Following on from my ‘New Year, New Car’ story, this will become a regular thing with the focus being helping buyers find the safest, best-value and stylish model for their money. This time, attention is turned to one of the main markets: the family car.
After checking safety numbers, budgets with buyers and popular choices, we have whittled down the choices into each budget, all the way to £20,000.
Mazda3
Years produced: 2003 to present
First on our list is the Mazda3 and the successor to the Mazda 323, which was phased out in 2003. The car was based on the same platform of the Ford Focus and Volvo S40, which took Mazda back to when it was part of the Ford Group. This meant the car was able to get five stars in the coveted Euro NCAP crash tests and a firm family favourite.
The car we’ve chosen, is the second-generation model and still based around the Focus and still has the high score with crash tests. There are also some special edition features, such as sportier styling and low-profile tyres. The Mazda also offers an alternative to the best-selling VW Golf and Vauxhall Astra.
Price: £4,500
Ford Focus
Years produced: 1998 to present
Next, is the Ford Focus – well, we could hardly mention it and now have it featured
somewhere, could we?
The Focus has always been a hit with families, ever since it was introduced as a replacement for the Escort back in 1998. Like the Mazda, we’ve chosen the second-generation model which was produced for a global audience.
This generation of Focus still had the five-star Euro NCAP safety rating, to ensure your family is safe.
Price: £3,490
Volkswagen Golf
Years produced: 1974 to present
Next on our list is the Volkswagen, which has been a firm family favourite for the past 35 years and has the credentials to back it up in both terms of practicality and safety.
Launched in 1974, the Volkswagen Golf has spawned eight generations and it’s the sixth generation which we have picked for our list. The MK6 scored the coveted five stars in Euro NCAP crash tests and already based on a platform used for many other Volkswagen Group models including the Audi A3 and Seat Leon.
Price: £3,695
Kia Ceed
Years produced: 2008 to present
Moving up to the next price bracket and we find the Kia Ceed – this was Kia’s answer to
the Vauxhall Astra, Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus, but the question is – is it worth the price?
The Kia was created, engineered, designed and built in Europe and the build quality was up there too and a far cry from the Kia’s of old. We’ve chosen the facelifted model, which was built in 2014 and boasts a Euro NCAP five-star rating and insurance shouldn’t cost you the earth.
Price: £6,269
BMW 1-Series
Years produced: 2004 to present
Strangely, we’ve found a used BMW 120d in the same price category as the Ceed. The car was originally launched in 2004 and was a successor to the BMW 3-Series Compact of the 1990s. It was known for its rear-wheel drive platform and spawned three and five-door versions, as well as a 2dr coupe/convertible, badged the 2-Series.
This is where we find a premium, British manufacturer and the Spanish-arm of the Volkswagen Group – with the Mini Countryman and Seat Leon, respectively.
Price: £8,950
Seat Leon
Years produced: 1998 to present
Let’s talk about the Leon first, which usually offers a better value deal than the Volkswagen Golf it’s based on. The example we found, comes with parking sensors, alloy wheels and Bluetooth – yet doesn’t set you back, costing £10,000.
The Leon is based on the same MQB platform as many VW Group products, including the Skoda Octavia, Audi A3 and Golf. This third-generation model was launched in 2012 and matches the loading capacity of the Golf.
Price: £10,000
Mini Countryman
Years produced: 2010 to present
Also, in this price category is the Mini Countryman, which was launched as the 4×4 version of the Mini hatchback and originally built by Magna in Austria. For the second-generation, like the example we found, production was moved to the Netherlands and the platform was shared with the BMW 2-Series range, as well as the BMW X1, X2 and Mini Clubman.
Powering the Mini Countryman, and the example we found, was a 2.0-litre engine with 228bhp and able to get sixty in 6.5 seonds before hitting a top speed of 145mph.
Price: £20,600
Topping off our family car countdown, is the Ford Focus ST and the Mercedes-Benz A-Class – two premium offerings.
Ford Focus ST
Years produced: 2002 to present
The Focus ST is currently the fastest Focus made and it’s been made more efficient, with
the addition of a diesel option. The model we’ve chosen is the 2.0-litre EcoBlue 190 ST hatchback, which has 187bhp and gets to sixty in 7.6 seconds. Standard equipment includes 19-inch alloy wheels with magnetite finish, red contrasting stitching inside and flat-bottomed steering wheel.
Price: £30,694
Mercedes-Benz A-Class
Years produced: 1997 to present
Alongside the Focus ST we’ve chosen the Mercedes-Benz A-Class, which has been chosen in the A200d guise and boasts fuel consumption of 44mphg and annual tax of £145 with 126g/km of carbon emissions.
The model we’ve chosen in the 2019 fourth-generation model and has AMG Bodystyling, keyless-go and sports seat with three-spoke steering wheel. This model hits the scales at £22,000.
Price: £21,599
So whatever your budget, you can get a stylish and safe car. Go for a premium brand and you will stand out from the crowd, but there are also reliable, family favourites. The choice is now yours.
Michael Docherty 