The 10 Best Family Cars to Buy in the UK in 2018

2018 is going to be the best year for family car buyers in the UK even they are looking for an SUV or any other body shape

In the automotive industry, family cars have great importance as they are the oldest form of transportation in the motoring industry. They are in the need for decades and it is a very tough task for the automakers to design and develop a family car according to the needs of the users.

It is one of the tough tasks to offer all the features in a family car that a family needs. But these days, automakers are almost giving every feature in the family vehicles thus the family vehicles lean towards more demand. Apart from all the features offered in the vehicles, a car needs to be more appealing to reach the top of the list of the best family cars to buy in the UK in 2018.

The features and traits that can push the vehicle hard towards the top are the size, comfort and fuel economy while there are seven or five people aboard. Including the mentioned features, price and reliability are equally important for the car buyers and they regularly look up for these traits in a family car on offer.

If every car in the list has all these features available in one package, then what would be the way to rank the vehicles from 10 to 1? Definitely the opinions and reviews of the users and the industry experts.

We have done the same and compiled a list of the 10 best family cars on offer in the UK and they not only include SUVs, Best Looking Saloons or MPVs, but we have also considered hatchbacks and compact vehicles, as usual, people use them as family vehicles. So, you can have your next family car in the UK by using this list of the vehicles from 10 to the most favorite vehicle at 1st position.

Now in the modern era of the motor mobility, the family cars are not more buying a three-box saloon from your local dealer but it has become a more difficult job to select the best vehicle that suits you most.

Your local showrooms have become a Pandora box of vehicles now, where you can have dozens of body styles of one vehicle and all of them come under the family cars category.

These days’ hatchbacks are more favorite vehicles of smaller families and they love to have these cars due to the lower level of road taxes and running costs with smaller places required for the parking at the same time. At the same time, a hatchback can offer a mix of saloon body type and a mix of estate characters as well. On the other hand, SUV vehicles are also making their place in the market due to the higher driving position and all road capabilities.

Best family cars to buy in 2018

Land Rover Discovery

ENGINE: 2.0 litre SD4 8AT (240 HP)

CYLINDERS: L4

DISPLACEMENT: 1999 cm3

POWER: 176.5 KW @ 4000 RPM 240 HP @ 4000 RPM 237 BHP @ 4000 RPM

TORQUE: 369 lb-ft @ 1500 RPM 500 Nm @ 1500 RPM

FUEL SYSTEM: Turbocharged Common Rail

FUEL: Diesel

CO2 EMISSIONS: 171 g/km

PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS

TOP SPEED: 121 mph OR 195 km/h

ACCELERATION 0-62 MPH (0-100 KPH)    8.3 s

FUEL CONSUMPTION SPECIFICATIONS: COMBINED36.2 mpg US OR 6.5 L/100Km

TRANSMISSION SPECIFICATIONS

DRIVE TYPE: All Wheel Drive

GEARBOX: 9-speed automatic

The Discovery is a locally manufactured luxury and it is manufactured by land rover midland, a legendary manufacturer in the UK. The Discovery has an advantage of being the seven-seater and it’s this trait always help the manufacturer to beat the rivals in the UK market.

Land Rover Discovery is a luxurious compact SUV and it is designed to rival the massive sellers like the BMW X3 and Audi Q5. It is essentially a replacement for the Freelander and it features a sleeker design and an economical engine line up. The discovery is bigger, bolder and even stylish than the Freelander 2 models with an even versatile seven-seat layout.

The Discovery model looks are closer to the looks and style of the range rover models and it is not limited to the exterior styling but this styling pattern continues to the interior as well and you can see that interior of the discovery is not that much different as of the interior of a range rover model. When you will step into the interior of the land rover discovery you will face posh looks with classy materials and top-notch features offered on the cabin of this SUV.

The Discovery sports underpinnings are borrowed from a range rover and it looks more like the range rover Evoque models. There is a difference between the rear suspension and it has a multi-link setup which allows land rover engineers to reduce the size in the third row of seats.

Land Rover has also given the treatment of Ingenium engine to the land rover discovery models. A 2.0 litre Ingenium engine powers the discovery models and just for the information, it is the same engine that goes in the Jaguar XE with a nine-speed transmission for the first time.

