Best Family Cars to Buy 

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When it comes to purchasing a family car, the stakes are high. Parents need a vehicle that offers the perfect blend of safety, comfort, and reliability while also being mindful of fuel efficiency and overall value. With so many options on the market, finding the ideal car can be overwhelming. To help make this important decision easier, we’ve compiled a list of the best family cars available today. Whether you’re looking for a spacious SUV, a practical minivan, or an economical sedan, these family cars are designed to meet the diverse needs of modern families.

In the following sections, we will delve into the best family cars. From trusted brands to the latest innovations, these family cars have been selected based on rigorous testing and real-world performance. Let’s explore the best family cars that will keep you and your loved one’s safe, comfortable, and happy on the road.

Toyota Highlander

The Toyota Highlander was one of the best family cars in 2023. It continues to be a top choice for families looking for a reliable, comfortable, and versatile SUV. Its combination of safety features, advanced technology, and thoughtful design makes it well-equipped to handle the demands of everyday family life. Whether you’re navigating city streets or embarking on a family adventure, the Highlander provides the peace of mind and convenience that parents and kids alike will appreciate.

Honda CR-V

Keeping everyone entertained and connected on the go is essential for cool family cars, and the Honda CR-V delivers with its advanced technology features. The standard infotainment system includes a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, allowing seamless integration of smartphones for navigation, music, and hands-free calls. Higher trims offer additional features such as a larger touchscreen, a premium audio system, and wireless charging.

Subaru Outback

The Subaru Outback offers a spacious and versatile interior designed to meet the needs of active families. With seating for up to five passengers, the Outback provides ample legroom and headroom in both the front and rear seats, ensuring comfort on long journeys. The interior is crafted with high-quality materials and thoughtful design touches that enhance comfort and convenience. One of the Outback’s standout features is its impressive cargo capacity. With up to 32.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, it can easily accommodate strollers, sports equipment, groceries, and more. Folding down the rear seats expands the cargo space to an expansive 75.7 cubic feet (2.14 m³), making it ideal for family road trips, camping gear, or even a weekend project haul.

Kia Telluride

Safety is a paramount concern for family vehicles, and the Kia Telluride excels in this area. It comes standard with Kia’s Drive Wise suite of advanced safety and driver-assistance features. This includes forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. These features work together to provide a safer driving experience and greater peace of mind for parents. The Telluride has earned top safety ratings from both the NHTSA and the IIHS, further solidifying its reputation as a safe and reliable family vehicle.

Ford Explorer

The Ford Explorer is one of the safest family cars. It has long been a popular choice for families seeking a spacious, reliable, and versatile SUV. With its blend of robust performance, advanced technology, and family-friendly features, the 2024 Ford Explorer is designed to meet the diverse needs of modern families. 

Honda Odyssey

The Honda Odyssey offers a powerful and efficient performance that is well-suited for family driving. It is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine that produces 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, providing ample power for highway merging and towing. The engine is paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission that ensures smooth and efficient power delivery. Despite its robust performance, the Odyssey remains fuel-efficient for its class, thanks to advanced engine technology and aerodynamic design. This combination of power and efficiency makes the Odyssey one of the great family cars. 

Toyota Sienna

The Toyota Sienna stands out as an exceptional family minivan, offering a perfect blend of spaciousness, efficiency, safety, and technology. Its innovative hybrid powertrain, versatile interior, advanced safety features, and family-friendly amenities make it an ideal vehicle for daily commutes, weekend adventures, and everything in between. Whether you’re transporting children to school, embarking on a family road trip, or simply running errands, the Toyota Sienna, the top family car, provides the comfort, reliability, and efficiency.

Mazda CX-9

The Mazda CX-9 excels as a family car by combining spacious luxury, advanced safety features, family-friendly technology, engaging performance, and comfort. Whether you’re commuting to work, running errands around town, or embarking on a family adventure, the Mazda CX-9 offers the versatility and refinement that modern families desire. With its stylish design and practical features, the CX-9 elevates family travel to new heights, making it a standout choice in the competitive good family cars segment.

Hyundai Palisade

Safety is a top priority for families in big family cars, and the Hyundai Palisade delivers with a comprehensive suite of advanced safety and driver-assistance features. Every 2024 Palisade comes standard with Hyundai SmartSense, which includes forward collision-avoidance assist, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot collision-avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist, and adaptive cruise control with stop and go. These technologies help mitigate risks on the road and provide peace of mind for families.

Volkswagen Atlas

Offering adult-friendly third-row seating and a smooth ride, the Atlas is perfect for larger families needing extra room. This luxury family car offers a choice of two robust engine options to suit different driving preferences. The standard engine is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that produces 235 horsepower, while an available 3.6-liter V6 engine delivers 276 horsepower for those who prefer more power. Both engines are paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission that provides smooth acceleration and responsive handling.

Chevrolet Traverse

The Chevrolet Traverse has established itself as a go-to choice for families seeking a spacious, versatile, and feature-rich SUV. Known for its ample interior space, advanced safety features, and user-friendly technology, the Chevrolet Traverse continues to impress as a large family car. 

Nissan Pathfinder

Whether you’re navigating daily routines or embarking on family trips, the Nissan Pathfinder provides the versatility and reliability that modern families require. With its practical design, thoughtful amenities, and commitment to safety, the Pathfinder ensures that every journey is enjoyable and comfortable for everyone on board.

