From station wagons to SUVs, from gasoline engines to CO2-neutral electric drives: the range of vehicles for families has never been as wide as it is today. They all have one thing in common – space for children and cones.
Audi A4 Avant 35 TDI
Even though SUVs are currently very much in vogue, station wagons remain the classics among family cars. Audi's A4 Avant g-tron combines elegance with a lavish trunk in which an optional charging system keeps things tidy.
A comparatively large touchscreen provides the best entertainment on long journeys. If its range of functions is not enough for you, you can simply book more at any time via smartphone.
The drive of the five-seater proves that efficiency and environmental friendliness do not need electricity or batteries – especially not if you travel a lot over long distances and cannot afford to take charging breaks. A modern turbodiesel is still the optimal solution for this usage profile – thanks to low consumption and long range. And because the emission regulations have long since had to be met in everyday operation, you are also on the safe side ecologically.
- Price from CHF 53'760.-
- Diesel drive 120 kW/163 hp
- Luggage compartment 495 – 1,495 l
- Fuel consumption 4.8 l/100 km (equivalent to 5.5 l/100 km petrol)
- CO2 emissions 125 g/km
- Efficiency class C
- Total emissions (at 200,000 km) approx. 58.2 t CO2
- Costs/year (for 15,000 km) approx. CHF 12,713
Dacia Jogger
The classic van with seven seats is at the end? You might think so in view of the SUV boom. But with the XL family mobile called Jogger at a budget rate, Dacia is providing revival. Especially because the peppily styled seven-seater also stands up to design boredom. Of course, there is also a list of options. But no matter how many crosses you tick – you won't be able to break the price limit of 30,000 francs even with the hybrid top version. This means that even with full equipment, there is still enough in the family budget to be able to roll into the holidays in the Dacia easily.
Technically, Renault's Romanian subsidiary is also at the top of its game in this case. A completely new hybrid drive provides propulsion, the infotainment is up to date and the equipment is bulging with cruise control, reversing camera or LED light.
In such an everyday car, robust plastic makes perfect sense, but in the Jogger it is polished up so nicely that you hardly notice it. And even the third row of seats is also suitable for short distances when you no longer go to primary school. You won't find so much family car for the money anywhere else.
- Price from CHF 24'490.-
- Drive: Petrol, 103 kW/140 hp
- Trunk: 212 – 2,085 l
- Consumption: 5.1 l/100 km
- CO2 emissions: 114 g/km
- Efficiency class B
- Total emissions (at 200,000 km): n/a
- Costs/year (at 15,000 km): n/a
Ford Kuga Hybrid
You want to enjoy all the advantages of an SUV, but pay attention to the slim line when it comes to design? Then Ford's new Kuga generation would be ideal for your family. You keep track of things in the driver's seat, but at the same time the five-seater looks like a station wagon in profile.
Another advantage is the wide range of drives, which offer turbodiesel, mildly hybridized gasoline engines and also a plug-in hybrid drive. But if you live in a block and without charging facilities, the hybrid version is perfect for you. It covers short distances electrically and recovers energy when braking. A range of up to 1,000 km on a single tank of fuel is possible. And thanks to the optional all-wheel drive, neither ice nor snow will scare you: Using artificial intelligence, the Kuga senses and learns when to engage the rear axle.
- Price from CHF 42'750.-
- Drive: Petrol/Hybrid 140 kW/190 hp
- Trunk: 435–1534 l
- Consumption: 6.3 l/100 km
- CO2 emissions: 145 g/km
- Efficiency class: B
- Total emissions (at 200,000 km): n/a
- Costs/year (at 15,000 km): n/a
Kia Niro
If the price tags of some electric models put you off, Kia's new electric Niro could be just the right entry point into electric mobility. Its body between station wagon and SUV offers ample space without exaggerating the price.
While other brands are still launching the first generation of electric vehicles, the Niro EV is already coming in its second edition. Its large battery, 64 kWh capacity for a range of 460 kilometres, is located in the underbody – perfect for a low centre of gravity and brisk driving characteristics. Recuperation, i.e. energy recovery during braking, can be regulated in several stages. With a little practice, you can stop at the light signal with pinpoint accuracy without wearing out the mechanical brakes. This also reduces service costs.
