These great-value family cars have the space you need without costing a fortune.
There are plenty of affordable options with loads of practicality and handy features to make driving with the kids in tow that much easier. We've chosen our favourite nearly new and used family cars, and listed them alphabetically.
We've focused on petrol and diesel cars here, but you might be surprised how cheap some electric family cars are – and how cheap they are to run.
1. Citroen C3 Aircross
The Citroen C3 Aircross is the shortest car on this list, but it packs a lot into its easy-to-park footprint. Its sliding rear bench is a fantastically thoughtful addition so, if you’ve got young kids with little legs, you can slide the rear seats forward to free up more boot space. Or, if you have lanky-legged teenagers, sliding the seats back gives them plenty of room – and you still get a boot that’s competitive with rivals.
Somewhat unusually, the C3 Aircross focuses on comfort rather than sportiness, which is absolutely ideal for a family car. You’re not going to be driving like a Formula 1 driver on your way to nursery, after all. It’s also funky inside and out, and economical too – the petrols can manage 45mpg or more and the diesel can return 60mpg on long journeys.
Shop used Citroen C3 Aircross cars for sale at Motorpoint
2. Dacia Jogger
The Dacia Jogger is something of an oddity. It occupies a space somewhere between a people carrier, a van and an SUV. You'll notice the vast cabin rises up slightly past the front seats, and extends a little further past the passenger compartment than a typical family car. As a result, there's gargantuan interior space despite the Jogger being shorter than most family SUVs.
Its party trick, however, is the fact Dacia's snuck a whole third row in, making the Jogger a seven-seater. And, while the sixth and seventh seat are best reserved for kids or short adults, it's a lot more flexible than most cars the Jogger's size. You can even remove the third row entirely, turning the boot into a space that'll rival a small van.
Shop used Dacia Jogger cars for sale at Motorpoint
3. Kia Sportage
Read our Kia Sportage review
The Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson are pretty much identical under the skin, so pick whichever you like the look of and you’ll get a solid-feeling and capable SUV. Kia’s warranty cover is a little better – a Sportage comes with the balance of a seven-year/100,000-mile warranty – and so is its equipment list. Impressively, even the nearly entry-level ‘2’ trim gets heated front and rear seats.
According to the numbers, the Tucson has a marginally bigger boot than the Sportage, but you’re not going to notice a difference when you’re trying to wrestle a bulky pushchair into the boot. Both cars have wide-opening doors that make it easy to extract sulky toddlers.
Shop used Kia Sportage cars for sale at Motorpoint
4. MG HS
Read our MG HS review
The HS is the largest SUV MG sells in the UK and it's a great option if you have a tall family, or you need extra space. Its massive cabin has room for tall adults in both rows, which also means lots of room to wrestle kids into their child seats. And forget bargain-basement MGs of old – this latest HS feels much more upmarket than before and includes a long standard equipment list.
Prices are still extremely competitive with the mainstream market, with the HS undercutting most key rivals while offering more space and features as standard. Entry-level petrol versions aren't exactly frugal but there's a choice of self-charging-hybrid and plug-in-hybrid engines that'll keep consumption to a minimum. You also get the remainder of MG's seven-year warranty.
Shop used MG HS cars for sale at Motorpoint
5. Nissan Qashqai
Read our Nissan Qashqai review
The Nissan Qashqai is the ubiquitous family SUV, and it’s popular for a number of reasons. It offers a comfortable ride that’s perfect for family transport and all the must-have equipment to make trips to the in-laws’ bearable. Given its popularity when new, the used Qashqai market is huge, and Qashqais in all specs and colours are widely available.
And affordable, too – expect to pay under £200 per month for a low-mileage three-year-old car. Running costs aren’t extortionate, either, with over 40mpg possible for the petrol engines and 60mpg achievable if you pick the 1.5-litre diesel engine.
Shop used Nissan Qashqai cars for sale at Motorpoint, or check out the related Renault Kadjar
6. SEAT Ateca
Read our SEAT Ateca review
The SEAT Ateca is one third of a trio that includes the Skoda Karoq and Volkswagen Tiguan. We reckon the Ateca deserves a look, however, thanks to its temptingly low pricing on the used market. It's common to find Atecas priced below equivalent Skoda or VW models, despite having a very similar set of standard equipment and almost exactly the same amount of family-friendly practicality.
