Test Drive: 10 Best Family Cars in 2024

Between loadings kids up for school and chauffeuring everyone around to activities, your car is more like a second home than strictly a mode of transportation. With ground-breaking technology and gadgets galore, choosing the best family car is now more difficult than ever. Fortunately, there are also more options than ever before. Amidst the sea of minivans, giant SUVs, and sleek sedans, the best car for your family is out there. Here’s how to pick the best family car for your needs. 

How To Choose the Best Family Car for You

When starting the search for the best family car to suit your needs, consider these starting points:

1. 1. Size of your family: How many children do you need to drive around, how many are in car seats, and which type of car seats are your children in? 

1. 1. New vehicles vs. pre-owned: Buying pre-owned vehicles can save a chunk of money, but it can take time to find exactly what you’re looking for. If you decide to buy a pre-owned vehicle, make sure to have the car’s history pulled and a knowledgeable mechanic look over the vehicle. The best used family car is one that is reliable and works with what your family needs.

1. 1. Budget: Are you buying the car outright, or will you finance it? What sort of monthly payment are you comfortable with?

1. 1. Fuel: Consider your daily driving habits. If you’re traveling an hour each way to and from work, a gas-guzzling full-size SUV may not be your best option. But if you’re running around locally, chauffeuring kids to sports practices and activities, a full-size SUV might be just what you need. 

1. 1. Safety: Many late-model cars on the road have top-of-the-line safety features. Make sure the vehicle you’re looking to buy has all the safety features you’re looking for. 

Read More: Is Your Child Ready to Sit in the Front Seat? Probably Not

Many new safety features have flooded the family car market, designed with families in mind. Rear-seat reminders encourage drivers to check back seats before exiting, helping ensure sleeping babies or pets aren’t left in the vehicle. Front and rear cameras can alert drivers to anything passing in front or behind their vehicle.

Teen-driver controls are in most new vehicles, which helps families who want to help teens develop good driving habits and many offer systems that limit things like speed, audio volume, and incoming text messages. The luxuries once reserved for front-seat passengers like heated and ventilated seats are now migrating to the back seats in many vehicles, and almost every family car featured has rear-climate control. In-car entertainment options are a key player in family-friendly cars, and many vehicles have built-in screens to maximize comfort. In-car WiFi and rear-seat USB ports offer back-seat passengers the same comforts as those riding in the front seat.

Best Mini Van

When it comes to the best family car, it’s hard to beat the tried and true: the minivan. With automatic doors, plenty of room for children to climb in, state of the art technology, minivans hold their own particular spot in the hierarchy of best family cars. Many minivans now include transformable seats, allowing you to customize the seating to your preference. Change the middle row to a captain’s chair with a quick flip of a switch and removal of the middle seat. Entertainment sets, wireless headphones, and built-in vacuums make minivans hard to beat. 

Kia Carnival

Kia debuted their brand new Carnival model in 2022, and it has hit the family car market with a splash. The exterior is unlike any other minivan, it’s boxier dimensions resemble more of an SUV than a typical minivan. Inside the van, the vehicle has safety features like most minivans; multiple car seat anchors, speed-sensing auto-locks, and airbags. Competing with luxury vehicles, amenities abound inside; spacious storage cubbies, a large storage console, plenty of cupholders, and even lounging seats in the second row. Mom-friendly features in the display screen include lockable rear-climate controls, a quiet mode that automatically mutes backseat audio, and most notably, a camera screen that displays the back seat passengers.

In the second row, the seatbelts are attached to the seats, so third-row access with car seats is as easy as ever. At 23 cubic feet of cargo space, the Kia Carnival has the most trunk space of any other minivan on the market. While this minivan wins in the style, tech, and comfort department, it lacks powertrain ability and there is no green option available as of yet. If that’s an important aspect of your best family car search, keep reading. 

Honda Odyssey

Redesigned in 2018 and refreshed in 2022, the Honda Odyssey has been touted as the ultimate mom car. This vehicle is a classic minivan in appearance, there are no two ways about it. But the convenience features on the interior make this a winning family car: buttons on the driver-side dash to conveniently open and close doors automatically, a tech-heavy digital dash display including the same rear cabin watch as the Kia Carnival, an in-vehicle intercom system that plays through the headphones, and plenty of USB ports and charging options.

