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Best used family car 2022

If you have a family, you need a family car. The roadster will have to go, while the supermini will need upgrading to something roomier and more practical, to swallow all the detritus that comes with family life.

Car manufacturers have your back. The family car is one of the most well-developed you can buy. Because they sell in such huge numbers, designers and engineers spend years making sure they are as fit-for-purpose as possible.

To get the most bang for buck, you’ll want to buy second-hand. And the best used family cars combine plentiful space, fuel-efficient engines, great Euro NCAP crash-test results and more than a little spirit for when you’re behind the wheel on your own.

There are dozens of family cars out there to choose from. Let us be your guide to 10 of the best you can buy.

Volkswagen Golf

The Mk7 Volkswagen Golf, sold between 2013 and 2020, is one of the finest family cars ever built. It oozes strength-in-depth build quality, particularly the facelifted ‘Golf 7.5’ that arrived in early 2017. The Golf is roomy inside and has a big 380-litre boot, while the fuel-efficient TSI engines are very smooth and deliver ample performance. It’s a feel-good car to drive, with excellent refinement and surprisingly dynamic handling. If you really want to push the boat out, there are the hot versions, including the GTI, GTD and R – not forgetting the fuel-saving plug-in hybrid Golf GTE.

Honda Civic

The 10th generation Honda Civic was the final one to be built in Britain. Compared to its high-rise predecessor, it has a much racier design, with rakish lines that are enhanced in some sportier grades by cool centre-exit exhausts. Typical of Honda, every engine is a gem, even the tiny entry-level 1.0-litre turbo, while clever design means the interior is practical and spacious. Drivers sit low behind the wheel for a focused feel, and enjoy tight controls that have a real feeling of integrity. Downsides include Honda’s below-par infotainment system, but the fact that reliability is certain to be excellent seems fair compensation. Fast families can even pick a hot range-topper: the Civic Type-R.

Kia Ceed

In the noughties, the original Ceed was the car that put Kia on the map. The current model was introduced in 2018 and, thanks to its excellent seven-year warranty, even four-year-old versions offer the promise of assurance and reliability you usually only get with new cars – and at significantly lower prices, too. It’s a tidy-looking car, particularly GT-Line versions with their distinctive LED running lights. The interior is perfectly roomy and sensible, while all models get a touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The refined 1.0-litre turbocharged engine is OK, but you may prefer the throbbier 1.4 petrol, which is also efficient if you take it steady. The 1.6 CRDi diesel is a bit rattly but good on fuel.

Audi A3

The Audi A3 brings a touch of class to the family car market. Here, we’re looking at the model built between 2012 and 2020. Strong sales mean there is loads of choice on the used market, with prices starting from less than £6,000 for high-mileage examples. Being an Audi, the styling is smart and timeless, while the interior is built from high-quality materials. However, being derived from the Volkswagen Golf also means it’s spacious in there, with a family-friendly hatchback boot. Everyday engines include the TFSI petrols and TDI diesels, some of which offer quattro all-wheel drive. You can also choose hot S3 and RS3 versions, plus one of the earliest plug-in hybrids: the A3 e-tron. 

Skoda Octavia

If you want the most spacious and affordable used family car, look no further than the Skoda Octavia. It is enormous inside, with this 2013-2020 example offering acres of rear legroom and a gigantic 590-litre boot. For comparison, a Volkswagen Golf will swallow just 380 litres of luggage. This generation of Octavia looks smart, with neat LED running lights and some bold metallic paint colours, and the interior is better quality than earlier iterations. The 1.2-litre petrol and 1.6 diesel engines are fine, but if you’re planning to maximise the Octavia’s space, choose the 1.4 petrol or 2.0 diesel. Or perhaps just go for the high-performance Octavia vRS – also available in either petrol or diesel guises, with both offering plentiful pulling power.

