Best new family cars

Family cars need to have a good all-round ability, and should be versatile enough to meet the demands of our busy lives. Traditionally this category has been dominated by favourites like the Ford Mondeo and Volkswagen Passat, but big steps have been taken by brands like Mazda and Skoda, and now this class is one of the most competitive around. Our top ten list features a group of cars that tick all the boxes for a growing family.

The best value family car is the Skoda Octavia, but its solid build quality never feels cheap. The most comfortable car is the Toyota Avensis, which has light steering and gear changes, making for a relaxing drive. The safest car is the Volvo S40, as the Swedish brand uses its own crash testing facility to ensure its cars protect passengers in an accident. The car with the best handling and performance is the Mazda 6.

Skoda Octavia hatchback

£13,280 - £23,995

4.6 /5

Value for money is at the core of the Octavia's appeal, but just because it’s comparatively cheap, that doesn’t mean it lacks desirability elsewhere. It’s also a well built car with a spacious interior and boot. An update in 2009 resulted in a redesigned front, an improved interior and the addition of new engines.

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Ford Mondeo hatchback

£17,795 - £29,445

5.0 /5

t’s a common sight on Britain’s roads, but Ford’s Mondeo family car is anything but average! In fact, it’s an almost flawless offering in the family car market. The five-door Mondeo has a massive boot, offers loads of passenger space and the most comfortable ride in its class.

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Mazda6 hatchback

£17,805 - £23,665

4.4 /5

Mazda's 6 is a great all-rounder. Not only is it smartly styled, but it also offers impressive performance, practicality and value for money. Mazda’s cars are renowned for being good to drive, and the 6 is no exception.

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Vauxhall Insignia hatchback

£18,030 - £34,350

4.4 /5

When it was crowned European Car of the Year in 2009, Vauxhall boldly claimed the Insignia was good enough to rival executive favourites like the BMW 3 Series and Audi A4.

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Honda Accord saloon

£21,705 - £31,235

4.2 /5

Excellent build quality and an upmarket interior mean that the Honda Accord is now a worthy rival to established, executive German saloon cars like the BMW 3 Series and Audi A4.

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Citroën C5 saloon

£19,895 - £29,315

4.1 /5

In the face of criticism that its cars lacked quality, character and prestige, Citroen tried to give the current C5 plenty of all three. Few family saloons, are as comfortable, and the interior build quality is excellent. A 1.6 or 2.0 HDi diesel engine in VTR+ specification will offer the best mix of cheap running costs, punchy performance and lots of desirable equipment.

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Volkswagen Passat saloon

£19,305 - £26,410

4.5 /5

It’s not unusual to find a VW Passat parked right between a Ford Mondeo and BMW 3 Series at the local golf club. It’s spacious, well equipped, and good to drive, and as such represents a kind of half way house between full sized family hatchbacks – like the Mondeo, and upmarket compact executive cars, like the 3 Series.

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Volvo S40 saloon

£18,245 - £24,360

4.0 /5

One thing that potential Volvo S40 buyers don’t lack is choice - there are seven engines and seven trims to choose from, plus the low-emissions DRIVe spec and high-performance T5. The S40 covers a wide range of prices, as well as running costs and performance levels.

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Toyota Avensis saloon

£17,750 - £27,210

4.0 /5

It's not the most charismatic car in its class to look at, or the most exciting to drive. Yet the Toyota Avensis still figures among the very best family cars for its fuss free approach. It also feels very nicely built, and is very practical. What's more, cars are generously equipped and offer a five year warranty.

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Renault Laguna hatchback

3.9 /5

With an impressive blend of comfort and value, you would expect Renault’s Laguna to be a common sight on UK roads. What’s more, the current version is much better than any previous Laguna. The interior is well built, while the diesel engines are efficient.

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