Audi » A4 Avant

Although it looks every inch the comfortable family car, the A4 Avant still has plenty of kick under the bonnet; the 3.0 litre version reaches 60mph in under 6.5 seconds and offers a top speed of 155mph! A safe, smooth and bump-free ride is paramount here and automatic traction handling control means a rock-solid grip even in heavy rain; the trade-off is slightly heavier steering. Intelligent braking, multiple airbags, and keyless door locks and ignition are amongst other safety features that secured the car its 5 star NCAP safety rating. Storage-wise, be aware that the back seats don't fold down completely, but perhaps you won't need them to with 1430 litre capacity in the back. Whilst not the most economical of cars to tax or insure, for a big car it is far from greedy fuel-wise and will manage up to 48 mpg.