The Skoda Enyaq iV is not only one of the best electric cars, it’s also one of the best family cars, with oodles of space, excellent comfort and a surprisingly easy drive for such a large vehicle. It’s a no-nonsense, versatile family car that undercuts premium rivals (such as the VW ID.4, Tesla Model Y and Audi Q4 e-tron) on price, yet beats them when it comes to standard equipment and practicality.

It’s a similar size to the Skoda Kodiaq, but comes with five seats rather than seven. That just means you get a huge 585-litre boot and plenty of space in the back seats to comfortably accommodate adults. All models get the impressive 13.0-inch navigation system with DAB radio as standard, which also features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support.

And the Enyaq iV performs well in the safety department, too, with a five-star Euro NCAP rating, ISOFIX in the back and on the front passenger seat, and plenty of driving assistance functions to help keep you out of trouble on the road. Safe, sizeable, and a serious contender for your driveway.

The BMW 3 Series is a superb upmarket family car, with a refined ride, plush cabin and low running costs. That’s why it remains one of the most popular cars on the road despite impressive rivals from Audi and Mercedes-Benz. 

Although there are better cars in this list if outright space is what matters most, the 3 Series Touring estate model offers extra boot flexibility. Its 500-litre capacity might only be 20 litres more than the saloon, but with a usefully larger opening, the space is much more accessible, while the rear seats can be dropped in a flexible 40/20/40 split to increase luggage capacity. 

The BMW 3 Series Touring is noticeably roomier than it used to be, with similar rear headroom to the Audi A4 Avant and more all-round space than the Mercedes-Benz C-Class estate. Although if rear space is a priority, the Volkswagen Passat and Skoda Superb pip all three with cavernous amounts of room.

But the BMW 3 Series' trump card is the way it drives. A firm yet well controlled ride is combined with sharp, engaging handling on every model. While that might not matter when all your kids are on board, it makes the 3 Series fun when you're heading home from the school run. The engines, too, are fantastic, with the middling 320d diesel providing strong performance and over 50mpg. There's also the superb plug-in hybrid BMW 330e.

There's a good amount of kit as standard, too, with the entry-level model featuring an easy-to-use 8.8-inch central touchscreen infotainment system, increasing to a 10.3-inch system on the M Sport model. Overall, the plush and high quality interior feels like a step above less premium family estates. 

In 2022 the BMW 3 Series gained tweaks such as uprated infotainment in every model, additional tech features and a revised design. None of it dramatically changes the car, though, so a used model will offer better value. 

The Skoda Karoq small SUV is, like many Skodas, an impressively complete all-rounder. It's a comfortable family car that's good to drive with an excellent range of engines, a nicely finished cabin and a high level of standard equipment. It’s conservatively styled, sure, but tremendously practical and nearly impossible to fault. 

Inside, the Skoda Karoq is spacious and versatile, with a very accessible rear cabin making fitting child seats a breeze. If you have older children, three could sit comfortably in the back.

If you go for the SE-L trim or upwards, you’ll get three individual ‘Varioflex’ rear seats that can slide back and forth as well as recline, so you can pick between comfort or boot space. You can also remove the rear seats entirely. Even with the rear seats in place and slid all the way to the rear there is a generous amount of boot space, with 521 litres beneath the load cover.

Even if you opt for the base SE model you'll get alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control and automatic emergency brakes as standard, but SE-L is really the model to go for if only for those seats. It also features keyless entry, heated front seats, Alcantara upholstery and a reversing camera. To drive, the Karoq is comfortable and refined, yet it handles tidily, while there isn't a weak choice in the engine line-up. 

The MG5 EV is hardly glamorous, or exciting, or luxurious inside. But it is almost unique, being one of only a handful of electric estate cars on sale in 2024.

Prices start at a little over £30k. For that you get a well-equipped, spacious electric car with a range of nearly 250 miles.

Granted, the cabin isn't up to Audi standards, but it's nicer than you might expect, despite a fiddly infotainment system. Going for the Trophy model gets you niceties like a 360-degree camera, climate control and heated front seats. It'll even give you vehicle-to-load charging to use the battery to power other electrical items. 

The MG5's 156PS electric motor gives it sprightly performance, while it's smooth ride and tidy handling means it's actually pretty enjoyable to drive. You'll even get a seven-year warranty as standard. What's not to like? 

The Volkswagen Touran is not a stylish or exciting car by any measure, but sometimes all you need from a family car is spacious, comfortable and dependable transport. And as one of the few MPVs/people carriers left on the market, the Touran often flies under-the-radar among a sea of SUVs. 

The main appeal of the VW Touran is the sheer amount of space it offers. Despite a modest exterior footprint it's available as a five- or seven-seater, and even with seven seats in place, there's a good amount of space in every row. The seating layout is very flexible, too, meaning you can easily juggle space for children, adults and luggage depending on your needs. Run it as a five-seater, and you get an enormous 917-litre boot. 

