While buying any sort of car involves a lot of decision making, finding a family cars can be a particularly tough choice, as different families have their own requirements for the demands of family life. Family cars have got to be able to live up to long holidays, manage the weekly shopping run, transport bulky furniture and possessions in house moves, and not be too expensive to run. Those are just a sample of the decision-making factors involved!
Those cars that manage to fulfil all these requirements occupy a unique niche in a pretty specific Venn diagram. Even a quick look through our online car auctions may yield interesting cars to consider first, but if you’re not quite sure about some, we’ve got some ideas about where you should start. So, in no particular order…
1. Volkswagen Golf
This one is always a safe bet to kick off with - the Volkswagen Golf has been one of the UK’s most popular cars for decades now. Just a quick glance at it will reveal plenty of reasons why! It’s earned itself a reputation for being practical in almost every desirable way for a family car. On the outside, it’s robust and durable, being markedly agile and easy to drive. On the inside, it’s spacious and well-built, with plenty of room to transport family members of all ages, and not a bad boot size either. Its solid build quality means it can be relied on for many years, and its smooth ride comfort is an absolute dream on the long holiday drives and morning commutes alike. It’s no wonder it was Britain’s second best-selling car in 2018.
2. Ford Focus
Like the Golf, the Ford Focus holds a special place in the nation’s collective heart, which goes some way to explaining why the latest model was voted the Best Family Car of 2019 by several motoring outlets. (Not bad credentials in a list like this!) One of the major selling points of the latest model - especially for parents - is the exceptional safety value it offers, scoring highly on the Euro NCAP crash test. The newest model’s autonomous emergency braking makes it a good one to look out for, too. That’s to say nothing of the other impressive in-car tech it features, such as its adaptive cruise control, sign recognition and heads-up display.
Its rear suspension makes it another agile and comfortable ride, too, and its efficient petrol engines make it a sure winner in the eyes of many. Real-world tests put its engine efficiency at about 60mpg - not at all bad!
3. Peugeot 3008
Moving firmly into SUV territory now, the Peugeot 3008 is a great option for those looking to make their first foray into family SUVs. It’s a practical choice, with a comfortable cabin made with quality materials. This level of comfort is likely to be appreciated most particularly on longer journeys, at which the 3008 excels thanks to its impressive range of petrol engines, providing a smooth and economical ride. It’s a fantastic car to drive, with a firm grip and handling. Like the Focus, it also has amazing safety value, with an enviable five star rating from the Euro NCAP. The only slightly polarising aspect of the 3008 lies in its aesthetics, which have variously been described as ‘daring’ and ‘a little over the top’. Each to their own!
4. Nissan Qashqai
Of course, we couldn’t mention family SUVs without covering the famous Nissan Qashqai. As universally beloved as it is tricky to spell, the Qashqai offers practicality, versatility and value for money in one handy package. As you can tell from one glance at the exterior, families can enjoy plenty of space and an effortlessly smooth ride. Its cutting edge safety tech again serves to make it an attractive option for many parents, and for such a large car, it’s pretty economical too. Its advanced engines deliver some of the best fuel economy figures you can expect to find in a crossover, and it’s notably quiet, too. As for the aesthetics, they underwent a notable redesign in 2017, and people clearly love them (or love everything despite them) to make the Qashqai a common sight on residential roads and driveways.
This is just a sample of the models you can expect to find amongst our online car auctions, though. As well as models from Volkswagen, Ford, Peugeot and Nissan, we’ve also got plenty of vehicles made by global manufacturers such as Vauxhall, Renault and Toyota. We refresh our vehicle auctions on a daily and weekly basis, so if you don’t find what you’re looking for at first, don’t forget to check back often! With all the bargains available, who knows what you might find?
