Review of the Best Family Cars This Year

Choosing the right family car is one of the most important decisions a parent or guardian can make. Whether you are a new parent, expanding your family, or simply upgrading your current vehicle, safety, comfort, and reliability should be your top priorities. In this review, we explore the best family cars of this year, focusing on a range of features, including safety ratings, technology, comfort, and fuel efficiency. Read on to find the perfect family car that suits your needs.

1. Toyota Highlander – The Best Family SUV

The Toyota Highlander remains a top contender in the family car segment, thanks to its combination of spacious interior, strong safety features, and reliable performance. This three-row SUV offers room for up to eight passengers, making it an excellent choice for larger families.

Key Features:

Seating Capacity: The Highlander comfortably seats up to eight passengers across three rows.
Safety: Toyota’s Safety Sense 2.5+ suite of advanced safety features includes pre-collision systems, lane departure alerts, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams, ensuring peace of mind for parents.
Fuel Efficiency: The Highlander’s hybrid model delivers impressive fuel economy with an estimated 36 mpg city and 35 mpg highway, making it an eco-friendly choice for families.
Technology: The infotainment system includes Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa, offering seamless connectivity for families on the go.

Why Choose the Toyota Highlander? For families who need both space and safety, the Toyota Highlander stands out as a versatile, reliable SUV with excellent fuel efficiency and cutting-edge technology features.

2. Honda CR-V – A Compact Family SUV

The Honda CR-V continues to dominate the compact SUV category, offering a comfortable ride, ample cargo space, and a reputation for reliability. This vehicle is perfect for families who don’t need the larger size of a three-row SUV but still require space and comfort.

Key Features:

Seating Capacity: The CR-V seats five passengers comfortably, with plenty of legroom in both the front and rear seats.
Safety: The Honda Sensing suite includes collision mitigation braking, lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and road departure mitigation, providing enhanced safety for families.
Fuel Efficiency: The CR-V’s hybrid model delivers a fuel economy of up to 40 mpg city and 35 mpg highway, making it an excellent choice for families who prioritize fuel savings.
Cargo Space: With 39.2 cubic feet of cargo space in the rear seats up, the CR-V offers impressive storage for family trips or grocery runs.

Why Choose the Honda CR-V? With its balance of fuel efficiency, compact size, and safety features, the Honda CR-V is an ideal family car for those who want the benefits of an SUV without sacrificing maneuverability or affordability.

3. Kia Telluride – The Ultimate Family SUV

The Kia Telluride has quickly become a fan favorite in the family car category due to its upscale design, spacious interior, and top-notch safety features. With seating for up to eight passengers, the Telluride offers ample space for large families or those who frequently travel with friends.

Key Features:

Seating Capacity: With three rows of seats, the Kia Telluride comfortably fits up to eight passengers, making it a great option for families who need extra space.
Safety: Kia’s Drive Wise suite of safety features includes forward collision avoidance, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and lane-keeping assist, ensuring that your family stays safe on the road.
Interior: The Telluride’s interior features high-quality materials, a user-friendly infotainment system, and a spacious cabin, offering a luxurious feel without the luxury price tag.
Towing Capacity: The Telluride offers a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds, making it a great option for families who need to tow trailers, boats, or other recreational vehicles.

Why Choose the Kia Telluride? For families looking for a roomy, stylish, and feature-packed SUV, the Kia Telluride delivers exceptional value. Its combination of space, safety, and premium features makes it one of the best family vehicles this year.

4. Subaru Outback – The Adventure-Ready Family Car

For active families who enjoy outdoor adventures, the Subaru Outback is an excellent choice. Known for its rugged capability and all-wheel drive, the Outback offers both practicality and performance for families who like to explore beyond the beaten path.

