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Discover some of the best cars for families, from small to large SUVs.
25 March 2025
Written by Wheels magazine
Price, fuel economy, interior space, storage… these are some of the factors the average Aussie family take into account before deciding on a new car. Here are some of the best options on - or coming to - the Australian market in 2025.
There are a number of questions the growing family need to ask themselves when assessing a new car purchase: how is the room inside, particularly in the second and third rows? How are the storage options in the cabin? How big is the boot, with and without the seats folded down? How powerful and reliable is the engine? Is the price in our budget? What sort of warranty applies?
There are many more pertinent questions as well but answers on these key elements will certainly help guide you to the right decision. Here’s a mix of existing and coming models suitable for Australian families.
Everest is beginning to catch the all-conquering Ranger as Ford’s most popular vehicle in Australia.
Styled as an ‘urban warrior’ – tough and durable for either the daily school and work run, or the trip to the country to see the sights – there are eight variants currently available in Australia, comprising models with a 2.0L bi-turbo diesel engine and a 3.0L turbo diesel engine, in both rear-wheel and four-wheel drive versions with 10-speed automatic transmission. This includes special, up-spec Wildtrak and Tremor editions.
Price range is from $54,240 to approximately $81,200 (excl on-road charges). Spacious and comfortable inside, with premium-looking materials and finishes even in the entry-level Ambiente model, the centrepiece of the interior is a digital instrument cluster and integrated 10.1-inch centre LCD touchscreen. Electronic dual zone auto air conditioning/climate control is important in the hotter months, and the Everest carries an ANCAP 5-star safety rating, nine airbags and plenty of driver assist tech including adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition and blind spot monitoring with cross traffic alert.
The new 2025 BMW X3 includes three variants include the all-wheel drive X3 20 xDrive and X3 M50 xDrive (powered by 2.0L petrol, 48V mild-hybrid, 8-speed engines), and even newer the X3 30e xDrive plug-in hybrid, which pairs a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor and high-voltage battery.
The updated models are bigger than previously, longer by 34mm and wider by 29mm, making it even more suitable for growing families. It also has a bigger boot at 570 litres, expandable to 1700L.
Prices range from $84,500 for the X3 20 xDrive up to $126,900 for the X3 M50 xDrive. The new models boast an all-new look inside and out, featuring a high-quality interior with sustainable materials. On the infotainment front, the new X3 includes the latest BMW iDrive system with Operating System 9 and QuickSelect, allowing for direct function activation without submenus. Generous front and rear seat space, spacious boot storage and comfortable ride and handling make it a high quality option for families of four or five.
The Tiguan has been a reliable family mover down under, with a new third-generation edition of the mid-size SUV arriving in Australia this year. A bit boxy and sharp-edged in previous iterations, the new model is rounded and easier on the eye, with great practical features and new tech to appeal to family buyers.
Pricing is mid-range - approximately $50,000 for the entry-level 110TSI front-wheel drive model, up to about $63,000 for the top-spec, all-wheel drive 195TSI R-Line.
Pride of place in the redesigned cabin is a new 15.0-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite navigation, and voice control system operating ChatGPT AI tech. It’s roomy inside, good for three kids in the back along with ISOFIX points and three top-tethers. The kids also get directional air vents, cupholders, map pockets and bottle holders in the doors. Rear climate control keeps everything chilled. Up front there’s a dual wireless phone charging dock and two USB-C ports, plus storage areas, additional cupholders and large door bins.
Boot space has increased to 652 litres and rear seats split 40:20:40 for bulkier items, while the boot is well equipped with 12-volt port, shopping bag hooks and adjustable floor.
Versatility is the name of the game with Honda’s family SUV offering, the CR-V available with a hybrid engine and five and seven-seat options, as well as two-wheel-drive and all-wheel- drive options.
A hands-free power tailgate, configurable rear seating to make room for either people or luggage, and a large capacity boot with low, wide opening are some of the key CR-V selling points for families, along with Honda Sensing active safety features, eleven airbags and intuitive in-cabin tech systems.
Pricing ranges from $49,300 for the entry-level VTi L up to around $60,000 for the e:HEV RS, which achieves a claimed fuel efficiency of 5.5L/100km via a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine with two electric motors. The interior is a significant improvement on earlier models, with better storage options, modern-looking materials and a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster.
The CR-V ticks a lot of boxes for the modern Aussie family.
One of the market newcomers in the family-focused five-seat electric SUV segment, China’s Deepal E07 includes a unique open-air load tray which has some claiming it’s an SUV-ute mash-up. Others have likened it shapes to the Tesla Cybertruck. What it is, though, for families who need to transport a lot of gear to sport, etc, is a new arrival to consider.
