Best family cars to buy 2025
Family cars come in a variety of shapes, from hatchback to SUV. But which is best for you? Find out with our top 10 family cars on sale now.
A capable family car needs to have a diverse skill set and be able to cope in a variety of different environments. They should be practical, reliable, safe, and solidly built to take all that life can throw at them.
But those are givens; we also want a family car to look good, have a dash of style, and drive with more than a hint of ability. They should also be comfortable and come with lots of advanced tech to make life on the road easier to manage. Oh, and we also want a selection of different powertrains so we can select what works best for us - petrol, diesel, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or electric.
A tall order? Perhaps, but our top 10 family cars deliver across the board.
1. Skoda Octavia
At a glance
Engine power
116 - 265 BHP
0 - 62mph
6.4 - 10.7 secs
Top Speed
126 - 155 MPH
Fuel Economy
40.3 - 66.2 MPG
Insurance Group
14E - 27E
All-rounder is a term coined for the Skoda Octavia. It simply does everything very well, and a few things brilliantly.
Buyers can choose from petrol, petrol hybrid and diesel power, as well as manual and automatic gearboxes. There’s also a spacious estate model, and you can even have the rapid vRS version if you want your family car with a bit more spice.
All Skoda Octavias enjoy strong build quality and classy, roomy cabins, so you never feel that driving a versatile family car is a compromise.
The Skoda Octavia is a deserved winner of our 2024 Family Car of the Year award, which was helped by the car’s fine driving ability, practicality and low running costs. We are also impressed by the Octavia’s keen starting price that shows Skoda still knows what it’s talking about when it comes to value.
2. Dacia Jogger
At a glance
Engine power
109 - 140 BHP
0 - 62mph
10.1 - 11.2 secs
Top Speed
104 - 108 MPH
Fuel Economy
47.9 - 58.9 MPG
Insurance Group
13E - 16E
The Dacia Jogger is a revelation. Check out the price of this big, family car and you’d think it would be hugely compromised on levels of quality and equipment. But not a bit of that is true.
The Jogger is a car that you get in and wonder how Dacia can possibly do all of this for the money. Sure, it’s not as plush as some in this list, but it’s not basic in any way. Plus, it comes with seven seats to make it a hugely flexible family car and load hauler.
It won’t cost much to run a Dacia Jogger thanks to its frugal engines, which includes a hybrid option borrowed from the Renault Clio (the French firm owns Dacia). For any family looking for reliable, affordable motoring, the Dacia Jogger delivers the pleasure of a new car at a price you’d associate with a used model.
3. Skoda Superb
At a glance
Engine power
150 - 265 BHP
0 - 62mph
5.6 - 9.3 secs
Top Speed
136 - 155 MPH
Fuel Economy
36 - 58.2 MPG
Insurance Group
23E - 35E
It takes a certain swagger to call your car Superb, but Skoda was more than justified when it launched this model way back in 2008. The same still holds true today, and the Skoda Superb is one of our favourite family cars for a whole spread of reasons.
While it’s true the Superb is more expensive now that it has been in the past, it’s also a car that bears comparison with some rivals that are far more costly. That is especially true of the Superb Estate that can give the likes of the more premium Volvo V90 a run for its money.
Whether you choose the Superb in hatch or estate form, they both have generous boots. They also come with cabins that are put together with care from excellent materials, which imparts a real sense of quality.
Skoda offers the Superb with a choice of petrol, diesel or petrol hybrid power, so you can tailor it very easily to your needs and keep running costs tightly under control.
4. Honda Civic
At a glance
Engine power
143 - 329 BHP
0 - 62mph
5.4 - 8.1 secs
Top Speed
111 - 171 MPH
Fuel Economy
34.4 - 60.1 MPG
Insurance Group
28E - 43E
Honda has never been afraid to reinvent its cars, even the mainstay Civic hatchback that is core to its range. This latest 11th generation Civic - yes, it really has been around long enough to have reached an 11th incarnation - is a great family car.
While the looks of this Civic are not much different from its predecessor, where Honda has been bold is with making it a hybrid-only range now. There’s a 2.0-litre petrol engine coupled to an electric motor, and combined they offer fuel economy of more than 50mpg.
The revised styling gives this Civic a less fussy look and it helps the driver see more of the road and traffic around the car. You’ll also enjoy driving the Civic for its smooth power, capable handling, and motorway refinement.
The infotainment is not the best in the family car class, but we’ll forgive Honda this as it’s still better than what went before, while interior quality is considerably improved in this latest generation.
5. Hyundai Tucson
At a glance
Engine power
160 - 252 BHP
0 - 62mph
7.9 - 9.9 secs
Top Speed
116 - 121 MPH
Fuel Economy
40.4 - 49.6 MPG
Insurance Group
16E - 23E
We don’t know what they’re putting in the water at Hyundai’s design studio, but it’s really doing the trick. When you look at the Tuscon, you don’t think of it as a family SUV with nothing more than practicality on its mind. Rather, you think ‘Ooh, I like that.’
The Tuscon is a brilliant family SUV. Alongside the sturdy build quality and lots of safety kit in all models, you get a car that has lots of room for five people and a boot that holds all of their luggage.
We’ll admit the Hyundai Tuscon is not the last word in excitement when it comes to driving, but it is smooth and quiet. You also have a choice of petrol, mild hybrid, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid power, so you can never say Hyundai doesn’t do its best to keep everyone happy.
