Top 10: Pushchair Friendly Used Cars

Now in its seventh generation, the Vauxhall Astra has proved itself to be a very reliable family car. Since 1979 the Astra has evolved and advanced to suit motorist's changing needs; becoming one of the UK's top-selling cars.

You have the choice of the Hatchback or an even more practical Sports Tourer bodystyle. In the Hatchback, 370 litres of luggage capacity will enable you to fit most normal-sized pushchairs, but if you do need more space then the rear seats can be folded down to increase the loadspace to 1,210 litres.

Choose the Sports Tourer model and you're granted a much larger 540-litre loadspace, which can be extended to 1,630 litres once the rear seats are folded.

It's not just the boot that makes the Astra great for families with prams, you'll also get ISOFIX mounting points on the two outer rear seats, child-proof locks on the rear doors and a deactivation switch for front passenger's side-impact airbags.

Sleek and practical, the Nissan Qashqai is a crossover SUV that boasts sensible running costs and a fuel economy of up to 53.3mpg, if you look out for the 1.5-litre diesel engine.

There will be no hassle fitting a pushchair into the 430-litre boot, which can grow to a substantial 1,598-litre space with the back seats folded down.

If you have older children or adults regularly sit in the back seats, then they'll be pleasantly surprised as the Qashqai is remarkably spacious; offering plenty of head and legroom.

Safety is often an important consideration when transporting children, the Qashqai is suitably up to this job as it scored the maximum 5-star safety rating from Euro NCAP.

Earlier in this article we mentioned that spaciousness becomes more important than style when you're needing to transport little ones. However, imagine finding a car that is spacious without compromising on style.

The third-generation 5-door Audi A3 Sportback was named WhatCar? 'Used Car of the Year 2020' but this comes as no surprise due to its impressive upmarket appeal, sizing and style. The popular model underwent a mid-life facelift in 2016, offering a slight revamp to the exterior in addition to an abundance of technological advances on the inside.

For the parents who still desire the performance of a hot hatch, the S3 is seriously desirable, with a potent turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine producing a 306bhp.

At the other end of the range is the E-tron model, which is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), combining a 1.4-litre petrol engine with an electric motor to offer reduced CO₂ emissions and fuel consumption.

Head to the boot of the A3 Sportback and a generous loadspace of 380 litres is at your disposal, enough room for a buggy increasing to 1,220 litres with the rear seats folded.

For those looking for something a little more upmarket, yet still practical and spacious, the BMW X5 might be what you're looking for.

Despite having heavy competition, the X5 stands out from the crowd by offering high standards of fit, finish and design and has done since its release in the late '90s. Now in its fourth generation, the Munich marque has produced a reputable model that is renowned for comfort and utility.

The popular model from BMW can fit up to six passengers inside, however, this will involve sacrificing some boot space. Without the optional third row of seats, the luxury SUV has a huge 650-litre boot, which can be increased to 1,870 litres with the second row of seats folded down.

Typical of a premium SUV, a lavish interior along with a substantial amount of space and legroom for passengers makes every drive enjoyable.

Sitting in between the Ford EcoSport and the Ford Kuga, the Ford Puma is considered a compact SUV and just so happens to have a larger boot than the popular family car, the Ford Focus.

Aside from the generous 456-litre loadspace, 1,216 litres with the rear seats folded down, the Puma also has access to some extra space, which Ford call the MegaBox. Providing a further 80 litres of storage space, this innovative feature has a waterproof lining and drain plug; making it simple to clean if you decide to store muddy items, such as boots.

When it comes to loading pushchairs or other bulky items, the hands-free tailgate makes access much easier as a gentle foot movement under the rear bumper will activate it.

Meeting the criteria of being a practical family car, the Puma manages to show off stylish looks as well as a delivering a safe and enjoyable driving experience, thanks to an impressive array of driver assistance technologies.

The Kia Sportage is one of the most popular models that the Korean brand sells and it's clear to see why.

Stylish and urban friendly, the compact SUV is practical, with a large boot and plenty of space for all occupants. Tall adults can comfortably sit in the front or the back of the vehicle and ISOFIX points, on the outer rear seats, make it simple to fit child seats in the rear.

Fitting a pushchair in the boot isn't a challenge, thanks to the generous 491-litre luggage capacity in the petrol-powered Sportage. If you choose the diesel with mild hybrid technology the loadspace is slightly compromised but you still have a decent 439-litre area at your disposal.

Across the range there's the option of a two-wheel drive or an all-wheel drive version and you get plenty of kit as standard on the entry-model including heated front and rear seats, Lane Keep Assist System and a reversing camera.

The Volkswagen brand is one of the most popular and successful in the history of the automotive industry. Introduced in 1974, the Volkswagen Golf is one of the best selling cars in Europe and is now in its eighth generation.

Most examples in the used car market are still the seventh-generation models, which offer competitive sizing and dimensions; boasting a boot size of 380 litres, which increases to 1,270 litres with the back seats down.

Families can appreciate the 5-door access in the hatchback or even go for the SV or estate models to receive a larger loadspace of 500 or 605 litres respectively; more than enough room for children's buggies.

Performance models such as the GTI, GTD or R are also available, or you could go for the all-electric e-Golf or the plug-in hybrid Golf GTE.

A used Volkswagen Golf is a great solution for those looking for a sensible combination of style, size and affordability.

Part of the Peugeot SUV range, this small but stylish SUV has a striking appearance, but the Peugeot 3008 isn’t just nice to look at. As well as impressing visually, the 3008 is practical and possesses the ability to suit the needs of every day family life.

The award-winning SUV’s boot allows enough room to fit a pushchair in at ease, boasting a competitive size of 591 litres. The spacious proportions are complemented by incredible interior style and advanced features such as the Peugeot i-Cockpit, grip control and park assist.

ISOFIX fittings on the outer rear seats enable you to easily fit child seats in the spacious and attractive interior.

As well as being able to choose between petrol and diesel powertrains, there are two plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models on offer, which deliver enhanced efficiency without compromising on the practicality and performance of the mid-sized SUV.

Unique styling and superior comfort, the Citroën C3 Aircross is a compact SUV suitable for an urban environment or country lanes.

Featuring the Citroën Advanced Comfort® programme, you can expect a bright and spacious interior with a modular design.

Head and legroom is certainly not an issue in the C3 Aircross and the boot is more than capable of holding a pushchair, offering an exceptional volume of 410 litres, or 1,289 litres with the rear seats folded down to provide a flat floor.

Awarded the maximum 5-star Euro NCAP rating, thanks to safety features such as autonomous emergency braking, speed limit sign recognition, park assist and lane departure warning; the Citroën C3 Aircross is a great vehicle to transport the whole family safely.

When you think of the automotive marque, MINI, you'd be forgiven for thinking of the iconic 3-door Hatch, which isn't renowned for being a family car with plenty of space and practicability. However, in 2010 the MINI Countryman was launched with five doors and SUV styling cues.

Not only is access to the rear easier and the space inside more comfortable for adults to sit on the back seats, the boot also happens to be much larger. You have a generous 450-litre loadspace at your disposal, which can be increased to 1,390 litres once the three rear seats are folded flat.

Enhanced efficiency can be experienced in the plug-in hybrid version of the enlarged MINI Countryman, although you do lose a bit of boot space. However, with a still-impressive boot capacity of 405 litres, you can still easily fit a pushchair in.