Jeep Grand Cherokee

The Jeep Grand Cherokee has long been revered for its rugged capability, luxurious interior, and advanced technology. The popular family car continues to build on this legacy, making it an outstanding choice for families who seek a blend of adventure-ready performance and everyday comfort.

Chrysler Pacifica

Chrysler has prioritized comfort and convenience in the Pacifica, making it an ideal choice for families seeking a refined and enjoyable driving experience. Available features such as heated and ventilated front seats, heated second-row seats, a heated steering wheel, and tri-zone automatic climate control ensure that all passengers remain comfortable, regardless of the outside weather conditions. The Pacifica’s quiet and smooth ride quality, combined with active noise cancellation technology, creates a serene cabin environment for a relaxing driving experience.

Volvo XC90

A luxury SUV that emphasizes safety with its suite of driver-assistance features and offers a refined, spacious interior. The Volvo XC90 is a 7 seater family car. The cabin is crafted with premium materials and meticulous attention to detail, creating an upscale and inviting atmosphere. Ample legroom and headroom in all seating positions ensure that passengers of all ages can travel comfortably, making the XC90 ideal for both daily commutes and long road trips.

Acura MDX

Combining luxury with practicality, the MDX offers a comfortable ride, three rows of seating, and a suite of safety features. The Acura MDX delivers a blend of performance and efficiency to meet the needs of modern families. It is powered by a responsive 3.5-liter V6 engine that produces 290 horsepower and 267 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. This powertrain delivers smooth acceleration and confident handling, making the MDX well-suited for both city driving and highway cruising.

Toyota RAV4

Convenience features such as a hands-free power lift gate, keyless entry with push-button start, and available heated steering wheel add practicality to everyday tasks. The RAV4’s compact size and nimble handling make it easy to maneuver in urban environments and navigate tight parking spaces, while its elevated ride height provides a commanding view of the road ahead. The Toyota RAV4 is an affordable, great family car. 

Hyundai Santa Fe

The Hyundai Santa Fe is a fast family car. It boasts a spacious and well-appointed interior that comfortably seats up to five passengers. The cabin is thoughtfully designed, with generous legroom and headroom in both the front and rear seats, ensuring that passengers of all sizes can travel in comfort. Premium materials and ergonomic seating contribute to a refined atmosphere, making the Santa Fe suitable for daily commutes, weekend getaways, and extended road trips.

Kia Sorento

The Kia Sorento is one of the best family cars under 30k. It has established itself as a compelling choice among midsize SUVs, offering families a blend of versatility, spaciousness, advanced features, and value. As one of Kia’s flagship models, the Kia Sorento continues to impress with its stylish design, comfortable interior, and family-oriented amenities. 

Subaru Ascent

The Subaru Ascent stands out in the mid-size SUV market with its combination of rugged capability, advanced safety features, and family-friendly interior. It is an excellent choice for those seeking a reliable, versatile vehicle that can handle a variety of driving conditions and passenger needs.

Ford Edge

A mid-size SUV known for its ample cargo space, and intuitive infotainment system. The Ford Edge offers a smooth and composed ride, with precise steering and responsive handling. The available all-wheel drive system enhances traction and stability, making it well-suited for various driving conditions, including snow and rain. The ST trim, with its sport-tuned suspension, offers a more dynamic and engaging driving experience.

Chevrolet Tahoe

A full-size family car SUV with impressive towing capacity, a spacious interior, and a range of powerful engine options. The Chevrolet Tahoe competes in the full-size SUV segment against rivals like the Ford Expedition, GMC Yukon, Toyota Sequoia, and Nissan Armada. Its strengths include powerful engine options, a spacious and versatile interior, and impressive towing capabilities.

Honda Pilot

Safety is a top priority for Honda, and the Pilot is no exception. It includes the Honda Sensing suite of driver-assist technologies as standard, which comprises Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), Road Departure Mitigation System (RDM), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Departure Warning (LDW). Higher trims offer additional safety features such as blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and front and rear parking sensors.

Mazda CX-5

A compact SUV that stands out with its upscale interior, engaging driving dynamics, and strong safety scores. Safety is a key focus for Mazda, and the CX-5 includes the i-Activsense suite of advanced safety features as standard or available, such as:

• Mazda Radar Cruise Control with Stop & Go;
• advanced smart city brake support with pedestrian detection;
• lane departure warning with lane-keep assist;
• blind spot monitoring with rear cross traffic alert;
• traffic sign recognition.

Higher trims offer additional safety features like a 360-degree view monitor and front and rear parking sensors.

Buick Enclave

The Buick Enclave is a mid-size prestige family car that has been part of Buick’s lineup since its debut in 2007. Known for its spacious interior, advanced technology, and refined driving experience, the Enclave caters to families and individuals seeking a premium vehicle with ample passenger and cargo capacity. 

Conclusion

Choosing a good family car involves balancing a variety of factors, including safety, comfort, reliability, and versatility. The models highlighted in this article offer something for every family’s needs and preferences. Vehicles like the Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorento, and Toyota RAV4 provide a mix of practicality, advanced safety features, and family-friendly amenities, ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable ride for all occupants. Investing in a family car is not just about getting from point A to point B; it’s about creating memories, ensuring safety, and providing comfort for those you love most.

By considering the features and benefits of each model, you can make an informed decision and choose a vehicle that will serve your family well for years to come. Explore the AutoBidMaster catalog to find these models and more, ensuring you find the perfect fit for your family’s needs.