Best Family cars in Kenya

Cars are made with a certain target market in mind, as such, there are those that come with features suitable for families. To give an answer on the best family cars in Kenya, we will need to have several factors that one should consider, from there, we will list the best family cars in Kenya that you should add to your consideration list.

Factors to consider when buying a family car in Kenya

There are various things that can guide you as you pick which vehicle you will go for. Here is the list:

Budget- make sure you clearly understand what you are willing to spend and your pocket size. The budget should go as far as including the fuel costs, insurance and maintenance. This will help you choose a car that you can fuel and buy spare parts for without going broke.
Preference- everyone has their own preferences, you should hence agree with your family on what to buy, for example, some might go for a sedan while others pick an SUV.
Safety- since this vehicle is being used by your loved ones, it is important to ensure it has high safety ratings to prevent casualties in case of an accident. Firms such as ENCAP usually do different tests on cars and publish the safety rating on their website. Airbags and tech features such as auto emergency braking are used to enhance safety.
Comfort- we all like living comfortably, the vehicle you pick should hence be able to provide comfort rides to your family. Things that determine comfort include legroom, headroom, interior build quality, materials used to make the seats, air conditioning, etc.
Practicality- this usually refers to the vehicle’s available space and general design. One major focus on this is usually the boot space, the availability of storage in the cabin, the sizes of these storage compartments and how well they are placed.
Reliability- a family car should not break down frequently.
Family size- if you have a large family, you will need a minivan, however, if your family is 5 people or less, you can go for a sedan, hatchback, SUV, etc. Just make sure you pick a vehicle with adequate seating capacity.
Lifestyle- this is also an important factor, for example, if you are a family that goes for offroad adventures frequently, you might need to go for a crossover SUV.
Other factors- these include the tech features that the car is fitted with, how appealing is the exterior design, resale value if you are planning to sell the vehicle and more.

You can check factors to consider when buying a vehicle over here to get a clear understanding of what one should look for when purchasing a vehicle.

Best family cars in Kenya

Below are the top family cars you can choose from, the list contains something for everyone, whether you are on a budget or you want a luxury car. Just go through the list and pick the vehicle that suits your family best by using the above factors we discussed.

1. Toyota Voxy/Toyota Noah

Toyota Noah and Toyota Voxy are 7/8 seater minivans that share the same platform except for slight changes in the exterior design. The cars are suitable for a large family. The first and second rows of seats are spacious, but the third row is more suitable for children. The boot space is also not that big, however, you can get a very larger space by folding the rare seats.

Both cars will give a fuel economy of 12.6km/l and above depending on the driving style. They are very reliable but even when they need repair, you will not pay much since spare parts are affordable and easily available in the country. Foreign used models will cost you Ksh 2 million and above.

You can also see the slight differences between Toyota Noah and Toyota Voxy over here.

2. Audi A6

The Audi A6 is a luxury sedan that a medium-sized family can go for. The vehicle’s ground clearance is okay, you do not have to worry about bumps. The seating capacity of the A6 is 5 people, the interior is made with premium materials and you are going to enjoy a comfortable ride in this car. The boot space is not that big since this is a Sedan but you will still be able to carry a good amount of items.

The Audi A6 fuel consumption starts around 12km/l which is good but can be better if you are a good driver. The vehicle is reliable but when something breaks, you will pay a good amount for repair. The buying price of the A6 is also high, you will need Ksh 3.2 million and above to get a foreign used one.

3. Toyota Wish

This is a 7-seater wagon that can serve your family very well, although the car production was stopped in 2017, you can still import a foreign used one or buy a locally used one. The legroom and headroom for the first and second rows are okay, however, the third row is tight and suitable for children. The boot space is not big with all rows up, if you need a bigger space, just fold the back seats.

Toyota Wish can give up to 18km/l when it comes to fuel consumption. Just like most Toyota cars, this vehicle is very reliable, spare parts are easily available, which lowers their cost and in turn, the maintenance cost goes down. With Ksh 1.6 million and above, you will be able to get yourself a foreign used Toyota Wish.

