Not everyone wants or needs a giant car to carry the family – these are our favourite ways to carry the kids without taking up most of the road
Compact family cars have one of the toughest briefs in the biz.
Not only do they have to fit into tight parking spaces and offer strong value for money, they also need to fit your brood and all that family kit inside, be affordable to run, comfy to cruise about in, and, ideally, look the part and drive well too.
Impossible? Not if you pick from our compact family best-of list below, which rounds up hatchbacks, estates, crossovers and even pure electric choices into one handy guide. We've listed our picks alphabetically.
1. Audi A3
A VW Golf in a tailored suit, the Audi A3 gives a splash of luxury to family hatch buyers. We love the A3’s interior, which looks like it’s been borrowed from the brand’s flagship cars, and its mix of analogue controls and digital gadgetry. Most adults this side of LeBron James will be able to get comfortable in the A3’s back seats, and the boot holds 380 litres of stuff. A range of well-equipped trim levels and economical engines are on offer, so there’s something for everyone – diesels for motorway regulars, hot hatches for speed freaks and a plug-in hybrid for drivers who want a sprinkling of zero-emission electric driving.
Find a used Audi A3 at Motorpoint
2. BMW 1 Series
The smallest BMW does everything you’d expect from the German powerhouse. It has a fantastic interior with tech that pushes the envelope and build quality to put most other family hatchbacks to shame. The latest 1 Series moves to front-wheel drive, which has freed up more passenger space and more boot space – this is now a car that you could genuinely consider as a family car. And when you’re alone in the car, the 1 Series is one of the best-driving hatchbacks, too – regardless of whether you pick the warm 118i or the hot M135i range-topper.
Find a used BMW 1 Series at Motorpoint
3. Cupra Formentor
Read our Cupra Formentor review
If you’re a hot hatch driver who’s had to get something a bit more practical, the Cupra Formentor is ideal. And, if you just want something sporty and spacious, the Cupra Formentor is also ideal. It looks like a SEAT Leon but a little bit longer and taller, and every Formentor gets a sporty body kit and cool copper detailing. There are a range of increasingly powerful petrol engines, topping out with a 310hp version that cracks 0-62mph in under five seconds, and even a pair of plug-in hybrids. They’re fast and frugal – talk about having your cake and eating it.
Find a used Cupra Formentor at Motorpoint
4. Dacia Duster
Premium posh SUVs might be all the rage these days, but they don’t fare so well when you smear chocolate over the seats or kick your size twos into the seatbacks. This is where the Dacia Duster comes in. Not only is it officially the cheapest new SUV in the UK, but it’s built tough for family life too, with a durable, spacious interior, up to 478 litres of luggage space and 217mm of ground clearance. Choose from front or four-wheel drive, and from petrol, diesel and even bi-fuel petrol/LPG engines – the latter with a toilet-stop busting 767-mile range.
Find a used Dacia Duster at Motorpoint
5. Ford Focus
Not as posh as a Golf, but more affordable, better looking and more athletic to drive, the 2018-on Ford Focus remains a family fave. Highlights of this latest model include a 50mm wheelbase stretch, which sounds tiny but actually unlocks a huge amount of extra space inside, even for lanky teenage legs – in fact, the Ford’s rear-seat kneeroom is officially best-in-class. The hatch’s 341-litre boot is okay, but the estate’s 575 litres might be better if you’re still in the prams and pushchairs stage. Diesels are available, but our pick’s the 1.0-litre EcoBoost with 155hp and a mild-hybrid boost. Sprinkle with sporty ST-Line trim for a dash of hot-hatch flavour.
Find a used Ford Focus at Motorpoint
6. Ford Puma
Ford’s Puma SUV is based on Fiesta underpinnings, so it’s a blast to drive, but a teenager-style growth spurt makes this junior crossover a much more usable family car. Boot space of 456 litres isn’t just best-in-class, it’s way more than a Focus (though that drops to 401 litres with mild-hybrid engines), plus there’s an 80-litre ‘MegaBox’ hidden under the boot floor. Yes, the name makes a hole under the boot sound fist-pumpingly awesome, but it’s practical too, with a plug in the bottom so you can chuck in muddy active-lifestyle attire, then hose it out later.
Find a used Ford Puma at Motorpoint
7. Peugeot 2008
Sometimes, a carmaker gets it absolutely spot on. That’s the case with the Peugeot 2008, which smashes bold, confident styling with a high-quality interior and family-friendly practicality. There’s more rear-seat space than most other small SUV rivals, and getting kids in and out is easy. Handily, there’s room for the bulkiest child seats too. The boot is deep and wide, making it ideal for pram storage, and the adjustable boot floor removes the load lip, giving you somewhere to stash toddler snacks before promptly forgetting you put them there. Some trims give you three Isofix points, which’ll give you kudos on the school run.
Find a used Peugeot 2008 at Motorpoint
8. Renault Megane E-Tech
Familiar name, but a very different car to previous Meganes. It’s grown into a slightly crossover-ish body, and now only comes with electric power. And it’s all the better for it – the driving experience is smooth and refined, and the EV-specific platform maximises interior space. The Megane was benchmarked against the Volkswagen ID.3, which ensured Renault could make its effort slightly more practical, slightly nicer inside and slightly more efficient. Renault’s Google-based infotainment system is one of the best touchscreens on the market, too.
9. Skoda Scala
Amidst the smaller Fabia and bigger Octavia, the Skoda Scala gets a bit forgotten. But, remember it exists and you’re in for a treat – the Scala is bigger than a Golf but cheaper. Rear-seat space is excellent and boot space is generous, while front-seat occupants get to enjoy a feature-packed but generally intuitive infotainment system. What’s more, the Scala is good to drive and efficient – so it ticks an awful lot of boxes.
Find a used Skoda Scala at Motorpoint
10. Volkswagen Golf
Read our Volkswagen Golf review
If the Golf performed an Olympics gymnastics display, every judge would give it a standing ovation – it’s the metronome of the car industry, with a consistency that helps it rise to the top against rivals that shine brighter in some – but not all – areas. Available as hatch or handier estate, the latest Mk8 Golf is a typically cautious evolution of its predecessor save for a radical infotainment re-boot, but elsewhere it’s as spacious, comfortable, sure-footed and nicely built as usual. Mild-hybrid engines improve efficiency, but the plug-in hybrid goes a giant leap further with up to 44 miles of pure electric range and officially 235mpg. Just the ticket to offset those pesky energy bills.
Check out our range of nearly new Volkswagen Golfs for sale
Fantastically family-friendly cars
Browse our favourite family SUVs or our guide to the best cars that fit three child seats. Not sure where to start? Read our handy guide to buying the right family car.
