Family cars for the school run

With most children back to school this week after many months off, you may be dreading the return of the school run. Believe it or not, your choice of vehicle could make all the difference when it comes to a hassle-free drop off.

When it comes to the perfect family car for the school run it is important to look at three main points: a large boot, a spacious cabin and a good safety rating (ideally you’ll want to look at cars with a five-star Euro NCAP rating.) Below, we have chosen four top contenders each from a different category so that there is something to suit every family.

The Supermini – Volkswagen Polo

Winner of the ‘Small Car of the Year’ award, the latest Polo is bigger and better to drive than ever before. Now only available as a practical 5-door model, this supermini is a firm family favourite. With an RRP of £17,000 - £20,000 it offers lots of useful space, including a good amount of leg room and a big boot. Potential family car buyers often find they must compromise on aesthetics in favour of space and practicality, but not with this sporty Volkswagen. Another bonus is its five-star Euro NCAP safety rating where it outperformed its segment rivals such as the Vauxhall Corsa and the Ford Fiesta.

The Electric – Renault Zoe

If you are looking for an eco-friendly family car then look no further than the all-electric Renault Zoe. While small sized EV’s are not known for their spacious qualities, the Zoe is the exception to the rule. Boasting an impressive boot size and a roof line which doesn’t slope towards the rear as much as other rivals, this car is a serious contender if you often plan to ferry around back seat passengers. RRP starts from around £27,000 for the new 2020 model which comes with a 245-mile range. However, you should expect to be limited to roughly 100 miles if you purchase a used model – perfectly fine if your activities revolve around town and city driving.

The Classic - Skoda Octavia

The Skoda Octavia is a really clever family car choice as it is actually bigger than the popular Nissan Qashqai rival, while also sharing elements of the Volkswagen Golf, so you can rest assured that it is going to be well-built. If you’re looking for a medium range family car and want to stay away from SUV’s, for an RRP from £20,000 you can enjoy both space and value thanks to this offering from Skoda. The boot is quite simply huge, and the rear space is far more generous than most competitors. It was awarded a five-star Euro NCAP rating too! What’s not to like?

The SUV - Volvo XC60

Successfully rivalling the Audi Q5 and the BMW X3, the Volvo XC60 is perfect if you are looking to combine the school run with your work commute. Not only is it very capable at long distance drives but it is comfortable too. Those comfortable seats boast wipe-clean leather upholstery – great for kids eating a snack on the go or jumping in straight from football practice. While boot space isn’t class leading, it’s unlikely to be problematic, whereas the rear is roomy with good leg room and head height. With a starting RRP of £40,000 the XC60 is priced competitively against its rivals. A car brand known for its safety leading models; this one is no different with some of the most advanced safety features seen in this class. In fact, it’s one of the safest cars the Euro NCAP has ever tested.

Check out some school run safety tips from GEM Motoring Assist