What's more, the Touran has a high quality, well-equipped interior that, because it's based on the previous-generation Golf, is fantastically easy to get along with. It's also good to drive, feeling much like the taller, heavier Golf that it is, with a range of smooth and (if you avoid the base 1.2-litre petrol) powerful engines. There's no hybrid option, but the diesels will manage well over 50mpg on a run. 

The VW Touran makes an excellent used buy. It's been around since 2015, so there are plenty of bargains to be had.

Times are tough, and for many, shelling out over £30k for a family runabout just isn't an option. Fear not, because Dacia is on hand to sell you a brand new seven-seater for half that. 

For under £15k there really isn't anything else that offers the practicality of the humble Jogger unless you ferret around on the used car market. That entry-level Essential trim isn't too basic, with cruise control, air-con and even rear parking sensors, but stepping up to Comfort trim gets you the all-important touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

It's decent to drive, too, with enough agility and ride comfort to keep your six passengers from complaining. A 110PS 1.0-litre engine might sound a bit weak, but the car barely weighs over 1200kg so it gets down the road swiftly enough. There's a hybrid model for more pace, too.

Even more amazingly given that it's about the same size as a VW Golf Estate, this is a genuine seven-seater. Adults can just about squeeze into that third row for short journeys, which can't be said of some seven-seat SUVs. So what's the catch? Well, the Jogger doesn't get some of the very latest safety equipment, and its interior is hardly luxurious. But that's no deal breaker at this price. 

Want a family SUV but still want to stand out in the supermarket car park? The latest Kia Sportage is a distinctive and capable family SUV that also benefits from the brand's excellent (and transferrable between owners) seven-year warranty.

The striking exterior design certainly turns heads, but it still does the sensible stuff well. The interior is upmarket, solid and well-equipped, with a clever new twin-screen infotainment system on most models, but it's also functional, with plenty of useful storage solutions and little touches to make family life that bit easier. 

Space in the back is very good, too, although it's not quite as good for three passengers as the Honda CR-V because there's a lump in the floor. Still, the 591-litre boot is huge, with a false floor and handy levers for folding the rear seats. 

Kia has tinkered with the Sportage's driving experience to make it feel more agile and sporty. While this does mean the ride is a little firm, it's a refined offering that's great for long distance drives. Clever tech includes a 360-degree camera and, on top models, a system that allows you to 'drive' the car in and out of tight parking spaces using just the keyfob. 

There's a wide variety of engine offerings in the Sportage, including petrol, diesel, mild hybrid, full hybrid and plug-in hybrid power. There should be something to fit every need, then, although the highest spec models are quite expensive. 

Not all families need an SUV, and if your budget doesn’t stretch to the BMW 3 Series Touring, the Honda Civic hatchback is an excellent option at a more affordable price point. The latest version has improved the interior style and infotainment, too, and it's also a supremely practical choice.

There’s just one engine choice, mind, a 2.0 litre self-charging hybrid, but economy is impressive, with 56.5mpg putting it in line with diesel rivals. It’s also more fun to drive than you may think: we’re not talking Ford Focus levels of engagement, but it delivers a satisfying experience from behind the wheel.

There’s class-leading safety, too, with eleven airbags, a bunch of standard safety features including emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, road departure mitigation, improved lane keeping assist, traffic sign recognition and intelligent speed assist. And it’s achieved a five-star Euro NCAP award.

All in all, the Honda Civic is a great family car, which is nicely equipped, well built, good to drive and has enough space for everyone and their luggage.

We know, we know: it's massive, it's ugly, and it's enormously expensive. And those are all reasons why it doesn't feature further up this list. But the fact is this: if you're looking for a seven-seater family car, they don't come much better than the BMW X7.

While many seven-seaters have third-row seats that are tight on space and feel awkward to sit in, the BMW X7's huge dimensions allow for a level of space and comfort back there that few such cars can match. An adult won't just fit, they'll also travel comfortably for fairly long periods. And you still get a decent amount of boot space at the same time, while if you don't need all seven seats, the cargo space you get is simply gargantuan.

What's more, the interior is sumptuously trimmed and packed with high-tech goodies, while the driving experience mixes incredible ride comfort, excellent rolling refinement, and effortless performance from every one of the engines. Yes, it's a car you'll pay handsomely for, but it's also one that you'll enjoy every day.

You might think it odd that the latest Superb Estate is the third Skoda to feature on this list, but the fact is that the Czech firm is truly brilliant at designing and building family cars. That's partly because Skoda usually provides more space than rivals do, yet also charges less money for it, and that's precisely the sort of value-for-money that many family car buyers will be crying out for.

The latest Superb is case-in-point. It's simply huge, with masses of space surrounding all of the five seats, and with a huge 690-litre boot, it'll carry pretty much anything that a family needs it to. The interior is smart and functional, with strong quality and a good smattering of standard equipment. What's more, Skoda's trademark 'Simply Clever' features are present and correct, and these are little touches designed to make everyday family life that little bit easier.

On the road, the big Skoda is comfortable and easy-going, making it just the job for family duties. And in true Skoda style, it's a useful slice cheaper than the all-but-identical Volkswagen Passat Estate.