The best family cars of 2022
Choosing the right car for your family is a big decision. You’ll need to think about things like safety, fuel economy, comfort and space – not to mention onboard tech to keep the kids entertained. Here’s our lowdown on some of the best family cars available.
Choosing the right car for your family is a big decision. You’ll need to think about things like safety, fuel economy, comfort and space – not to mention onboard tech to keep the kids entertained. Here’s our lowdown on some of the best family cars available.
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. With that in mind, it’s worth considering:
- Cabin size
- Storage and boot capacity
- Comfort
- Drivability and parking
- Fuel economy
- Running costs
- NCAP safety rating
- Entertainment set-up.
The best family cars
AutoTrader has ranked its best family cars and we’ve pulled out the key facts, to help you choose.
We’ve also included boot size, miles per gallon/range, CO2 emissions and price, so you can compare easily.
Best small family cars 2022
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: Good steering, quiet and refined, and jam-packed with impressive hi-tech safety systems.
Family features: Decent-sized boot, ISOFIX child seat attachments, infotainment system with voice control.
Miles per gallon: 48-63 mpg
CO2 emissions: 117-137 g/km
Boot capacity min: 380 litres
Price: From £25,340 new
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, including electric, and far 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: 42-66 mpg
e-2008 range: Up to 214 miles
CO2 emissions: 0-140 g/km
Boot capacity min: 434 litres
NCAP: 4 stars standard model, 5 stars for the higher spec option
Price: From £22,735 new
Seats: 5
Volvo XC40 Recharge
About: Volvo’s first fully electric car, helping families save on running costs. It offers a luxurious lounge-like interior, quiet ride and great onboard tech.
Style: Compact SUV
Why it’s great: The refinement, comfort and safety of Volvo in a greener, cleaner version.
Family features: Lots of storage compartments and safety kit included as standard, air purifier, Google apps built in to make journeys entertaining.
Range: Up to 260 miles
CO2 emissions: 0 g/km
Boot capacity min: 452 litres
Price: From £45,750 new
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, with slick onboard tech.
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: 42-52 mpg
CO2 emissions: 140-156 g/km
Boot capacity min: 445 litres
Average cost to insure: From £36,090 new
Seats: 5
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: 50-61 mpg
CO2 emissions: 103-127 g/km
Boot capacity min: 598 litres
Price: From £24,350 new
Seats: 5
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: 43-50 mpg
CO2 emissions: 127-149 g/km
Boot capacity min: 422 litres
Price: From £24,645 new
Seats: 5
Best medium family cars 2022
Ford Mustang Mach-E
About: Sporty, spacious and good value for money, Ford’s first all-electric SUV is an exciting ride that won’t break the bank.
Style: SUV
Why it’s great: The legendary Mustang brand reinvented for a new generation. Immersive experience, with three drive modes – Whisper, Active and Untamed.
Family features: Loads of safety kit, different storage options, wireless phone charging, Sync infotainment system with giant tablet screen.
Range: Up to 273 miles
CO2 emissions: 0 g/km
Boot capacity min: 402 litres
Price: From £50,030 new
Seats: 5
Skoda Enyaq iV
About: Stylish and competitively priced, the Skoda Enyaq iV is a mightily impressive EV with all the performance and range you need.
Style: SUV
Why it’s great: Lots of room and a quiet, smooth drive. Costs less than similar-sized petrol and diesel SUVs, and the sustainable interior is a nice touch.
Family features: Excellent rear passenger space, useful storage compartments, infotainment system, good range of optional family safety features.
Range: 246 miles
CO2 emissions: 0 g/km
Boot capacity min: 585 litres
Price: From £38,480 new
Seats: 5
Tesla Model Y
About: Tesla’s mid-sized SUV has landed. More spacious than the Model 3, it’s well-equipped for the rough and tumble of family life.
Style: SUV
Why it’s great: Excellent rapid charging, no-fuss interior and cool features galore.
Family features: Tons of space for all your gear, impressive range of Autopilot safety features, and fun digital entertainment – from karaoke tunes to online games.
Range: Up to 331 miles
CO2 emissions: 0 g/km
Boot capacity min: 971 litres
NCAP: Not yet tested
Price: From £57,990 new
Seats: 5
Best large family cars 2022
Land Rover Defender 110
About: An iconic look updated with onboard 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 onboard 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: Up to 32 mpg
CO2 emissions: From 231 g/km
Boot capacity min: 231 litres
Price: From £64,035 new
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: 23-36 mpg
CO2 emissions: 206-281 g/km
Boot capacity min: 490 litres
Price: From £67,410 new
Seats: 7
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Rory Reid is a car and technology expert. He serves as the main presenter on Auto Trader’s YouTube channel and was previously a host on BBC Top Gear and its sister show Extra Gear. He is also a presenter on Fifth Gear. Previously, he hosted Sky TV’s Gadget Geeks, CNET’s Car Tech channel, BBC Radio 5 Live’s Saturday Edition and on the YouTube channel Fast, Furious & Funny.