Yummy Mummy or Dishy Daddy - What Family Car Should I Buy?

When it comes to your motor, kids needn’t cramp your style! But with all of their gadgets, school kit, pushchairs and playthings, a two-door coupé just isn’t going to work.

That’s no excuse to drive around in an old banger. In fact, newer cars are safer and more practical for families than ever. And parents deserve to look good on the road. So whether you’re a Yummy Mummy or a Dishy Daddy, there’s plenty of quality used cars at Motor Range that’ll help you fulfil your role as teen taxi driver or toddler tour guide.

Whether you’re looking for enough seats to accommodate your expanding brood or want an economical way of getting your friends or business from A to B, an MPV or SUV will probably do the job. With loads of storage room and up to 7 seats, these family friendly cars usually come with Isofix points, and more airbags than you can shake a stick at!

While still possessing enough street cred for your teenager not to cringe when you pick them up and for you to confidently roll up for a meet up with the other cool parents. The best of family cars have practicality and economy all wrapped up in one stylish package. Take a look at our recommendations:

Ford Kuga

As far as SUVs go, there’s a reason why you’ll often find yourself pulling up next to a Ford Kuga in the school car park. Elegant design is paired with reassuring size - chunky enough to make you feel safe on the road but not so big that you can’t manoeuvre around town.

Passengers benefit from folding armrests with storage compartment, cup holders and seat back tables to ensure that everything is in reach without little ones distracting the driver with the constant, “Where’s my…?” But the kids don’t have to be the only comfortable ones - the Titanium spec will also get you a heated, electrically adjustable driver’s seat, ambient lighting, leather steering wheel and dual automatic temperature control.

Cost-wise, you can bag yourself a 2 year old Kuga at around £10,000 less than a brand new model at Motor Range. You’ll still benefit from some the manufacturer’s warranty and avoid the new higher diesel tax rates at the same time. A bargain for clinching title of ‘Coolest Parent on the School Run’!

Hyundai ix35

If you’re quick, you can still grab one of Hyundai’s best equipped family cars - the Hyundai ix35. Now replaced with the new Tucson but still worth considering for the huge number of features that come as standard and make family life just that little bit easier… like the luggage hooks, retractable load cover, dual zone climate control, auto dimming rear view mirror with compass… the list is endless.

Hyundais are well known for their reliability and if you choose to take an IX35 home with you, you’ll more than likely have some of the standard five-year warranty left - providing additional peace of mind. The usual front driver and passenger airbags are accompanied by full-size rear curtain airbags (6 in total) and active head restraints that help contribute to a five-star NCAP safety rating.

If entertainment is the name of the game, Bluetooth® connectivity and a seven-speaker stereo are all included. Excellent towing power and trailer stability assist to help prevent jack-knifing puts the ix35 high up on the list of potential partners for a caravan and endless days of family fun.

Ford C-Max

The Ford C-Max sits comfortably in the middle of the Ford family range - it’s the Goldilocks car: not too big, not too small, just right! This factor might interest you if you’re running your family on a tight budget.

Despite this, there’s been no compromise on interior trim, which is surprisingly chic, some models are kitted out with sports style front seats, leather gear knob and leather steering wheel. Electrically heated door mirrors and Quickclear heated windscreen give you a clear view of the road while you’re in control of your car as well as your family team!

Greater height than the Ford Focus provides more room to move when loading small children into their car seats, as well as better head height for teenagers sitting in the rear. And with a decent amount of boot space, you’ll have enough room for all their clobber too and maybe a camping trip with all the family. Take a look at the 7-seater Ford S-Max if you think you’ll need a couple of extra seats.

Citroën C4 Grand Picasso

One of the best family cars around, the Citroën Grand C4 Picasso has bucket loads of room with 7 spacious seats and Isofix fittings on the three middle seats. With tonnes of flexibility -  the rear 2 seats fold down to create a huge boot space - it’s just as capable of a trip to Ikea as it is of transporting your kid’s five-a-side football team - plus reserve!

With a panoramic windscreen and cool extra features such as storage draws, sunblinds and a rechargeable torch, you and your family could be discovering something new every time you drive. Parking sensors will ensure that you’ll always make the smoothest of arrivals while cruise control and speed limiter can ensure that driving will always be a breeze whether on your own or all the family in tow. It’s no wonder that it clinched AutoExpress MPV of the Year Award 2017.

Great connectivity and 12V chargers will keep your teenagers happy and economy of around 70 MPG will no doubt keep your bank balance happy. Not to mention the fact that you could be driving away in a car less than two years old for under £14,000!

Come on down to Motor Range to take a closer look at a huge range of cars. Our helpful advisors can answer your questions, without pressure, and point you in the right direction of a new family car.