Although more and more families are making the move towards SUVs, there is still a lot of life left in the traditional hatchback – particularly on the used car market.
Looking for a used hatchback as a family can be quite a daunting experience, simply because of the fact that there are so many different cars to choose from.
We’ve chosen a selection of just five you might want to consider, although we have plenty more to choose from amongst our collection of more than 7,000 used cars.
Ford Focus
The Ford Focus is a car that shows there is still plenty of life in the traditional hatchback.
On the new car market, the options for a Focus are now limited with production drawing to a close but it remains a top choice for anyone looking to pick one up second hand, where it offers fantastic value for money.
For a start, the engine choices provide a blend of performance and economy that will appeal to those who are being careful with their budget – although there is always the option of the more high performance ST and RS models should there still be a desire to purchase something a bit more sporty.
A comfortable ride is also a plus point when you have children in tow whilst there is plenty of interior space both across the cabin and also in the boot, where there is more than enough room to fit a pushchair or pram.
Given the Focus is so readily available, it’s a car that will appeal to all manner of families and can be found to cater for all manner of budgets.
Honda Civic
The Honda Civic is another top option for a family hatchback and like the Focus, there is no shortage of choice when it comes to the used market.
Unless your budget dictates the need to go for an earlier model, then we’d suggest looking at the two most recent incarnations of the Civic, with the tenth generation model having gone on sale here in 2016 before being replaced by the current version in 2022.
The tenth generation model is an impressive package with plenty of space for families, a strong engine line-up and plenty of equipment as standard, although if budget allows, the current version raises the bar in all areas.
There is plenty of space in the front and rear, whilst the boot is larger than a number of rivals so it’ll swallow all your families gear with ease. The current Civic comes with a hybrid powertrain that keeps running costs down whilst it also scores highly on safety, which is a key consideration for a family buyer.
Renault Megane E-Tech
If you are looking to make the move to electric with your family hatchback then there is an ever-growing list of potential options available.
Some of those options are electric versions of existing ICE-powered cars whilst others are models that have been created as EVs from the ground up, such as the latest incarnation of the Renault Megane.
There is no doubting the fact that the Megane is a good-looking car and with a range of up to 280 miles, is more than capable of dealing with the requirements of the majority of families. The Megane also benefits from having a decent boot although you might need to consider that charging cables are stored under the boot floor.
It’s a nice car to drive both around town and on the open road and comes with isofix points in the rear, where there is also plenty of room for the kids. A five star safety rating from Euro NCAP is just another reason why it’s worth considering, particularly on the used market.
Toyota Corolla
The Toyota Corolla is the biggest selling family car of all time having been launched back in 1966, with the current model introduced in 2018 – when the Corolla nameplate also returned to the UK after a decade.
Like the Megane, the Corolla is one of the better-looking family hatchbacks on the used market and there are plenty of the them available, which means there are deals to be had.
Although there are various engine options, the most popular is a hybrid unit that provides a mix of performance and economy, helping to keep running costs down. When you’ve got the added expense of a family, strong reliability is also a major positive to avoid any unexpected bills.
Inside, there is plenty of space across the cabin and also in the boot, although it’s worth noting that the 1.8 litre hybrid does have a slightly larger boot than the 2.0 litre car does.
If you want to stand out from the crowd, the Corolla is certainly a good choice.
Volkswagen Golf
Like the Corolla, the Volkswagen Golfhas been the car of choice for families for more than 50 years and is one of the best options that are available if you are looking to purchase from the used market.
Both the Mk7 Golf and the current Mk8 model score highly when it comes to ride, equipment and practicality, with the Volkswagen also having something of a premium feel when compared to its rivals.
A major draw of the Golf is the variety of options that exist on the used market, from more efficient hybrid models that will keep costs down through to more powerful GTI and R models that offer high levels of performance in a highly usable package.
Like the Beetle before it, the Golf is very much a car that suits everyone.
The Golf may not have as much space as some other family hatchbacks on the market but the sheer number on the roads shows that is remains one of the most popular cars around.
Practical, solid and dependable with a strong chassis and plenty of interior space, the Golf is a first rate family car.
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