And Kia's family electric car has also taken a big step forward in the interior by adopting the cool interior of the larger Kia E models with two huge touchscreens and more space.
- Price from CHF 44'650.-
- Drive: Electric 150 kW/204 hp
- Luggage compartment: 475–1,392 l
- Consumption: 16.2 kWh/100 km (equivalent to 1.8 l/100 km petrol)
- CO2 emissions: 0 g/km
- Efficiency class: A
- Total emissions (at 200,000 km): approx. 29.6 t CO2
- Costs/year (for 15,000 km) approx. CHF 10,098
Mercedes GLB
Here, a full-blown family van was disguised as an SUV: It's hard to believe that Mercedes accommodates three complete rows of seats in the GLB on a length of only 4.65 meters. Only the offspring sits really comfortably at the very back. But if you often have to chauffeur half a youth football team to the match on Saturdays, the GLB becomes a nice alternative to boxy seven-seaters.
Diesels are only profitable for frequent drivers. That's why the 163 hp petrol engine is a perfect fit. Especially since it consumes exactly as much as the base engine with only 136 hp.Also
on board: the MBUX infotainment system with integrated voice control, which listens to the word: "Hey, Mercedes!" And if you and your children get bored on long distances, it has jokes in store. Or knows the answer to almost every child's question.
- Price from CHF 51'200.-
- Drive: Petrol 120 kW/163 hp
- Luggage compartment: 575–1,800 l
- Consumption: 7.9 l/100 km
- CO2 emissions: 180 g/km
- Efficiency class: E
- Total emissions (at 200,000 km): approx. 67.4 t CO2
- Costs/year (for 15,000 km) approx. CHF 12,560
Opel Grandland GSe
Opels SUV-Flaggschiff mit dem souveränen Auftritt gibt es bald auch in einer Sportversion. Der Grandland GSe wird aufpoliert mit sportlicher Optik und einer neuen Front inklusive schwarzer Maske, die «Vizor», also Visier, genannt wird. Hinter dieser Blende stecken der Radarsensor für Notbremsassistent und Tempomat und ein Nachtsichtgerät, dass künftig für noch mehr Durchblick sorgen wird.
Dabei werden auch neue Scheinwerfer mit je 84 Einzel-LED eingebaut. So kannst du immer mit Fernlicht fahren – und die Elektronik schaltet je nach Situation einzelne LEDs so ab, dass dennoch niemand geblendet wird.
Auch der Allrad kehrt in der 300 PS starken Version mit Plug-in-Hybrid wieder zurück. Zwei Elektromotoren – je einer pro Achse – treiben den SUV bis zu 63 Kilometer weit rein elektrisch voran. Oder sie werden bei Bedarf zum Benziner hinzugeschaltet.
Frisch kommt auch das Cockpit daher mit zwei grossen Monitoren und nur noch ganz wenigen Tasten.
- Preis ab CHF 59’900.-
- Antrieb: Benzin/Plug-in-Hybrid 220 kW/300 PS
- Kofferraum: 390–1’228 l
- Verbrauch: 1,2 l/100 km
- CO2-Ausstoss: 28 g/km
- Effizienzklasse: B
- Gesamtemissionen (bei 200’000 km): k.A.
- Kosten/Jahr (bei 15’000 km) k.A.
Peugeot 5008
Are you looking for a high-class interior with a feel-good atmosphere at a reasonable price? Then you should take a look at Peugeot's largest SUV called the 5008. Because the French carmaker has made a lot of gains in recent years, especially inside, with noble surfaces, cool toggle buttons and a multi-storey center console. And optionally quilted leather upholstery, which is even easier to clean than the fabric seats of the basic equipment.
Three rows of seats with seven seats are also in the big brother of the 3008. And you wouldn't expect it to have a generous cargo space of almost two cubic meters from the outside.
When it comes to drives, Peugeot relies on price rationality and efficient gasoline and diesel engines with 130 or 180 hp. Without electrification, but with reasonable performance and low consumption. That's a good thing – it makes noblesse almost affordable for once.
