Thinking about upgrading the family car? The compact SUV market is one of the fastest-growing segments out there, with more and more parents drawn to the mix of driver appeal, comfort and everyday practicality these cars offer. But with so many options, which one should you choose?
Here are four top choices for best family SUV, looking at what each one does well — and where it falls short — for real family life.
#1. Range Rover Evoque
The Evoque has been a big hit since its introduction, bringing the traditional off-road ability and practicality of Range Rovers to a more compact and affordable package.
It’s very well made, oozes class and style inside and out, is a capable off-roader, and offers comfort and refinement across a mixture of surfaces. It tends to hold its value well too, which is worth factoring in if you’re weighing up the overall cost of ownership.
On the downside, its stylish sloping roof and bonnet mean visibility can be awkward at times, and while the dashboard design is basically sound, the touchscreen feels a little dated compared with newer rivals.
What makes this a great family car?
Some models have a clever infotainment feature that lets the driver follow sat nav directions while passengers in the back watch a screen of their own — handy for keeping little ones entertained on longer trips.
It also has a large boot, plus door bins and several cup holders to keep drinks and beakers secure — genuinely useful on long journeys. Safety is strong too, with a five-star rating (the maximum) in Euro NCAP crash testing.
#2. Audi Q3
The Audi combines strong brand appeal and solid build quality with an enjoyable driving experience. The Q3 sits between two other SUVs in the Audi range — the smaller Q2 and the larger Q5 — with two- and four-wheel drive versions available.
The Q3 is easy to drive, with light steering and smooth automatic changes where fitted, and it’s reasonably well priced within the segment. That said, the light steering contributes to a slightly bland driving experience, and the interior can feel less upmarket than you might expect at this level.
What makes this a great family car?
Safety is excellent with the Audi Q3, which has ISOFIX child seat mounting points across three seats — and for what is essentially a small hatchback, reviewers note the rear can comfortably seat three children.
The boot is also wide and can easily house a large pushchair.
Recommended Reading: Is this the best way of getting kids into the family car?
#3. BMW X1
The second generation of BMW’s X1 was a big improvement on its predecessor, giving buyers an SUV more in keeping with the brand’s reputation for dynamic, well-engineered cars.
The latest X1 moved from a rear-wheel to a front-wheel drive platform — although most of the range offers four-wheel drive — with a chunkier, more purposeful design than the older car.
The X1 is roomy, extremely comfortable, and genuinely good fun to drive. BMW’s traditional strength in dashboard ergonomics is well to the fore, and it’s easy to live with day to day thanks to light controls and good visibility.
It is priced quite steeply, though, and mixing and matching your ideal engine and trim combination isn’t always straightforward — a more powerful engine may mean stepping up a trim level. Its off-road ability also doesn’t quite match the Range Rover Evoque.
What makes this a great family car?
The BMW X1 is technically a small SUV, but it scores superbly for interior space, with plenty of luggage room in the boot and generous leg, head and elbow room for passengers in the rear. Kids certainly won’t feel cramped.
Safety is sound too, with six airbags and electronic systems designed to help prevent skidding and detect potential head-on collisions.
#4. Porsche Macan
The idea of a Porsche SUV would once have seemed unlikely, but the brand’s success with the Cayenne paved the way for the more compact Macan.
The Porsche is the most expensive option here, although top-end versions of the BMW X1 and Range Rover Evoque run it close on price. With the cachet of the Porsche badge, resale values tend to hold up well.
The Macan is both easy and genuinely enjoyable to drive, with well-weighted controls and solid off-road capability. It’s roomy, with a well laid out dashboard, and reasonably economical for its class.
On the downside, the Macan is expensive, can feel sparsely equipped for the price, and shares much of its underlying engineering with the Audi Q5.
What makes this a great family car?
Prestige and price tag aside, the Porsche Macan has features that work well for family motoring. Boot space is generous, and the rear seats fold down to significantly increase load space — useful if you’re travelling solo but need to move large family items around.
It also achieved a five-star rating in Euro NCAP testing.
Competition in the premium compact SUV sector is fierce, with a wide choice of models that make practical off-road cars genuinely fun to drive. Between its style, off-road ability and safety credentials, the Range Rover Evoque may just edge it as the best all-rounder — but each of these four has a lot to offer a family on the move.
Have you driven any of these SUVs? Tell us your experience in the comments below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which of these SUVs has the most boot space for family gear?
The Porsche Macan offers the largest standard boot capacity of the four, and its rear seats fold down to free up even more room for bulky items like buggies or luggage. The Range Rover Evoque and BMW X1 also offer generous boot space for everyday family use.
Are these SUVs safe for children?
All four models covered here achieved strong results in independent crash testing, and several — including the Range Rover Evoque and Porsche Macan — scored the maximum five-star rating. The Audi Q3 also stands out for offering ISOFIX mounting points across three rear seats.
Which SUV is easiest to fit child seats into?
The Audi Q3 is particularly well suited to child seats, with ISOFIX points for three seats and enough rear space to seat three children comfortably, according to reviewers.
Do any of these cars have built-in entertainment for kids?
Some Range Rover Evoque models offer an infotainment system that allows the driver to use sat nav while rear passengers watch a screen — a handy feature for longer family journeys.
Is a smaller SUV like these practical for a growing family?
Yes. Compact SUVs like the ones featured here are designed to balance everyday drivability with genuine practicality, offering enough boot space, rear passenger room and safety features to suit most family needs.
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- Choosing the Right Car Seat for Your Child’s Age and Stage
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Comparing cars is just one part of family life admin. If this guide was useful, take a browse through our other family life articles for more practical advice to make everyday decisions easier — and save this one to come back to when you’re ready to compare models again.
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