Key Features:

Seating Capacity: The Outback comfortably seats five passengers with ample headroom and legroom for all occupants.
Safety: Subaru’s EyeSight Driver Assist Technology includes pre-collision braking, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and more. Additionally, the Outback features excellent crash-test ratings from organizations like the NHTSA and IIHS.
Fuel Efficiency: With an estimated 26 mpg city and 33 mpg highway, the Outback delivers a good balance of fuel economy and utility, especially considering its standard all-wheel-drive system.
Cargo Space: The Outback offers 32.5 cubic feet of cargo space, with additional space available by folding down the rear seats. This makes it an ideal vehicle for road trips, camping gear, or sports equipment.

Why Choose the Subaru Outback? The Subaru Outback stands out as an ideal family car for those who enjoy weekend getaways and outdoor activities. Its all-wheel-drive capability, safety features, and impressive fuel economy make it a versatile choice for adventurous families.

5. Ford Explorer – A Spacious Family SUV

The Ford Explorer is a reliable and spacious three-row SUV that offers families ample seating, a variety of technology features, and a powerful engine lineup. The Explorer is perfect for families who want a balance of performance, space, and luxury.

Key Features:

Seating Capacity: The Ford Explorer offers seating for seven passengers with optional second-row captain’s chairs for added comfort.
Safety: The Ford Co-Pilot360 suite includes features such as automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, and a rearview camera, ensuring a high level of safety for your family.
Performance: The Explorer is available with multiple powertrains, including a hybrid option, offering up to 400 horsepower with the turbocharged V6 engine.
Technology: The Explorer comes equipped with a user-friendly 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and an available 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, making it easy to stay connected on the road.

Why Choose the Ford Explorer? The Ford Explorer is a great option for families who need plenty of space, powerful performance, and cutting-edge technology. Whether you need to tow, haul cargo, or simply enjoy a comfortable ride, the Explorer can meet your needs.

6. Hyundai Palisade – The Value-Packed Family SUV

The Hyundai Palisade is a standout in the family SUV category, offering an upscale interior, a smooth ride, and an abundance of features at an affordable price. This three-row SUV comfortably seats up to eight passengers, making it an excellent choice for large families.

Key Features:

Seating Capacity: The Palisade offers seating for up to eight passengers with ample legroom in all three rows.
Safety: The Hyundai SmartSense suite includes forward collision avoidance, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert, providing a high level of protection for your family.
Interior: The Palisade boasts a premium interior with high-quality materials, a user-friendly touchscreen, and ample cargo space, making it ideal for both daily commutes and family vacations.
Towing Capacity: The Palisade can tow up to 5,000 pounds, making it suitable for families who need to haul trailers or boats.

Why Choose the Hyundai Palisade? If you’re looking for a family SUV that offers an upscale feel without breaking the bank, the Hyundai Palisade is an excellent choice. With its spacious interior, advanced safety features, and impressive towing capacity, the Palisade is a value-packed option for large families.

7. Nissan Rogue – The Family-Friendly Compact SUV

The Nissan Rogue is another great choice for families who prefer a compact SUV with plenty of interior space and advanced features. With its comfortable ride, good fuel economy, and user-friendly tech, the Rogue is perfect for families with younger children or those who prioritize practicality.

Key Features:

Seating Capacity: The Rogue offers seating for five passengers, with generous space for both front and rear occupants.
Safety: Nissan’s Safety Shield 360 includes features like automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot warning, and lane departure warning.
Fuel Efficiency: The Nissan Rogue delivers excellent fuel economy with an estimated 26 mpg city and 33 mpg highway, making it an economical choice for families.
Interior: The Rogue has a well-designed cabin with an intuitive touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, ensuring that families stay connected during their journeys.

Why Choose the Nissan Rogue? For families who need a compact, budget-friendly SUV with a focus on safety, fuel efficiency, and comfort, the Nissan Rogue is an excellent choice. Its advanced safety features and spacious interior make it a great family car.

Conclusion

When choosing the best family car, it’s essential to consider the needs of your family, including the size of your family, the type of driving you do, and your budget. Whether you need a spacious three-row SUV like the Kia Telluride or a compact SUV like the Honda CR-V, there are plenty of options to choose from. The models reviewed above represent some of the best family cars of this year, offering a combination of safety, comfort, performance, and value.