10 Best Family Hatchbacks

2018 Kia Stinger rear three quarter hatch open ・ Photo by Kia

For most Americans, a hatchback most often is associated with performance, speed, and fun. Thus, the “hot hatch” is aptly named, but this categorization overlooks an even bigger advantage of this body style — a cargo area that’s more ample than a sedan and much easier to access, too. What does that mean for families? A little extra wiggle room and a lot more convenience.

Hatchbacks are a great option for families and they range all the way from small, fuel-efficient commuters to sleek, luxurious people movers. To help you in your family car search, we’ve compiled a list of the 10 best hatchbacks for families. Read on to see which car fits your family best.

2019 Chevrolet Bolt

Don’t be fooled. The all-electric Bolt may be a compact car, but there’s plenty of room for a family of four, even with child safety seats installed. In addition to the Bolt’s long electric range, this car is surprisingly roomy inside. With plenty of room for the family, it’s simplistic utilitarian interior means it will stand up to the constant ins-and-outs of family life, and bonus – no high prices at the pump to worry about!

The final perk to this little car’s family appeal? In certain states, an HOV lane sticker for electric vehicles means quicker commutes, leaving you with less time spent on the freeway and much more precious family time to enjoy at home. The Chevy Bolt starts at $36,620 and has 238 miles of electric range with a full charge.

Photo by General Motors

2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback

If your family is looking for a reliable car that is good on gas and inexpensive to maintain, the Toyota Corolla Hatchback is a great option. Due to its compact proportions, it’s probably not your best pick for a family road trip, but during the week when Mom is shuttling kids from school to after-school activities, the Corolla is an efficient choice.

We like that the Corolla Hatchback can handle family duty after a long commute or accommodate the little league snack shack supplies when it needs to. And with a starting price of $19,990 and estimated fuel economy of 30 mpg city/38 mpg highway, the Corolla is very easy on the pocketbook.

Photo by Toyota

2019 Volkswagen Golf

Even though we consider it a compact car here in America, the Volkswagen Golf is one of the most popular family cars in Europe. The Golf is a nice compromise; its practical hatchback body style is great for family life, but it’s a fun car to drive, too. Infant car seats are a bit of a tight squeeze, but convertible car seats and boosters fit just fine.

The Golf leaves families with plenty of options — in addition to the regular gasoline powered Golf, “green” families also can choose the eGolf with 125 miles of all-electric range. For enthusiast moms and dads, the Golf GTI and Golf R provide exhilarating performance. The Volkswagen Golf starts at $21,845, the eGolf starts at $30,495, and the Golf GTI and Golf R start at $26,415 and $40,395, respectively.

Photo by Volkswagen

2019 Kia Soul

The Kia Soul is a fantastic family car. Its boxy shape lends itself to a very roomy cabin, and its quirky styling keeps things fun even though it’s a very practical little workhorse. We especially think parents will love its low step-in height, which means the kids can get in and out just as easily as Grandma or Grandpa could.

The Soul is fuel-efficient with EPA estimates of 26 mpg city/31 mpg highway and is packed with tons of high-tech safety features, making it a very good bargain for the money. With its low starting price of $16,490, the Soul can easily fit in almost any family’s budget.

Photo by Kia

2019 Chevrolet Cruze

The Chevrolet Cruze is available in two body styles, and we definitely prefer the hatchback over the sedan for many reasons. GM does a fantastic job at providing value to families for the money – and it’s the only hatchback on our list with an available diesel engine.

For families with older children that need to share the car, we especially like GM’s Teen Driver Technology. This system lets parents set speed alerts and radio volume limits to keep your teen from getting reckless or distracted, and the system even can deliver a “report card” to track your teen’s driving performance for extra peace of mind. The Chevy Cruze hatchback starts at $19,620.

2019 Honda Civic

Fewer brands spark more confidence in ownership than Honda. They’re reliable, practical, fuel-efficient, and safe – all music to a parent’s ears. The Civic also is one of the more sporty and fun-to-drive hatchbacks, making this an appealing choice on our list of family hatchbacks.

The Civic hatchback is available in five different trim levels, offering lots of versatility and potential for any budget. Prices range from $21,450 for a base LX model to $35,700 for a beefy, performance-driven Type-R model.

Photo by Honda

2019 Buick Regal Sportback

For families with gangly teens and tweens, a compact hatchback might not fit the bill. In that case, step up to the midsize Buick Regal Sportback. Introduced for 2018, the Regal Sportback is very stylish, and offers luxurious accommodations along with its handy hatchback body style.

We are enamored with the Regal’s looks, which are quite Audi-like, and we also enjoy the Regal’s whisper-quiet cabin. The Buick Regal Sportback starts at $25,070.

Photo by General Motors

2019 Kia Stinger

Just because you need a family car doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice fun. The Kia Stinger is not only a real looker, but its performance chops are nothing to scoff at.

If you’re a parent who values the drive experience just as much as the car’s functionality, the Stinger is the perfect contender. Its hatchback body style is a real delight and makes this sport sedan surprisingly practical. The Kia Stinger starts at $32,900.

Photo by Kia

2019 Tesla Model S

Tesla has become so popular these days that it’s practically a household name. And while most may think the brand’s SUV-ish Model X is the family car, the Model S is just as up to the task as its all-electric sibling. You might not know that when the Tesla Model S was in its planning stages, Elon Musk made the specific demand that the car must be able to transport his family of five. So, the Model S launched with an available rear-facing third row. You wouldn’t want to stick Grandma or Grandpa back there, but it does accommodate children.

The third row has just been discontinued as of this writing, but the Model S is still plenty spacious for a family of four. You’ll also be the “cool” mom or dad when you pull up in the carpool lane at school, and there’s plenty of in-car tech to satisfy the entire family. If you’ve got the means, the Model S is one sexy option. The Tesla Model S starts at $62,500.

Photo by Tesla

2019 Porsche Panamera

If you’ve always longed for a Porsche, but thought you’d have to take it off the list now that you’ve got kids in tow, think again. The Panamera is a large hatchback — one of the largest on our list — and easily can tackle family duty. It also straddles the line between “hot hatch” and luxury family car, making it exciting and splurge-worthy.

Of course, the experience behind the wheel will keep you feeling young and free, but the safety features and extra cargo room will keep you firmly planted in your parental persona. Forget the Cayenne, the Panamera is a perfect fit for a family-mobile that delivers on performance, style, and comfort. The Porsche Panamera starts at $86,300.

Photo by Porsche