Is it time for a family car? The car should be both spacious and safe, while not draining your entire savings account. But which family car is best for your family?
We have listed 5 good used family cars, all of which are both safe and economical.
Buying a family car is not always easy. The range of family models is large. To make the decision easier, we have put together this guide for you – all to help you find a good family car for your needs. Exactly which car is the best is of course up to each individual – we have listed five used family cars that are all good choices.
Our tips: 5 good used family cars
- Volvo XC60
- Mazda CX5
- Volkswagen Tiguan
- Volkswagen Passat
- Volvo XC90
How do you choose a good family car?
To find the best family car for your family, consider the following:
> Places
How many seats does the car need to accommodate the whole family? If you have a large family, you might need a seven-seater car. In our test, the Volkswagen Tiguan and Volvo XC90 are good choices if you are looking for a 7-seater family car for example.
> Luggage compartment
If you usually go on car holidays, you need a spacious luggage compartment. Over 600 liters is considered really spacious. Below you can compare how the packing space differs among our tips.
> Crash safety
Of course, the family car should have passed Euro NCAP crash tests. This is a ranking that all car dealers have access to. Ask for the Euro NCAP rating.
Most family cars have between 5-600 liters of luggage space.
> Traffic safety
You can increase road safety with the help of modern driver assistance systems that reduce the risk of accidents, such as automatic braking, adaptive cruise control, steering assistance and lane departure warning systems.
> Engine power
Choosing a smaller engine gives longer consumption and thus lower fuel costs. But keep in mind that the more people you have in the car, the stronger the engine you generally need. If there are 6-7 of you and you often have a lot of luggage. Choose a car with a slightly more powerful engine.
> Caravan or trailer?
Do you go on caravan holidays? Or do you often tow a trailer or transport your jet ski in the summer? Look for a car with a good towing capacity. Four-wheel drive and diesel cars are usually good here. Over 1800 kg is considered a good draw weight.
Economy
> Monthly cost
The purchase price is only part of the final monthly cost. Low taxes, fuel consumption and insurance premiums reduce the monthly cost – quite significantly over time.
> Fuel
Gasoline, diesel or electricity? The final fuel cost between gasoline and diesel is often marginal.
Keep in mind that a diesel engine is always more fuel efficient than its equivalent gasoline engine. Even though diesel may be more expensive to fill up, it can still be worth it.
Electric cars, electric hybrids and plug-in hybrids are cheaper to operate, but have a higher price tag.
Cars that are 3-8 years old are often a good option to aim for. They are reliable and the greatest depreciation has already occurred.
> Operational reliability
The older the car and the more miles it has traveled, the greater the risk of trouble. Cars that are 3–8 years old often have a reasonable price tag and are still reliable and in good condition. In addition, the greatest decrease in value has already occurred.
The fact that the tax is reduced after 3 years in traffic can be tricky to keep track of. Are you considering a newer car? Ask the car dealer what the reduced tax will be.
> Tax
Cars that run on petrol/diesel have a increased tax the first 3 years in traffic. After that, the tax is reduced and becomes significantly lower.
It can make a big difference, a 2021 Mazda CX-5 has an annual tax of 10,448 SEK for the first 3 years which then becomes only 1,746 SEK. About 6 times lower.
If you are looking at a car that is just at the breaking point – ask what the tax will be when it tips over 3 years in traffic – and focus more on that figure.
Cheaper or cheapest? that's how big the difference is
Sure, an older car for around SEK 100,000 is attractive compared to the same or similar model that is newer and costs SEK 250,000. But the difference in tax and fuel consumption can be large.
Looking at tax and consumption is more important in the long run than looking at the purchase price.
A comparison – cost of tax and consumption
A cheaper car that uses 0.7 l/mile and has a tax of 3800 kronor costs approximately 36,000 SEK at 2,000 miles of driving.
A newer car, which consumes 0.4 l/mile and has an annual tax of 1800 kronor, costs just over 20,000 SEK.
If you turn it off, you can save over 1,300 SEK every month – just on consumption and tax.
Add to that the fact that newer cars are less likely to suffer from costly repairs and that safety is usually better.
