As we coolly glided into the hospital for our baby scan (for our second child, we got this), you can imagine our surprise when two little plums appeared on the screen. We were expecting identical twins.
After I regained the function in my arms and legs, there were many questions. And I mean SO MANY questions. One of them, after ‘how on earth are we going to manage this?’ was transport. We already had an 18-month old daughter and now we needed to fit two extra personnel in the back.
Our thoughts went into overdrive.
What family car could accommodate us safely and handle all the extra accessories and hardware that comes with having three very young children?
Renault Scénic
Ok, I admit it, I was still in love with my Renault Clio, and although it seemed obvious to look at the Renault Scénic or Grand Scénic, I wasn’t sure. Groundbreaking space solutions, Bose surround sound… was it all it was cracked up to be? Also, modular storage is all very well, but could it handle the monstrous double pram and 20 boxes of Pampers?
As I found out, yes, it did. The ever-so-stylish Renault Scénic is a great family car with useful storage solutions, seats that flip and fold easily at the touch of a button and a very big boot.
The exceptional amount of safety features makes the Scénic one of the safest models on the market, with a five-star Euro NCAP rating. It’s the only people carrier in the segment to offer active emergency braking with pedestrian detection as standard, plus lane departure warnings and lane keep assist with adaptive cruise control. Also, the fatigue detection feature will put any parent at ease.
SEAT Alhambra
We looked into the SEAT Alhambra, and the 2.0 diesel in two power outputs appealed to us, as we figured a family car with better torque would be able to pull our merry band with ease. The Alhambra is a huge family car and offers space for seven people, and with large side windows, everyone gets a great view. Wheeling around the grandparents in this would be no problem!
With everyone in the car, there is still room for luggage but if you fold the two rearmost seats down you have a realistic size of boot space for all the family. Drop the middle row altogether and van drivers will start looking at you in admiration.
Ford C Max
Value for money. Practical. These words will resonate with every family. The Ford C Max is based on the Ford Focus hatch, and has a sporty suspension and solid interior. As well as being punchy, the C Max is efficient – and with Ford’s award-winning 1.0-litre turbocharged EcoBoost engines, available with either 99bhp or 123bhp, the only thing you need worry about is how much charge you have left on your iPad
If you require more power, the 2.0-litre diesel is another good bet, with 64.2mpg and CO2 emissions of 114g/km meaning you only pay £30 a year road tax. And when it comes to boot space, the C Max has 471 litres, increasing to 1,851 litres.
As an option, Ford has a Family Pack. Sadly, it hasn’t got built-in baby sitters, but it does include a powered tailgate and rear sun blinds for those moments when you can’t understand why your child is crying in the back and then realise that the sun is shining directly in their face. Problem solved, and that’s what every parent needs – solutions!
Citroën C4 Picasso
With its impressive styling, that the artist himself would be proud of, the Citroën C4 Picasso is one of the most spacious and economical MPVs on the market.
The BlueHDi 100 diesel – with 74.3mpg fuel economy and CO2 emissions of 99g/km – is fantastic for a car of this size, making it cheap to run.
Alternatively, if even more space is required, the seven-seat C4 Grand Picasso appeals to larger families, particularly if you have an entire 5 a-side football team lining up to be taken to practice.
Competitive in its class, the boot space is another strength for this vehicle, with underfloor cubbyholes, drawers under the front seat, deep door bins and lots of cup holders to fit in all the essentials.
Volkswagen Touran
Perfect for family life, the Volksawgen Touran was awarded ‘Best MPV 2016’ at the annual What Car? Awards. After looking at the Touran, it’s easy to see why. It’s great to drive, has a premium, classy interior and outstanding safety features.
From the panoramic glass roof, keyless entry with hands-free boot opening, and a function which makes it easier to climb through to the third row of seats, it’s clear that the Volkswagen designers have carefully considered what families need from their car.
The luggage capacity of the Touran increases up to 633 litres with the third row of seats folded and 1857 litres with both the second and third row seats folded. The fold flat seats are effortless and the added bonus is the Cargo Management system, which can take all the buckets and spades, frisbees and kites you’ll never need.
Obviously safety is paramount, so Volkswagen has developed PreCrash, a clever system that identifies the possibility of an accident and automatically closes the windows and sunroof. It also provides more tension in the front seat belts.
City Emergency braking detects any risk of a rear-end collision and will give the driver a series of warnings – it can also provide intelligent control of any sudden braking, reducing the intensity of a potential collision.
Overall, the Volkswagen Touran absolutely nails the family car with some seriously smart, practical solutions.
BMW 2 Series Active Tourer
Feeling flush? The BMW 2 Series Active Tourer offers luxury in spades, as well as a broad range of diesel and petrol engines and a plug-in hybrid variant.
The 220d has a sportier-feeling engine – however, the slightly cheaper 218d Active Tourer is more than adequate for the majority of families.
The Active Tourer deals very well with speed bumps, making it easier to negotiate the many child-friendly places you may find yourself in. A welcome change from taking your time going over them and hoping to car heaven that the under carriage of your car doesn’t get completely scraped.
As well as providing silence whilst cruising (not while the children are in the car, though, obviously), the simple dashboard is easy to use, and has standard rear parking sensors across the range. Available as an extra, Navigation Plus has an 8.8-inch screen complete with traffic avoidance, a bigger colour screen and heads-up display. With masses of room up front and a high roofed cabin, this premium 5-seat MPV is one of the best in its class. It also boasts electronically folding 40/20/40 split rear seats, which sit flat and make going to IKEA drama-free. And that’s worth paying a bit extra for, isn’t it?