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Best family cars for Motability 2026

With five seats and decent boot space, a family car is still an attractive proposition for Motability users

​​Although superminis have grown to offer more space, there are times when a proper five-seat family hatchback is still what you need. 

Alternatively, the rise of the SUV has brought an even larger choice into the mix, although these high-riding cars can't quite match a traditional MPV for pure practicality.

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Whatever your preference, though, Motability customers have plenty of choice available under the scheme, with many of these cars also being suitable for conversion to meet your specific accessibility requirements.

Our experts have driven the UK's best family cars, and we've rounded up the best Motability picks right here.

Dacia Jogger

  • Model: Jogger 1.0 TCe Essential 5dr
  • PIP weekly cost: total mobility allowance
  • Advance payment: £995
  • Car size: MPV
  • Fuel type: petrol
  • Gearbox: manual

Take a quick glance at the Dacia Jogger and you’d be forgiven for thinking that it’s actually an estate car or even an SUV. Move in a bit closer, though, and you’ll soon realise that this is actually a hugely practical seven-seat MPV — it also happens to be the cheapest seven-seater on Motability by a considerable margin. 

If you don’t need to carry lots of passengers, then the cavernous interior is perfectly suited to carrying a large amount of cargo and the Jogger drives much better than many van-based MPV alternatives. If you need a car which can be suitably adapted to your needs, then the Jogger is a great option as it can easily converted into a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle.

Citroen C3 Aircross

  • Model: C3 Aircross 1.2 Turbo Plus 5dr
  • PIP weekly cost: total mobility allowance
  • Advance payment: £499
  • Car size: small SUV
  • Fuel type: petrol
  • Gearbox: manual
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If you prefer your sports utility vehicle to be comfortable rather than sporty, the Citroen C3 Aircross is as smooth to drive as we’ve come to expect from this particular brand. 

Naturally, the trade-off is an unengaging driving experience but, apart from this, the C3 Aircross is still a likeable small SUV. It’s a roomy car for its size, too, because it offers the same amount of space inside as the old C3 Picasso MPV. 

Running costs should be fairly affordable, but if you want to slash your outgoings further then the fully-electric e-C3 Aircross is also available with no advanced payment.

Renault Captur

  • Model: Captur 1.8 E-Tech Full Hybrid 145 Evolution 5dr Auto
  • PIP weekly cost: total mobility allowance
  • Advance payment: £795
  • Car size: small SUV
  • Fuel type: hybrid
  • Gearbox: automatic

Not only is the Renault Captur one of the best SUVs in Renault’s line-up, it is also one of the best small SUVs on sale in the UK right now.

The Captur has picked up our Small SUV of the Year award on more than one occasion, and the latest edition still ticks plenty of important boxes. Inside you’ll find one of the best infotainment systems currently available, and this is accompanied by some very pleasant cabin materials. 

Renault’s recent facelift means the Captur looks the part, too.

Nissan Qashqai 

  • Model: Qashqai 1.3 DiG-T MH Acenta Premium 5dr
  • PIP weekly cost: total mobility allowance
  • Advance payment: £499
  • Car size: mid-size SUV
  • Fuel type: petrol
  • Gearbox: manual

The Nissan Qashqai is one of Britain’s best-selling cars, and many drivers have been scooping up this mid-size SUV since it first arrived back in 2007. 

Today, the latest model is a very distinctive car that feels quite upmarket in some areas, but it still offers the same family-friendly practicality that made the original a success in the first place. The 1.3-litre mild-hybrid petrol engine, meanwhile, is capable of returning more than 44mpg, but you’ll need to stump up an extra £1,000 to get behind the wheel of the Qashqai e-Power hybrid to see the biggest fuel savings.

​Best family cars for Motability

Now you can buy a car through our network of top dealers around the UK. Search for the latest deals…

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Content editor

Ryan is responsible for looking after the day-to-day running of the Auto Express website and social media channels. Prior to joining Auto Express in 2023, he worked at a global OEM automotive manufacturer, as well as a specialist automotive PR and marketing agency.

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