What is the best Ford car for a family?
Ford has some great options if you’re looking for a car for your family, but what are the best models available? Take a look at our guide to find out
)
Besides being a familiar household name, Ford is known for building affordable, high-quality and reliable cars – there’s a reason that many of its models top the charts as Britain’s most sold new and used cars.
If you’re after a practical family car, this is a great place to start, but with nearly all of its cars catering to families, knowing which model is right for you can be tricky.
Below, we’ve outlined some of Ford’s most popular models, ranging from hatchbacks to SUVs and even van-like people carriers.
What makes a Focus the best Ford family car?
 "Ford Focus Vignale front three quarters")
The Ford Focus is an affordable family hatchback model, but the latest fourth-generation model introduced in 2018 has enough luxury to rival some more expensive models.
Tested twice by Euro NCAP in 2018 and 2019, the fourth-generation model scored a full five-star safety rating, making it a model you can rely on to protect your family.
Inside, there’s plenty of legroom and headroom, even for rear-seat passengers, and it still manages to offer an industry-average 375-litre boot. If you need even more space, you should consider the estate model.
Power comes from a range of petrol and diesel engines, some with mild hybrid technology to reduce emissions. Unless you’re always carrying a car full, we think the 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol offers the best balance.
All cars come with the essentials, like air-conditioning and Bluetooth connectivity, and you won’t have to look far for a Focus with a handy heated windscreen, parking sensors and heated seats.
Ford Puma: the perfect car for small families?
)
Introduced in 2019, the Ford Puma is a small crossover model based on the Fiesta, offering substantially more space in a reasonably compact design.
It was awarded a five-star Euro NCAP rating in 2019, but in 2022 it was downgraded to four stars. Don’t be put off by this, because this is a sign of the organisation introducing even stricter regulations, rather than the car becoming less safe.
This car’s party piece is what Ford calls the Megabox – it’s a large 80-litre store area under the boot floor that’s finished in plastic and has a draining plug at the bottom. It’s great for storing muddy boots after those family adventures because you can wash it down afterwards.
The only engine option is the 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol, and all are mild hybrids, so there’s really no bad pick when it comes to what powers your Puma.
Because the entry-level model for the Puma is the high-spec Titanium trim, no car will be short on kit. All versions get a large touchscreen infotainment system that works with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Is the Kuga good as a Ford family car?
 "Ford Kuga front three quarters")
A long-standing staple in the Ford lineup, the latest-generation Kuga was introduced in 2019 and it looks the part, with a premium yet sporty exterior and a more car-like design instead of the older, boxier shape.
It’s a seriously safe model with an impressive five-star Euro NCAP rating, and things like autonomous emergency braking and a lane departure warning system come as standard.
Boot space varies from 412 to 526 litres, and you can pick the right configuration for passengers and luggage by sliding the rear seats.
Besides petrol, diesel and mild hybrid power, there’s also a 190hp hybrid and a 225hp plug-in hybrid. With an electric top speed of 85mph and a range of more than 30 miles, it offers the potential for some seriously low running costs.
ST-Line variants are really popular because they add a lot of visual appeal plus extra kit like a digital instrument cluster, a powered boot lid and a panoramic sunroof (depending on spec).
Does the Ford S-Max offer family-friendly features?
)
One of Ford’s largest people carriers, sitting above the B-Max, C-Max and Grand C-Max, the S-Max offers genuine seven-seater capabilities in a seriously stylish package.
It has a low roofline and a high belt line, which help add some sporty flair. It’s not style over substance, though, because this, too, was awarded five stars by Euro NCAP.
Ford quotes boot capacities for this model up to the roof, which you might not want to do if you’re going on a long trip, but as a guide, it has an impressive 965-litre space in five-seat mode and 2,020 litres of capacity in two-seat mode.
Even with all seven seats in place, its 285-litre boot falls only slightly short of what you get in an entire Fiesta. You’ll struggle to fit seven and their suitcases, but you should have no problem packing the car for a day trip.
Some petrol options were available, but most buyers opt for a 2.0-litre diesel, with power outputs including 120hp, 150hp, 190hp and 240hp. There are even some four-wheel-drive variants for added grip in slippery conditions.
Is a Ford Galaxy the most spacious for families?
)
Best compared to a small bus, this is one of the largest seven-seater people carriers you can get, and adults should be reasonably comfortable in the back unless you’re asking them to sit there from Land’s End to John o' Groats.
It’s around nine cm taller than the S-Max on the outside, and this translates to a lot of headroom in the cabin. The boxy rear-end design also helps improve headroom in the rearmost seats, too.
Seven-seat boot space isn’t an awful lot more, at 300 litres, but the 1,206 litres of space in five-seat mode and 2,339 litres of space in two-seat mode is seriously impressive – you won’t even need to rent a van if you’re moving your child out to uni.
Most newer models come with things like parking sensors and dual-zone climate control, and higher trim levels add keyless entry and more car tech, plus there’s plenty of storage inside including a console in the roof.
It’s generally available with the same engines as the S-Max. In their later years, both cars were sold with the same 190hp 2.5-litre hybrid as you get in the Kuga.
Should I buy a Ford Tourneo Courier as a family car?
)
Sometimes, buying a family car is all about space, and few models come near to offering as much space as van-based cars.
Despite being based on Ford’s smallest dedicated van, the Transit Courier, this Tourneo Courier has space for five and a seriously impressive 708-litre boot, making it the pick for adventurous and active families.
Although the interior generally feels more robust in a van-based model, basic Tourneo Couriers still come with air-conditioning, a heated windscreen and cruise control, plus higher-spec Titanium models with their touchscreen infotainment system aren’t overly expensive in comparison.
This model uses Ford’s van engines, and the 100hp 1.5-litre diesel is a popular choice. Fortunately, you can also get the 1.0-litre EcoBoost in newer versions, which is great news because this is an excellent engine.
A new generation, introduced in 2023, adds a lot more car tech and makes this feel more car-like, from the way the interior is designed to the fancy two-tone paint options.