Best Family Cars of 2013

Volkswagen Passat

Best family car more than £21,000

If you're in the market for a family car that excels at long-distance touring, and will deliver you to your destination feeling as fresh as when you left, this Volkswagen Passat is well worth considering.

The engine feels strong and smooth at all times, while the ride is generally forgiving and the Passat feels supremely stable at motorway speeds.

At the same time, VW's Bluemotion Technology helps it to return superb economy and puts it in the 17% tax band for company car drivers.

Inside, the Passat is spacious enough for four six-footers (or five at a push) and it features plenty of high-grade materials. The overall impression is of solidity and quality, while our favoured Highline trim gives you all-round electric windows, climate control and alloy wheels as standard.

So, the Passat is a spacious and well-equipped family car that's also a superb motorway cruiser. Add its impressive refinement and economy, and it takes some beating.

Read the full Volkswagen Passat review