A guide to Australia’s best family cars

Once upon a time, a ‘standard’ Australian family car was a five-seat sedan or station wagon, where wind-up windows were responsible for ‘air conditioning’ and the only entertainment came from an extendable antenna. Things have changed a lot, and mostly for the better.

In this article, we look at some of the latest and greatest family cars on the market, from award-winning people movers and luxury SUVs to kid-friendly sports cars and tech-savvy electric vehicles.

Best 2025 family cars

The best car for your family will depend on where you live, how far you drive, how many children you have and a host of other factors – but here are a couple of new releases that might just tick all your boxes.

Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2025 Santa Fe features a new hybrid powertrain model that delivers excellent fuel economy for a seven-seater (5.6L/100km) and more boot space than any previous models (628L to second row; 1949L to first row). Other family-friendly features include:

• Remote start (to pre-cool or pre-heat the cabin)
• 360-degree camera
• Powered tailgate (so the kids can easily take their own bags in and out)
• Dual-zone ventilation with a fan controller for the third row
• USB-c plugs in the second and third rows
• Five top-tether points and four ISOFIX mounts for car seats
• Safe exit warning (to alert passengers to oncoming traffic when exiting)
• Third-row airbags

Priced from $53,000.

Kia Carnival

Repeatedly awarded as Australia’s best family car, the Kia Carnival has a sleek new feature-packed GT-Line Hybrid model offering all the space a large family could possibly need (627L to third row; 2,827L to second row). Other features include:

• Powered sliding doors
• Powered tailgate
• Remote smart parking assist (to move the car out of tight parking spaces before you get in)
• Heated seats in the second row
• Second-row sunshades
• USB points in second and third rows
• Five ISOFIX mounts and five top-tether points
• Third-row airbags
• Safe exit warning

Priced from $76,220.

Best family-friendly sports cars

Looking for a family car that’s still fun to drive? These models offer a compromise between turbocharged performance and practical features.

Subaru WRX Sportwagon

For performance car enthusiasts, there’s nothing quite like that Rexy rumble in your driveway. But the WRX can be a family car too, especially in the form of its latest Sportswagon, which has a cargo capacity of 492L with seats up and 909L with seats down. Plus it includes many of the same features as family SUV models, including:

• Powered tailgate
• Dual-zone climate control with rear vents
• Three top-tether points and two ISOFIX mounts
• Rear USB charging ports
• Rear heated seats
• AWD for weekend adventures and road trips

Priced from $56,390.

Skoda Octavia

From its gloss-black radiator grill and sports exhaust to its red-stitched seats and stainless steel pedals, the Skoda Octavia RS Wagon looks race-ready inside and out. But it’s equally practical for everyday family life, with a roomy cargo hold (640L seats up; 1700L seats down) that’s full of clever organising features. Specs include:

• Powered tailgate with virtual pedal
• Smartphone/device storage in the back
• Three top-tether points and two ISOFIX mounts
• Rear air conditioning and heated seats
• Exit warning
• Crew protect assist (closes windows if an imminent accident is detected)
• Ambient lighting in the back seats
• Bag hooks in the boot
• Washable boot liner
• Cargo fasteners and nets (for superior road-trip packing!)

Priced from $59,990.

Best family-friendly electric cars

If you’re looking to make the switch to an all-electric vehicle, you’ll find more options than ever in 2025.

Volvo C40

The C40 is Volvo’s first fully-electric small car – with plenty of room to fit school bags, a pram, groceries or the family pet (413L seats up; 1205L seats down). It’s got a range of up to 507 kilometres and a 27-minute fast charge. There’s also:

• Power tailgate
• Cabin air purifier
• Extra front storage compartment
• Three top-tether points and two ISOFIX mounts
• Power child safety locks
• Rear heated seats
• Rear USB-C ports
• Foldable load floor with cargo divider and grocery bag hooks

Priced from $78,990.

Tesla Model Y

There’s a reason Tesla’s Model Y is the best-selling electric vehicle globally, with cutting-edge technology and Autopilot features that maximise safety. The latest model has a 551 kilometre range (you can add 266 kilometres in a 15-minute charge) and an impressive 2130L storage offering (with seats down). The kids will also love:

• 8-inch rear touchscreen with Bluetooth capability (for watching movies or playing video games)
• Adjustable ambient lighting
• Electronic rear folding seats
• Adjustable recline on rear seats
• Acoustic glass (for a quiet cabin)
• Power tailgate with auto unlocking on approach
• Three top-tether points and two ISOFIX mounts
• Rear heated seats and USB-C ports

Priced from $63,400.

_Disclaimer
^{Viva Energy Australia Pty Ltd (“Viva Energy”) has compiled the above article for your general information and to use as a general reference. Whilst all reasonable care has been taken by Viva Energy in compiling this article, Viva Energy does not warrant or represent that the information in the article is free from errors or omissions or is suitable for your intended use.}