'We tested the best family hatchback cars on sale – there was one clear winner'

Daily Mirror

13-05-2025

A group of car experts have tested every family hatchback on sale and come to a verdict over the best one for a family to buy
Choosing the right car for your family is an important decision, one that is far more complicated than it first appears. Not only must the car be big, it must be affordable, practical, robust, and economical.
The calculation is complicated somewhat if the buyer simply does not want an SUV. If that is the case, then choice is rather thinner on the ground.
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Fortunately, there are still some cars out there which are fit for the family, but don't come with enough ground clearance to conquer the Paris-Dakar or the Himalayas.
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A group of car experts from renowned motoring publication Top Gear have compiled a list of the top five hatchbacks – cars with a literal hatch at the rear of the car – which are perfect for family ownership.
At the top of their list was the Honda Civic. Priced from between £35,005 and £39,805, the Honda won out for it's economy, practicality, and the fact it was fun to drive.
The experts explained: 'It might be conservative on the outside, but the interior is simply put together and to a high standard. You won't mind long family journeys, and you know that it'll all last for miles and miles.
'There's a strangely complex hybrid setup under the bonnet, but you needn't worry about all that, because the upshot is that the car drives and handles well enough, but won't cost you the earth in petrol bills.'
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Coming in second was the Skoda Octavia, which in turn beat the car it's based on, the eighth generation VW Golf, into second with it's German cousin completing the podium in third.
Commenting on the Skoda, the experts remarked: 'There must be a few noses out of join the darkest corporate depths of the VW Group – of the host of cars based on the MkVIII Golf, the Skoda's the best.'
However, they didn't completely rule out the VW Golf despite what they described as a slip in recent years. They ruminated: 'Long the benchmark in this sector, the crown has slipped a little in this eighth generation guise. We wouldn't count the Golf out for long though.'
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Although the Honda, Skoda, and VW would make fine family car options, there are still plenty of cars out there if an SUV body shape is a must have. Earlier this year car expert Mike Brewer highlighted one car that stood above the rest as his top pic for those looking for a family SUV.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Mike explained why he thought it should be the Nissan X-Trail. He said: 'Just look at it from the exterior, it's got the privacy glass, it's got the roof rails, it's got the chrome door handles, the chrome accents, it looks really smart.
"It's got electric folding mirrors so as you open the car, get in and turn the ignition on the mirrors fold out, which is lovely.
'Leather door cards inside your family car, nice and easy to wipe, absolutely wonderful leather seats. It's got lumber support as well, you've got cupholders everywhere. These Nissan X-Trails are really well equipped."