Citroen C4 Picasso

ENGINE: 1.2-litre PURETECH 6AT (130 HP)

CYLINDERS: L3

DISPLACEMENT 1199 cm3

POWER: 95.6 KW @ 5500 RPM

130 HP @ 5500 RPM

128 BHP @ 5500 RPM

TORQUE: 170 lb-ft @ 1750 RPM 230 Nm @ 1750 RPM

FUEL SYSTEM: Turbocharged Direct Injection

Fuel: Petrol

CO2 EMISSIONS 115 g/km

PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS

TOP SPEED: 127 mph OR 204 km/h

ACCELERATION 0-62 MPH (0-100 KPH)    10.2 s

FUEL CONSUMPTION SPECIFICATIONS

CITY: 36.8 mpg US OR 6.4 L/100Km

HIGHWAY: 53.5 mpg US OR 4.4 L/100Km

COMBINED: 46.1 mpg US OR 5.1 L/100Km

TRANSMISSION SPECIFICATIONS

DRIVE TYPE: Front Wheel Drive

GEARBOX: 6-speed automatic

The all-new C4 Picasso has ample space and futuristic styling by Citroen and the MPV pack is just awesome. The C4 Picasso is a compact MPV vehicle and offers excellent space for more than seven passengers and their luggage.

Its exclusively appealing looks and its interior makes it distinctive from its rivals and its premium interior looks boast its high quality and excellent finishes which further allow the C4 to beat the models like Volkswagen Touran and Ford c max.

The C4 Picasso offers a smooth ride and excellent riding experience which makes it more comfortable to drive and in this class, it’s not an only option which offers all the features of being a classy family car. The C4 Picasso is one of the most practical vehicles and an important addition to our list of top ten best family cars to buy.

Volvo XC90

ENGINE: 2.0-litre T6 8AT AWD (320 HP)

CYLINDERS: L4

DISPLACEMENT 1969 cm3

POWER: 236 KW @ 5700 RPM

320 HP @ 5700 RPM

316 BHP @ 5700 RPM

TORQUE: 295 lb-ft @ 2200-4500 RPM

400 Nm @ 2200-4500 RPM

FUEL SYSTEM: Supercharged and Turbocharged Direct Injection

 Fuel: Petrol

CO2 EMISSIONS: 179 g/km

PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS

TOP SPEED: 143 mph OR 230 km/h

ACCELERATION: 0-62 MPH (0-100 KPH) 6.9 s

FUEL CONSUMPTION SPECIFICATIONS

CITY: 22.4 mpg US OR 10.5 L/100Km

HIGHWAY: 39.2 mpg US OR 6 L/100Km

COMBINED: 30.5 mpg US OR 7.7 L/100Km

TRANSMISSION SPECIFICATIONS

DRIVE TYPE: All Wheel Drive

GEARBOX: 8-speed automatic transmission

VOLVO is one of the best car makers and its XC90 is far more than a family vehicle. The XC90 is one of the best family cars in the UK and it is full of safety kits with ultra-advance features and new platform. The XC90 is on this list because of its practicality and economy with the most modern kit. The XC90 is powered by a fuel economical four-cylinder engine. At the same time, there is a plugin hybrid version offered for those who are more worried about the environment. The XC90 style and built quality are equally best as of those models offered by makes like Audi, BMW, and land rover.

VOLVO pick of the range is a D5 diesel engine and being the quietest engine in the lineup it offers the best fuel economy and best in class running costs. We recommend buying a VOLVO XC90 with a diesel engine. It is a fun to drive and offers best in class economy figures. VOLVO offers a best in class safety kit on its xc90 family cars and a sportier design makes it even appealing in the market.

The XC90 comes with an upmarket interior where high-end materials and ultra-modern trims making the cabin a class. However, apart from all these features, the key to the success for the XC90 is its spacious cabin that offers space for a family with comfort and refinement on offer. The XC90 is one of the relaxing vehicles to drive with your family due to its plush ride and quiet cabin.

VOLVO says that the XC90 is a true seven-seater and can give a comfortable room to an adult of more than five and a half feet tall in the third row of seats.

