The Best Family Cars in America

When you decide to settle down and start a family, your needs begin to alter. You might need a bigger house; you might need to start rerouting your social life. One thing that will certainly change is the car you drive. The sports car that you loved will have to spend some time in the garage. With a family, you will need to have a different set of wheels. Thus, here is a list of what many consider to be the best five family cars in America.

Toyota Prius V

Hybrid cars are making a strong jump in car sales and the Toyota Prius V is the first of many that has been designed to accommodate a family. If you have a large family with more than three children, then the Prius V is not going to be the best choice. If you have a smaller family of just a few children, considered the American average, then the Prius V might be for you. There will be plenty of room to escort the entire family around, but you will not be able to bring a lot of extra stuff, such as sports supplies or other various items. The Prius V is larger than a standard Prius, but children love to bring things (think games, toys, coloring books) on the ride. The more children you have, the more things that usually need to be brought along. The real reason that most people are choosing the Prius V is for the fuel economy, though. This vehicle currently gets right around 42 miles to the gallon. You will not find that type of mileage in any of the larger SUVs that most families pick.

Chevrolet Suburban

Large families, look out! The Chevy Suburban is here to help; this car can haul up to nine people at a time. It is by no means a fuel efficient vehicle, but for larger families, little hybrid vehicles are just not on the menu. The Chevy Suburban is not only designed to haul nine people, but it is also designed to haul just about anything that they want to take with them. This family vehicle can easily become a home away from home and that is something that genuinely makes a difference for larger families.

Kia Sorento

There are still a few family vehicles out there that can tote around a large family while still offering some pretty good gas mileage:  the Kia Sorento is one of them. How does 32 miles to the gallon sound to you? For a family vehicle, that is great gas mileage, but the Kia Sorento has a few other features that make it a good family choice. A low price tag makes this vehicle a more realistic choice for families. Kids go through clothing and food fast; having a smaller car payment does a lot to help finances. The Kia Sorento is also an entertainment powerhouse. Keeping everyone occupied and happy while on the road can mean a lot to whoever is doing the driving.

Honda CRV

Any parent knows that one of the most important things about driving with children is keeping them both content and busy. An unhappy child can make driving impossible; that is why the Honda CRV is one of few vehicles in its class to come with a rear seat entertainment system. An excellent fuel economy and plenty of space also make the Honda CRV one of the best family cars in America.

Volkswagen Passat

If you have your mind set on getting a sedan for the family vehicle, then feast your eyes on the 2012 Volkswagen Passat! This model of Volkswagen was designed to appeal to American families and American families like what they are seeing in this attractive sedan that is built in Tennessee. German engineering coupled with American designs have quickly helped put the Volkswagen Passat on the map. The 2.5 Liter model Passat will get you 31 miles to the gallon. If you are looking for a more fuel efficient model, the 2.0 liter Turbo Diesel will get 43 miles to the gallon while hauling the family down the highway. Inside, you find a more spacious cabin than earlier Passat models.

Remember that every family is different:  what works for one family, may not be the best case scenario for another. The best technique to find out which car works best for your family is to do a little bit of research and try them all out, considering all your brood’s needs while doing so. Your days of purchasing Toyota Tacoma tail lights may be replaced with purchasing ones for your Honda CRV; replacing the parts of your Camaro may be overtaken by a minivan! It may take a little ego-adjusting to adapt to a dramatically different car, but it’s worth it, for you and your family.

About the Author: 

Steve Roberts is a contributing author who is a lead mechanic at a car dealership. He often does his own car personal car repairs as well, using items such as rear lights he finds online.