Latest News
2025 GMC Sierra 1500 Review
From big SUVs to small hatchbacks, minivans and large sedans, our top 10 best family cars should offer an option for most family car needs.
Top 10 Best Family Cars
Defining a list of best family cars requires a broad scope, as every family has different vehicular needs. How many people make up the family unit? Are you regularly towing toys and trailers? Will you survive without heated seats? Do you like to get off paved roads? I would argue that there is a minivan out there for every family – because sliding doors. However, not everyone wants or needs such a vehicle, so this best family cars list includes SUVs, crossovers and the fading segment of regular ol’ cars. This is a new car list, for a rundown on the best used family cars under $10,000, check out our article here.
A common thread among these new vehicles is a standard suite of advanced driver-assistance systems that typically includes a lane keeping system, adaptive cruise control, automated emergency braking and blind spot monitoring. These of course are sought after features for any family cruiser and are highlighted below. As well, every vehicle detailed below comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto phone mirroring tech, ensuring our connected lives are seamlessly integrated with our cars.
Ford Transit Connect
We’ll start with a minivan because once you have kids; the discovery of sliding doors is pure bliss. Ford’s Transit Connect passenger van is not as big as most minivan offerings but it gets the job done without breaking the bank. Starting under $30,000, the Transit Connect has a European look that is trim and angular so it stands out from the minivan crowd. It is 13 inches shorter than a Toyota Sienna, making it easier to maneuver and yet it can hold more overall cargo with the seats folded. Ford offers self-parking tech on the Transit Connect along with adaptative cruise control, lane keeping systems, and automatic high beams.
Toyota Sienna
At the other end of the minivan spectrum is Toyota’s Sienna with a hybrid powertrain and AWD. It starts at about $35,000, can crest $50,000, seat eight and has 33.5 cubic feet behind the third seat. It also offers more luxuries like an in-cabin intercom, digital gauge cluster and rear captain’s chairs with individual ottomans. In addition, that hybrid earns up to 36 mpg on the highway making for longer stretches on road trips. For another new minivan option, check out our review of the Chrysler Pacifica and for budget options, we have a story about family vans under $20,000.
Chevrolet Suburban
Any list of best family cars is guaranteed to have a Chevy Suburban. Seating for nine, a 8,300-pound tow rating, 145 cubic feet of cargo capacity and 26 highway mpg when fitted with the diesel are all impressive metrics. Higher end models offer air suspension with magnetic ride control to keep the family cushy while cruising. Both the instrument panel and infotainment screen come in size 12-inch and the third row offers 37” of legroom to keep everyone happy. Along with the usual Forward Collision Alert and AEB, Chevy has a Safety Alert Seat feature that vibrates the driver’s seat to directionally notify of possible accidents.
Kia Stinger
Big sedans were the go-to family car before the SUV era and Kia’s Stinger makes a case for looking at this segment. The RWD configuration makes for strong handling, especially with the optional twin-turbo V6 that puts down 368 hp for a 4.7-second sprint to 60. The better to drop the kids off and take the back roads home. Thanks to its fastback design, the Stinger will hold 33 cubic feet of stuff in the trunk. Safety highlights include a 360° exterior monitor, making it easier to spot small children near the car, which is why it is on our list of favorite family car features.
Volvo V90 Cross Country
Full-size wagons like the V90 Cross Country offer a huge cargo hold and better handling than an SUV thanks to a lower center of gravity. When it’s a Volvo, you also get that unique brand of understated Swedish style not found on the average crossover. The V90 starts at $56,200 but comes with AWD, over 5,000 pounds of towing capacity and available semi-autonomous driving. If you want your family to travel in style, check out the real oak interior trim and massaging front seats.
Mazda CX-9
Mazda pushes the basic large crossover upmarket with their elegantly styled, three-row CX-9. Base models, starting at $35,000, feature tri-zone automatic climate control, AWD and heated front seats. Signature trim will run you about $47,000 but piles on amenities like a hands-free liftgate, adaptive headlamps, quilted Nappa leather and heated rear seats. For easy third-row access, the middle row offers a one-touch slide-and-tilt feature.
Volkswagen GTI
If you are just getting started on the family adventure, a four-door hatchback offers plenty of space. In the case of VW’s GTI, there are 19.9 cubic feet behind the second row that also folds down in a 60/40 configuration for more room. It also happens to sport a 241-horse, turbocharged four-cylinder with a standard 6-speed manual and that classic Tartan cloth seating. Semi-autonomous driving, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert are all part of the IQ.DRIVE suite to keep everyone safe and you can canyon carve while you’re at it.
Toyota Prius Prime
As the plug-in variety of Toyota’s venerable Prius line, the Prime model can be driven on 100% electricity for up to 25 miles, which is ideal if your day consists of local errands and child shuttling. If not, the 54 mpg rating will limit your trips to the gas station. The Prius Prime’s federal tax credit eligibility can be a bonus come tax time and fancy tech like a color head-up display are available. On the safety front, Toyota fits the Prius with automatic collision notification and an emergency assistance button, a peace-of-mind feature for families carting kids around all day.
Honda Pilot
With 280 horsepower of V6 power, the Honda Pilot brings effortless highway maneuvering to the table, making it ideal for long road trips. Kid-friendly features include a rear entertainment system that drops a screen from the headliner and CabinControl, which lets passengers change the music and adjust climate by themselves. Second row sunshades further this family-focused vibe and parents will get a kick out of CabinTalk, an in-car PA system for being heard in the third row. For a more in-depth discussion, check out our review of the new Honda Pilot.
Jeep Grand Cherokee L
When you need a family car that will happily handle winter weather and regular use of rough roads, the three-row Grand Cherokee L is worth looking it. Available air suspension and automatic 4×4 engagement blend a cushy ride with Jeep’s famous off-roadability. A max tow rating of 7,200 pounds ensures you can bring the toys on your wilderness adventures and dual-phone connectivity for the 10” infotainment screen spreads the tech love among your passengers. Smart highlights include a night vision display and interior camera monitor for keeping an eye on little ones in the second and third rows.
