Family car buyers are spoilt for choice when it comes to getting behind the wheel on a monthly finance plan.
Here we’ve picked nine of the best family cars for an affordable monthly payment of between £200 and £400, which is enough to include a couple of new SUVs from premium carmakers, a traditional estate, a variety of crossovers and even a pure-electric model.
There should be something here for anyone looking for a car that can tackle family life.
Our pick of new car deals (February 2023)
Cupra Formentor
If you want a family car with a bit of sporty Latin flair, then the Formentor is a strong candidate. It was the first car to be offered exclusively as a Cupra model — until then the Spanish company sold sporty derivatives of the Seat Leon and Ateca — and its size and shape mean it’s a handsome SUV that has a decent amount of space.
The 148bhp 1.5 TSI engine has just about enough performance, while adding the DSG auto gearbox makes life in traffic easier, too.
Choose the V2 trim and there are 19in alloy wheels, heated sports seats, a large 12in navigation system, adaptive cruise control and three-zone climate control.
The deal we found
- Version: 1.5 TSI 150PS DSG V2
- Monthly payment: £331
- Deposit: £6,747 (plus £1,500 contribution)
- Term: 48 months
- APR: 7.2%
- Final payment: £15,781
Ford Focus Estate
An estate still makes for a practical alternative to an SUV, and the Ford Focus is one of the best of the bunch. As well as having space for a family of five and all of their possessions, it delivers an entertaining drive that a high-riding model will struggle to match.
It’ll be more efficient than an SUV, too. If you still want some rugged looks with your car, then the Active model adds black plastic body cladding and a slightly raised ride height, while standard kit is generous, including Ford’s large new 13in touchscreen display that dominates the dashboard.
A bonus is that the APR on the model we found is particularly appealing.
The deal we found
- Version: EcoBoost 155 manual Active
- Monthly payment: £364
- Deposit: £6,000
- Term: 36 months
- APR: 3.9%
- Final payment: £13,566
Hyundai Tucson
The latest Tucson really stands out from the crowd with its distinctive grille and LED headlights, though there’s plenty of substance to be found, too.
While it looks like an expensive and upmarket machine, prices are surprisingly affordable and you can get a high-spec model for a reasonable financial outlay.
There’s a high-end Krell stereo, a heated steering wheel and front seats, three-zone climate control, front and rear parking sensors and all the space that a family could need. Hybrid drive means the Tucson is efficient, and it’s comfortable at a cruise, as well.
The deal we found
- Version: 1.6 T-GDi Hybrid 230PS Premium
- Monthly payment: £367
- Deposit: £9,000 (plus £1,750 contribution)
- Term: 37 months
- APR: 7.3%
- Final payment: £17,639
MG4
Electric family car ownership is within reach in this price bracket, and the MG4 is an impressive piece of kit for the money.
The head-turning looks are one thing but under the skin is a dedicated EV platform that packs a battery up to 64kWh in size, which gives the MG4 a driving range of up to 281 miles in mid-spec SE trim we’ve picked here. The cabin is spacious and features all the kit you could possibly want, too.
The deal we found
- Version: 64kWh SE Long Range
- Monthly payment: £309
- Deposit: £6,218
- Term: 49 months
- APR: 8.9%
- Final payment: £15,233
Nissan Qashqai
The UK’s best-selling car for 2022 is a tempting choice, especially since there are decent finance offers available across the range. The UK-built Qashqai offers good space, while the 1.3-litre turbocharged petrol engine features mild-hybrid technology to boost efficiency.
Acenta Premium comes with plenty of luxuries such as an 8in touchscreen, two-zone climate control and keyless entry and start, although if you want more kit the higher spec N-Connecta and Tekna trims with larger touchscreen displays are available for a few pounds a month more.
The deal we found
- Version: 1.3 DiG-T 140 Acenta Premium
- Monthly payment: £283
- Deposit: £6,421
- Term: 37 months
- APR: 5.99% representative
- Final payment: £15,545
Skoda Kodiaq
A seven-seat SUV is within reach if you choose the Czech firm’s biggest model, and you don’t have to plump for the most basic version, either.
The Kodiaq is a practical and versatile car and, in line with Skoda’s ‘Simply Clever’ philosophy, there are lots of neat touches throughout. There’s the traditional ice scraper hidden in the fuel filler flap, cup holders that allow you to open bottles one-handed and even umbrellas in the doors.
The SE L Executive versions are loaded with plenty of goodies that make this family motor feel more luxurious than it should.
The deal we found
- Version: 1.5 TSI 150PS DSG SE L Executive 7-seats
- Monthly payment: £366
- Deposit: £7,469 (plus £3,000 contribution)
- Term: 48 months
- APR: 7.9%
- Final payment: £16,266
Vauxhall Grandland
A facelift gave the Grandland family SUV similarly sharp looks to the latest Astra, and Vauxhall has also laid on zero per cent finance offers to help get buyers behind the wheel.
The plug-in hybrid version packs a punch and offers up to 39 miles of range on a full charge. If you keep the battery topped up overnight and only do short runs during a day of driving, then it could be weeks or even months before you need to fill up with petrol.
The deal we found
- Version: 1.6T 225PS PHEV Ultimate
- Monthly payment: £364
- Deposit: £12,918
- Term: 23 months
- APR: 0%
- Final payment: £21,771
Our pick of used car deals (February 2023)
BMW X1
Our budget of under £400 per month can get you behind the wheel of a nearly new BMW X1, a compact SUV that offers a surprising amount of practicality for its size, while still delivering the fun driving character that makes BMWs so popular with enthusiastic drivers.
Yes, it’s a front-wheel-drive model but it’s still a sprightly machine, and the 134bhp 1.5-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine is an eager performer.
SE trim is the entry point to the range but still features plenty of kit, such as satellite navigation, climate control, heated front seats, front and rear parking sensors, LED headlights and smartphone connectivity, as well as enough space for a family of five.
The deal we found
- Version: sDrive18i SE (2022)
- Monthly payment: £377
- Deposit: £4,058
- Term: 48 months
- APR: 9.4%
- Final payment: £11,617
Volvo XC40
You can add a slice of Swedish style to your life by choosing the chunky XC40 as your next family car.
A £400 budget will easily put you behind the wheel of an approved used model from the Volvo Selekt scheme, but even the entry-level Core model is generously equipped.
The 9in portrait orientated display looks neat, while the cabin design has the simple minimalist look that makes Volvo’s cars stand out.
And of course, the XC40 wouldn’t be a Volvo if it didn’t have a full suite of safety equipment.
The deal we found
- Version: T4 Recharge PHEV Core (2022)
- Monthly payment: £310
- Deposit: £9,100
- Term: 37 months
- APR: 5.1%
- Final payment: £23,717
