INSURANCE experts have revealed a list of the ten cheapest family cars to cover as premiums sit near record highs.
Drivers could pick up policies for as much as £300 under the average without having to compromise on storage space and creature comforts.
Insurance prices are only just beginning to subside from the record heights they hit last year at the peak of the cost of living crisis.
According to Confused.com’s Car Insurance Price Index, the average premium spiked to £995 by the fourth quarter of 2023.
Since then, it has steadily declined but remains at a stubbornly high £861.
As a result, many motorists are looking to get hold of affordable, practical cars which can be insured on the cheap for their daily drive.
With that in mind, experts at Admiral have produced a list of some of the best options for a family looking to buy coverage on a tight budget.
Mini Cooper
10
Average annual price: £593.32
An absolute icon of British motoring, the Mini Cooper is also one of the cheapest to insure.
It is a little on the small side compared to other entries on this list, but it’s more spacious than its retro relatives.
And if you pick one up from after 2014, it will likely feature a nifty hidden button to expand the boot space without folding the rear seats down.
With three-door and five-door options, it should offer enough for smaller families and is nicely styled to boot.
Honda CR-V
10
Average annual price: £617.92
Honda’s answer to the legendary Toyota Land Cruiser provides more traditional family car dimensions and is a fair bit cheaper to insure than its rival.
Owners can opt for a plug-in or full hybrid spec, both of which work off the same four-cylinder engine base.
Indeed, the model’s name stands for “Comfortable Runaround Vehicle”, positioning it very firmly in the family car segment.
Kia Sportage
10
Average annual price: £620.46
The Sportage is another hybrid offering and offers a very similar overall package to the CR-V.
The most obvious difference is in the exterior design, with the Kia boasting a boxier front end and more accentuated curves.
Other than that, it also comes with the choice of manual or automatic versions.
The latter of these is also available in four-wheel drive.
Ford Kuga
10
Average annual price: £639.45
The first SUV on the list to offer a fill petrol spec as well as hybrid options, the Kuga is Ford’s play at the ever-expanding mid-size SUV market.
Both hybrids are automatic only, while the petrol can only be had in manual.
However, it is compatible with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
VW Tiguan
10
Average annual price: £641.24
It’s almost as if every single car manufacturer has got in on the crossover SUV craze and Europe’s largest automaker is no different.
The Tiguan’s point of difference is the whopping range of 11 different model variants, including a full diesel version which almost feels like a throwback at this point.
Like its rivals, it offers a large boot, spacious interior and all the usual mod cons as standard.
Vauxhall Mokka
10
Average annual price: £651.14
Yes, it’s a crossover SUV but it is smaller than some of the others on the list.
If you’re looking for something on the slighter side while keeping the same crossover styling, the Mokka might be the one for you.
Bad news for greener drivers, though, as it can only be had in petrol, with no hybrid options in sight.
Vauxhall Zafira
10
Average annual price: £665.49
From the smaller end of the segment to the larger, we have the Zafira.
Where everyone else went mid-sized Vauxhall filled the gaps either side by twinning the Mokka with this seven-seater.
This one’s ideal for larger families and, if you are looking forward to welcoming more soon, the seats can be put up or down easily to shift the balance between storage space and carrying capacity.
Like the Mokka, it’s petrol-only and it was also sadly discontinued in 2018, but there are still plenty knocking around on the second-hand market in good condition.
Nissan Qashqai
10
Average annual price: £694.85
And we’re back to mid-sized crossovers again.
In fairness to the Qashqai, it has long received glowing customer reviews and has been held up as one of the measuring sticks of the segment.
It’s also great for tech lovers, with a number of Google features built-in, including Maps and Google Play.
Hyundai i10
10
Average annual price: £696.72
You might be forgiven for thinking it’s another small SUV but your eyes are deceiving you.
Hyundai actually classifies the five-seater i10 as a large hatchback.
Despite technically being in the lower weight class, it still packs a punch as its vast boot can fit two full-sized suitcases.
Audi Q3
10
Average annual price: £712.61
Ok we had to finish with another SUV but the Audi merits its place on the list, despite being the only model where the average premium tips over £700.
That’s because it boasts a frankly huge 530 litre boot which makes it one of the largest relative to overall car size on the market.
It’s sporty, elegantly designed and available in petrol, diesel or hybrid specs.
