Cheap family cars 2022
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If you have a growing family, you’ll know how expensive this can be. If it’s not school uniforms, it’s new Xbox games. Don’t even get us started on how much it costs to eat out.
Cost-effective motoring is thus the order of the day. Families certainly want the latest technology and comforts found in a new car, but you don’t want to spend a fortune to get them.
Cheap family cars are the answer – and you may be pleasantly surprised at how much value for money can be found in the new car market these days.
Don’t think these are back-to-basics, stripped-out vehicles, either. Many of the best cheap family cars are genuinely clever in their own right, with standalone desirability before you even consider their affordable price tags.
Here are the cheap family cars that come to the rescue of strained household budgets, providing cheerful motoring without feeling remotely cheap.
Cheap family cars
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Dacia Jogger
The Dacia Jogger is an ingenious new type of family-focused car: a cross between a small estate and a rugged crossover. It has generous ground clearance, chunky body styling and ingenious roof rails that are ready and waiting for a roof box to swallow anything you can’t squeeze into the boot. Brilliantly, it also comes with seven seats as standard, with the third row being easily removable to create an ultra-capacious five-seater. With a smooth turbocharged petrol engine, it has just enough power and excellent fuel economy, but the best bit is the price. It starts from less than £15,000, and even the lavish range-topper costs thousands less than many entry-level family hatchbacks. For budget-conscious families, it’s a brilliant choice.
Skoda Scala
The Skoda Scala is the Czech firm’s value-priced model, positioned in-between the smaller Fabia and larger Octavia. Prices start from less than £18,000, for which you get a well-equipped car with touchscreen infotainment, alloy wheels, air conditioning and LED headlights as standard. Despite measuring under 4.4 metres long, the Scala has an enormous 467-litre boot, plus a good amount of room in the rear for three passengers. There’s loads of stowage space inside and we love the folding tables on the backs of the front seats. The all-petrol engine range comprises fuel-efficient 1.0-litre TSI motors, plus a 1.5-litre TSI for those who want more power. Reaching 62mph in just over eight seconds, it’s surprisingly good fun.
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Dacia Duster
The Dacia Duster is the larger, SUV-shaped sibling to the Jogger estate. It’s proved very popular with budget-conscious buyers who want a fashionable, 4x4-style machine. The Duster has rugged styling, plenty of ground clearance and a high-up seating position. It’s also roomy inside, with ample space in the rear and a vast 475-litre boot: almost 100 litres larger than comparable family hatchbacks. Fold the rear seats and it expands to well over 1,600 litres – perfect for weekend trips to the tip. Economical turbo petrol engines deliver good power, and those who want better economy can choose a diesel. An interesting alternative is the Bi-Fuel LPG option for petrol models, for those with easy access to the half-price fuel. There’s also a four-wheel drive version.
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Hyundai i30
The i30 is Hyundai’s good-value alternative to the Volkswagen Golf. Prices are more competitive than the German car, but buyers aren’t short-changed in areas such as performance. Even the entry-level turbo petrol engine offers 120hp, while there’s a 159hp alternative for a few thousand pounds more – plus the fiery 250hp i30 N hot hatchback. Generous standard equipment is a feature of all i30s, and we think the sporty-looking but well-priced N-Line trim is the sweet-spot. All versions have comfortable interiors, sophisticated road manners and the long-term reassurance of Hyundai’s five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty. For those who cover thousands of miles on family getaways, it’s a safe and affordable bet.
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Kia Ceed
Kia has recently facelifted the Ceed five-door hatchback range. The car now features the Korean company’s distinctive new logo, plus a sharper and more distinctive front end with eye-catching LED running lights. It’s not just extra style that Kia has brought to the mix, though; every new Ceed now has an 8.0-inch touchscreen, alloy wheels, air conditioning and a reversing camera. More expensive variants come with a larger 10.25-inch touchscreen that connects with the Kia Connect UVO smartphone app. Economical petrol engines include mild hybrid options, which provide a small performance boost while also reducing CO2 emissions. Kia offers its comprehensive seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty as standard, too.
