'We tested the best family hatchback cars on sale - and one came out on top'
After testing all the family hatchbacks on sale, a group of car experts chose one that was a clear winner, making it the perfect car for a family to buy
Choosing the right car for your family is an important decision, you have to make sure it is big enough to fit everyone in but it also needs to be affordable, practical, robust and fuel-efficient - making it far more complicated than it needs to be. For those who aren't looking to buy an SUV, the options may seem limited.
Thankfully, there are still vehicles available that meet all the requirements of a family car without the need for high ground clearance, and can be used for off-road adventures. Now, a group of car experts at Top Gear have put together a list of their top five hatchbacks - which are perfect for families.
At the top of the list was the Honda Civic, priced between £35,005 and £39,805. The Honda won due to its fuel economy, partiality and its enjoyable driving experience, the Mirror reports.
The experts shared their reason for the top pick: "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."
The Skoda Octavia took second place, beating the car it's based on, the eighth generation VW Golf, which had to settle for third place.
Speaking on the Skoda, the experts expressed: "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."
Yet, they didn't completely dismiss the VW Golf despite what they described as a dip in recent years.
They said: "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."
Although these three - Honda, Skoda and VW - would be a good choice for a family car, there are still several other cars out there if an SUV body shape is what you're looking for.
Previously, car expert Mike Brewer singled out one car that stood above the rest for his prime pick for a family hoping for an SUV.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, earlier this year, Mike explained why he thought the Nissan X-Trail would make the best family car.
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 cup holders everywhere. These Nissan X-Trails are really well equipped."
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