Best Family Cars 2026

There are so many different types of family car that it can be a little overwhelming even deciding which sort will suit you best. And that's before you start looking at specific models. Most cars have seating for four or five people, but between family hatchbacks, MPVs, crossover SUVs of all sizes, big saloons and estate cars, and even van-based people carriers, what will fit your needs? And what exactly makes a great family car, aside from the basics of safety, reliability and fuel economy?
Here we’ll give you our pick of the best new family cars across all types, and we’ll help you along the way with reasons why each one makes such a good choice. Have a look at the FAQs below for even more tips.

Jump to:
• Volkswagen Golf • Kia Sportage • Citroen C3 Aircross • Tesla Model Y • BMW i5 Touring • Kia EV4 • Skoda Elroq • Dacia Jogger • Volvo XC90 • Volkswagen Multivan • FAQs

Type: Family hatchback
You might have noticed that car design has shifted firmly towards the SUV shape. There are good reasons for that, but there’s still a lot to love about a family hatchback. They’re smaller and lighter than the average SUV, which means they’re more fuel efficient, easy to park and broadly speaking more fun to drive. Yet they still have enough interior space and flexibility to fit four or five in comfort. The VW Golf is still the standard bearer, because it does everything so well. Every version - and there are many - is quiet, comfy and feels high-quality. The latest version received an update last year with an improved infotainment system and, most excitingly, Volkswagen reinstated physical buttons on the steering wheel making the controls much easier to use. Also consider: Peugeot 308 Find out everything you need to know about the VW Golf, check out our range of used VW Golf offers, or lease a Volkswagen Golf here. Back to top

Type: Crossover SUV
The Kia Sportage is arguably the best family crossover SUV on the market. It’s almost flawless. The interior feels special yet it’s easy to use, the clever haptic touch panel for the air con and infotainment shortcuts being a prime example of clever thinking. Beyond that it’s basically just a very spacious, flexible family car, packing a huge boot and space for three adults across the rear bench. TThe high-set SUV-style driving position makes it easy to manoeuvre, and the engine range of petrol and hybrid options provides something for everyone. Also consider: Nissan Qashqai Read our expert review of the Kia Sportage or check out our range of used Kia Sportage offers and new Kia Sportage lease deals. Back to top

Type: Compact crossover SUV
Compact crossovers - cars with a small wheelbase but designed with tall, chunky bodies like an SUV - make it possible for those with younger kids to have a smaller car as their main family transport. That’s a big change. You could never really do that with a Mini or a Vauxhall Corsa say. You can with a Citroen C3 Aircross. It’s genuinely spacious inside – there’s now even a seven-seater option – and the ride quality is super soft so it feels really comfy and relaxing to drive. Clearly it doesn’t have as much space as a full-sized family SUV, but it's roomier than you’d expect and well worth a look. Also consider: Skoda Kamiq Find out everything you need to know about the Citroen C3 Aircross and take a look at the latest used Citroen C3 Aircross offers and Citroen C3 Aircross lease deals. Back to top

Type: Electric SUV
The Model Y is undoubtedly Tesla’s best value car, because for a little more money than the Model 3 on which it’s based, you get a whole lot more space and flexibility. More space because it’s taller, and more flexibility because the boot is a hatchback (unlike the Model 3’s), which means the opening is huge – the boot volume itself is around twice the Model 3’s too. The usual Tesla attributes apply: totally modern cabin, big battery range (up to 372 miles), immense acceleration and access to the Tesla-specific Supercharger network, which makes long trips a whole lot easier. It’s clear why owners voted Tesla the brand with the best tech at our Drivers’ Choice Awards 2025. To keep the Model Y competitive Tesla has recently added a new entry-level Standard version to the range, but thrill seekers may be tempted to buy the Model Y Performance which packs 600 horsepower and still has room for the whole family. Also consider: Renault Scenic E-Tech Read our expert review of the Tesla Model Y or check out our range of used Tesla Model Y offers and new Tesla Model Y lease deals. Back to top

Type: Estate
The estate was the go-to car type for those with a family looking for maximum space long before SUVs came along and took over the market. While there’s been an influx of electric crossovers the electric estate is not to be overlooked. Enter the BMW i5. Sleek, practical and great to drive, the i5 is an imposing beast, though there’s no denying it does come with a chunky price tag. We’ve been enjoying living with one on long-term test and particularly like the flexible space and dog-friendly low boot opening. Also consider: Audi A6 e-tron Avant Find out everything you need to know about the BMW i5 Touring or take a look at the latest BMW i5 leasing deals. Back to top

Type: Electric family hatchback
Kia has been on a roll with its electric cars, and its first all-electric hatchback is an appealing option. The EV4 is well equipped, spacious and smooth to drive. It’s slightly longer than rivals like the Volkswagen ID.3 and Renault Megane E-Tech, so it provides more rear space for growing families. Plus, the EV4 comes with Kia’s generous seven-year warranty giving busy parents one less thing to worry about. Also consider: Volkswagen ID.3 Read our expert review of the Kia EV4 or check out our range of Kia EV4 lease deals. Back to top

Type: Electric compact crossover
The Skoda Elroq takes all the best bits from the larger Enyaq and condenses them into a compact package. Yet, despite its smaller dimensions the Elroq remains surprisingly roomy and features a host of clever storage solutions to keep the clutter at bay. Combining comfort, quality and great value for money, the Elroq is one of the best small electric family cars on offer and well-worth considering. Also consider: Kia EV3 Find out everything you need to know about the Skoda Elroq or take a look at the latest used Skoda Elroq offers and Skoda Elroq leasing deals. Back to top