MG 5 EV
The MG 5 EV is an interesting choice. Not only a five-door estate car, it’s also a pure electric model – and arguably one of the few available at an affordable price. Being an EV doesn’t compromise practicality: load the MG’s boot to the roof and you can squeeze in almost 600 litres, which expands to 1,456 litres with the rear seats folded. The five seats provide family-friendly space and equipment is good, with even the entry-level Excite featuring MG Pilot adaptive cruise control and a rear parking camera. A 156hp electric motor delivers 0-62mph in just 7.3 seconds and the Long Range battery has a 250-mile range. It can be rapid-charged to 80 percent capacity in around an hour.
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Citroen C4
The Citroen C4 is a distinctive new high-riding family hatchback from the comfort-oriented French firm. For families looking for a relaxing, smooth-riding car, it’s certainly worth a look. Special ‘Citroen Advanced Comfort’ seats are plush to sit in and the suspension has hydraulic cushions to take the edge off bumps. Noise levels are low, engines are efficient and there’s a pure electric e-C4 option for those ready to embrace battery power. Citroen includes a full suite of safety assistance systems, while the front-seat passenger can enjoy an ingenious tablet holder built into the dashboard. Great for helping long trips pass by smoothly while the kids squabble in the back...
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Fiat Tipo
Fiat is well-known for its fashion-conscious cars such as the 500 and 500 Electric, but the Italian brand also has a more sensible, family-focused alternative: the Tipo five-door hatchback. This robustly-engineered car has recently been facelited, making it look more contemporary. There’s also now a raised-up Tipo Cross, bringing some rugged, crossover-style appeal. Fiat has upgraded the interior trim, and all Tipos have a decent amount of standard equipment for the money. We like the effervescent 1.0-litre turbo engine, which adds a bit of verve to the driving experience. Fiat has ensured good-value pricing is backed up by some excellent finance offers, too.
Suzuki S-Cross
The S-Cross is Suzuki’s crossover rival to the Nissan Qashqai. It’s recently been given a significant facelift, bringing much more assertive styling on the outside, plus fresh features inside. Suzuki has also simplified the line-up, making it easier to find the right model for you. Motion grade has a huge amount of standard kit, including 17-inch alloys, climate control and a 7.0-inch touchscreen, while Ultra spec is fully loaded. The 1.4-litre Boosterjet petrol engine has a mild hybrid system, and is available with an automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. The S-Cross is likely to prove reassuringly reliable and Suzuki dealers are among the best in the business.
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SsangYong Tivoli
The SsangYong Tivoli is a practical small SUV with prices that start from well under £15,000. It offers headline-grabbing value for money, particularly as owners don’t have to suffer with a basic specification. Even the entry-level engine is a punchy turbocharged petrol motor, and every Tivoli comes with air conditioning, all-round electric windows and alloy wheels. It’s a roomy car inside, with a 427-litre boot – and if this isn’t enough, the longer Tivoli XLV version offers even more luggage capacity. Every SsangYong comes with a seven-year warranty, which is valid for an incredible 150,000 miles. That means plenty of long-term assurance, even if you drive 20,000 miles a year or more.
What is a good car for a family of four?
If you are a family of four, you may not regularly need the practicality of seven seats – but they’re still nice to have if your children each want to bring a friend along for a day out. The Dacia Jogger is a compromise-free seven-seater that also works really well as a five-seater, giving plenty of space for two people front and rear, plus acres of room for all the essentials families bring for the journey. It offers great-value prices, too – hence its inclusion on our list.
What is the cheapest family car?
There is currently strong competition for the title of ‘cheapest family car’. The SsangYong Tivoli just edges it, but the Dacia Jogger is another vehicle available for less than £15,000. Given how the Dacia has seven seats and a more modern interior, it’s a strong choice – although the SUV styling of the SsangYong has undeniable appeal. The Dacia Duster is another particularly cheap family car, while the Skoda Scala is one of the cheapest family five-door hatchbacks on the market.
Can you buy a cheap electric family car?
Electric car prices are coming down all the time, and are edging closer to the cheap family car sector. The MG 5 EV is a great example of this. It has a decent 250-mile range and a good amount of standard equipment, yet it’s available for similar to what you’d pay for a mid-range Ford Focus. There is also a pure electric e-C4 version of the Citroen C4, and we expect more affordable EVs to arrive in the coming years.
