Used Car Buyer’s Guide: Best Cars for New Families

Starting life as a new family often means more trips, more gear, and more need for comfort and convenience. 

Driving back and forth to doctor’s appointments, heading to grandparents for the weekend, or tackling the nursery run, cars are essential in the lives of new families.  

The right used family car should make every journey smoother and easier to manage and not create even more chaos. Below are five excellent used cars that suit the needs of new families perfectly. 

Toyota Corolla 

The Toyota Corolla is a safe, reliable, and practical choice for new families. It comes equipped with Toyota Safety Sense as standard, which includes advanced driver-assistance systems like pre-collision braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. 

The Corolla has an outstanding reputation for its reliability (rated five-stars by What Car?), which will cost parents less in unexpected repairs and running costs. The model discontinued its petrol range in 2020, so opting for a used hybrid Corolla can make pennies stretch even further in terms of fuel economy. 

Taller passengers report that the rear seats can feel a little cramped, but they're perfect for car seats and small children, offering enough space to stay comfortable well into their teenage years.  

Ford Focus 

If boot and rear-passenger space is more important to you, check out the Ford Focus. With plenty of room for two car seats plus a passenger in the back, and a healthy 375 litres of boot space, a used Ford Focus is great for transporting all the kit that comes with littles. 

Clever storage means more than just a large volume of space, however. The Focus has plenty of cubbies throughout for all the bottles, wet wipes, snacks, and general baby accoutrement that seems to collect in those early years. A little-considered but highly-prized feature when you’re trying to stay organised. 

The Ford Focus has good suspension for its class, which is ideal if you’re navigating country roads for wholesome family walks, or trying to keep small ones asleep. Owners also enjoy its light steering and compact design that make nursery drop-offs and city parking much less stressful. 

Vauxhall Astra 

Three-time winner of Business Car Awards’ ‘Best Family Car’, the Vauxhall Astra is eye-catching, well-equipped, and inexpensive to run. New parents watching their budgets can get comfort and practicality at an appealing price.  

Its 422-litre boot can fit all the prams and suitcases you need, and it benefits from a square boot opening with a low load lip, so you shouldn’t need to wrestle to pack it. 

With trims and engines to choose from, every new parent is bound to find a use Vauxhall Astra they’re happy with. 

CUPRA Born 

For eco-conscious families looking to cut fuel costs and emissions, the all-electric CUPRA Born is an excellent choice. Its cabin is spacious and cleverly designed, with a flat floor that makes fitting child seats easy.  

The quiet electric drive is perfect for soothing little ones to sleep on evening drives, whilst the instant power helps you pull out of junctions safely and smoothly.  

The Born’s range (around 240 miles) easily covers daily errands like childcare drop-offs or shopping trips, and charging overnight at home means you’ll always start the day ready to go. 

Volkswagen Golf 

When it comes to family cars, few models are favoured more than the Volkswagen Golf.  

Stylish, practical, multi-award winning - this hatchback was one of the UK’s best-selling models in 2024, and it’s not hard to see why. 

The Golf has everything a busy family could want. Owners enjoy a spacious interior for shopping bags and sports kits, impressive safety technology and a five-star Euro NCAP rating, and impressive fuel efficiency.  

From stop-start school runs and commuting traffic, to those long cruise-controlled motorway drives, the Golf takes every journey in its stride.