The best family cars of 2020
Choosing the right car for your family is a big decision. You’ll need to consider safety, fuel economy, comfort and space. In other words, it’s a practical choice.
Choosing the right car for your family is a big decision. You’ll need to consider safety, fuel economy, comfort and space. In other words, it’s a practical choice.
What to consider when buying a family car
Whether your family’s big or small, it’s important to choose a car that suits your lifestyle. Not to mention all the odds and ends that come with family life.
With that in mind, it’s worth considering:
- cabin size and boot capacity
- comfort
- drivability and parking
- fuel economy
- running costs
- NCAP safety rating
The best family cars
AutoTrader have ranked their best family cars and we’ve pulled out the key facts, to help you choose.
We’ve also included boot size, miles per gallon, CO2 emissions and average car insurance costs, so you can compare easily.
Best small family cars 2020
Volkswagen Golf
About: A high-build quality (which the price reflects), spacious cabin and comfortable ride make the VW Golf a consistently popular choice for smaller families.
Style: Hatchback
Why it’s great: Great steering, more refined and jam-packed with impressive high-tech safety systems.
Family features: Decent-sized boot, ISOFIX child seat attachments, 10inch infotainment system with voice control.
Miles per gallon: 49.6-62.8 mpg
CO2 emissions: 99-108 g/km
Boot capacity min: 380 litres
Average cost to insure: £637.18^^
Seats: 5
Peugeot 2008
About: Sturdy and compact SUV with a great sized boot and an eye-catching, modern interior.
Style: Small SUV
Why it’s great: A good selection of engine ranges to choose from and much more cabin space than you’d expect from the outside.
Family features: Lots of useful storage cubbies, wireless charging pad, four USB sockets, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Miles per gallon: 36.1-72.7 mpg
CO2 emissions: 88.3-502.6 mg/km
Boot capacity min: 434 litres
NCAP: 4 stars standard model, 5 stars for the higher spec option
Average cost to insure: Data not currently available
Seats: 5
Mercedes GLA
About: Comfortable and refined crossover with hatchback handling and a good range of engine options.
Style: SUV
Why it’s great: A very quiet ride even at top speed.
Family features: Decent-sized boot, good protection for adults and children, optional memory function seats, reversing camera, infotainment system, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto.
Miles per gallon: 32.5-40.4 mpg
CO2 emissions: 144-169 g/km depending on model
Boot capacity min: 481 litres
Average cost to insure: £784.08^^
Seats: 5
Skoda Scala
About: Reliable, spacious and great value for money, a practical and comfortable ride that won’t break the bank.
Style: Hatchback
Why it’s great: Lots of room and a quiet, capable drive that holds its own against more expensive rivals.
Family features: Excellent rear passenger space, generous, low-lipped boot, tons of useful storage compartments, infotainment system, good range of optional safety features.
Miles per gallon: 41.5-60.1 mpg
CO2 emissions: 106-116g/km
Boot capacity min: 467 litres
Average cost to insure: Data not currently available
Seats: 5
Best large family cars 2020
Land Rover Defender TDI County
About: An iconic look updated with on-board technology, and the powerful on and off-road performance you’d expect.
Style: SUV
Why it’s great: Excellent off-road capabilities and plenty of on-board features to keep the most adventurous families happy.
Family features: Up to seven seats, laptop racks, USB charging slots, LCD infotainment system, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, surround-view camera.
Miles per gallon: 28.5-37.2 mpg
CO2 emissions: 199-227 g/km
Boot capacity min: 397 litres
NCAP: Not yet tested
Average cost to insure: £791.43^^
Seats: 7
Mercedes GLE
About: A Luxurious SUV with a range of safety features, offering an incredibly comfortable ride. A desirable choice for longer journeys.
Style: SUV
Why it’s great: Airmatic air suspension delivers superb all-round comfort and minimal road noise.
Family features: Hi-tech safety features, easy conversion to seven seats, voice-recognition infotainment system, low-lipped boot, deep storage pockets, wireless charging, heated and cooled cupholders.
Miles per gallon: 30.4-46.3 mpg, 256.8 mpg on plug-in hybrid GLE350de 4MATIC model
CO2 emissions: 162-212 g/km, 29g/km on plug-in hybrid GLE350de 4MATIC model
Boot capacity min: 490 litres
NCAP: Not yet tested
Average cost to insure: Data not currently available
Seats: 7
Mazda CX-30
About: Sleek and comfortable compact SUV with a beautiful interior. Delivers a smooth and quiet ride.
Style: SUV
Why it’s great: Lots of equipment included as standard; compact body with the spacious feel of a larger vehicle; one of the highest-scoring cars for safety.
Family features: Plenty of storage spaces, easy-to-use infotainment system, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and many safety features.
Miles per gallon: 45.6 mpg
CO2 emissions: 116 g/km
Boot capacity min: 422 litres
Average cost to insure: Data not currently available
Seats: 5
Best hybrid family cars 2020
Toyota Corolla Touring Sports
About: Clean and green, stylish estate with good boot space and a comfortable ride.
Style: Estate
Why it’s great: Space and comfort are combined with low running costs and clean hybrid technology.
Family features: Seven airbags, Safety Sense drive assist, good rear legroom, flat, wide-loading boot, infotainment system, wireless charging.
Miles per gallon: 55.3-57.6 mpg
CO2 emissions: 83 g/km
Boot capacity min: 598 litres
NCAP: 5 stars
Average cost to insure: Data not currently available
Seats: 5
Volvo XC90 T8
About: Powerful and luxurious seven-seater uses an efficient combination of petrol and battery to reduce CO2 and running costs.
Style: SUV
Why it’s great: The refinement, comfort and safety of Volvo in a greener, cleaner version.
Family features: Big interior, seven seats, enormous boot in five-seat mode, lots of storage compartments, loads of safety kit included as standard, City Safety driver assist; Family Pack includes integrated booster cushion and sun blinds.
Miles per gallon: 80.7-113.0mpg
CO2 emissions: 52-55 g/km
Boot capacity min: 262 litres
Average cost to insure: Data not currently available
Seats: 7
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV 4H
About: Spacious, practical and versatile, the Outlander plug-in hybrid is a great all-rounder choice for environmentally-conscious families.
Style: SUV
Why it’s great: Battery is ideal for quick commutes and school runs, while the petrol engine is fuel efficient on longer journeys.
Family features: Huge amount of cabin space, lots of storage cubbies, three ISOFIX mounting points, infotainment system, rear seat air vents, USB ports.
Miles per gallon: 122.9-156.4 mpg139.7 mpg
CO2 emissions: 46 g/km
Boot capacity min: 463 litres
Average cost to insure: £637.23^^
Seats: 5
^^Average price amount based on the top five quotes from Compare the Market data from 1 October 2020 to 1 January 2021. The average is based on all variations of the vehicle model and uses risk data from people with different age ranges, addresses and driving histories. You may find a cheaper or more expensive quote based on your circumstances.
Compare and save
Once you’ve decided on the car for your family, why not see if you can get a great deal on your car insurance by comparing with us?
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