7 of the best large family cars

These are seven of the best large cars for families

Family life can be challenging enough at the best of times. The last thing you need is a car that can’t keep up.

Because as much as we love the Toyota Aygo, no amount of boot tetris is going to make both the weekly shopping and the push chair fit – no, not even if you have the Aygo X.

You need a car with a chunk of a trunk, ample legroom in the cabin, and some nifty little features to make life carting your darlings around more convenient.

And that’s where personal car leasing comes in. 

You get access to the newest models on the market, with all the bells and whistles you could ask for when it comes to tech and safety innovation. 

All without having to take out a second mortgage to afford it.

But if the thought of trawling through car lease comparison sites makes your skin crawl, never fear. We’ve taken the mental burden out of searching for a new car and listed our top seven large cars for family life – and they’re not all seven-seater lease deals, either.

Read on to get our large car shortlist, so you can spend less time on finding the best car lease deal and more time on important things.

Like planning a fun weekend with the kids.

What to look for in a family car

Every family is different – so there’s no one catch-all perfect family car. 

But as a general rule of thumb, these are some things to keep in mind when the car lease comparison is narrowing down to a shortlist:

• Boot capacity: 400-500 litres recommended for daily life
• Shape: tall, boxy cars tend to have more headroom
• Rear seats: look for flexibility and position of ISOFIX points
• Five doors: a necessity with young children, toddlers and babies
• Safety: check that Euro NCAP rating and scores for child occupancy protection

Volvo XC60

It’s not the biggest car on our list, but don’t dismiss the mid-sized SUV out of hand. When they’re as good as the Volvo XC60 they definitely deserve a place on your consideration list.

If the XC40 is too small for your family, but you’re not looking for a mammoth-size seven-seater like the XC90, the XC60 hits that perfect sweet spot where it’s large enough for family life without feeling like you’re driving a tank around town.

We’re talking Scandi-design, premium-feeling build quality, and a seriously affordable price-tag. Better yet, it’s crammed with all the safety features Volvos are known for.

Every spec level comes with automatic emergency braking and front/rear parking sensors as standard. Blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control and pilot assist are included from the Plus trim and above.

But it’s the customisable interior that’s earned the XC60 a spot on our shortlist. 

Yes, the cabin is light, spacious and feels surprisingly upmarket for the price – but what’s caught our interest is the optional fold-out booster seats that can be built into the rear outer seats.

They make it much easier to switch from booster to normal seat. No more lugging child seats in and out of (or between) cars.

If that’s not a family-focused detail, we don’t know what is.

Peugeot E-5008

If you’ve paid attention to our social channels this year, you’ll know we’re flying the French flag for Peugeot.

We enjoyed a visit from the 5008 at Carparison HQ – and this car is that car, except with a big ol’ battery under the bonnet. Because if you can do a seven-seater with zero emissions, why wouldn’t you?

In fact, the E-5008 might be our favourite ever seven-seater SUV. It’s got commanding exterior design, a super comfortable cabin, and enough seats for all the family.

Or most of your amateur football team.

More importantly, it’s got a TARDIS vibe going on – because it doesn’t feel nearly as big on the outside as it actually is on the inside. 

It’s the difference between enjoying a properly spacious family car, and feeling like you’re driving the kids home in the school mini-bus.

Add in some seriously impressive range (414 miles WLTP comb in the long-range version), a panoramic i-Cockpit, and enough safety features to make a lollipop lady jealous. You’ve got not only a fab family car, but one of the best EVs on the market.

That makes it an exceptional electric car lease – and we’ll take that any day of the week.

Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer

We love an SUV, but when it comes to sheer practicality an estate car lease will always have a well-deserved place in our hearts.

And the Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer is one of the best estates the market right now.

It’s got the sleek looks of its saloon counterpart, but with a roomier interior, a generous electric range and an impressive boot, beating out all its rivals at 605 litres with the seats up.

You can increase that capacity by folding the rear seats down in a 60/40 configuration. It’s less versatile than the 40/20/40 format, but the pros far outweigh this one con.

All trim levels come with front and rear parking sensors, a 360-degree view camera, and VW’s Park Assist Plus system, which even lets the car park itself when the conditions are right. So, no more hushing the kids so you can concentrate on reversing perfectly between the lines.

Distraction-free driving in a large family car? We’re here for it.

JAECOO 7

 Unless you’ve been living under a rock this year, you’ll know we think the JAECOO 7 is one of the best new SUVs to hit the UK in recent years.

And we reckon it’s a great fit for a family car.

Because the JAECOO 7 isn’t just a spacious, comfortable motor. It’s also got all the usual tech suspects like Apple CarPlay, wireless charging, and even the ability to alert you when you’ve left your phone behind.

That’s smarter than ‘find my iPhone’ and way more convenient. No more hold-ups looking everywhere for your phone – you’ve got a car that’ll never let you leave it behind in the first place.

We also love its tiredness detection – yawn and the JAECOO will suggest you take a coffee break. So, when you’re coming back from the airport with the kids in the back, you’ve got zero excuses to put yourself (or your family) at risk by pushing through any fatigue.

