Five of the best family cars
You have a baby on the way, for some reason you’ve decided you like golf and, to top it all, you’ve finally realised that the 10-year-old Italian coupe you’ve been ragging around is ‘a bit thirsty’. Looks like it’s time to get a family car.
Don’t worry though. Just because you have to grow up a bit doesn’t mean you have to wade around in a mire of automotive mediocrity all of a sudden. Family cars have been getting better for a while, so why not take a look around and see what’s on offer? You never know, you might just like some of them. Here’s five of the best…
Ford C-MAX
The C-MAX is based on the Focus chassis but has added headroom and a more family-orientated feel. A new model has just arrived in dealers which means the last generation is an excellent used buy. We’d opt for one with a 2.0-litre TDCI engine. You can pick up an 03-reg with under 100k on the clock for around £3,000. The specification is pretty impressive – most have air con and CD players – while Fords are cheap to service, repair and insure.
Citroen Berlingo
You can find Citroen Berlingos for under £1,000 and that’s not bad for a perfect family car that even Jeremy Clarkson recommends! Ok, so it might not be the prettiest vehicle on the road, or the best to drive, but inside it’s got lots of that much-needed space. As long as they’re looked after, Berlingos can be pretty solid and if you can stretch to the diesel model it won’t cost the earth to run either.
Fiat Multipla
We’re not going to lie, this car hurts our eyes – but there are many people out there who love it. What’s more if you’re looking for family transport that’ll stand out from the crowd it’s ideal. The good news is it makes a sensible family car buy too. Three seats in the front and three in the back make it practical, those rounded sides give a great feeling of space and they’re cheap to run. Latterly the looks were toned down, but an original model, on a Y-reg, could be yours for just £900 now.
Audi RS6
Having kids doesn’t mean you have to be boring! A family car needs to be spacious, practical and safe – and an RS6 ticks all those boxes. Pick the estate version and its practical, the cabin is snug but there’s easily enough room for a child seat and four-wheel drive will keep things in check. What’s more, when the little one’s with granny you can let rip and enjoy the 444bhp 4.2-litre twin turbo powerplant. You can pick up an original for around £11k and the newer version for £40,000.
Ford S-MAX
Ok, so you might not be able to fool the other half into thinking the RS6 is a family car, but you certainly will be able to with this Ford. The S-MAX might look like a practical motor (it is), but if you opt for the 2.5-litre turbo charged model (engine borrowed from the Focus ST) then it’s Daddy Cool transportation too! Named European Car of the Year 2007, the S-Max has seven seats, lots of kit, and can be found for around £6,000 in the used market.
About the Author : Anthony Blascara is a writer and fan of the family car
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