Inside, the Ateca is a little dark and plasticky but everything feels tough enough to cope with the stresses of family life. You'll find climate and cruise control, plus an infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to make long journeys easier. We're also fans of the car's 1.0-litre TSI petrol engine, which punches noticeably above its weight when out on the road.
Shop used SEAT Ateca cars for sale at Motorpoint
7. Skoda Kamiq
Read our Skoda Kamiq review
The Skoda Kamiq is the Czech brand’s smallest and most affordable SUV, but it’s certainly not lacking the practicality and build quality that we’ve come to expect. The 400-litre boot is fractionally bigger than a VW Golf’s boot, and it’s easily big enough for a buggy and a couple of fully stocked changing bags. If your sprogs are older and bigger, they’ll have space to stretch out in the Kamiq’s impressively roomy rear seats.
The Kamiq has a composed, capable driving experience. You could almost call it sporty if it was a bit more engaging. Speed bumps are barely noticeable, there’s barely any body roll – snacks won’t fly side-to-side in fast corners – and it’s refined at motorway speeds.
Shop used Skoda Kamiq cars for sale at Motorpoint, or check out the related SEAT Arona
8. Suzuki S-Cross
The Suzuki S-Cross has long been a cheap family car and the most recent version is by far the easiest to live with. You'll find creature comforts like air conditioning, cruise control, a reversing camera and an infotainment system widely fitted across the range. We're fans of the S-Cross’ 1.4-litre BoosterJet engine, which gives it punchy acceleration around town and makes it easy to reach motorway speeds.
Most important, however, is the S-Cross’ spacious cabin, with room for adults in both rows and enough space to wrangle kids into their car seats. Unlike some SUVs, the S-Cross doesn't have a sloping sporty roofline to contend with, so you won't have to bend over to access the back. Boot space is reasonably generous, too. The 430-litre capacity is decent for this class, but the car's square shape means you can load tall items all the way to the roof through the wide boot opening.
You could also consider the Suzuki Vitara, which brings more of a 4x4 vibe without any fuel economy drawbacks. It’s similarly affordable and has a similar cabin to the S-Cross.
Shop used Suzuki S-Cross cars for sale at Motorpoint
9. Toyota Yaris Cross
Read our Toyota Yaris Cross review
Toyotas tend to cost a few thousand pounds more than other mainstream brands, but you'll often find that gap narrows quickly once they enter the used market. That makes the compact Yaris Cross great value as a nearly new car, especially since it'll come with the remainder of Toyota's 10-year service activated warranty.
The Yaris Cross is a little tighter than other options on this list, but there's still just enough rear-seat space for a child seat and just enough boot space for a pushchair. Meanwhile, the car's compact footprint makes it very easy to drive and park, aided by the standard-fit reversing camera. Its user experience is admirably straightforward too, with an easy driving experience and a clear, intuitive dashboard layout.
Shop used Toyota Yaris Cross cars for sale at Motorpoint
10. Vauxhall Grandland
Read our used Vauxhall Grandland review
Put simply, the Vauxhall Grandland is a very sensible SUV. We mean that in the best possible way, because it’ll simply get you to where you need to go in a sophisticated and fuss-free way. It’s really spacious inside, it feels like it’ll last years of toddler tantrums and cries of ‘are we there yet?’, and the adults up front get plenty of gadgets to enjoy. We’re talking about the likes of cruise control, speed limit recognition, DAB radio – if you get to listen to something other than Frozen – and climate control.
Its engines are sensibly powered and sensibly frugal until, that is, you get to the range-topping plug-in hybrid. Called the Hybrid4, it packs a hot-hatch-beating 300hp and four-wheel drive for a very unsensible 0-62mph time of 5.9 seconds – that’s as quick as an old V8-engined Audi S4.
Shop used Vauxhall Grandland cars for sale at Motorpoint
