It seems SUVs have become the default choice of most new-car buyers in Australia.
But even though there are other vehicles that provide similar space and practicality – or, in the case of most people movers, more than any other vehicle type, everyone seems to need an SUV for the space/practicity. That’s what led to SUVs accounting for more than 60 per cent of new-car sales.
Our drum is beat by a regular drummer for wagons and people movers, we know many of our readers do too much. For most of the public, these body styles are at best forgotten for much of their lives — and worst loathed. We might add a , unfairly.
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It’s a good buy for the choir and/or shouting into the void, but here are some wagons and people movers that we think are excellent on-road items under $80,000; two other non-SUVs which would be suitable for many families.
A friend or family member is buying an SUV next time you hear them saying they need the space and the practicality, and know that they won’t take it off road. You can send them this list of options from childcareman.xyz editorial team.
Marton Pettendy, Managing Editor
Kia Carnival
Growing up in a VW household, I started out behind the rear seats of sleeve (Between Beetle) under the back window next to hot engine – before graduating to ‘wood child seat’ in middle of front bench of Kombi and without any seatbelt.
Despite the availability of several great new traditional passenger wagons, and a number of very good people movers, times have changed dramatically since then; these days are the go-to family car.
They are the most popular among them – for good reason – is the Kia Carnival, so it’s the one I would recommend if you have a big family.
The provides acres of space for up to eight people and all their cargo, drives like a big wagon (because that’s what it is), looks pretty good for if someone moves; it has all the safety, technology and refinement Kia is known for — as well as its seven-year warranty.
The underrated Carnival also offers a range of suitable powertrain options, from diesel to hybrid and; stocks last V6 petrol power for as low as $52,000.
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Explore the Kia Carnival showroom
Matthew Hansen, Editor (childcareman.xyz New Zealand)
Honda Civic e:HEV
As the ancient proverb goes, it’s not the size that matters, it’s how you use it.
As someone who was raised in a household where the proverbial family hauler was’stuff’ (in bright red 1988 Mazda 33 for accuracy), I’m happy to die on the hill that if he does, can do the vast majority of what – small wagon or SUV can be. Amongst the most popular hatchback on the market is the Honda Civic, and its best hatch-back.
I will not be commenting on the amazing interior, that economical hybrid powertrain or the great chassis. So, I don’t want to go straight to the dessert… these things are an outrageous big boot. The big rear hatch is underneath the 404 litres of boot space (with an additional 45-litre) concealed beneath the large back hatch.
Let’s be a little cheeky and mix those numbers together to make 449 litres. This is a large boot for the Civic, on paper, that’s bigger than what you get in the outgoing Mazda CX-5 – and the BYD Sealion 6 – even its apparently more practical SUV sibling from Honda, the ZR-V.
The petty catch for the Civic is that while it has much of the practicality of a larger SUV, it also costs the price tag of an older SUV (regardless of which side of ditch you’re reading this from) But still, that’s an excellent all rounder and it holds the hatchback flag up high.
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Explore the Honda Civic showroom
William Stopford, News Editor
Skoda Octavia
The family car was a Holden Astra for most of my childhood and we were just fine. So it would be a good thing like an interior-sized Hyundai i30 Sedan – which actually has more space than if you had hoped for something like sanata and even in ‘fucky hybrid’.
A wagon is better, as babies have bulky prams and older children often have lots of sports gear. A wagon is as good as an SUV, excluding owners who have to load child seats or who are disabled.
So what’s the cheapest wagon in Australia? The Skoda Octavia 110TSI Select.
But it’s actually a little more expensive for 2026, as is the case with – in fact A new mild-hybrid powertrain which provides similar power and torque to that of previous but higher fuel efficiency (albeit coinciding with the transition to ‘7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (for some people, though I’m slightly less lukewarm on)).
But it’s a $43,990 drive-away with an expansive cabin, handsome styling, ten years warranty and healthy equipment — even more in the optional Signature package.
But of course, if you can splurge the Superb wagon just across the showroom floor is very tempting — even more power and a long list of luxury equipment. The Octavia is no pauper, but the octin’s does not.
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Explore the Skoda Octavia showroom
James Wong, Marketplace Editor
Wagons
You look up a database such as RedBook, and select ‘Wagon’ as the preferred body style. If you search for 21 listings only get them – they are pretty much all from BMW and the Volkswagen Group.
In many cases, station wagons are more likely to carry a larger weight than an equivalent ‘SUV’ and provide better driving dynamics and fuel economy for most of the time because they have lower centre of gravity. And, as they are so few these days a is just cooler.
Despite being a dad for the past few years (I’ve got time), I just ordered. Cupra Leon VZe Sportstourer (with Extreme Package) because I don’t want another SUV. My long-held phrase is that when JWo Jr comes along there’s room for all the kiddy stuff but Dad-Wa can still enjoy driving in his carbon-backed bucket seat seats.