Jaguar F-Pace

ENGINE: 2.0-litre 8AT AWD (250 HP)

CYLINDERS: L4

DISPLACEMENT 1997 cm3

POWER: 183.9 KW @ 5500 RPM

250 HP @ 5500 RPM

247 BHP @ 5500 RPM

TORQUE: 269 lb-ft @ 1200-4500 RPM

365 Nm @ 1200-4500 RPM

FUEL SYSTEM: Turbocharged Direct Injection

Fuel: Petrol

CO2 EMISSIONS:170 g/km

PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS

TOP SPEED: 135 mph OR 217 km/h

ACCELERATION: 0-62 MPH (0-100 KPH)6.8 s

FUEL CONSUMPTION SPECIFICATIONS

CITY: 25.8 mpg US OR 9.1 L/100Km

HIGHWAY: 35.6 mpg US OR 6.6 L/100Km

COMBINED: 31.8 mpg US OR 7.4 L/100Km

TRANSMISSION SPECIFICATIONS

DRIVE TYPE: All Wheel Drive

 GEARBOX: 8-speed automatic

It is the second family car from the same automaker and we are expecting even more on this list, yes we are talking about JLR or Jaguar Land Rover. Jaguar offers the 4×4 F-Pace which is a legendary thus luxury family vehicle. The f-pace is a family vehicle that offers ultimate handling on all kind of terrains while being a premium crossover and it also gives you a choice to think differently e.g. apart from the German cars that you have many better options in the UK than the German cars like Porsche Macan and BMW X3.

Yes, it is the most desirable and most long-awaited addition of the UK automaker. The f-pace adds a more stylish yet bold option to the list of the best family cars available in the UK. On the other hand, even it is not as bold to ride as its German rivals are, but it is still exclusively dynamic and fuel economical. At the same time, it offers a superb ride and excellent refinement.  The F-Pace comes with a choice of front-wheel-drive as well as all-wheel-drive at the same time and you can opt for any of these choices. The most cost-effective entry in the class is a 178bhp version fitted with a 2.0-litre diesel engine with a manual transmission that exclusively features a fuel economy of more than 58 miles per gallon on average. When these things come to the diesel engine, it becomes even torquier and offers more refined driving experience. The f-pace spec list includes 18-inch alloys and a centrally mounted touchscreen and an adjustable seating system which you can adjust in more than eight ways.

Volkswagen Passat

ENGINE: 1.4-litre TSI 6AT (218 HP)

CYLINDERS: L4

DISPLACEMENT 1395 cm3

POWER: 115 KW @ 5000-6000 RPM

156 HP @ 5000-6000 RPM

154 BHP @ 5000-6000 RPM

TORQUE: 184 lb-ft @ 1500-3500 RPM

249 Nm @ 1500-3500 RPM

FUEL SYSTEM: Turbocharged Direct Injection

FUEL: Hybrid

PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS

TOP SPEED: 140 mph OR 225 km/h

ACCELERATION: 0-62 MPH (0-100 KPH) 7.4 s

FUEL CONSUMPTION SPECIFICATIONS; COMBINED147 mpg US OR 1.6 L/100Km

TRANSMISSION SPECIFICATIONS

DRIVE TYPE: Front Wheel Drive

GEARBOX:  6-speed automatic (DSG)

Welcome aboard on the best German automaker’s top model in the list, although it is the first German vehicle on the list it is a valuable addition to this list. It is VW Passat saloon, one of the world’s best family saloons offered in the UK and loved by the UK drivers. In the upmarket, Passat targets and challenges the best of the best executive saloons and it beats them with clear margin on the sales table.

Since the upgrade in 2015, it has made a great move in the market and with its quality built and excellent performance Passat has successfully stolen the sales from the automakers like Ford and Vauxhall and at the same time, Passat has given a tough time to the rivals like Audi and BMW as well.

The all-new Passat is bigger and bolder than before and yet it is lighter in weight and fuel efficient as well. Some of the Passat trims are more than 20 percent fuel economical and efficient. If we talk about the rivals of the Volkswagen Passat, it gives tough time to automakers like Ford, and it’s Mondeo, Mazda 6, Skoda superb and BMW 3 series along with Audi a4. Mercedes C-Class is also on its target where it beats the German automakers with its best price offered in the UK. It starts from 35k with the base trim.

SEAT Ateca

ENGINE:  1.0-litre TSI 6MT (115 HP)

CYLINDERS: L4

DISPLACEMENT: 999 cm3

POWER: 84.6 KW @ 5000-5500 RPM

115 HP @ 5000-5500 RPM

113 BHP @ 5000-5500 RPM

TORQUE: 148 lb-ft @ 2000-3500 RPM

200 Nm @ 2000-3500 RPM

FUEL SYSTEM: Turbocharged Direct Injection

Fuel: Petrol

CO2 EMISSIONS: 119 g/km

PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS

TOP SPEED: 114 mph OR 183 km/h

ACCELERATION 0-62 MPH (0-100 KPH)-

FUEL CONSUMPTION SPECIFICATIONS

COMBINED: 45.2 mpg US OR 5.2 L/100Km

TRANSMISSION SPECIFICATIONS

DRIVE TYPE: Front Wheel Drive

GEARBOX: 6-speed manual

Seat launches its Ateca back in 2016 and pushed it into the best of the best crossovers available in the UK. The all-new Ateca is the first crossover from the Spanish automaker and it shares its more than 60 percent components and part with the VW Tiguan but still the Spanish automaker has somehow managed to control the personality of the Tiguan and they offered the Ateca with its own character and produce something quite excellent and better than before.