Type: Seven-seat crossover MPV
The Dacia Jogger is barely believable. It's a massive, seven-seat estate-type-thing whose starting price is thousands lower than a Volkswagen Polo’s. It’s referred to as a crossover because it takes elements of an estate (it’s long), an SUV (it’s tall), and an MPV (it’s got lots of seats), but the result is a hugely flexible and family-friendly runabout. It never feels especially sophisticated, or quick, but all versions are efficient, and at this price you might as well stretch to a top-spec version. In that case, it feels positively lavish, including keyless entry and a reversing camera. Also consider: Chery Tiggo 8 Read our expert review of the Dacia Jogger or check out our range of used Dacia Jogger offers and new Dacia Jogger lease deals Back to top

Type: Large seven-seat SUV
Premium, safe and spacious – the XC90 does it all. Recently updated, the XC90 remains a masterclass in Scandi chic offering a massive amount of space and the flexibility of seven seats. The XC90 majors on comfort, especially on models with air suspension, and if you can charge at home the plug-in hybrid could be more economical to run than you might think. Also consider: Land Rover Discovery Find out everything you need to know about the Volvo XC90 or take a look at the latest used Volvo XC90 offers and Volvo XC90 leasing deals. Back to top

Type: Van-based MPV
Van-based MPVs are quite simply the most flexible family vehicles on sale because there’s so much interior space to play with. In the VW Multivan, the individual seats slide on rails so they can be configured multiple ways, and there’s even a pair of fold-out tables. The downside is that, as per all these things, it can feel intimidatingly large to drive in busy traffic or in certain ‘family’ settings, like a supermarket car park. Albeit, the side sliding doors mean your careless kids won’t ding someone else’s car, at least. Alternatively, you could choose the all-electric equivalent and buy an ID.Buzz. Also consider: Vauxhall Vivaro Life Read our expert review of the Volkswagen Multivan or check out our range of used Volkswagen Multivan offers and new Volkswagen Multivan lease deals. Back to top

Which family cars come with Isofix?

Isofix is a standardised way of properly securing a child seat. Any car with rear seats built from 2014 onwards will have Isofix because it’s been required by law since then. Usually, it’ll only be on the two outer rear seats, so if you’re looking to fit three child seats using the system, your choice is more limited - a good few cars put mounts in the front passenger seat, though. The Skoda Enyaq and Peugeot 3008 do that. A Volkswagen Touran is one of the few cars with three middle-row Isofix points. The massive Audi Q7 has them in all six of its passenger seats.

Key features of the best cars for dogs include a big boot with a large tailgate - an SUV, MPV or big estate will generally work. An interior that’s durable and cleans easily is ideal too. And if you really want to keep your dog settled, then something with smooth, comfortable ride quality and separate air con controls for the rear compartment will be perfect. The Mercedes-Benz E-Class estate has all the above, as do the Volvo XC40 and the Land Rover Discovery. A MINI Clubman will do the job well for less money, but the best value choice by far is a Dacia Jogger.

Two of the biggest and most flexible SUVs are the Audi Q7 and the Land Rover Discovery, both of which have acres of space and seven seats. There are slightly smaller and less expensive seven-seat cars too, like the Kia Sorrento, the SEAT Tarraco and, of course, the Dacia Jogger. For absolute maximum space, though, an MPV is the best way to go - especially one based on a van. The Ford Galaxy is a great people carrier, but something like a Citroen Spacetourer, a Volkswagen Caravelle or a Toyota Proace Verso will give you masses of space and flexibility. Our pick of the best cars for large families will give you the full rundown of the best vehicles to choose from.

The industry standard Euro NCAP test scores a car on four criteria: impact protection for adult and child occupants, and for pedestrians, then for how much safety assistance tech it has. The lowest of these scores determines a car’s overall star rating out of five. The vast majority of new family cars have a five-star safety rating, and that’s definitely something you should look for as a quick reference for peace of mind. But it’s worth digging into the individual scores. A car with four stars, like the Kia Niro, still has excellent impact protection scores, for example. According to Euro NCAP though, the very safest family cars include the Mazda CX-60, the Mercedes-Benz EQE, the Tesla Model S and the BMW X1.

Japanese brands Toyota, Lexus and Honda lead the way when it comes to reliability. So if that’s especially important to you - you’re planning on keeping your family car for a long while, or doing a lot of miles - then cars like the Toyota Prius, the Lexus NX or Honda Civic will be safe choices. Mazdas and Nissans rate highly for reliability among owners too. Most new cars are very reliable today though, and if you want maximum peace of mind, then consider cars with the longest manufacturer warranties. Both Kia and MG provide a class-leading seven-year warranty, while Hyundai and Renault offer five years.

Any plug-in hybrid (PHEV) will promise staggering average efficiency on paper - more than 300mpg in some cases. The thing is, they perform especially well in the WLTP lab test that determines the mpg rating, but matching it in real life is virtually impossible. Still, it puts them in a very low tax band if they’re run as company cars, so even if you achieve a quarter of their claims - which is quite likely - they’ll still be cost effective. The Kia Sportage, Peugeot 3008 and Volkswagen Golf all come with a plug-in option, and there are plenty more. Aside from that, diesel is still your best bet for real-world efficiency. You’ll get 50mpg from a BMW 320d and closer to 60mpg from a diesel Ford Focus or Peugeot 508.