As for the comfort , the drive is smooth and quiet, and the suspension is good enough to tackle a row of sleeping policemen (the speed bumps, not actual police) with minimum jolting.

And let’s be honest, if you’re a mother with a newborn baby that’s great news for your pelvic floor too.

SKODA Superb 

SKODA has a reputation for making sensible, reliable cars.

And those are exactly the qualities you should be looking for in a family wagon. Toting your toddlers around in a two-seater sports car is so not the vibe in 2025.

So, ask yourself – what could be more sensible than the SKODA Superb?

Rocking around since 2001, it’s one of the most recognisable cars in the SKODA lineup and with a jaw-dropping total luggage capacity of 1,920 litres it’s definitely the most practical.

And isn’t that what you really need when it comes to family life? Enough room for prams, pushchairs, suitcases, and everything you and the kids could ever need.

But practicality isn’t the only thing the Superb has going for it. 

Even at entry-level the tech is well-equipped with features like wireless Apple connectivity, keyless start/stop functionality, access to Emergency Call Services, and of course, a 10.24-inch digital display in the cabin.

We’ve seen bigger, of course – but size isn’t everything.

It’s also got really impressive safety credentials, with a five-star Euro NCAP rating and high scores for adult and child occupancy protection (93% and 87% respectively).

When it comes to an uber-safe, uber-practical family car, we dare you to do better than the SKODA Superb.

Ford Explorer

Let’s face it, Ford has made some cracking family cars over the years. 

In fact, the iconic Ford Escort was so beloved, it got its very own (unofficial) version of the Pizza Hut song. (And you can thank us later for reminding you of that 2000s school disco classic).

But with some of its much-loved family cars now firmly in the rearview mirror, it’s time to look at Ford’s new lineup. And the Ford Explorer makes for a brilliant modern family car.

Yes, it’s another fully electric SUV, but don’t let range anxiety put you off. The Explorer’s combined range reaches a respectable 374 miles (WLTP Comb), which is plenty for the rigors of daily family life.

And compared to so many modern EVs, the drive is so much smoother when it comes to acceleration. In other words, you can get your foot down without feeling like you’ve been shot out of a rocket launcher. 

Much friendlier for little ones.

It’s a genuinely comfortable car that prioritises usability and practicality. The Explorer boot isn’t the biggest on the market, coming in at 470 litres, but clever storage solutions get around this nicely. 

Lockable compartment behind the infotainment screen? We love it.

MegaConsole? Sign us up – it’ll top you up with an additional 17 litres of storage, so you can stow away everything from the work laptop you don’t want the kids to damage, to your supply of emergency drinks and snacks. And you’ll still have room to hide your handbag too.

There’s also a roof rack with a 75kg load allowance just in case you need yet more space for your stuff.

It’s these thoughtful details that make the Explorer such an optimum family car. Because yes, you could get something bigger – but could you get something this family-orientated in the design?

Questionable.

Regardless, for the build-quality, comfort, functionality and green credentials, it’s coming in at a very reasonable price.

XPENG G6

The XPENG G6 only hit the UK in February 2025, so forgive us if you haven’t yet spotted this Chinese newcomer on the road.

But we think you’ll be seeing more of it soon enough. 

After a test drive of the G6 were thoroughly impressed with its innovative tech, quick charging, and value for money.

What really caught our eye though? How ridiculously spacious it is, considering its coupe-inspired styling.

Whether you’re sitting in the front or back row, you’ve got so much legroom it feels a little like being in first-class on a flight to the Maldives. Whether you’re taxi-ing the teens and all their friends around town, or you’re in the process of buying a car seat for your first baby, space is one issue you don’t have to worry about here.

If you’ve ever had to fit a car seat in the back, you’ll know that’s a massive deal.

To be honest, you’re getting a lot of car for your money. It’s bigger than rivals like the Peugeot E-3008 and the SKODA Enyaq by a fairly wide margin.

The cabin isn’t just spacious though – it’s versatile, comfortable, and feels genuinely more expensive than it is. Partly because of the materials (your choice of black or white leather), partly because it’s got a massive panoramic sunroof built into the descending roofline.

Storage is equally strong. 

You’ve got the benefit of a 571-litre boot, and a floating centre console in the front row with a deep armrest cubby. Coupled with lots of rear floorspace in the footwells, there should be plenty of space for any kit you need to tote around. 

The fact that it’s got all the new tech bells and whistles is frankly the cherry on top of a very promising family car. 

Bed-mode is a particularly exciting feature for tired parents – just don’t try it out with a car seat directly behind you.

Frequently asked questions

Is a seven-seater the best kind of family car? 

No, a seven-seater is not necessarily the best large car for family life. It’s a good option for large families where there’s more passenger demand. But a five-seater car can be just as practical where other needs are prioritised such as luggage capacity.

What is the best body style car for families?

SUVs and estates are generally considered to be a good fit for growing families, with emphasis on comfort, practicality and low-emission driving.

But a good hatchback can work too when it has a generous boot, decent legroom and five-doors.

How do I know if it’s a good car for child safety? 

You can easily check if a car is suited for children by checking its Euro NCAP score for child occupant protection.