Best family cars 2023

The Civic tops this list because it’s the best all-rounder on the market, and strikes a wonderful balance between practicality, quality, efficiency and driving pleasure.

It feels refined and precise, thanks to a combination of good handling, reasonable performance and a comfortable ride. The hybrid set-up allows it to achieve impressive fuel economy figures too, and drive using the electric motor alone at low speeds.

So much useful kit is included as standard that we recommend sticking with the entry-level Elegance trim.

Conventional petrol-electric hybrids are popular with family car buyers because they offer better fuel economy than their pure-petrol counterparts, but don't need to be plugged in. And the Corolla’s 1.8-litre hybrid system is one of the best in the business; when we subjected an earlier version to a real-world fuel economy test, it averaged more than 60mpg.

There’s plenty of room in the front, so the driver can make the most of the Corolla’s cosseting ride, although rear space is disappointing.

The long list of standard equipment includes adaptive cruise control and heated front seats. Upgrading to Icon trim adds sat-nav and a bunch of other handy features while keeping the price reasonable.

A former What Car? Family Car of the Year, the Leon is a good buy for anyone looking for fun and practical family transport.

On the fun side, the 128bhp 1.5-litre petrol engine has plenty of punch, plus the steering is well-weighted and the suspension performs well on twisty roads. Meanwhile, practicality is boosted by a highly adjustable driving position, suitable for a driver of almost any height, plenty of leg and head room in the rear, and a capacious boot.

The Leon comes well equipped as standard, but we’d recommend upgrading to FR trim, which adds an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, rain-sensing wipers and more.

Among premium family cars, the A3 Sportback is the best you can buy. It’s not as posh inside as the previous-generation car, but it’s still plush and well built, with a fantastic driving position.

It's great to drive, too – handling well without sacrificing comfort, and the ride is forgiving.

Engines are plentiful, with diesel, petrol and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) options available. Our favourite is the 40 TFSIe PHEV, which can officially travel 40 miles on electric power alone. Its low CO2 output keeps taxes low for company car drivers.

If practicality is your priority, look no further than the Octavia. Taller people will be comfortable in the front and rear, thanks to generous leg and head room. The back seat is wide, too, which makes carrying three back-seat passengers easier than in many rivals.

The boot capacity is 600 litres, which is colossal for the class, and even big by the standards of family SUVs (for example, the Kia Sportage has 591 litres of boot space).

The Octavia’s comfort and frugality make it an excellent car for covering long distances. Even in more expensive trim levels, it's cheaper than many rivals, whether you're a cash buyer or use a PCP finance deal.

The Scala represents one of the cheapest ways of getting behind the wheel of a great family car. It has a comfortable ride, precise steering and a highly adjustable driving position.

Head and leg room are impressive, whether you're in the front seats or the rear, and the boot is one of the biggest in the class. In fact, one of the only cars that can beat the Scala in those areas is the slightly more expensive Skoda Octavia.

Entry-level SE trim comes with all of the kit you’re likely to need, including cruise control, automatic lights and automatic wipers.

If you like the sound of a Volkswagen ID 3, you’ll love the Born. It's based on the same underpinnings but gets more angular styling and a more polished interior.

The suspension has been lowered and stiffened for sportier handling, making it sharper and more engaging to than its Volkswagen sibling. An e-Boost option temporarily increases the power output from 201bhp to 228bhp, but its impact feels minor from behind the wheel.

Overall, the Born improves on the ID 3, but the volume and climate-control buttons on the dashboard and steering wheel are too fiddly.

For those who want their next family car to be electric, the ID 3 might still be worth considering. It’s as practical as many petrol-powered models, and has roughly similar dimensions to the Volkswagen Golf.

Well-weighted steering and fantastic body control help make it genuinely fun to drive too – something that can’t be said of all its electric car rivals. Performance is good, with 148bhp or 201bhp motors available, and larger of the two battery options gives you an official range of up to 336 miles.

Unfortunately, the ID 3 is let down by a cheap-feeling interior and a fiddly, laggy infotainment system.

If you want a family car that’s great fun to drive, it’s hard to go wrong with the Focus. No matter how you spec it, Ford’s family car will offer a good balance of handling and comfort. The ride is firmer than in rivals such as the Volkswagen Golf but not to the point of being uncomfortable.

The entry-level 1.0 Ecoboost 125 petrol engine is our favourite, because it offers decent performance and fuel economy for a reasonable price.

The Focus comes well equipped as standard, and its low price makes it an attractive cash buy, but an underwhelming interior and faster depreciation than some rivals prevent it from moving higher up our list.

In at number 10 is the 1 Series – a great example of a premium and dynamic family car. Build quality is rock solid, and the interior's soft-touch materials and sturdy switches make it a more pleasant place to spend time than the Audi A3 and Mercedes A-Class.

The quality feel continues with the infotainment system – BMW’s iDrive is second to none, combining physical controls with a touchscreen for maximum versatility.

A reasonable ride, sporty handling and quick steering mean the 1 Series is as good to drive as it is to sit in, and the entry-level 118i petrol engine is brisk and easy to live with.

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