A cheap family car still has to do family jobs. It needs room for child seats, a boot that takes a pram and the weekly shop, and a strong safety rating. In late 2026 you can buy a new car that ticks those boxes from $22,990 drive away, and a seven seater from $29,990 drive away.
This guide picks the cheapest new cars in Australia that are genuinely family sized. They are split into small SUVs, medium SUVs, seven seaters and a wagon. For each one you get the drive away price, the official ANCAP rating with its expiry date, boot space, and who it suits. It is a buying guide, not a scored ranking.
Pricing basis: prices are the manufacturer's advertised drive away prices, checked on each brand's official Australian website on 23 October 2026. Most are national prices. The one exception is Mitsubishi, which publishes its drive away offer for New South Wales private buyers, so its price is labelled NSW. Many of these prices are October offers that end 31 October 2026, so confirm the price with your dealer before you sign.
How we chose
As at: Friday 23 October 2026 (Australia/Hobart).
What counts as a family car: a new five seat SUV with a usable back seat, a seven seat SUV, or a full size wagon. We left out light hatchbacks and very small SUVs, because two child seats and a pram is a squeeze in them.
Price: the lowest drive away price for a grade you would actually buy for a family. We list the entry grade unless it misses something important.
Safety: every rating comes from ANCAP's official results. We show the year the car was tested and when the rating expires. Where a car has no current ANCAP rating, we say so plainly.
Boot space: taken from each manufacturer's Australian brochures, spec sheets or model pages. Where the brand does not publish a figure, we say so, so you can check it in the showroom with your own pram.
Research path: each brand's Australian offers page, model page or Build and Price tool, plus ANCAP's published rating for each model. If running costs matter as much as the sticker price, read our guide to the cheapest family cars to run in Australia alongside this one.
Quick answer: cheapest family car by type
Cheapest small family SUV: the MG ZS Vibe at $22,990 drive away.
Cheapest medium SUV: the Chery Tiggo 7 Urban at $29,990 drive away.
Cheapest seven seater: the Mahindra XUV700 AX7 at $29,990 drive away on a 2025 build clearance offer. It has no ANCAP rating.
Cheapest seven seater with a five star ANCAP rating: the Chery Tiggo 8 Urban at $38,990 drive away.
Cheapest wagon: the Skoda Octavia Select wagon at $43,990 drive away, with a 640 litre boot.
Quick pick comparison table
Model and grade | Type and seats | Drive away price | Price basis | Boot (seats up) | ANCAP rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MG ZS Vibe | Small SUV, 5 | $22,990 | National, offer to 31 Oct | 443L | 5 stars (2025), expires Dec 2031 |
Chery Tiggo 4 Urban | Small SUV, 5 | $23,990 | National, offer to 31 Oct | Not published | 5 stars (2023), expires Dec 2031 |
GWM Haval Jolion Premium | Small SUV, 5 | $23,990 | National, offer to 31 Oct | 337L | 5 stars (2022), expires Dec 2028 |
Chery Tiggo 7 Urban | Medium SUV, 5 | $29,990 | National | Not published | 5 stars (2025), expires Dec 2031 |
MG HS Vibe | Medium SUV, 5 | $32,990 | National, includes $2,000 cashback | 1,484L (rear seats folded) | 5 stars (2024), expires Dec 2031 |
GWM Haval H6 Lux | Medium SUV, 5 | $35,990 | National | 560L | 5 stars (2022), expires Dec 2028 |
Mahindra XUV700 AX7 | Large SUV, 7 | $29,990 | National, 2025 build offer to 31 Oct | Not published | No ANCAP rating |
Chery Tiggo 8 Urban | Large SUV, 7 | $38,990 | National | 117L (7 seats), 479L (5 seats) | 5 stars (2025), expires Dec 2031 |
Mitsubishi Outlander ES 2WD 7 seat | Medium SUV, 7 | $42,490 | NSW private buyers, offer to 31 Oct | 163L (7 seats), 478L (5 seats) | 5 stars (2025), expires Dec 2031 |
MG QS Excite | Large SUV, 7 | $44,990 | National | 203L (7 seats), 517L (5 seats) | 5 stars (2025), expires Dec 2031 |
Skoda Octavia Select wagon | Wagon, 5 | $43,990 | National | 640L | 5 stars (2025), expires Dec 2031 |
Prices checked 23 October 2026 on each manufacturer's official Australian website. Boot figures are the manufacturer's own. ANCAP year is the year tested. Confirm the final drive away price, and whether an offer still applies, with your dealer.
