Collaborative Post
Your next family car is an important decision – after all, it’s got to carry the people closest to you in safety, comfort and at a price you’re happy with. It can be a daunting decision, working out what your next family car will be, but these days it’s the SUV that has become the default choice.
But how can you find out which family SUV is right for you? Well, only you can make that decision, but where we can help is to bring you a list from car experts at Parkers of the best family SUVs to buy second-hand. All the models here are good value used, plus they work well as family cars for various reasons – and we’ll take a closer look at each model in turn.
Before you buy a new car you probably need to get rid of your current one. When understanding your budget for your new car, you’ll need to get a rough estimate for your old one and there’s two ways to do this. One option is to compare similar cars to yours for sale online. The second is to head to one of the many free online valuation services such as this Value My Car tool.
Once you’ve got a valuation, you’ll know roughly how much you can spend on your next family car. As a rule, the larger the car, the more it will cost – but there are exceptions. As with any used purchase, make sure you’re happy with any potential purchase before you buy. Take a test drive and make sure the car is right for you and doesn’t have any obvious faults – you don’t want to get ripped off.
Remember that dealers have to follow rules when selling you a car, so if you discover a used SUV isn’t as described, you can take it back without penalty as long as you do so promptly. Buying a used car shouldn’t be scary, as long as you go in with the right knowledge.

Photo by Adrien Delforge on Unsplash
To find out which are the best family friendly SUVs, read on.
Best family friendly SUVs 2021
- Ford Kuga
The Ford Kuga is a good all-round choice of SUV, because it’s comfortable, good to drive, well equipped and affordable.
- Mazda CX-3
Don’t choose a CX-3 if you need a big boot or lots of passenger space, but if you like driving it’s one of the most enjoyable SUVs around.
- Nissan Qashqai
If you are looking for a model with lots of advanced safety kit, the Nissan Qashqai is a top choice. It’s practical and comes with plenty of other in-car tech as well.
- Suzuki Vitara
Low running costs, quiet engines and four-wheel drive are all good reasons to choose a Suzuki Vitara. It’s also good to drive, though the cabin is basic.
- Kia Sportage
The Kia Sportage is one of the best-value choices at the moment because it comes with lots of standard equipment and prices are pretty affordable.
- Hyundai Tucson
The Tucson (or ix35, for the earlier models) is a reliable and practical family SUV. It came with a five-year warranty, so it’s bound to be dependable.
- Fiat 500X
If you want a stylish SUV then the Fiat 500X could be a good option – it’s not the roomiest choice but it’s far more practical than the Fiat 500 city car.
- Renault Captur
The Renault Captur works well in cities because it’s easy to drive and park, plus it looks smart and has a good amount of standard equipment for the price. It’s not as big as some of the others here, though.
- Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross
The Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross is a niche choice but that means it’s affordable and good value second-hand. It’s smart-looking and practical, if a little noisy at times.
- Dacia Duster
The Dacia Duster is an option for those with a limited budget, but you could even consider a brand new one – it’s so cheap that it competes with used cars even when new. It’s brilliant value for money.

We’re looking for a family friendly car for my husband. I need to see if any of these are large enough for him to use.
Choosing the right car is important, we got a new car last week, although I am keeping our old one for popping out and about in.
I don’t drive so I wouldn’t have a clue about the best car , especially for my family so these posts are great for beginners 🙂
My dad has a Nissan Qashqai on his wishlist. He loves everything about it and has wanted one for a long time.
Boo! Ha, JK, but we love Honda CRVs and our Acura MDX. Although, we don’t have littles, so that makes sense that they aren’t on the list.