The only mainstream brands with wagon options are Subaru and Skoda, while the bulk of premium listings for these cars are Audi and BMW. G70 Shooting Brake is still in Genesis, and Porsche carries the Taycan Cross Turismo. And that’s about it, for .
The Kia Carnival is incredibly overshadowed by the Sorento SUV, so I’ll mention it very much to me because you have to carry seven people every time.
Ben Zachariah, Road Test Editor
Hyundai i30 Sedan
The earliest family car I remember driving around was Dad’s cack-brown Datsun 180B (a few minutes before Mum got the Mazda ‘121 bubble Car’).
Today, most families will think anything smaller than a mid-size SUV won’t be the same thing as if it was small. But, for those of us who remember the Macarena, there’s a good chance you were either going to school in if you had travelled to Japan (in eg., locally made sedan or back) on i.e with an old Japanese car that was small enough at the time. Luxury – for middle Australia, was just air-conditioning and a collection of cassettes or CDs.
With that in mind, I have nominated the entry-level Hyundai i30 Sedan. This is a basic motoring, but it’s very good value for $30,000 (not even on-road costs) and actually has more legroom for rear-seat passengers than the larger Hyundai Sonata. There are also two USB-C outlets for the back, an armrest with cupholders, ISOFIX and top-tether points (and vents for A/C) if there is one.
This is more than you get in the popular Mazda CX-5 – and it has 474 litres of space – so your holiday won’t be destroyed if you go for a flat.
But I’m comparing apples with turnips, yes, but think of the Holden VR/VS Commodore which had 443 litres for boot capacity. 151mm longer than the Hyundai, but it is wider and taller (although this may be a ‘small’ car – while Holden was viewed as an enormous family car back in its day.
My point is that you can safely and comfortably transport your family around without having to stretch your finances for the biggest 44 in my postcode, while most families go with more. But maybe a little bit rebellious about being the only parent at school pick-up driving slick sedan, plus.
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Explore the Hyundai i30 showroom
Damion Smy, Deputy News Editor
Ford Tourneo
It’s a bit more practical than SUV and also has more power with its standard eight seats – and versatility because it is removable third row for, say, – if you’re going to mountain bike weekend.
Unlike an SUV, we could even leave the bikes inside for better security when we’re off having a post-ride swim.
I’d pay the extra for the Titanium X to get the better stereo and 360-degree camera – and the more value come trade-in time but would be happy with the entry level Active too, as they both have the same driveline and seat setup.
Tourneo also drives well – as does the great Transit Custom it’s based on – because it is using exactly the same 2 words. A 0-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder and eight-speed auto are examples of s who have been driving for the last two decades.
As Transit is designed to carry heavy loads, be constantly beat and run for tradies, the traits of Tourneo make it so familiar as a family car?
Even loading up is more fun than an SUV or a station wagon, and I think it’s also something that makes young children adventure. In which row does the oldest get a ? Let’s start the arguments.
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Explore the Ford Tourneo showroom
Josh Nevett, Deputy Marketplace Editor
Cupra Leon Sportstourer
As others in this thread have pointed out, any car with two rows of seating can theoretically serve a family.
With that in mind, and my love of performance cars, the question is how little do I care about my imaginary children? Would I refuse them luggage for a weekend away or force their hours at the back of sex car (I’m very much trying to say yes but probably no).
As such, I have opted for the small-ish to keep the whole family happy as possible; but still practical enough (and plenty of sporty) Cupra Leon Sportstourer is useful. Because, even though it has five seats, plug-in hybrid efficiency and a big boot, the way it is still so sexy, opritely and just. little bit special?
That, if you ask me, sounds like a fair compromise.
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Explore the Cupra Leon showroom
Max Davies, Marketplace Journalist
Skoda Superb Wagon
Nearly sure I’ll be a wagon man at some point in the future, and there is 2 scenarios I would look for assuming that today was my decision.
A one is the Subaru WRX tS Sportswagon One? A Subaru guy at heart, and the Levorg’s replacement is a lot right with good performance, good handling, better aesthetics than its sedan counterpart or price for an unrequited premium Japanese wagon.
But for kids and their things, the CVT is a turn-off regardless of performance; room in the back might be better than it was when WRXs are so often to thirsty. It’s a more expensive Skoda Superb wagon that I’d have to sell for its $74,990 drive-away price tag, which would cost me the money and it was an investment.
Among 2025’s favourite cars, I loved it and just feels so sensible. Almost like the WRX’s, performance is about as strong as VW’S sublime adaptive damping; it’re bigger inside and out (and has a more modern interior that just feels natural to me) for its larger internal and outer.
get with an acceptable 7 . You’re an 8L/100km fuel consumption claim, a seven-year warranty and securing. transmission with – you have ’an wagon I would happily drive the family around in my car to carry it all round ‘in good order’. A practical, but fun drive-style – what I’d be after had my way of driving.
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Explore the Skoda Superb showroom
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