6. Kia EV3
At a glance
Power
201 BHP
0 - 62mph
7.5 - 7.9 secs
Top Speed
105 MPH
Efficiency
4 - 4.2 m/kWh
Range
270 - 375 miles
Insurance Group
32E - 36E
Borrowing much of the looks and attitude of its EV9 big brother, the Kia EV3 is a family car even the most surly teenager will be happy to be seen in arriving at school.
Electric power delivers low running costs and good performance, while a range of up to 375 miles is available depending on which version you choose. Even the EV3 model with the smaller battery can offer a 270-mile range.
There are three trim levels on offer and all are loaded up with the level of safety kit you’d expect to keep your family protected, while there’s more luxury features further up the range, including an upgraded Harman Kardon audio system and a head-up display. With the EV3’s cabin offering decent build quality and more than enough room for five, it’s an impressive overall package.
7. Hyundai Kona
At a glance
Engine power
100 - 218 BHP
0 - 62mph
7.8 - 13.3 secs
Top Speed
101 - 130 MPH
Fuel Economy
42.8 - 60.1 MPG
Insurance Group
14E - 33D
Go bold or go home must’ve been Hyundai’s thinking behind its latest Kona model, and we’re fans of the styling, which sets this family car apart from its rivals.
The Kona’s looks don’t come at the expense of its ability to work for families, because there's a whole lot of room inside the cabin. A big boot is also welcome - and impressive - given the small SUV’s relatively compact exterior dimensions. We’ve found the Kona to be a superbly comfortable and quiet place to spend any journey, while you get Hyundai’s excellent 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, which is easy to use.
You can select from petrol or hybrid power options, but we’d look to the Kona Electric with its pure EV powertrain as the best of the bunch - providing a range of up to 305 miles from a full charge.
8. BMW i4
At a glance
Power
286 - 544 BHP
0 - 62mph
3.9 - 6 secs
Top Speed
118 - 140 MPH
Efficiency
3.5 - 4 m/kWh
Range
287.7 - 365.4 miles
Insurance Group
34E - 44E
The BMW 3 Series is a great executive car, but the i4 is the one we’ve chosen for this top 10. It shares so many of the qualities that make the 3 Series brilliant - the way it drives and handles, quality, safety, and the ambience in its cabin.
Where the i4 has an advantage over the 3 Series for us is its electric powertrain. It makes the i4 smooth, near silent, swift, and it can even tow up to 1,600kg with a braked trailer.
The EV set-up doesn’t compromise practicality either, as the boot will hold up to 470-litres of luggage. You also get lots of room for passengers, while the driver is presented with a dash that looks just the right side of futuristic and works ideally in everyday driving.
9. Peugeot 408
At a glance
Engine power
136 - 225 BHP
0 - 62mph
7.8 - 10.2 secs
Top Speed
131 - 145 MPH
Insurance Group
20E - 31E
Peugeot is on cracking form with its cars right now and the 408 typifies this. It’s a sharp-looking family car that blends ideas from the SUV and hatchback sectors - think raised fastback and you’re there. The same quirky thinking is clear in the cabin’s style, yet it also comes good on space, comfort, and kit.
There’s been plenty of thought given over to how the 408 drives as well as how it looks. Peugeot knows most family car buyers prefer comfort to race track handling, and this is exactly what you get with the 408. Even so, we’d like a slightly more cushioned low-speed ride, but that is nit-picking.
As for engines, you can tick a box to have a turbo petrol or plug-in hybrid, with the latter capable of up to 40 miles of electric car driving. Don’t discount the petrol, though, as it’s keen value and good to use.
10. MG MG4
At a glance
Power
170 - 435 BHP
0 - 62mph
3.8 - 7.9 secs
Top Speed
100 - 124 MPH
Efficiency
3.3 - 3.9 m/kWh
Range
218 - 329 miles
Insurance Group
27D - 40D
The MG4 might have been around a while now, but that has done nothing to prevent it from still being one of our preferred family cars. The EV powertrain makes it cheap to run, especially if you can charge it at home via low-cost, overnight electricity tariffs, plus it’s got a decent turn of speed when asked to step up.
Recharging the MG4 doesn’t take long when it’s hooked up to a rapid charger, so you won’t be hanging around far-flung car parks at all hours. A range of up to 281 miles also means you shouldn't need to stop too often.
A cabin with lots of space and a large boot add to the MG4’s appeal, while the infotainment and tech are simple to use.
The best family cars to buy now
| Rank | Car | Overall rating | Boot space, comfort and practicality rating | Price from |
| 1 | Skoda Octavia | 4.5 | 4.6 | £26,775 |
| 2 | Dacia Jogger | 4.5 | 4.8 | £18,295 |
| 3 | Skoda Superb | 4.5 | 5 | £35,695 |
| 4 | Honda Civic | 4.0 | 4.2 | £35,005 |
| 5 | Hyundai Tucson | 4.5 | 4.2 | £32,000 |
| 6 | Kia EV3 | 4.5 | 4.0 | £32,995 |
| 7 | Hyundai Kona | 5.0 | 4.5 | £26,040 |
| 8 | BMW i4 | 4.5 | 3.8 | £51,860 |
| 9 | Peugeot 408 | 4.0 | 4.0 | £34,035 |
| 10 | MG4 | 4.5 | 4.0 | £26,995 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Most seven-seat cars are SUVs or MPVs, but the Dacia Jogger is a brilliant seven-seat family car. It’s keenly priced, practical, well made, and decent to drive. It also has low running costs and the option of a petrol-hybrid engine.
Need to transport a big family? Check out our list of the best seven-seater cars...