Best cheap small SUVs for families
Small SUVs are the cheapest way into a new family car. They suit one or two young children, and they are easy to park. The trade off is boot space: check that your pram fits before you buy.
MG ZS: from $22,990 drive away
The MG ZS Vibe is the cheapest car in this guide at $22,990 drive away nationally, on an October offer that ends 31 October 2026. It is also one of the roomiest small SUVs in the back seat, with a 443 litre boot that grows to 1,457 litres with the rear seats folded.
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The Vibe uses a 1.5 litre petrol engine with 81kW. It is not quick, but it is easy to drive around town. Above it sit the Excite and Essence turbo petrol grades and the ZS Hybrid+, which uses less fuel but costs more to buy.
ANCAP gives the ZS five stars, tested in 2025 and valid until December 2031. That rating applies to cars built from 4 December 2025. Earlier ZS Hybrid+ builds carry a four star rating, so ask the dealer for the build date if you are buying run out stock.
Suits: young families who want the most space for the least money.
Watch for: modest performance from the Vibe's 1.5 litre engine, and check the build date to be sure the five star rating applies.
Chery Tiggo 4: from $23,990 drive away
The Chery Tiggo 4 Urban costs $23,990 drive away, and the better equipped Ultimate is $26,990. Both prices are national offers that end 31 October 2026. They share a 108kW 1.5 litre turbo petrol engine and a CVT automatic.
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Even the Urban gets dual 10.25 inch screens, rear air vents and a 60:40 split folding rear seat. The Ultimate adds heated, powered front seats.
ANCAP lists the car as the Tiggo 4 Pro, its earlier Australian name, with a five star rating for petrol variants. The rating was tested in 2023, is based on testing of the related Tiggo 7 Pro, and is valid until December 2031. It does not cover the Tiggo 4 Hybrid. Chery's spec sheet does not quote a boot figure, so check the boot with your own pram in the showroom.
Suits: buyers who want turbo performance and lots of equipment for a small SUV budget.
Watch for: no published boot figure, and the five star rating covers petrol variants only.
GWM Haval Jolion: from $23,990 drive away
The GWM Haval Jolion Premium costs $23,990 drive away nationally until 31 October 2026. It has a 1.5 litre turbo petrol engine with 105kW and a seven speed dual clutch automatic. The Jolion's real strength is its rear seat, which is roomy for a small SUV.
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GWM quotes a 337 litre boot for the petrol Jolion, rising to 1,133 litres with the rear seats folded. The Vanta grade has 291 litres and the Jolion Hybrid has 255 litres, so the entry grade is the practical pick.
ANCAP gives the Jolion five stars, tested in 2022 and valid until December 2028. That rating is older than most in this guide and was tested under earlier ANCAP criteria.
Suits: families who need a roomy back seat more than a big boot.
Watch for: the smallest boot of the small SUVs here, and an older ANCAP rating.
Best cheap medium SUVs for families
A medium SUV is the sweet spot for most families with two children. The boot takes a pram and shopping at the same time, and the back seat fits two child seats with room to spare.
Chery Tiggo 7: from $29,990 drive away
The Chery Tiggo 7 Urban is the cheapest medium SUV here at $29,990 drive away, with the Ultimate at $33,990. Both use a 108kW 1.5 litre turbo petrol engine.
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The Tiggo 7 earns five stars from ANCAP, tested in 2025 and valid until December 2031. That is one of the newest ratings in this guide, tested against current criteria.
Chery's Tiggo 7 spec sheet does not quote a boot figure. Take your pram to the dealer to check it fits. If you want lower fuel use, the Tiggo 7 Super Hybrid plug-in costs more; see our Chery range guide for every grade's price.
Suits: families who want a medium SUV and a recent five star rating for the price of a small SUV.
Watch for: no published boot figure.
MG HS: from $32,990 drive away
The MG HS Vibe costs $32,990 drive away. That price includes MG's $2,000 cashback, so check it is still running when you buy. The HS is one of the bigger cars in its class, with a long wheelbase and a wide back seat.