The design cues have been borrowed from the sister model Leon but it is more handsome car to be with it in the UK. The seat has successfully stretched it on the bigger body to make it a family vehicle and they remained successful at the same time. Now it is one of the best looking vehicles in the seat line up and its own class as well, thanks to hard work by seat design team who pumped some innovation in the design and keeps it away from a heavy look of a massive crossover.

While behind the wheel, it offers an excellent riding experience and riding the SEAT Ateca gives a very rare feel of handling and comfort while being in the family car sector. What do you think of an engine offered in the vehicle, a massive one? No, it is not, there is a 1.0-litre turbocharged engine makes this beauty a fuel economical vehicle.

Land Rover Discovery Sport

ENGINE: 2.0-litre SI4 9AT (240 HP)   

CYLINDERS: L4

DISPLACEMENT 1999 cm3

POWER:

               177 KW @ 5800 RPM

               240 HP @ 5800 RPM

               237 BHP @ 5800 RPM

TORQUE:             

               251 lb-ft @ 1750 RPM

               340 Nm @ 1750 RPM

FUEL SYSTEM: Turbocharged Direct Injection

FUEL: petrol

CO2 EMISSIONS: 251 g/km

PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS              

TOP SPEED: 124 mph OR 200 km/h

ACCELERATION 0-62 MPH (0-100 KPH)    8.2 s

FUEL CONSUMPTION SPECIFICATIONS    

CITY: 22.2 mpg US OR 10.6 L/100Km

HIGHWAY: 36.2 mpg US OR 6.5 L/100Km

COMBINED: 29.4 mpg US OR 8 L/100Km

TRANSMISSION SPECIFICATIONS

DRIVE TYPE: All Wheel Drive

GEARBOX: 9-speed automatic

This is the fifth generation of the discovery and it continues to deliver luxury 4×4 riding experience. It is an SUV with a space of an MPV and it always is the same.

The discovery spot model style has been borrowed from range rover models and it is not limited to the exterior styling but this styling pattern continues to the interior as well and you can see that interior of the discovery is not that much different as of the interior of a range rover model. When you will step into the interior of the land rover discovery you will face posh looks with classy materials and top-notch features offered on the cabin of this SUV.

The discovery sport underpinnings are borrowed from a range rover and it looks more like the range rover Evoque models. There is a difference between the rear suspension and it has a multi-link setup which allows land rover engineers to reduce the size in the third row of seats. Land Rover has also given the treatment of Ingenium engine to the land rover discovery models.

Under the hood a 2.0-litre Ingenium engine powers the discovery models and just for the information, it is the same engine that goes in the Jaguar XE with a nine-speed transmission for the first time. The only real disadvantage to the Discovery is its price tag as it is one of the most expensive options for the families.

Skoda Kodiaq

ENGINE: 1.4-litre TSI 6AT AWD (150 HP)

CYLINDERS: L4

DISPLACEMENT: 1390 cm3

POWER: 110.3 KW @ 5000-6000 RPM

150 HP @ 5000-6000 RPM

148 BHP @ 5000-6000 RPM

TORQUE: 184 lb-ft @ 1500-3500 RPM

250 Nm @ 1500-3500 RPM

FUEL SYSTEM: Turbocharged Direct Injection

FUEL: Petrol

CO2 EMISSIONS: 164 g/km

PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS

TOP SPEED: 121 mph OR 195 km/h

ACCELERATION 0-62 MPH (0-100 KPH) 9.7 s

FUEL CONSUMPTION SPECIFICATIONS

COMBINED: 33.1 mpg US OR 7.1 L/100Km

TRANSMISSION SPECIFICATIONS

DRIVE TYPE: All Wheel Drive

GEARBOX: 6-speed automatic

Meet a family size SUV here, it is Kodiak from Skoda and first the best attempt to build an SUV by the Czech automaker and they succeeded in their venture. The Kodiak is a family SUV manufactured by Skoda. Skoda is an emerging automaker offers the best in the class vehicles. You will be having a surprise soon with another model in the list here from the same automaker. There is another SUV from this automaker and it was Yeti, a successful model in the UK and netting massive figures for profit in the UK for the automaker. It is also true that the seven-seat sector is not that easy for the automakers because selling a bigger model in the UK is a bit hard job but Skoda has done it perfectly in the past.

