You can buy a practical car that has enough room for all your stuff without resorting to a full-sized SUV or MPV. There’s a huge amount of compact, wallet-friendly family cars available on the market, from well-designed lifestyle crossovers, to super-practical small estate cars. Family car buyers have never had it so good, and we think the practical and stylish Ford Puma once again ticks all the boxes for family buyers looking for all of the above.
Written by Lawrence CheungPublished: 27 September 2021Updated: 5 May 2023
Last year’s Small Family Car winner retains the crown for 2022, with the Puma fending off potential rivals that have since been launched. This Ford is still the one to beat, with the stylish SUV offering a range of economical petrol engines, a fun driving experience and a large dose of practicality for family life.
The Megabox compartment provides extra space in the boot, but also features a drain plug, making it ideal for hosing out after storing grubby cargo. It’s easy to see why this was 2021’s Car of the Year and very few have come close to balancing as many desirable traits since. There’s even a performance ST version now for those looking to maximise their fun.
The BMW 1 Series stands out from all the other premium hatchbacks with its high-quality interior, generous cabin space and polished driving dynamics. As the 1 Series’ latest generation of rivals increasingly rely on touchscreen controls, BMW’s highly intuitive iCockpit is far less distracting on the move.
Sure, you can go ahead and use the touchscreen as well, but it serves as a backup, rather than the sole choice. Immediate rivals either seem to be trying too hard nowadays or have started to lose their edge, whereas the 1 Series has managed to claw its way ahead balancing form and function – something we never would have said about the old model.
Just like the Puma, the Skoda Kamiq retains its position for another year as a great runner-up. The Kamiq runs the Puma extremely close with its focus on practicality and comfort, offering ample space for four and high levels of refinement.
If you want a small family car that ticks a lot of boxes, the Skoda makes a lot of sense. You have a strong choice of engines, a high level of kit and a touchscreen infotainment system that’s arguably easier to use than newer and bigger models in the firm’s range.