Ford Focus

The Ford Focus has long been a family car favourite in Britain, thanks in part to being extremely well-proven and reliable. We like the facelifted previous-generation model, which was sold between 2014 and 2018, in very healthy numbers each year. It still looks the part, with its smart Aston Martin-style grille, and it is modern inside, with Ford’s comprehensive Sync infotainment system taking centre-stage. The 1.0-litre Ecoboost petrol engine is all the motor you’ll ever need, and the Focus drives in that wonderfully fluid and dynamic way that Ford has made its own. Factor in strong build quality and thoughtful practicality for a tempting family car – and at prices that now look a bargain.

Nissan Leaf

Here’s something a bit different: a used family car that runs purely on electricity. The Nissan Leaf was the world’s first mainstream electric car when it was launched over a decade ago, and this means there are lots to choose from on the second-hand market. While those early cars will be the cheapest, you’ll be lucky to hit 100 miles between recharges. An update from 2013 added rapid-charge capability, but we’d go for the larger 30kWh battery, which arrived in 2015, for a more practical range. The Leaf has a surprisingly decent boot and rear-seat space isn’t bad (although occupants' knees will be perched due to the high floor). Then, of course, there’s the unique near-silent refinement that only an electric car can offer.

Hyundai i30

The Hyundai i30 is a great used family car for high-mileage motorists. Its generous five-year warranty offers unlimited-mileage cover, meaning you can buy leggy examples of all but the earliest versions of this 2017-on model and still enjoy the reassurance of a full manufacturer warranty. Just make sure all the routine servicing has been carried out on the dot. The i30 is a sober and sensible-looking car, with a smart  and easy-to-use interior, and there shouldn’t be any complaints in terms of rear passenger space. All models are well equipped, with crisp touchscreen infotainment systems and a reassuring amount of safety equipment.

Toyota Auris

The Toyota Auris is the predecessor to the current Corolla and, like today’s car, it was built in Britain. Although it was the previous Auris that introduced a petrol-electric hybrid version, this iteration saw the powertrain become increasingly popular. In time, it easily outsold the 1.2-litre turbo petrol, and saw Toyota quickly give up on diesel engines. Capable of regularly travelling in pure electric mode, the Auris hybrid gives great real-world fuel economy, while the brilliant reliability of the system means no used-car headaches. It’s not the most stylish car to look at or travel in, but if you’re looking for long-lasting integrity, the Auris has your back.

Volvo V40

The V40 was an interesting family-sized hatchback first launched in 2012. It was derived from the same underpinnings used by the contemporary Ford Focus, but given a full Volvo makeover to deliver the firm’s famed safety standards. At the time, Euro NCAP had not tested a safer or more secure car. It’s more premium in feel and appearance than the used family car norm. Volvo also offered some powerful engines, and even a more rugged-looking V40 Cross Country with all-wheel drive. It’s a car that still looks stylish today, and an affordable way to bring your family into the ever-ascending and increasingly cool Volvo brand.

Which is the most reliable used family car?

Generous new-car warranties are a good indicator as to how reliable a used family car will be. Kia and Hyundai lead the way here: Kia offers seven years and 100,000 miles of manufacturer cover, while Hyundai goes for five years but no mileage limit. So long as the cars have been serviced correctly, this means used buyers can effectively benefit from extended new-car warranty cover. Other very reliable used family cars include the Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic and Nissan Leaf.

Which is the safest used family car?

All of the cars featured here enjoy glowing reports from the independent crash-safety organisation, Euro NCAP. Four- or five-star scores are commonplace, with the Volvo V40 being named the safest car you could buy when it was new. Our top 10 all have advanced safety assistance features such as electronic stability control, and the newer models extend this with autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist and other electronic driver aids to help improve everyday safety.

Can you get an electric used family car?

Although the electric car revolution is still in its infancy, you might be surprised to discover you can buy electric used family cars – and some are impressively good value. The obvious contender is the Nissan Leaf, which has been on sale for more than a decade now. There are plenty on the second-hand market, although we’d advise buying the latest model you can, as these have the best battery range. The Volkswagen e-Golf is another good alternative. Again, the driving range isn’t huge, but if you mainly stay in town, it’s a future-proof choice that will cost just a few pounds to recharge, instead of a small fortune to refuel a petrol or diesel Golf.

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