Top Family Cars & SUVs to Consider When Car Buying

car dealer hands happy family key to new car

Shopping for the perfect family car can be a process, especially when different members of your family are drawn to different car features. Finding the right mix of comfort, technology, space and safety may require more car buying research than you might think.

Whether your family needs more cargo space for a car seat or stroller, or the latest tech and teen driver features, there’s something out there for everyone. To help you on your family car shopping journey, here are some top family cars ranked by U.S. News & World Report.

1. Minivan: Honda Odyssey

The Odyssey provides a good mix of space, technology and safety, making it the top minivan for families according to USNWR. Features in more current models include USB connections, in-car Wi-Fi, a rear-seat entertainment system, rear sunshades and tri-zone automatic climate control. Its safety ratings and features include four complete sets of LATCH connectors for car seats, strong crash-test ratings and a comprehensive suite of driver assistance features.

2. SUV: Kia Telluride

The Telluride offers top safety scores and predicted reliability ratings, making it a safe, dependable family vehicle. It also offers spacious second- and third-row seating, making it a comfortable car for larger families. Tech features in current models include a rear-seat reminder, which reminds the driver to check the back seat for young passengers, and Driver Talk, which projects the driver’s voice through the rear speakers so third-row passengers can hear.

3. Compact SUV for Families: Toyota RAV4

The RAV4 provides strong safety scores and predicted reliability ratings, as well as roomy passenger and cargo space. Its two sets of LATCH connectors also earn a Good rating from the IIHS, which means car seats will be relatively easy to install. Recent safety features include automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, pedestrian deceleration, lane keep assist and a rear seatbelt reminder to ensure passengers in the back seat are buckled up.

4. Large SUV for Families: Ford Expedition

The Expedition provides seating for up to eight passengers with lots of legroom in the second and third rows. It also received a five-star safety rating from NHSTA and comes equipped with standard driver assistance features including blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, pedestrian detection and forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking.

5. Hybrid & Electric Car for Families: 2020 Toyota Avalon Hybrid

The Toyota Avalon Hybrid offers plenty of passenger space and a large trunk to hold your family’s belongings. There’s also the Toyota Remote Connect smartphone app, which includes a Guest Driver Monitor feature that can alert you if the Avalon Hybrid exceeds a certain speed limit or is driven after “curfew” hours. Recent safety features include blind spot monitoring, lane keep assist, rear cross-traffic alert and forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking.

Finding the perfect family car is important, and so is finding the right financing. If you’re in the car-buying market and need credit approval, a dealership enrolled with Credit Acceptance can help. Simply see if you pre-qualify on our website and we’ll connect you with a car dealership in your area that can help you get started.