Best used hatchbacks for young families

Recent years have seen the explosion of SUVs and crossovers with these high-riding models lapping up popularity among all types of buyers. However, a traditional hatchback still makes a lot of sense for all types of drivers - particularly younger families who might be shopping on a budget.

Hatchbacks have loads of plus-points; they’re spacious, comfortable and often quite cheap to run. Compared to SUVs and crossovers, they don’t have the same raised driving position but counter this with well-sized cabins and plenty of interior storage. We’ve picked out 10 of the best that you might want to consider.

Volkswagen Golf

It’ll probably come as no surprise that the Volkswagen Golf kicks off this list. It’s been a presence in the hatchback segment for decades and, during that time, has established a reputation for being a true all-rounder which is just as happy bowling up the motorway as it is pootling around town.

It’s a great choice for families, too, owing to its well-made interior and safety-conscious construction. There’s something to fit all budgets, though we’d be leaning towards the seventh-generation car which introduced more in the way of technology and equipment, as well as a whole variety of clean-running engine options that can help to lower fuel bills. Expect to pay around £7,000 for a diesel model with around 90,000 miles on the clock.

Honda Jazz

Where the Honda Jazz misses out on outright style points, it more than makes up in usability. With an excellent track record when it comes to reliability, the Jazz is as spacious as they come and through its four generations has become a great option for drivers that want a car which won’t cost the bank but can still deliver when it comes to roominess.

Because of its popularity, there are plenty of Jazz models available in the used market and for as little as £1,000, too. However, we’d recommend the second-generation Jazz which first arrived in 2008 as it has a few more of the creature comforts you might want from your next car, alongside a sharper exterior design. You’ll pay around £3,500 for a clean example with around 74,000 miles.

Skoda Octavia

The Skoda Octavia goes about the business of being a hatchback slightly differently from others here. On the face of it, you might think that this smart-looking model is a regular saloon car but, move towards the back and you’ll see that the rear section opens into a handy hatchback. Because of its design, its boot dwarfs others on this list, offering around 600 litres of room to provide space for buggies and pushchairs - as well as everything else.

Skoda has produced the Octavia for several years and as a result, there are plenty of used examples to choose from with some starting from as little as £1,000. You’ve also got plenty of engines to choose from, ranging from peppy petrol to strong motorway-ready diesels.

Nissan Leaf

Fancying a walk down the electric side of things? The Nissan Leaf is a great place to start. Often seen as one of the first mass-market electric vehicles, the Leaf follows the traditional hatchback layout with a well-sized cabin and a decent boot but adds in the ability for zero-emissions running that can help drive down your monthly fuel bills.

While early versions - first introduced in 2015 - might seem tempting for their low price, these first models didn’t offer the best range which is why we’d recommend opting for the second-generation Leaf instead, which arrived in 2018. Two battery options - 40kWh and 58kWh - brought despective ranges of 168 and 239 miles while all versions come with plenty of safety equipment. Prices for these versions go as low as £10,999 for a smaller-battery version with around 18,000 miles on the clock.

Hyundai i30

If you’re after a car which won’t let you down, then the Hyundai i30 is a smart move. This brand has a great footing in reliability and it was this car which really brought that to the fore. It has become more upmarket with each generation, too, and while you could net an early i30 for around £1,500, we’d move to the third-generation model - produced from 2017 - if your budget permits it.

With a pleasantly designed exterior and an interior which has lots of good materials, the i30 is a strong contender when it comes to family hatchbacks. Look to pay around £9,300 for a clean example with a mileage of around 60,000.

Seat Ibiza

Seat’s Ibiza brings some Spanish flair to the hatchback segment and while this might be one of the smaller models on this list, it makes the most of its space thanks to clever packaging and a variety of clever pockets and cubbies that are ideal for helping make this car as clutter-free as possible. We’re fond of the latest generation car - introduced in 2017 - as it’s got sharp looks and a tech-packed interior that families will appreciate.

Despite being a smaller car overall, the Ibiza’s 355-litre boot comes close in size to those cars from the segment above. It’s great to drive, too, with nippy handling and good visibility. Expect to pay around £10,600 for a latest-generation car with 37,000 miles.

Kia Ceed

Kia’s cars feel family-focused from the off, with the Ceed being a particularly crucial entry into this segment. It has been a consistent success for the South Korean firm, in truth, providing hassle-free motoring which is underlined by a successful track-record for reliability. It’s a smart-looking thing, too, with this being particularly noticeable in the latest generation car which was introduced in 2018.

It’s a well-equipped car across the board, but it’s the Ceed’s refined character which makes it feel far more upmarket than you might expect. Plus, newer versions will be available with some of Kia’s impressive - and transferable - seven-year warranty intact. You’ll pay around £15,000 for a 2019 model with just 25,000 miles on the clock.

Audi A3

Fancy something a little more upmarket? That’s where the Audi A3 comes in. We’re fond of the third-generation A3, which was sold between 2012 and 2020, as it gets all of the upmarket touches you’d expect from an Audi but doesn’t lose sight of the practicality required from a hatchback. Though the three-door does look good, we’d argue that the five-door ‘Sportback’ version is the more practical option and, therefore, the one which is best suited to families.

The A3’s interior has stood up well to the test of time while all versions get a solid amount of equipment both inside and out. Despite the high-end finish, the A3 needn’t cost the earth, either - high-mileage examples can be bought for around £4,000, though we’d look to spend around £9,000 for a lower-mileage, cleaner version.

Vauxhall Astra

The Vauxhall Astra is another car that has enjoyed significant popularity over recent years. A practical and well-made option, the Astra’s appeal lies in its value as with plenty of standard features and a range of efficient engines, it’s great for those on a budget. The seventh-generation Astra, which was sold between 2015 and 2021, is a fine choice and one which can be found at around £4,500 with reasonable miles.

This age of Astra’s design still looks good, too, while its interior plastics are very hard wearing which makes them easy to clean.

Renault Clio

We finish with a car which typifies the hatchback segment - the Renault Clio. A longstanding member of this portion of the motoring world, the Clio combines style and efficiency together with good levels of standard equipment and spaciousness to create a hatchback which feels solid. It has also grown over the years, making the fifth-generation car - introduced in 2019 - a little bit roomier than you might think.

It’s got loads of tech on-board, too, while an E-Tech model is there for drivers after an electrified experience from their next car. It all comes at a reasonable price, too, with 2020-year models being available for around £10,500.

Prices correct at time of going to press [04/2024].