you to despair. The Citroën Picasso is a good choice if you need buckets of cleverly designed space for all those colouring books, juice cups and half-eaten breadsticks. Or try the versatile Hyundai i30, with DAB radio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a centre console USB to charge that tablet, and a nice 8-inch sat nav display to help you find your way back home.
Busy school runners need to finish their toast, tie up their shoes and get on the road ASAP before the dreaded bell rings. That’s why crossover SUVs with economical, nippy engines and good visibility should be on your wishlist. Choose a head-swivelling hybrid like the Toyota CH-R and not only can you zip around the city in style, you can be an environmentally considerate saint. Or you could pick the beefed-up Kia Soul, which comes with a 7-year warranty, has a high driving position and can handle sharp corners, ideal for those mornings when you have to turn around to get that forgotten homework folder.
Not all families can fill up three rows of seats in an MPV. Families with only children require smaller cars that offer all the practicality, comfort and storage of a larger people carrier. The iconic Volkswagen Golf was the UK’s best selling family hatchback last year, but if you want the warm, stylish feeling you can only get from a strong Scandinavian, the new Volvo XC60 is a smaller premium SUV that’s beautifully designed and intuitive, and – as you might expect from Volvo¬ –one of the safest cars ever built.
Got more kids than the old woman who lived in a shoe? You’ll need a family wagon that can cope with the demands of children of different ages and sizes. The Peugeot 5008 is a sleek SUV that has modular seating, picnic tables, built-in blinds, cubbyholes and USB ports. If the kids are somewhere else, you can fold down the seats and transport anything from a wardrobe to an upright piano in its gigantic 2150-litres of space. Alternatively, the Mitsubishi Outlander is a plug-in hybrid that’s cheaper to run, super reliable and has a 5-star Euro NCAP rating.
Has your family just won the lottery or floated a new app on the stock market? You’ll need something a little bit fancier. Making its entrance like a tuxedo-clad Pierce Brosnan jumping out of a helicopter is the BMW X3, a rugged and refined SUV that’s got everything you could wish for, from acres of leather upholstery to an automated Driving Assistant, if you can’t be bothered. Or if you’re proper posh, then bag yourself the ultimate toff mobile, the Land Rover Discovery, which will take your family around your country estate in style, while the seats massage you and you quaff a cheeky lemonade from the built-in chilled drinks compartment.
If you’re transporting grandparents, or they help with the childcare, you might have a few different needs, from accessibility to room in the boot. The Vauxhall Meriva has handy hinged rear doors that give easy access and modular seating options for extra legroom. Or if your granny is the sort to defy convention and dye her hair purple, a Citroën C4 Cactus SUV is a doddle to get in and out of, has tons of clever safety features and is very comfortable. The grandkids will love the Lego-like airbumps on the doors, too.