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MG quotes 1,484 litres with the rear seats folded but does not publish a seats up figure, so measure the boot in the showroom. ANCAP gives the HS five stars, tested in 2024 and valid until December 2031, and the rating covers all variants including the hybrids.
Suits: families who want the most cabin space in a five seat SUV under $35,000.
Watch for: the price relies on the cashback offer, and there is no seats up boot figure.
GWM Haval H6: from $35,990 drive away
The GWM Haval H6 Lux costs $35,990 drive away. It has the biggest boot of the medium SUVs here at 560 litres, rising to 1,485 litres with the rear seats folded. A 2.0 litre turbo petrol engine with 170kW and a nine speed dual clutch automatic makes it the strongest in its group.
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ANCAP gives the H6 five stars, tested in 2022 and valid until December 2028.
Suits: families who carry a lot of gear and want a strong engine without moving up to a seven seater.
Watch for: an older ANCAP rating, and the price sits closer to some seven seaters.
Best cheap seven seat SUVs
A seven seater makes sense if you have three children, carry grandparents or do the school run with friends. In most cheap seven seaters, the third row is best for children. With all seven seats up, the boot is small, so plan for a roof pod or fold one side of the third row on holidays. For more seven seat options above this price range, see our guide to the best 7 seat family SUVs in Australia.
Mahindra XUV700: from $29,990 drive away
The Mahindra XUV700 AX7 is the cheapest seven seater in Australia right now at $29,990 drive away. That is a $10,000 instant rebate off its usual $39,990, on 2025 build stock, ending 31 October 2026. The better equipped AX7L is $33,990, down from $42,990.
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All grades have seven seats and a 149kW 2.0 litre turbo petrol engine with a six speed automatic. Mahindra does not publish a boot figure for the XUV700, so check it with the third row up and folded.
The XUV700 has no ANCAP rating. It does have six airbags and a suite of driver assist systems, but there is no independent crash rating to compare with the others here.
Suits: big families on a tight budget who need seven seats now.
Watch for: no ANCAP rating, 2025 build stock, and the offer ends 31 October.
Chery Tiggo 8: from $38,990 drive away
The Chery Tiggo 8 Urban costs $38,990 drive away, and the all wheel drive Ultimate is $43,990. It was previously sold as the Tiggo 8 Pro Max. Power comes from a 180kW 2.0 litre turbo petrol engine.
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ANCAP gives the Tiggo 8 five stars, tested in 2025 and valid until December 2031. That makes it the cheapest seven seater here with a current five star rating.
Chery quotes 117 litres with all seven seats up and 479 litres with the third row folded, measured to the seatback. The third row is for children.
Suits: families who need seven seats sometimes and want a recent five star rating for under $40,000.
Watch for: a very small boot with all seven seats in use.
Mitsubishi Outlander: from $42,490 drive away (NSW)
The Mitsubishi Outlander ES 2WD seven seat costs $42,490 drive away for NSW private buyers. The offer is on 25MY stock, runs from 14 to 31 October 2026 and includes a $2,000 fuel card. Mitsubishi publishes this price for NSW, so ask your local dealer for the price in your state.
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The Outlander has a five star ANCAP rating, tested in 2025 and valid until December 2031. Boot space is 163 litres with all seven seats up, 478 litres with the third row folded and 1,461 litres at most.
Suits: families who want a well known brand with a large dealer network and a recent five star rating.
Watch for: the price is for NSW buyers on 25MY stock, and the newer 26MY model costs more.
MG QS: from $44,990 drive away
The MG QS Excite costs $44,990 drive away, down from $46,990, and the Essence is $48,990. The QS is a large seven seater, close to five metres long, with a 153kW 2.0 litre turbo petrol engine and a nine speed automatic.
Its size shows in the boot: 203 litres with all seats up, 517 litres with the third row folded and 1,052 litres with both rear rows folded. That is more than the Tiggo 8 or Outlander with seven seats in use. ANCAP gives the QS five stars, tested in 2025 and valid until December 2031.
Suits: families who use the third row often and want the most space for under $50,000.
Watch for: a big car to park, and the dearest pick in this guide.
Best cheap family wagon
A wagon is the forgotten family car. It rides and handles like a hatchback, uses less fuel than most SUVs, and often has a bigger boot.
