The Mazda CX-30 has been voted the UK’s most reliable family car in the Auto Express Driver Power survey, with the Japanese compact SUV on sale in the UK since 2020
The best family car in the UK has been announced in a survey (stock)(Image: Tara Moore via Getty Images)
Choosing a family car is one of the most important decisions any driver will make, as it quickly becomes an indispensable part of daily life. The ideal motor needs to tick all the boxes — practical, great value for money, and well-equipped — but it also has to be a car you genuinely love.
To the uninitiated, family cars may appear unremarkable, but they are so much more than that. They are memory makers; woven into the very fabric of our childhoods and family life throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, reports the Express.
On a more practical note, however, buying one demands serious thought and consideration — and with so many options out there, it can be a genuinely tricky choice. Recently, respected motoring publication Auto Express surveyed its readers for their honest opinions on the cars they actually own, in a bid to crown Britain’s best family car.
The winner was the Mazda CX-30, a Japanese SUV that has been available in the UK since 2020. In Auto Express’s rankings, it achieved an outstanding score of 93.37 percent out of 100.
Owners heaped praise on the car for its driving experience as well as its reliability and durability. Auto Express noted: “Japanese brands certainly aren’t a rarity on this list, but it’s usually Toyota or Honda claiming the honours.”
“This year, though, it’s Mazda’s time to shine as the CX-30 small SUV is proving to be as durable with owners as it is enjoyable to drive. While it was pipped at the post by the Toyota Aygo X on the overall ‘most reliable car’ scoreboard, a second-place finish and top spot in the family car class definitely isn’t something to be sniffed at.”
In second place was the Tesla Model 3 Mk 1, scoring 92.28 per cent — a vehicle crowned the best car to own in the UK for 2026. The Tesla, which has been available since 2019, achieved impressive scores across every category.
Third place went to the Mk3 BMW 1 Series with a score of 91.79 per cent. Also on the market since 2019, the model was commended for its reliability, infotainment system and driving experience.
The Auto Express Driver Power survey arrives at a crucial moment for families across the UK as the cost of living crisis continues to deepen and households tighten their budgets further. According to temporary car insurance provider Tempcover, four in 10 car owners have cut back on the number of vehicles they run.
A survey of 2,000 adults revealed that those who downsized from two or more cars to just one saved around £1,500. Tempcover CEO Paul Gilshan told the Express that their research showed customers were finding that running a single car is actually remarkably practical.
He said: “Our research shows that for households that have downsized, one car works well. People are better off financially, it fits how they’re working and living now, and they’re more intentional about when they use it – and it’s better for the environment.
“In many ways, these households are already practising a form of car sharing – coordinating access, prioritising who needs it most, making it work around everyone’s schedule. The car is more of a shared resource rather than a personal fixture, and that mindset is only going to grow.”
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