Best Family Cars

Across the years, the traditional family car has evolved from SUVs and crossovers to hatchbacks. They don’t take up a large amount of room from their exterior, however, this doesn’t hinder their practicality value or their boot space for kids’ PE kits and school bags, as well as the weekly shop too.

Another benefit of owning a hatchback is its running costs! They’re substantially lower to run in comparison to bigger SUVs – this is a key consideration to keep in mind when attempting to keep monthly outgoings as low as possible.
 
When looking at family cars, safety is a top priority for everybody. Therefore, we’ve made sure all cars considered in our top 10 aren’t anything lower than the maximum five stars for safety from Euro NCAP.
 
In terms of driver comfort, family hatchbacks have smaller dimensions and are lighter in weight, making it overall a better car to drive than the equivalent big and heavy, high-riding SUV.
 
To keep the little ones occupied, all family hatchbacks will usually have the high-tech kit too, therefore there should be less “Are we there yet?” and more “I don’t want to leave the car!”.
 
So, without further ado, let’s introduce our top 10!

1. Skoda Octavia Hatchback
- Enjoyable to drive
- Incredibly spacious
- A reasonable performance with the entry-level 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine
- Interior quality contains strong features
- Huge boot

2. SEAT Leon Hatchback
- This shares the same mechanicals as the Volkswagen Group
- Distinctive looks
- Sharp and great driving experience
- Buyers seeking practicality should bear in mind the Leon ST estate, or the style-conscious should consider the three-door Leon SC, whereas if you enjoy the outdoors, the Leon X-perience will deliver certainty when travelling to hard-to-reach places due to its ride height and four-wheel-drive system.

3. Volkswagen Golf Hatchback
- This cost £500 more than the Leon, however, it’s worth it!
- Plush interior
- Comfortable driving experience
- There are many variations of the Golf to choose from, depending on your taste; an economical BlueMotion model (capable of over 80mpg) a three-door Golf, a Golf Estate, a Golf Alltrack and then the choice of two-sport models: The Golf GTI and Golf R.

4. Vauxhall Astra Hatchback
- Labelled as one of the best family hatchbacks the company has made
- Excellent value for money
- If you need extra room, Vauxhall has also built an estate version – Astra Sports Tourer.
- Free road tax

5. Hyundai i30 Hatchback
- A stylish car
- Scores well in the safety department
- Comfortable and quiet when on the move
- Good reliability
- The boot dimensions are generous with 395 litres

6. Honda Civic Hatchback
- A massive boot
- Loads of interior storage
- Plenty of equipment fitted as standard
- There’s a wide range of engines to choose from, with their powerful 1.0-litre petrol being our favourite!

7. Renault Megane Hatchback
- Striking design
- Offering attractive interior including an iPad-style portrait touchscreen (this is standard on mid-range model upwards), soft-touch plastics and comfortable seats
- More comfort than driver thrills, therefore this makes motorway driving quiet and relaxing

8. Peugeot 308 Hatchback
- Good-looking
- Comfortable
- Low running costs
- Its large boot has 470 litres of load space

9. Mazda3 Hatchback
- Great to drive and it’s cheap to run
- A stylish motor
- This car has got the balance right with comfort and driver enjoyment
- If you have the SE NAV trim, this adds sat nav to the standard car’s equipment, this includes: alloy wheels, cruise control, all-round electric windows and smartphone integration

10. Ford Focus Hatchback
- Plentiful interior space
- Low running costs
- Great to drive; with the combination of sharp, accurate steering and perfectly judged suspension

To conclude, we hope this gives you some inspiration if you’re thinking of purchasing a car with the family in mind.
 
For more CarCliq guides click here