The Kodiaq uses the same platform as of the Volkswagen Tiguan and seat alteca. So, if both of those models can come across in this list, why not Kodiaq as it is more stylish then both of them. The all new Kodiaq is more stylish and bolder family vehicle. It has a bigger size than its siblings and offers an option of the third row of seats, if you want them to be there, otherwise, you will get a cargo space. The choice is yours, whatever you can choose, a seven-seater or a five-seater. If we talk about the practicality of the vehicle, of course, practicality is at its peak. But practicality is not always everything for the driver’s maybe because sometimes they ask for sharp drives and Kodiaq gives them all. It is the better choice for the drivers and families at the same time.

Vauxhall Insignia

ENGINE: 2.0-litre CDTI 6MT (130 HP)

CYLINDERS: 4

DISPLACEMENT 1956 cm3

POWER: 96 KW @ 4000 RPM

130 HP @ 4000 RPM

129 BHP @ 4000 RPM

TORQUE: 221 lb-ft @ 1750 RPM

300 Nm @ 1750 RPM

FUEL SYSTEM: Common Rail

FUEL: Diesel

CO2 EMISSIONS: 119 g/km

PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS

TOP SPEED: 127.3 mph OR 205 km/h

ACCELERATION: 0-62 MPH (0-100 KPH)    11.1 s

FUEL CONSUMPTION SPECIFICATIONS

CITY: 42 mpg OR 5.6 L/100Km

HIGHWAY: 60.3 mpg US OR 3.9 L/100Km

COMBINED: 52.3 mpg US OR 4.5 L/100Km

TRANSMISSION SPECIFICATIONS

DRIVE TYPE: Front Wheel Drive

GEARBOX: 6-speed manual

Finally, here it comes the insignia from the house of Vauxhall. The insignia has pushed itself in the upper level of the family car appeal. The Insignia then becomes the darling car of the company car fleets in the UK as well as for the smaller families. The new version of the Insignia is a gem in itself because you can’t deny its excellent styling and performance. Vauxhall has given next level of styling and quality at the same time comfort and performance to chase the traces of the higher end models in the UK. Its bolder looks are surely head turners but if we talk about the interior quality of the new Insignia, they are impressive. The cabin space of the insignia is also impressive and you also have an option of selecting between a sport tourer and or a hatchback or a saloon. Its interior quality is far better than the rivals like Volkswagen Passat and the superb but at the same time, interior quality is not everything there are many other factors that push us to give more points to other rivals than the Insignia.

Skoda Superb

ENGINE: 2.0-litre TDI 6AT (190 HP)

CYLINDERS: L4

DISPLACEMENT: 1968 cm3

POWER:              140 KW @ 3500-4000 RPM

                              190 HP @ 3500-4000 RPM

                              188 BHP @ 3500-4000 RPM

TORQUE:          295 lb-ft @ 1750-3250 RPM

                              400 Nm @ 1750-3250 RPM

FUEL SYSTEM: Turbocharged Common Rail

FUEL: Diesel

CO2 EMISSIONS: 118 g/km

PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS

TOP SPEED: 145 mph OR 233 km/h

ACCELERATION: 0-62 MPH (0-100 KPH) 7.7 s

FUEL CONSUMPTION SPECIFICATIONS: COMBINED 52.3 mpg US OR 4.5 L/100Km

TRANSMISSION SPECIFICATIONS;

DRIVE TYPE: Front Wheel Drive

GEARBOX: 6-speed automatic

Just like the name shows, the superb is actually superb with its styling and performance. He Skoda superb is leading the list of the best automakers, it is stylish, fuel economical, has a spacious cabin, comfort is at its par and as the same time, it has great chance to grow up with massive sales. Apart from its styling and the overall design, it had shared most of its styling and much of its platform with the best ever family car Octavia. The Octavia is a smaller sibling but the massive and larger body of the automaker, it clearly means that the vehicles like the superb are smart on their top specs and that is the key of being successful. All the interiors and the cabins are up to the Volkswagen standards and they also offer a great driver assistance kit as well.