Drive Car of the Year 2025: Best Family Car Under $80K – Who Will Take the Crown?

When it comes to choosing the perfect family car, most buyers are looking for a vehicle that combines safety, comfort, practicality, and affordability – without pushing past the $80,000 mark. This is precisely what the Drive Car of the Year 2025 – Best Family Car Under $80K category is all about.

For 2025, Drive has refined this category to cater to large families or those frequently transporting extended family. Eligible vehicles must offer eight or more seats, focusing on people movers and road-oriented SUVs. Off-road SUVs with ladder-frame chassis have their own category, leaving us with two main contenders this year: the defending Kia Carnival and the all-new Ford Tourneo.

Meet the Contenders

Kia Carnival

As last year’s winner, the Kia Carnival returns in 2025 with an update that keeps it competitive. The Carnival has consistently impressed with its spacious interior, reliable performance, and family-friendly features. In 2024, it faced tough competition from the LDV Mifa and Mazda CX-90, yet still emerged victorious. With its refined design and thoughtful updates, the Carnival is a strong contender once again and could well retain its title.

Ford Tourneo

The Ford Tourneo, essentially a people-focused version of the Transit Custom van, joins the competition for the first time. Designed with flexibility in mind, the Tourneo seats eight passengers and features a powerful 2.0-liter turbo-diesel engine producing 125kW and 390Nm of torque. One of its key selling points is the flexibility to remove all but two seats, making it adaptable for both work and family needs. However, the Tourneo's eligibility depends on its arrival timing, as it's due to launch in December 2024. Any delays in its release could exclude it from this year’s contest.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for this category, all entries must:

• Be all-new or significantly updated.
• Offer a starting recommended retail price under $80,000 (before on-road costs).
• Have at least eight seats.
• Be available for sale with deliveries commencing by December 31, 2024.

What’s Next?

The Drive Car of the Year 2025 – Best Family Car Under $80K winner will be revealed in February 2025, with the finalists being announced beforehand. Both the Kia Carnival and Ford Tourneo promise to bring exceptional practicality, flexibility, and value to Australian families.

Stay tuned as we follow the journey of these finalists and see which vehicle will be crowned the Best Family Car Under $80K for 2025.