Which cars made our top 10?

Finding an affordable family car can be difficult, especially with all the other costs that come with having children. Choosing to spread the cost using car finance can mean you can find a car that matches your family’s requirements. We’ve had a look at some of the top rated vehicles on the market to find the top 10 family cars for under £200 per month.

How we calculated the price

Using the Creditplus vehicle search and car finance multi-calculator, we searched for the top rated family cars and estimated a car finance package, based on 48 months duration with just £300 deposit and a good to excellent credit rating. Remember, with a larger deposit or a part exchange you will be able to find an even cheaper monthly price for your family car.

How we made the top 10 list

We looked at three of the top online review websites, Car Buyer, WhatCar? and Auto Express, to see which were the highest rated family cars. This includes family compacts, MPVs and crossover SUVs. Looking through our results, we have chosen ten of the best family cars that Creditplus can finance at under £200 per month. We have included reviews from Creditplus customers to provide another insight into each car.

Seat Leon

First up in our top 10 family cars are the compacts, designed to fit a lot of space in a smaller chassis. The Seat Leon is a family car ideal for those with one or two children who want something with space for the growing family, all whilst still being easy to park and economical. Running costs are low and the latest models come with some excellent in-car technology. Not only that, it looks good too, so it doesn’t have that practical styling that many drivers find boring. Five star safety rating from Euro NCAP will give added peace of mind for your family.

Monthly cost: 2012 SEAT Leon available from £167 per month

Creditplus customer car review: “The steering is light, but has an immediate effect on the front wheels, giving you confidence to tuck it neatly into quicker corners.The shorter wheelbase and the fact it weighs 20kg less, make it more fun on twisting back roads. On the motorway theres barely a rustle from the wing mirrors at 70mph.”

Skoda Octavia

The days of Skoda being a joke are long gone, with many of their more recent models being some of the best cars on the market. The Skoda Octavia is no exception. This compact family car has a surprising amount of space, is easy to drive, handles well on the road and has excellent running costs. An excellent safety rating is the icing on the cake.

Monthly cost: 2012 Skoda Octavia available from £192 per month

Creditplus customer car review: “This is my second Octavia, the last one I had was brilliant and persuaded me to buy another one. The improved looks and more mod cons(including a touch screen) make the new 2012 edition even better. The boot space is large, and is one of the reasons that I chose this over the VW and Audi counterparts. Inside it is classic Skoda with no nonsense styling as you expect.”

Peugeot 308

Another popular compact family car, the Peugeot 308 excels for how smooth it is to drive. It is also extremely reliable, important for those long family journeys to visit the grandparents or take a staycation in the UK. Ideal for families of 1-2 children, the 308 is a superbly made car and great all rounder.

Monthly cost: 2011 Peugeot 308 available from £166 per month

Creditplus customer car review: “Subtle styling and features gives the 308 VTI Sport an overall aesthetically pleasing appearance. 17′ alloys, colour coded exterior and great looking front end makes the 308 a top contender in the hot hatch category. Intererior is great looking, styled with chrome surrounds, a powerful stereo and great driving position.”

Citroen C4 Picasso

Our top 10 family car list moves to the MPV – bigger than a compact for bigger families. The Picasso has become a firm favourite of the UK car market. Kickstarted by the fantastically creative television advert, the Picasso’s large spacious interior and economical engine have cemented its place as one of the best MPV’s available. The ideal car for a growing family, the five star safety rating provides extra peace of mind for parents.

Monthly cost: 2012 Citroen C4 Grand Picasso available from £192 per month

Creditplus customer car review:“With long drives it’s the most comfortable car I have ever driven. Loads of space inside, if you use the speed regulator you forget that you driving and also you cant hear a single noise. Really comfy seat and really handy that you manage the whole computer form the steering wheel.”

Renault Scenic

Anyone after a good all round MPV to fit their family can’t really go wrong with the Renault Grand Scenic. Choosing a diesel option means running costs are kept more than reasonable, whilst the spacious interior can fit three children easily. The ride quality is also nice and smooth, perfect if you have little ones sleeping in the back who you don’t want waking up!

Monthly cost: 2012 Renault Scenic available from £194 per month

Creditplus customer car review:“Chose this particular model due to the really good quality interior. The display and the built in TomTom are great, the seat covers are smart, the whole thing feels comfortable and solid and has survived two children well. Outside it’s a smart looking car, large so quite hard to park – we don’t have any parking sensors – but you get used to it. Boot is large. Very child friendly – I like the pull-up sunshades on the back windows and the little mirror to view the kids is great.”

Vauxhall Zafira Tourer

The Vauxhall Zafira Tourer is the MPV for the driver who prioritises handling and performance over everything else. The ride quality is great all round, and the design is extremely practical – nothing overly complicated or fancy. The interior space is also good, with enough room to comfortably fit a family of five inside. The icing on the cake is the low running costs, a vital requirement for a family car.

Monthly cost: 2012 Vauxhall Zafira Tourer available from £172 per month

Ford C-Max

The Ford C-Max was built with a focus on space and flexibility – two areas the car truly excels. The car is easy to drive, with handling never posing a problem despite the car’s size, and the ride quality is of a high standard. No nasty bumps or shaking when on the road. A good all rounder, the C-Max is perfect for families wanting an MPV and not one of the increasingly popular crossover SUVs.

Monthly cost: 2012 Ford C-Max available from £179 per month

Kia Cee’d

The awkwardly spelt Kia cee’d provides one of the best price to size ratios on the market. The interior space is very roomy, easily fitting a family of five. Overall build quality is also of a very high standard, important with children grabbing and pulling at anything they can get their hands on. The standard equipment on offer is also good, with more advanced options available at affordable prices.

Monthly cost: 2012 Kia cee’d available from £188 per month

Nissan Qashqai

Our top 10 family cars moves its attention to crossover SUVs, quickly replacing MPVs as a large family car. One of the most popular cars in the UK, the Nissan Qashqai has helped lead the change from MPVs to crossover SUVs that now dominate the market. The styling makes it a popular choice for the more image conscious, and the ride is extremely comfortable. For a car of its size, the Qashqai is also easy to drive, with responsive handling. Optional extra parking technology is a must to make maneuvering into parking spaces easy. The +2 variation adds another row of seats for more passengers. All in all, an excellent all rounder.

Monthly cost: 2012 Nissan Qashqai available from £181 per month

Skoda Yeti

One of the highest rated crossover SUVs on the market, the Skoda Yeti has built its reputation on being an excellent all rounder. Rated high for its comfort, build quality, performance and running costs, the Yeti is also a joy to drive. Unique styling helps the Yeti stand out from the crowd, whilst the large amount of interior space makes it comfortable for driver and the young passengers.

Monthly cost: 2012 Skoda Yeti available from £177 per month

The Top 10 Family Cars Under £200 per month

There you have it. The top 10 family cars for under £200 per month. Find more fantastic family cars by searching our car database.  Ready to buy then go straight to apply for car finance, completing the application takes less than 2 minutes and does not impact your credit file. Find out more about our ethical lending policy.

Remember, higher deposits and part exchanges can also reduce the cost of your car finance package. For more information on the car finance options and vehicles available to you, visit the Creditplus help and advice centre.

More information for families from Creditplus

Top 10 Family Cars for under £5,000

The Creditplus Guide to getting your car baby ready

Safest cars for your children