Skoda Octavia wagon: from $43,990 drive away
The Skoda Octavia Select wagon costs $43,990 drive away. That is Skoda's recommended national drive away price. Its 640 litre boot is larger than every SUV in this guide with five seats in use, and it grows to 1,700 litres with the rear seats folded.
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The Octavia has a five star ANCAP rating, tested in 2025 and valid until December 2031. It applies to cars built from July 2025 and on sale from March 2026, replacing the older 2022 rating. See our Skoda range guide for every grade.
Suits: families who want the biggest boot for the money and a car that drives like a hatchback.
Watch for: a lower seating position than an SUV, which makes child seats harder to fit.
Boot space compared
Model | Boot, all seats up | Boot, rear seats folded |
|---|---|---|
Skoda Octavia wagon | 640L | 1,700L |
GWM Haval H6 | 560L | 1,485L |
MG ZS | 443L | 1,457L |
GWM Haval Jolion | 337L | 1,133L |
MG HS | Not published | 1,484L |
MG QS (7 seats) | 203L (517L with third row folded) | 1,052L |
Mitsubishi Outlander (7 seats) | 163L (478L with third row folded) | 1,461L |
Chery Tiggo 8 (7 seats) | 117L (479L with third row folded) | 739L to the roof, third row folded |
Chery Tiggo 4, Tiggo 7, Mahindra XUV700 | Not published | Not published |
Figures are the manufacturer's own. Brands measure boot space in different ways, so take your pram to the dealer to check.
Other options worth considering
Skoda Karoq: the Select costs $40,990 drive away and has a 521 litre boot. ANCAP lists the current Karoq as unrated.
Skoda Kodiaq: the Select costs $49,990 drive away. Skoda quotes a 794 litre boot for the Select, and ANCAP gives it five stars (2024, expires December 2031). Check the seat layout of the car you are buying.
Kia Sportage: the Sportage Hybrid S is $44,490 drive away. It has five stars from ANCAP (2022, expires December 2028).
Kia Carnival: the Carnival Hybrid S people mover is $59,990 drive away, beyond a cheap budget, but it seats eight with a usable third row. It has five stars from ANCAP (2021, expires December 2027).
Mitsubishi ASX: a small SUV with a 484 litre boot and a four star ANCAP rating (2024). Check Mitsubishi's Build and Price for your postcode.
Toyota Corolla Cross, Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Tucson and BYD Sealion 5: they cost more to buy than the picks above, but the hybrids can cost less to run. See our best hybrid and plug-in hybrid SUVs under $50,000.
Which cheap family car suits you?
One or two young children, tight budget: MG ZS or GWM Haval Jolion.
Two children and a big pram: GWM Haval H6, or the Skoda Octavia wagon for the biggest boot.
The most recent five star rating for the least money: Chery Tiggo 7 (tested 2025).
Three children, or extra passengers sometimes: Chery Tiggo 8 or Mitsubishi Outlander.
Third row used every day: MG QS.
Seven seats at the lowest possible price: Mahindra XUV700, if you accept that it has no ANCAP rating.
Before you buy
Check the build date. Some offers are on older stock, and the MG ZS five star rating applies to cars built from 4 December 2025.
Confirm the offer end date. Most prices here are October offers that end 31 October 2026.
Ask for a written drive away price. It should include registration, CTP, stamp duty and dealer delivery. Our guide to drive away vs list price explains what goes into it.
Fit your child seats and pram. Do this in the showroom, especially where the maker does not publish a boot figure.
Look at running costs too. A cheaper car to buy is not always cheaper to own. Compare fuel, servicing and insurance in our cheapest family cars to run guide.
Sources
MG Motor Australia offers and model pages (ZS, HS, QS) and the MG QS specification brochure.
Chery Australia offers and Tiggo 4, Tiggo 7 and Tiggo 8 spec sheets and model pages.
GWM Australia offers and the Haval Jolion and Haval H6 brochures.
Mahindra Australia XUV700 offer and brochure.
Mitsubishi Motors Australia Outlander offer page, Build and Price and Outlander brochure.
Skoda Australia Octavia, Karoq and Kodiaq model pages.
Kia Australia offers.
ANCAP safety ratings for each model.
All checked 23 October 2026.