- Price from CHF 41'630.-
- Drive: Petrol 96 kW/130 hp
- Trunk: 780–1940 l
- Consumption: 7.1 l/100 km
- CO2 emissions 161 g/km
- Efficiency class D
- Total emissions (at 200,000 km) approx. 54.1 t CO2
- Costs/year (for 15,000 km) approx. CHF 10,440
Renault Kangoo
In the beginning, parcel services and mail carriers loved the smart high-roof station wagon at a low price. But families have long since discovered the Renault Kangoo as a sensible and, above all, spacious alternative to the classic family van.
The freshly launched new generation has long since shed its van character: With 14 assistance systems, it supports you like many a more expensive car. A touchscreen instead of buttons takes over the operation.
In terms of load volume, the Kangoo can easily fit even longer cars in its pocket. The fold-out roof racks or the ladder compartment under the roof are clever. Bookshelves up to 2.70 metres long easily fit into the five-seater.
The most economical drive for frequent drivers is the small turbodiesel with 95 hp, but bearish torque. And the Kangoo is also running again – up to 265 kilometres on a single battery charge.
- Price from CHF 30'400.-
- Drive: Diesel 70 kW/95 hp
- Luggage compartment: 775–3,500 l
- Verbrauch: 5,3 l/100 km (entspricht 6,0 l/100 km Benzin)
- CO2-Ausstoss: 138 g/km
- Effizienzklasse: D
- Gesamtemissionen (bei 200’000 km): ca. 58,1 t CO2
- Kosten/Jahr (bei 15’000 km): ca. CHF 9’963.-
Skoda Octavia mHEV
Wer hat den Skoda Octavia Combi zum meistverkauften Auto der Schweiz gemacht? Ganz sicher auch viele Familien. Denn der Bestseller der VW-Tochter überragt alle seine Kombi-Konkurrenten in der Länge. Und er bietet mehr Laderaum als manch klassenhöheres Modell.
Mit der aktuellen Generation fährt der Fünfplätzer auch technisch vorneweg: VW liefert die ausgereifte Basis, aber Skoda macht etwas eigenes daraus, zum Beispiel beim Interieur. Oder den pfiffigen Details von den Regenschirmen in den Türen bis zum Eiskratzer im Tankdeckel.
Ausserdem bietet kein anderes Modell in dieser Klasse so viele Antriebsversionen: Benziner, Diesel, Erdgas, Plug-in-Hybride, optional Allrad. Und einen Mildhybriden mit kleinem E-Motor als Booster und zum Rekuperieren. Das ist sozusagen Elektrifizierung «light», die zum vernünftigen Preis dennoch den Verbrauch spürbar nach unten drückt.
- Preis ab CHF 36’070.-
- Antrieb: Benzin/Mildhybrid, 81 kW/110 PS
- Kofferraum: 640–1700 l
- Verbrauch: 5,5 l/100 km
- CO2-Ausstoss: 125 g/km
- Effizienzklasse B
- Gesamtemissionen (bei 200’000 km) ca. 48,5 t CO2
- Kosten/Jahr (bei 15’000 km) ca. CHF 9322.-
VW T7 Multivan
He took Büezer to the construction site, the scouts to the holiday camp and hippies to the demonstration: The VW bus is a car legend and, along with the Beetle, the VW brand icon. The fresh seventh generation called T7 has long since rolled in – and is turning everything upside down.
Because the XL van has been completely redesigned technically and now comes to the start in a more luxurious way: With automatic, head-up display and new infotainment, it plays technically like the Volkswagen PWs. The drive will be electrified for the first time for the top version. The plug-in hybrid is supposed to be able to cover up to 50 kilometers purely electrically - that's easily enough for children's taxi rides in everyday life. On long-distance holiday journeys, the petrol engine then provides range.
However, the greatest progress can literally be felt in the interior. The seven individual seats in the passenger compartment are a quarter lighter and can therefore be removed more easily. They can also be rotated and moved. The parents chauffeur, the offspring play in the back – so every family trip loses its terror.
- Price from CHF 66'340.-
- Drive: petrol/plug-in hybrid, 160 kW/218 hp
- Luggage compartment: 469 – 4,053 l
- Consumption: 1.6 l/100 km
- CO2 emissions: 37 g/km
- Efficiency class n/a
- Total emissions (at 200,000 km): approx. 46.0 t CO2
- Cost/year (for 15,000 km): approx. CHF 13,734