Slightly larger than a city car, small family cars are usually favoured by those with a couple of children, but not enough to warrant going out to buy a people carrier. These particular models offer spacious interiors, which also provide a comfortable riding experience for passengers. As the average driver with a young family will know, the atmosphere on long car journeys can become quite claustrophobic, so the extra room of small family models is welcomed with open arms by most.
Unsurprisingly these particular models are amongst the most popular available in Europe. It’s a factor evidenced not only by sales figures, but also the amount of models being produced. The likes of Audi, BMW, Ford, Honda, Mercedes, Peugeot – with its 308 model – Renault, and many more all manufacture at least one small family car. Some manufacture a whole range, providing plenty of choice for those motorists with a more specific idea of the car they’d like to be driving.
Each manufacturer utilises its own unique technology in each model. For example, the Peugeot 308 features the French company’s E-HDi Stop and Start technology. This system – on the 308, and a number of other Peugeot models – automatically stops the engine when the car comes to standstill – i.e. in a heavy traffic jam – and restarts it again once the driver wants to get going again. Meanwhile, some of Volkswagen’s models feature its BlueMotion Technologies. Designed to encourage green driving, these features include brake energy recuperation – the recovery and storage of kinetic energy generated during the process of braking.
But which cosmopolitan favourites should you keep your eye out for? Which small family cars – like the Peugeot 308 – provide a fantastic driving experience?
Here, we’ve produced a guide featuring the Peugeot 308, and the Volkswagen Golf:
Peugeot 308: Spacious, fuel efficient and great to drive – the 308 provides everything you could really want from a small family car and more. The model packing the 1.6 e-HDi 112 FAP EGC engine is capable of providing an impressive fuel efficiency rate of 76.4 mpg (miles per gallon). Quality upholstering is displayed in all elements of this 308 model’s interior, providing passengers with comfort in abundance. The 308 also features Peugeot’s e-HDi Stop and Start technology – which we mentioned earlier. For those lengthy, cross country car trips – to see relatives and the like – the cielo glass roof is panoramic, letting plenty of light into the cabin, which in-turn makes the generous interior space seem much bigger.
Volkswagen Golf: A great option for those looking for a solid second-hand model, the Volkswagen Golf has been a favourite offering a sporty edge for a good while. The latest version continues to build on the features that have made the model so great. It’s nice to drive – like the 308 – and offers great body control – a key factor in any car purchase. The BlueMotion model can provide a fuel efficiency rate of 88.3 mpg, so it’s certainly worth trawling the classifieds sections in car magazines, or the listings of online auction sites to find one in decent working order.
