A Family Car must be a genuine all-rounder that offers spaciousness, efficiency, luxury and performance in a neatly styled medium-SUV package. In the 2025 CarsAwards, the Kia Sportage successfully defended the title it won in our 2023/24 programme.
A medium crossover or SUV, which we’ve categorised under “family car” ever since the #CarsAwards programme began in 2015, is expected to perform a variety of duties and be a practical all-rounder.
The winner of the Family Car category of the 2024/25 Cars.co.za Awards, sponsored by Absa (2025 CarsAwards) should excel on the school run, but also be able to transport a family to a distant holiday location. In this category, interior flexibility, comfort and, of course, safety are paramount.
The Family Car category
The Family Car category of the 2025 CarsAwards was guided by eligibility factors and pillars of success.
Eligibility factors for this category included a list price between R600 000 and R800 000 at the time of semi-finalist voting. The following features must be standard: ABS and electronic stability control (ESC), aircon, a minimum of 6 airbags, split-folding rear seats, as well as a service plan.
Pillars of success for this category included powertrain flexibility, fuel economy, space and practicality, design and quality appeal, comfort and safety and in-car entertainment.
WINNER:
Kia Sportage 1.6CRDi GT Line Plus
The 5th-gen Kia Sportage burst onto the scene with bold and futuristic good looks, but under its shapely sheetmetal, you’ll find a well-packaged family SUV. In the 2023/24 programme, the Sportage competed in EX guise and emerged as our winner, but to repeat its win in 2024/25, the Korean medium SUV (in 1.6CRDi GT Line Plus guise) had to repel a fierce challenge from an all-new Volkswagen Tiguan model.
Watch Ciro De Siena’s video review of 2022 Kia Sportage:
The Kia Sportage’s 1.6 CRDi GT Line Plus is powered by a 1.6-litre 4-cylinder turbodiesel engine that delivers a strong 320 Nm of torque, making it a delight to drive around town, plus it offers unbeatable (in this trio) fuel efficiency, with a claimed average consumption of 5.0 L/100 km.
The Kia Sportage 1.6CRDi GT Line Plus, which achieved a combined score of 77.8% in the 2025 CarsAwards, is backed with a 5-year/unlimited km warranty and a 6-year/90 000 km service plan.
View the Price & Specs of the Kia Sportage 1.6 CRDi GT Line Plus
Read a review of the Kia Sportage
Find a Kia Sportage for sale on Cars.co.za
RUNNERS UP:
Volkswagen Tiguan 1.4 TSI R-Line
As the successor to 1 of the most-loved family-sized crossovers on the market, the Volkswagen Tiguan has big shoes to fill. Perhaps predictably, VW has not fiddled with the successful recipe too much.
Watch Jacob Moshokoa’s video review of the VW Tiguan 1.4 TSI R-Line:
The Tiguan 1.4 TSI R-Line, which achieved a combined score of 73.1%, offers handsome looks, a spacious cabin, proven drivetrains and a more tech-oriented spec sheet than before.
Its 1.4-litre 4-cylinder turbopetrol engine delivers 110 kW and 250 Nm, with Volkswagen claiming an average fuel consumption of 7.6 L/100 km.
The Tiguan is backed with a 3-year/120 000 km warranty and a 5-year/90 000 km service plan.
View the Price & Specs of the Volkswagen Tiguan 1.4 TSI R-Line
Read a Launch Review of the Volkswagen Tiguan
Find a Volkswagen Tiguan for sale on Cars.co.za
Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max 2.0TGDi 390 Executive AWD
With its stylish good looks, a 7-seat interior, powerful drivetrain and attractive warranty/service plan, it’s no surprise that the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max has proven to be a popular offering in this segment.
Jacob Moshokoa and Ciro De Siena compare Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max with Haval H6:
The model’s 2.0-litre turbopetrol engine delivers 187 kW and 390 Nm of torque, giving the Chery strong performance. The Chinese brand also claims an average fuel consumption figure of 8.7 L/100 km.
It is backed with a 7-year/200 000 km vehicle warranty and headline-grabbing 10-year/1 000 000 km engine warranty (for the first owner), as well as a 7-year/90 000 km service plan.
View the Price & Specs of the Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max 2.0TGDi 390 Executive AWD
Read a review of the Chery Tiggo 8
Find a Chery Tiggo 8 Pro for sale on Cars.co.za
More about the #CarsAwards
The winners of the 2024/25 Cars.co.za Awards, sponsored by Absa (as well as the recipient of the prestigious Brand of the Year title) was announced on 27 February 2025.
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