Top 5 new cars for new parents

If you’ve recently become a new parent, you’ll likely agree that – aside from the elation – it is amongst the most stressful things that a person can do. On top of this, the sudden need to graduate from an economical supermini or sleek sports car to something rather more practical can be unwanted additional headache.

Piloting a van-like people carrier or high-riding off-roader can also prove a daunting task for the uninitiated. Thankfully there is now a new crop of family cars based on hatchbacks, but with the additional spaces families need, that could prove to be just the happy medium for those who now find themselves with a little one in tow.

Here are Motors.co.uk’s top 5 best cars for new parents:

The sliding rear doors on this model give 1.5 metres of unobstructed aperture, enabling easy access to the rear seats and making the installation of a car seat (and baby) a doddle. This new design sees parts of the B-pillar integrated to within the doors, meaning no loss of structural rigidity. It’s available with Ford’s new economical (yet powerful) 1.0-litre turbo engine and was awarded a 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating, too.

Search for a used Ford B-Max here

Nissan has been clever with its latest family model. From the outside, the Note looks no bigger than a supermini, but the cabin offers an abundance of space, with a capacious 437-litre boot and plenty of room in the back to manouvre children in and out of car seats. Nissan’s enviable reputation for reliability is just the icing on the cake.

Search for a used Nissan Note here

The Fiat 500 is a thoroughly modern yet retro-styled hatchback that we all know and love, but it does suffer with the impracticality of being tiny. This is where the 500L comes in, offering similar styling to the 500 but with a much bigger, more practical outline. For the mums out there who want an outwardly fashionable car that can be used for more than simply popping to the shops, this is the one for you.

Search for a used Fiat 500L here

The Spaceback is a compact and sporty option for parents not willing to compromise on cool points. From the outside it looks like a sporty hatchback, shorter in stance than the regular Rapid model but with similar space to an estate. The interior, however, is surprisingly roomy with plenty of space for both passengers and luggage. The Rapid also comes packed full of clever little features too, such as an ice scraper in the fuel filler cap, a waste bin in the side door and a multimedia device holder, to name but a few. There is also the option for a panoramic sunroof, which is a great way to keep the little ones entertained.

Search for a used Skoda Rapid here

On the surface the big Kia may not seem like an obvious choice for new parents, but look a little closer and the Sportage makes sense as a family run-about. It’s available as a 4×4, so there’ll be no excuses for not getting Junior to school just because the weather has turned against you. Despite its look, the Sportage isn’t huge, either, so it is easy enough to park but still offers plenty of space for storage and the high driving position which many find desirable. Kia also provides a 7-year manufacturer warranty, which offers great peace of mind.

Search for a used Kia Sportage here