What is the Best Car for a Family of Five?

Volvo has long been synonymous with practical and reliable family cars. The XC60, launched in 2009, gained popularity across Europe for its combination of spaciousness, luxury and flexibility. A major overhaul in 2017 added a plug-in hybrid to the range, helping drivers reduce both their environmental impact and road tax. It’s also available as a petrol and a diesel, both of which deliver good fuel efficiency for the size of the car. There’s decent headroom in both the front and back, though on longer journeys it will help if the middle seat occupant isn’t fully grown. The boot will take a buggy alongside a weekly shop, and the leather seats and finishing can be wiped clean – ideal if you have young children. Reverse parking sensors will make it easier to slot into a space with a fully-loaded car and the four-wheel-drive means it’s also well equipped for family adventures.

The Kia Sportage is one of the most popular family SUVs on the UK market, winning over buyers with its blend of performance, style, nifty features and value for money. Impressive safety stats and tech including cruise control and trailer stability assist are matched by the impeccable reputation for reliability and generous seven-year warranty. The high driving position offers the visibility to help you navigate the school run in safety, while the reclining backrest on the rear seats will be a boon for passengers on long journeys. It’s available in two-wheel and four-wheel drive versions, with the two-wheel appealing to drivers looking to maximise efficiency and the 4WD offering more possibilities for adventurous holidays. With all this wrapped up in a stylish package, the Sportage has much to recommend it as a good car for a family of five.

Cast your mind back to a time before there was an SUV around every corner, and MPVs like the Citroën Berlingo ruled the multipurpose market. The Berlingo still has a lot to offer as a medium sized family car, with acres of space and flexible seating configurations to help you transport items of all shapes and sizes. It was also designed to be cheap to run – fuel economy is competitive, insurance should be affordable and it holds its value well. When it comes to safety, the latest model is equipped with no fewer than 19 driving assistance systems and the simple mechanicals help in terms of reliability. The current generation of Berlingos even has a bit of design dash to it, with colourful highlights and an extended double chevron.

With solid safety credentials, generous proportions and impressive fuel economy, the Tiguan has much to recommend it as a practical family vehicle. It’s also a fun car to own, with a sleek and stylish design aesthetic that belies its size, and responsive steering that handles corners well. If you’re looking for a five-seater you’ll want a pre-2019 model – models from after that date are fitted with an extra row of seats. Volkswagen has cleverly managed the interior space to offer plenty of legroom for all occupants. The infotainment system comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, which can be easily operated by kids.

The Toyota Auris might be classed as a compact hatchback, but there’s more than enough space inside for five people. The back is spacious too, with a 350-litre boot. It comes in petrol, diesel and hybrid versions, with the hybrid particularly efficient in city traffic, where it can benefit from frequent stopping and starting. Safety-wise, it was awarded the full five stars from Euro NCAP in its most recent test, with a score of 84% for child protection. This isn’t a car that will turn heads in the street, but it will get you and your brood from A to B in comfort and safety without breaking the bank. The Auris was originally an offshoot of Toyota’s Corolla model, and from 2019 onwards it was rebadged as Corolla in the UK.

Fancy a luxury car but not quite sure you can justify the outlay? The Audi A6 sits at the affordable end of that segment, giving those without enormous pockets the opportunity to drive a car that takes on the likes of the BMW 5 Series and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. There’s plenty of space in the back and even more in the boot, which can take nine carry-on suitcases. While it’s not exactly a budget family car, it should hold its resale value well, and if you opt for the plug-in hybrid version you can keep running costs and emissions down. Standard safety kit includes lane-keeping assistance and automatic emergency braking.

Following its launch in 2007, the Nissan Qashqai blazed a trail for the compact SUV segment with its winning combination of practicality, affordability and handsome looks. The spacious interior, comfy and supportive seats and 430-litre boot all help to make this a good car for a family of five. All models offer low fuel consumption, which keeps your tax down too. The five-star Euro NCAP rating includes impressive scores for both child and adult safety, and the Around View Monitor that comes as standard helps you park with ease. As a value-for-money all-rounder for a family of five, the Qashqai is tough to beat.

Once the butt of unfair jokes, Škoda has rehabilitated its image in the UK to become known for reliability and practical design. The spacious interior of the Octavia offers lots of storage space as well as comfortable accommodation for five people, with the ergonomic layout allowing plenty of headroom and legroom for everyone. The boot has 568 litres of space, or 640 if you go for the new estate – not many of its rivals can hold a candle to that. There’s a strong range of diesel and petrol engines that deliver impressive fuel economy, and later models also have a genuinely upmarket feel to them. If you’re looking for an alternative to the ubiquitous SUV as a family ride, the Octavia has a lot to offer.

You might have three kids, but does that mean you have to give up on the idea of driving being fun? Back in 2013, the BMW 3 Series was rated the top performer in Euro NCAP’s large family car class,** and it offers plenty of legroom in the back for offspring of any age, as well as a generous 480-litre boot. It’s also very much a driver’s car, delivering outstanding performance and handling, with a wide range of engine options including a plug-in hybrid. If a car that can go from 30 to 60 in 7.3 seconds with a caravan attached sounds like your kind of thing, the combination of power, elegance and practicality makes the 3 Series well worth a look.

Like the look of the Volkswagen Tiguan but not sure the budget will quite stretch? Check out the SEAT Ateca, which shares many of the Tiguan’s mechanics but hits a lower price point. It’s spacious, practical and a pleasant vehicle to ride in, as well as being easy to drive and boasting a five-star Euro NCAP rating. Another bonus is the easy access to the rear seats, which comes in especially handy if your kids are still small enough to need child seats. The affordable end of the family SUV market is a crowded place these days, and the Ateca ticks a lot of boxes to hold its own.

With so many options out there in the medium sized family car market, it pays to do your research. Check out our cars hub to find out what to look for, browse our comprehensive listings and find the best used car for a family of five.