The list: Five good used family cars
Here are our tips for choosing good used family cars.
All cars on the list are well suited for families and also have Isofix mounts in the rear as standard for attaching child seats.
Good choice SUV Family car: Volvo XC60
A safe mid-size SUV that won the World Car of the Year title in 2018. It has plenty of interior space, spacious luggage and is available with both two- and four-wheel drive. Choose between petrol and diesel. Also available as a plug-in hybrid, but the price tag is then significantly higher. Full pot in Euro NCAP's crash tests.
It is one of the best-selling cars in Sweden and suits many people.
Facts Volvo XC60
- Consumption: 0.55 l/mile
- Annual tax: about 2000-3000 SEK
- Number of seats: 5 pcs
- Luggage compartment: 505 liters
- Price range used: approx. SEK 200,000 – SEK 300,000
Good choice safe & roadworthy SUV with extra warranty: Mazda CX-5
A compact crossover SUV that still has plenty of space, feels large inside but is still smooth to drive on the outside. Mazda's best-selling car that has a 10-year warranty - so there are often many years of warranty left even if you buy used - a big plus!
The car is on Folksam's list of safe family cars. Often reasonably priced used with good equipment for the same money as another brand with less equipment.
Facts Mazda CX-5
- Consumption: 0.7 l/mile
- Annual tax: about 1500-2200 SEK
- Number of seats: 5 pcs
- Luggage compartment: 506 liters
- Price range used: approx. SEK 180,000 – SEK 290,000
Good choice family car with large cargo space: Volkswagen Tiguan
Spacious mid-size SUV available with both petrol and diesel engines and two- and four-wheel drive. Full marks in Euro NCAP crash tests and available with manual and automatic transmission. For the large family there is the Allspace model with seven seats.
If you are looking for an SUV for your family, this is one of the ones with the largest luggage space.
Facts Volkswagen Tiguan
- Consumption: 0.6 l/mile
- Annual tax: about 3000-3300 SEK
- Number of seats: 5 pcs (Allspace available as 7 pcs)
- Luggage compartment: 615 liters
- Price range used: approx. SEK 170,000 – SEK 300,000
Good choice family car Estate car: Volkswagen Passat
The immensely popular Passat model has been around for 40 years and is today a popular estate car among families in the country. Available in both diesel and petrol versions and without the price tag sticking out too much. Models manufactured from 2015 are marked "Good choice" by Folksam.
Low consumption and very spacious make it a favorite for many families. Often well priced with a lot of car for the money.
Facts Volkswagen Passat
- Consumption: 0.51 l/mile
- Annual tax: about 2,300 SEK
- Number of seats: 5 pcs
- Luggage compartment: 650 liters
- Price range used: approx. SEK 120,000 – SEK 200,000
Good choice large family car: Volvo XC90
One of the largest and most spacious family cars. Volvo has always focused on safety and it is not surprising that even their largest SUV received five stars in Euro NCAP's crash tests. Plenty of space in both the cabin and the luggage compartment and for the larger family the model is available as a seven-seater. Choose between diesel and petrol, or the more expensive plug-in hybrid version XC90 Recharge.
A good choice for those looking for a larger car. Extremely low consumption considering its size.
Facts Volvo XC90
- Consumption: 0.57 l/mile
- Annual tax: about 4,000 SEK
- Number of seats: 7 seater (also available as 5 seater)
- Luggage compartment: 671 liters
- Price range used: approx. SEK 350,000 – SEK 490,000
Summary: Checklist for an economical family car
- Buy second-hand.
- Focus on cars 3–8 years old.
- Check consumption and tax. It is more important than purchase price in the long run.
- Choose a less powerful engine.
- Do you really need four-wheel drive?
- Choose a car that suits your family's everyday needs - If you only go on one long trip per year with a lot of luggage, you can actually rent a car.
Would you like help calculating the cost of a car or finding out what a model costs in total per month? Contact us and we will help you.
Want to take a look? Here you will find all used cars in stock.
Phone: 0920-23 00 88
E-mail: intresse@niemibil.se
Ryan Hugh, Niemi Bil Luleå
