Family Car Reviews: Are These the 5 Best Family Cars?

Choosing the best family car is tricky because you are not just thinking exclusively about what you want, but rather what best suits you and your family. It can be confusing in a market full of cars of all types, costs, and capacity.  

But even as car models increase, buyers today get an added advantage; from station wagons to SUVs, more and more cars offer family-friendly options like extra storage, additional safety features, backseat DVD players, comfortable seats, etc.

These family-friendly features assist you in making your decisions based on what you are looking for.  

We took time to evaluate the market and see what’s suitable for most families – both large and small. 

1. Toyota Noah

If you have a large family, Toyota Noah could be your best solution. This is a 7 or 8 seater with sliding doors on both sides, very spacious and comfortable that accommodates up to 8 adults plus luggage.  

It boasts of adequate legroom and shoulder room that perfectly fits any passenger. Its elevated upright padded seats provide a natural sitting position comfortable even for long-distance driving.  

Noah is a multi-purpose car that can serve both as a family and business car successfully.

It has a good fuel economy of 14.2km/L on average with an acceleration of 8.2 sec 0-100km/hr and affordable maintenance costs. 

This car is available in either 2WD and 4WD options with an automatic CVT transmission powered by the 2.0L 3ZR engine.

This car has several storage compartments useful for storing personal items.  The first row has four cup-holders, door panel storage, a storage shelf below the dashboard, a center box, and a glovebox. 

Its second-row has storage on the front seat jacket pockets. The third row has storage spaces on the jacket pockets and side pockets. 

The boot space is large enough even when all eight seats are in use.  To create more room, you can fold the second and large rows and get a massive boot space.  

It is one of the few cars with good resale value.  This car is truly a multi-purpose model that most Kenyans love. 

2. Volkswagen Golf

Starting in 2017, Volkswagen began to assembling the Golf locally through their South African branch.  This means you can get your brand new Golf here in Kenya at an affordable price.  And you can also import a slightly used one at a reasonable price.     

Apart from this good news, VW Golf is reliable, and with proper maintenance, it can run for many years without a single problem. Its space and capacity make it an ideal family car with a plush interior comfortable for everyone and enjoyable to drive to.  

It comes with ample boot space enough for a family’s needs making it ideal for trips out of town.

This car is powered by a range of powerful engines ranging from 1.2L to 2.0L, accelerating at 4.9 – 11.9sec 0-100km/h. It has a good fuel economy of 26.6km/L with outstanding off-road performance; you won’t have to struggle to manoeuvre the typical Kenyan roads. 

3. Nissan Xtrail

Nissan Xtrail is the first crossover SUV from the Nissan Company that is a tamer alternative to the Subaru Forester. It is a popular choice among Kenyans who are drawn by its affordability and utility.  

This car has a manageable performance powered by three engine options the 2.0L MR20 petrol engine, the 2.0L MR9 turbo diesel engine, and the 2.5L QR25 petrol engine. 

These engines are linked to either a  5-Speed manual or 6-Speed CVT transmission and available in 2WD and 4WD. It has a favourable fuel consumption of 13.2km/L accelerating 0-100km/h at 11.1sec. 

Xtrail has a stylish design luxurious interior with ample cabin space and massive storage capacity.  It can comfortably accommodate five passengers, and its padded seats are set at an upright position providing a natural and comfortable seating position.

The cabin has a high roof with sufficient head space for tall passengers with excellent legroom on both rows to provide spacious seating space.  

This car has excellent off-road capabilities.  Its attractive boxy design is appealing to many buyers, with the newer version coming with 17 inches alloy rims and hyper-roof rails that enhance its 4×4 solid look.   

The Xtrail has among the enormous boots in the market. The floor is elevated to accommodate two storages under the boot that can carry more luggage.  

The rear seats are also foldable to create more boot space when required. The boot floor is made of waterproof material, making it easier to clean it.  Overall this car is made for the Kenyan roads offering a good ground clearance of 8.3 inches. 

4. Toyota RAV 4

Ever since its introduction to the market in 1994, this car has been a hit.  It was among the first models by Toyota to bridge the gap between the small compact cars and large SUVs.

It is powered by a 2.4L 2AZ-FE engine, accelerating 0-100km/h in 9.6sec.  Its fuel economy is friendly to the Kenyan economy at 13.4km/L. 

The Toyota RAV 4 is virtually similar to the Toyota Vanguard except for the body size and engine lineup.  It is a spacious car accommodating five passengers.  The legroom for both rows is excellent, including the middle seat, which usually squeezes in many vehicles.

The RAV 4 has superb boot space that can comfortably carry small bags for a family of 5. The second-row seats can fold to accommodate more luggage.  

Overall, the Toyota Rav 4 is a well-designed model that appeals to all customers. Its newest model features steel rims, while the higher models have alloy rims. 

5. Honda CR-V

The Honda CR-V is a medium-sized SUV, reliable and affordable family car. Its newest model features off-road capability from the new 4WD system and aerodynamic performance.  

The CR-V comes with three engine variants: a 2.0 Litre R20A i-VTEC, 2.4 Litre K24A i-VTEC petrol engines, or a 2.2 Litre i-DTEC turbodiesel engine.

These three engines are linked to either a 6-Speed Manual, a 5-speed automatic, 6-speed manual transmission, or a CVT and available in both 2WD and 4WD.

It has a sleek interior and exterior that sets this car in a class of its own. The boot space is large enough to hold a significant amount of luggage. It has an extra compartment under the boot floor, and the rear seats fold completely flat to give you more space.

It has an attractive fuel consumption of 11.6km/L on average.  To crown its attractiveness, the CR-V is smooth on city roads and rugged roads as you head out of town so that you can use it for all your travel needs.

Take-Home

We can go on and on and on.  But the point we want to drive home is you have better options than the past few years.  It is, therefore, easier for you to buy your car either locally or import a clean one.  Go ahead and get the one that best suits your needs! 

Guest Writer:  Best Cars