This family-friendly minivan features an in-ceiling entertainment system instead of screens in the back of the headrests, which offers more versatility in accommodating rear-facing car seats. In the second and third rows, the seats are interchangeable, making changing car seats and transitioning children easy. Third-row accessibility is as easy as pushing a handle, moving a second-row seat, and allowing older children to slide easily into the third row.

Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid

Available in a plug-in hybrid option, the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid is one of the only hybrid models in the market, which means if you’re looking for a fuel-efficient minivan, this one is your ticket. The Pacifica has a 32-mile range, which means the vehicle will use 32 miles of pure electricity, and then switch to gas. This option allows you to be purely electric for your smaller commutes, but won’t hinder you from using this vehicle for longer road trips. Loaded with some of the best safety standards in class, the Pacifica is one of the larger minivans in the market. Like the Kia Carnival and the Honda Odyssey, the Pacifica display is incredibly user-friendly with Apple Car Play, built-in navigation, and a backseat camera.

Unlike the Carnival or the Odyssey, the Pacifica offers ceiling vents for the rear-climate control instead of the door vents or vents in the console, which is a nice alternative so babies and children strapped in car seats can feel the airflow. The entertainment system in the Pacifica is built into the driver and passenger seats and flips up when ready to use. Each screen has its own remote and perhaps the biggest bonus is access to Hulu, Netflix, or whatever your kids watch at home.

A downside to the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid is the access to the third row. With a car seat in the second row, there is no easy way to access the third row. In the non-hybrid model, the Pacifica comes with Chrysler’s patented Stow ‘n Go seating which allows for the second-row seats to be completely stowed within the cabin floor.

When it comes to the best family car, it’s nearly impossible to beat the convenience and functionality of the minivan. It was built for families, and most models are loaded with kid-friendly features.

Read More: Pack These Road Trip Essentials For An Epic Family Vacation

Best SUV

One thing the minivan lacks, the SUV makes up for in bounds: trunk space. Sports utility vehicles boast many of the same perks as a minivan, minus the sliding doors, of course. Built-in entertainment systems, in-car WiFi, and many of the same safety features can be found in these full-sized SUVs, often with larger engines capable of pulling more weight, like a boat, an RV, or a trailer.  All of the full-sized SUVs featured are available in both 7-passenger and 8-passenger options to find the best family vehicle for your needs. 

Mazda CX-50

Embrace the great outdoors with the 2024 Mazda CX-50. Designed with the active North American lifestyle in mind, this rugged and capable crossover SUV is your gateway to adventure. It masterfully blends superior on-road driving dynamics with a sophisticated design, an embodiment of Mazda’s dedication to excellence. The CX-50 has been refreshed for 2024, receiving a suite of updates that further enhance its all-terrain capability:

1. New dampers for improved ride comfort across varied terrains.

2. A recalibrated electric power-assist steering (EPAS) system for more responsive handling.

The CX-50 is available in eight distinct packages, each offering unique features to suit your adventurous spirit. You can select from two efficient powertrain choices to power your journeys. All models come standard with i-Activ All-Wheel Drive (AWD) technology for exceptional traction and performance. Mazda Intelligent Drive Select, or Mi-Drive, features Sport and Off-Road modes, and an available Towing mode on select packages to cater to your driving needs. Effortlessly switch between drive modes using the Mi-Drive control for a confident drive in a variety of conditions. Capable of towing up to 3,500 pounds on select packages, the CX-50 is ready for your next adventure. Learn more about how the 2024 Mazda CX-50 can enhance your outdoor experiences by visiting the official Mazda website.

Chevrolet Suburban

In 2020, Chevrolet overhauled their exterior body styles and the new, futuristic look of the Chevrolet Suburban has won major brownie points with families. SUVs are some of the largest cars on the market, and the Suburban yields ample leg room and headspace. From a car seat perspective, the Suburban offers a good option, with lower anchors in the captain’s chairs and tether anchors in all five seats. A lower anchor in the third row allows for a little more flexibility in car seat configuration, but many families find the Chevrolet Suburban the best family car for their needs.

