This is a collaborative post: Looking for a family car isn’t an easy task. Firstly, you need to make sure that you have enough. But this is rather easy if you turn to car finance brokers like carplus.co.uk. How to make the right choice when you have so many options? In this article, we will list the top six family cars to facilitate the task for you.
Family Autos Basics
Family cars have always come with a big boot, enough space for more than four passengers, and a bulky engine. Modern family cars, however, come with a greater range of options than ever before. Here is what you can opt for:
- Hatchbacks offer good MPG (Miles Per Gallon) and are affordable to purchase and maintain. The only thing it lacks is extra space for a big family.
- SUVs and MPVS come with a raised driving position, extra space, and storage, and it all comes with a higher price.
- Estates offer an economical version of the SUVs in the price range of a hatchback.
- Saloons are usually larger than hatchbacks but somehow haven’t figured out how their boots open.
Now that we know our options, we will look into what makes a good family car. The obvious answer is enough space to carpool the kids to their football games, but there’s more:
- Safety
Check for the Euro NCAP five-star rating, a standardised crash safety scoring system used across the continent for all new cars. Don’t forget to check child safety locks.
- Shape
As unappealing as it may seem to some of you, pick a tall, boxy car. Why, you ask? Such cars let you maximize every bit of the car space, give you a better, higher driving position, and dropping things in the back won’t strain your back!
- Doors
Inclining front seats to send the children back is obviously inconvenient and time-consuming. Look for doors that open wider. It will not only help you get your children into their seats, but it will also help the elderly get in and out of the car easily. Sliding doors are always an option too!
- Seats
The flexibility of car seats is another important checkpoint. The rear seats need to be able to fold for more boot space or slide back or forth to give more legroom. If it’s typical of your family to fight for the more spacious seat, look for cars with one-size seats to avoid any conflicts.
- Storage
Cars come with storage, but are they enough to fit in your groceries and other parental paraphernalia? If you have pets, this is a must to check, as well.
- Specification
Are you looking for windows with UV filtering? DVD screens for kids? Seat warmers? It is best to let the dealers know what you need because not every car comes with full-package.
Top 6 Family Cars to Consider
Here are some family cars for you to consider:
- Honda Civic
The reliable vehicle comes with essential equipment as a standard. The entry-level model has climate control, automatic air conditioning, parking sensors at the front and back, Bluetooth connectivity, and more. The car drives well on bendy roads and is best known for its fuel economy.
- Dacia Duster
This is the best family SUV for surprisingly economical prices. The car belongs off-road but is a family favorite for its 400 liteКs of space. The car earned three out of five stars in the Euro NCAP tests, but it offers room for tall adults, a sturdy enough exterior, and an extremely spacious boot.
- BMW 1 Series
Of the small hatchbacks available, this is by far the winner. It offers the many luxuries of a high-end car without burning a hole in your pockets if you choose monthly PCP payments. The switch from rear to front-wheel drive has given way to a more spacious boot to match its rivals. The family car is both efficient and performant, no complaints there for the German engineering.
- Skoda Karoq
This is not a car to buy if you’re seeking aesthetics. A Nissan Qashqai is a better choice for that. But if you are looking for a family SUV that is practical, reliable, and affordable, Karoq is the top pick. It turns into a van to give you more free space, but it drives as a four-wheel car should. The automatic gearbox can be a tad sluggish at low speeds, but that is only the case with the TDI diesel engine. The petrol engine quickly rectified that for them.
- Toyota Corolla
Much like German engineering, Japanese engineering is also known for its consistently high-quality performance. The Corolla is a hybrid, and the 1.8-liter petrol engine is the better performing version over the 2-liter option. The hatchback has all the requirements to run smoothly, and despite how it may look on the outside, it is bigger on the inside.
- Vauxhall Insignia
The sedan has had a facelift and a revised engine range from its predecessors. The newer version comes with collision alert and pedestrian detection, lane-keep, and blind-spot assist, plus adaptive cruise control. It is quite light and handles smoothly for a car that big.
Take Your Pick!
Before you pick a car, narrow down your family’s requirements. Making sure everyone gets what they want shouldn’t be difficult for family cars. However, it’s the only way to make everyone satisfied. These six options may become a starting point in your pursuit of an ideal family car.