4. Subaru Outback

Subaru in Kenya is often associated with young excited drivers with funny behavior. However, the Subaru Outback is a premium station wagon targeted at more mature individuals. This is a 5-seater vehicle and has a decent ground clearance of up to 8.7 inches. The boot space is also great and you will carry a good number of suitcases. If you are a family that loves adventure, this is among the vehicles you should go for.

The fuel consumption is between 9km/l to 14km/l. While the car is reliable, the cost of Subaru spare parts tends to be a bit high when compared with its counterparts from Japan. With 3.5 million and above, you will be able to buy this vehicle for your family.

5. Mercedes E class Sedan

The Mercedes E class has different Sedan models, they compete with the Audi A6. If you are not an Audi fan, but still need a luxury sedan, you can go for the E class. The vehicle comes with a luxurious and comfortable interior that can carry 5 passengers. The boot is enough for a Sedan.

With consumption of 10.5km/l to 17.4km/l., you will be able to leave with this vehicle. Maintenance cost is however high due to the higher cost of spare parts. The price of a foreign Merced E class starts from Ksh 3.6 million.

6. Mazda CX-5

The Mazda CX-5 with a petrol engine has become one of the most loved cars in Kenya. The vehicle has a decent ground clearance and boot space not to mention the spacious legroom and headroom. The seating capacity of the CX-5 is 5 people. This crossover SUV is perfect for an adventure-loving family since it can do light offroading.

The fuel usage is around 16km/l. It is advisable to go for the petrol engine since the diesel engine has been reported to have problems globally, that being said, the petrol engine is reliable and maintenance cost is low. With around Ksh 2.8 million, you can buy a foreign-used Mazda Cx5.

7. Toyota Alphard/Toyota Elgrand

Just like Noah and Voxy, Toyota Alphard and Toyota Elgrand are very similar luxury minivans with only slight differences in exterior design. The seating capacity is either 7 or 8, this makes the vehicle perfect for anyone looking for a luxurious vehicle and has a huge family.

The hybrid options will give you a very good fuel economy, the nonhybrid ones give about 12km/l. Maintenance cost is low since spare parts are affordable and easily available in the country. The price of foreign used models starts from Ksh 3.8 million.

8. Honda Accord

This is is semi sedan that we also discussed in the list of cars recommended for first-time car owners. Honda Accord is a reliable vehicle that will not give you problems with frequent breakdowns. The ground clearance of the car is 5.8 inches, and the engine options are between 1500cc to 2354cc. The interior of the vehicle is spacious and comfortable, it has a seating capacity of 5.

The price of Foreign used Honda Accord starts from Ksh 1.9 million. The maintenance cost is low since spare parts are available in the country. Fuel coverage is around 13km/l depending on your driving style. Just like the Atenza, this car is a perfect fit for family use or for young business persons

9. Mitsubishi Outlander

The Outlander has a seating capacity of 5 people but there are also 7 seater options. The boot space is great for the 5-seater, for the 7-seater you will need to fold the third row for a good space. The legroom is okay on the first and second rows but the third row is favorable for children. Since this is a crossover SUV, the ground clearance is excellent and you can take it offroad.

The fuel economy can go up to 16km/l. Mitsubishi outlander maintenance budget is row and spare parts are available. The cost of a foreign used starts from 2.6 million.

10. Honda CRV

Honda is known to make reliable engines, this is the same case when it comes to the Honda CRV. The vehicle is a Crossover SUV, this means it can take you offroad since it has a ground clearance(up to 7.8 inches). The boot space is good and so is the interior(both the legroom and the headroom). The engine capacities are between 1500cc to 2500cc, power ranges from 130 hp to 200hp.

Honda CRV starts from Ksh 2.8 million for a foreign used one. The fuel consumption is up to 15km/l which is good. The maintenance cost of the vehicle is also low and there are no major problems reported. This vehicle suits someone who is looking for a vehicle that can take them for an offroad adventure(light offroading)

Above are the cars that you can choose from depending on your family preference, they will serve you for a long time without giving you any major problems, of unreliability. You can also use the factors we gave to determine whether a car fits your family’s needs if it is not on this list.