Many families have a lot of gear to haul, from sports equipment to home supplies and megaloads of groceries from the warehouse store. A small or midsize SUV can be a good choice, with a generous cargo area and the safety and security of available all-wheel drive (AWD). Models like the compact Honda CR-V and Ford Escape are good candidates, or the midsize Toyota Highlander and Hyundai Santa Fe are worth a look if you need something larger. All are perennial favorites and offer plenty of room, reliability, and safety equipment.
Any small or midsize SUV will accommodate up to 5 passengers, but midsize models will do so more comfortably with a larger interior and wider rear seat. That extra room is especially helpful if fitting a child seat is on your list of priorities. The tradeoff for that extra room will be lower fuel economy than you’d get in a smaller SUV, along with a higher price tag. That said, any SUV will make life easier than a sedan for families using child seats, thanks to their higher ride height, which means less bending while loading and buckling in the kids.
For larger families, many midsize models offer a third row of seating that folds into the floor when not needed to make room for more cargo. The Honda Pilot is one of the better overall midsize choices, especially if you’re looking for a roomier third row. Others include the Buick Enclave and similar Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia. A few compact models are also available with a third row, including the Mitsubishi Outlander and Nissan Rogue. But their compact dimensions make for a tight squeeze, making their third rows usable only for small children.
In terms of powertrains, most small SUVs rely on either conventional or turbocharged 4-cylinder engines, while most midsize SUVs use 6-cylinder power. Toyota offers gasoline-electric hybrid versions of the compact RAV4 and midsize Highlander, both of which deliver improved fuel economy but carry a higher sticker price. Upscale SUVs offer more powertrain options, including hybrid versions of the compact Lexus NX and midsize Lexus RX, Acura MDX, and Porsche Cayenne. In addition, European makers including BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche all offer diesel versions of some models.
For big families or those with even more stuff to haul, a minivan is the way to go. The Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna are excellent choices and long-running category favorites, while the newer Chrysler Pacifica has become a strong domestic contender. All have reliability families can count on and are packed with electronic conveniences and safety features. They offer quiet and comfortable car-like interiors and handling, but add seating for up to eight, backseat screens for video and games to keep kids entertained, and third rows that fold into the floor for those occasions when you need a moving van or lumber hauler. All use standard 6-cylinder engines and front-wheel drive (FWD); if you need AWD, the Sienna is your only choice. Chrysler recently introduced a hybrid version of its Pacifica.
An even bigger selection of powertrains is available to pickup truck buyers, along with choices of different cab configurations, bed lengths, trim levels, options, and pretty much everything else. Pickups offer more customization than sedans or SUVs, along with increased towing and cargo capacity, not to mention plowing and other serious work capabilities not possible with other family vehicles. And you can still get all the luxury amenities and electronic convenience and safety features of a luxury car or SUV, from a leather interior to navigation systems and backseat entertainment. Combine all that with the choice of gasoline or diesel powertrains, short or long cargo beds, two- or four-door cabs, and towing capacities that start north of 7,000 pounds and go up from there, and either the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Ford F-150, GMC Sierra 1500, or Ram 1500 might be the perfect family vehicle for you. If that sounds like overkill, a midsize pickup might do the trick. Trucks like the Toyota Tacoma, Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon, and Honda Ridgeline offer many of the same capabilities in a smaller package.
If your family vehicle needs don’t include serious towing or big load-carrying capacity, a sedan still has some advantages of its own. Sedans generally provide a smoother, quieter ride than a minivan, pickup, or SUV, along with better handling and fuel economy. You’ll also get the privacy of a separate, locking trunk to keep valuables and personal property out of sight, and many sedans include folding rear seatbacks for longer items and increased versatility.
Available in small, midsize, and large varieties, it’s the midsize models that hit the sweet spot for most buyers in terms of size, usability, and budget. Large enough for a family of five yet not too big for easy handling and parking, midsize models also offer the greatest variety of models, trim levels, powertrains, and features. There are plenty of good choices, including favorites like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, both of which have long-established reputations for safety and reliability. But because midsize sedans are one of the most hotly contested segments in automobiledom, there are lots of other good ones to choose from, including the Ford Fusion, Hyundai Sonata, Nissan Altima, and the Subaru Legacy with its standard AWD.
The Fusion and Volkswagen Passat offer optional AWD, and the Fusion and Camry are available with hybrid powertrains for greater fuel economy. And most midsize models can be had with all the latest electronic safety features, from adaptive cruise control to lane-departure and blind-spot warnings, rear cross-traffic alert, and even automatic braking and lane-keep assist.
Whatever type of vehicle makes sense for your family, it pays to do your homework and shop carefully. Some carmakers make important safety features available only to higher trim levels or as part of expensive option packages. The same goes for convenience or desirable comfort features. Do your homework, be prepared to negotiate, and watch for deals and rebates. And always take the time to do a thorough test drive of all the models on your shortlist.