If you’re in the market for a new family car, then you’ll have a wealth of options to choose from. This can be a blessing and a curse, since it might not be immediately clear which family car is right for your needs. What’s right for one family might be dreadful for another – and making the wrong decision can be expensive and stressful.
With that said, there are a few models which have been consistently popular for awhile. Let’s take a brief tour of them.
Skoda Octavia
The Octavia offers a winning balance of attractive pricing, ample roominess, and impressive tech. There are several options for the engine, too, with hybrid models becoming especially popular in recent years.
Volvo XC40
The XC40 recently earned a five-star review from WhatCar?, who praised its interior and ride comfort, while still bemoaning the road noise on the motorway. It’s sure to be popular among businesses who want to equip their executives with prestigious company cars.
Nissan Qashqai
This is a best-selling compact SUV which offers all of the features you’d want from a vehicle of this kind. With a modern interior and comfortable seats, it’s easy to recommend. The infotainment, on the other hand, is a little bit questionable.
Peugeot 3008
This family SUV has become a favourite since its launch, earning European Car of the Year in 2017. Again, you’ll have a choice of petrol, diesel and hybrid engines.
Mercedes AMG E63 Estate
Finally, we should consider the option from Mercedes. As you might expect from the venerable German manufacturer, this is a car which offers premium performance at a premium price point. The ‘S’ model is a little bit pricey for what you get, but those lower down the range might offer enough to tempt the average motorist.
What features should we look for?
If you haven’t yet bought a family car, or you’ve only recently started a family (or thought about doing it), then you might not appreciate which features offer the most value.
The quality of your tyres will make a big difference to your fuel efficiency and stopping distance. Make a note of the size of tyre you need, and shop online for tyres from a reputable brand.
Five doors make life in a family car considerably easier. Lifting children bodily into the back of your car can be very annoying. You’ll also want a boot that’s big enough to cram in all of your luggage. Pushchairs, in particular, will use up boot space extremely quickly.
You’ll also want to think about which cars are the most reliable. When you’re single, suffering a breakdown can be bad enough. When you have a family depending on your car, a breakdown can have knock-on effects that spread quickly. Fortunately, it’s never been easier to track which cars score highly in this area.