MERCEDES-BENZ GLB
The Mercedes-Benz GLB wins the Best Medium Family Car of The Year award for 2021. It might look like a full-sized SUV, but under its hunky styling beats the heart of an A-Class Hatchback. This means it’s not only smaller than it first appears but that it also gets the A-Class’s swish dashboard and interior, a range of fuel-efficient engines and sophisticated safety systems, while still offering the advantages of a higher driving position and the option of seven seats. The GLB also puts forward is a strong financial case – from launch, this brand-new car has some cracking monthly deals available.
RUNNERS-UP
CITROEN BERLINGO
The Citroen Berlingo, and its closely-related cousins the Peugeot Rifter and Vauxhall Combo Life might be based on a small van, but don’t think that means they’re not car-like to drive. These three people carriers are legendary for their space efficiency (as you’d expect for a vehicle based on a van), thanks to a vast interior, and allow you to get in and out with ease thanks to sliding rear doors. You can also get seven seats and the boot floor is low to the ground, making it easier to load heavy items. The Citroen gets the nod out of the three because it has the lowest starting price, but they all offer outstanding practicality.
SKODA OCTAVIA ESTATE
The new Skoda Octavia Estate picks up where the old one left off – this Volkswagen Golf-based family car is huge inside, decent value in cash terms, and backed up by a strong dealer network. It’s a big improvement over the old one in terms of refinement and interior quality, which means that Skoda has ironed out the few faults remaining that the Octavia had. So, it’s honest, likeable, good to drive and economical in all forms – a great set of ingredients that make the perfect family car.