Due in the second half of 2025, the E07 uses the underpinnings and cabin of a mid-size SUV, yet also features a tray and sliding tonneau cover like a ute. Measuring around five metres in length, the E07 is about 30cm shorter than a Ford Ranger but sits on a longer wheelbase for more cabin space. The electric E07 is capable of up to 560km of range with a range-extender increasing that range to more than 1,000km in Chinese testing.
Stylistically, the E07 looks like a coupe SUV with the tray/boot covered, but some button presses moves the rear tonneau cover up to turn it into a ute.
Mazda has launched a lot of large-ish SUVs in the past couple of years but make no mistake, as far as Australia is concerned, the CX-80 is the big ticket item.
It sits alongside the now-established flagship CX-90 as the brand's seven-seat offerings, but where the CX-90 is unashamedly premium, the CX-80 is far more affordable, opening at just $54,950 for an all-wheel drive seven-seater. That nets you the Pure grade which is expected to be the second most popular of the four trim levels rising through Pure, Touring, GT and Azami, equipped with the 3.3-litre straight-six mild hybrid petrol engine. The Pure specification, available only with the petrol engine, includes 18-inch grey metallic alloys, a 10.25-inch centre screen with a 7-inch TFT multi-information meter, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, LED headlamps with high beam control, native sat nav and Mazda Connected Services.
There's a decent amount of head and elbow room up front, with stacks of adjustment for the wheel and the seating position. All round visibility is reasonably good, with only the chunky C-pillar limiting over shoulder vision. There's a fairly sizeable dual-lidded centre bin between the front seats, big but not huge door bins and a sensibly-sized glove box. Step back a row and the middle row of seats sits high, offering a good view forwards. There is a decent amount of recline and some slide for the second row, which makes it a lot easier to find a comfy position and legroom can be stretched right out. Even in this row, there's a pair of USB-C slots and air con controls. With all three rows of seats in place, the CX-80 offers 258 litres of space to the seat tops, enough for a baby stroller or the ubiquitous golf bag. This figure also includes the underfloor cargo space, handy when you're looking to keep valuables out of sight.
Its family friendliness is the reason the Toyota RAV4 has consistently been one of Australia's best-selling mid-size SUVs.
For the fuel-price conscious family (who isn’t?), the RAV4’s 2.5-litre four-cylinder hybrid-only engines are a drawcard, as well as its clever practicality and stylish exterior. Pricing of the range varies from the entry-level Toyota RAV4 GX 2WD Hybrid at around $42,000, up to the Toyota RAV4 Edge AWD Hybrid closer to the $60,000 mark. The interior is comfortable and user-friendly, though the durability of the upholstery for those with little kids may be questionable. A full-width 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster sits behind the steering wheel, complemented by a very responsive 10.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with satnav.
Both wired and wireless versions of both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available, along with a wireless phone charger in the centre console. Plenty of room in the second row along with air vents on the back of the centre console, USB-C ports, and a fold-down armrest with cupholders. There’s a power tailgate at the back, opening to 542-580 litres of storage capacity. Still a family favourite.
A staple of three-row people-movers in Australia for a decade now, famed for its practicality and storage, the Kia Carnival has more challengers these days but remains a must-look option for larger families.
Updated in the past year, the Carnival saw revisions to its styling, technology, and powertrains. The addition of a petrol-electric model, the Kia Carnival GT-Line Hybrid was the most noteworthy development, priced at $76,210. Cheaper variants include the S, Sport, Sport+ and GT-Line Lite, in V6 petrol and diesel options. Every model now joins the list of Kias featuring a curved (or rather kinked) dual digital display, though S and Sport models have a smaller and more simplistic instrument display whereas Sport+, GT-Line Lite and GT-Line grades have a more expansive and more sophisticated 12.3-inch cluster. All models also now have a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen. Wireless phone charging is now available on more than just the flagship Carnival, with only the base S now missing out.
No changes to the 2-3-3 seating layout, which continues to be a marvel of interior space, storage, and comfort. Three adults can sit across both the second and third rows with sufficient comfort, with abundant legroom in the second row and more in the last row than you’ll find in your average seven-seater SUV.
All Carnival variants offer parents the wonderful flexibility of putting younger kids in the rearmost seats thanks to ISOFIX points and top-tether anchors for the outboard positions. The Kia’s brilliantly deep boot provides a quoted capacity of 627 litres when the rear seats are in play. You won’t find many multi-seater large SUVs capable of swallowing as much luggage while seating seven (or more) occupants. Push-fold the third-row seats (divided into a 50:50 arrangement) to create a cavernous volume of 2827 litres. An enduring winner.
Images supplied by Wheels magazine. This article was written by an independent author of Wheels Media. Full disclaimer