If you have a car seat in a captain’s chair, access to the third row is tricky since the Suburban doesn’t offer a car seat tilt. The Suburban is available with a bench or captain’s chairs in the second row. A major selling factor for many families is the trunk space in full-sized SUVs. The Suburban offers ample trunk space with the third row intact, which means you can stow your stroller, bikes, a Costco haul, and more. The Suburban offers a rear-seat entertainment package that includes dual rear seat-mounted 12.6-inch diagonal color-touch LCD HD screens, as well as Wi-Fi wireless projection capability, two Bluetooth-capable headphones, and two HDMI ports located on the back of the center console.

Kia Telluride

The Kia Telluride was released in 2019 and has been one of the hottest cars in the industry ever since. Many retailers were selling the Telluride well over MSRP due to the high demand. A few years later, the Kia Telluride is still a coveted option for the best family car. With its luxurious-looking exterior, the Telluride gives major Range Rover vibes without the Range Rover price tag. The Telluride is full of driver comfort features, safety features, and mom features. This full-sized SUV boasts everything you would expect to find in a family vehicle: blind spot, backup camera, rear-brake assist, and more.

The interior is comfortable for both driver and passengers, with lots of cupholders, USB ports, and a communication system that allows communication through an intercom. Similar to the Kia Carnival, the Telluride offers Quiet Mode, which eliminates the music in the rear seat. Third-row access is easy and accessible, with a simple push of a button. For entertainment, the Telluride is perfect for long trips with two screens and wireless headphones, passengers can watch shows or play video games. Fitting three children in the third row would be a tight fit, but it is doable. With the third row intact, trunk space in this full-sized SUV is minimal. 

Toyota Highlander Hybrid

One of the most common complaints about a full-sized SUV is its fuel efficiency. Large cars are notorious for guzzling gas, and many of these are no exception. The Toyota Highlander Hybrid is a more fuel-efficient alternative. The third row is cramped, but overall it’s a well-rounded SUV and the only third-row hybrid option on the market. This may be the best family car for a smaller family, or a family that plans to keep the third row down for gear and groceries, as cargo space is still ample.

A downside to the Toyota Highlander is the lack of an entertainment system. This can easily be remedied with aftermarket tablet holders and iPads, and the Highlander does offer 5 USB ports. 

Read More: 16 Items Every Mom Needs in the Car

Best Sedan

When it comes to the best family cars, minivans, and third-row SUVs tend to get most of the glory. But perhaps you don’t need seating for 8, or you have a long commute and you’re looking for a smaller, reliable car. Look no further than the family-friendly sedan. Sedans get a bad rap as family-friendly cars because of their size, but with roomy interiors, state-of-the-art safety features, and unbeatable fuel economy, these sedans are viable options for the best family car for a fraction of the cost.

When looking at sedans, keep in mind they don’t have the same entertainment packages as the minivan or SUVs, so if that’s something on your checklist, you may want to look at a different vehicle class, or an alternate solution to entertaining your kids on long drives. 

Honda Accord

Few vehicles compete with the reliability of the Honda Accord. This family sedan boasts class-leading interior legroom and cargo space, easy-to-use technology, and safety systems. Built-in Google includes access to your favorite apps, including Google Assistant for hands-free help on your drive. Multiple USB ports ensure your family’s devices are fully charged and ready to go. The Accord has ample second-row legroom and the most trunk space of any sedan on our list. 

Subaru Legacy

The Subaru Legacy stands out from many family sedans in one regard: all-wheel drive as standard equipment. Safety features on the Legacy include collision avoidance, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control. This sporty sedan also boats a 7-inch infotainment screen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and two USB ports. While the legacy touts some of the most luxurious internal passenger space, the trunk space is one of the smallest trunks on the market. 

Kia K5

The Kia K5 has a unique style that stands apart from other sedans. The 10-inch infotainment display is one of the largest on our list, and the ease-of-use display is fully customizable, fitting whatever needs you may have behind the wheel, from finding the right music to navigating your destination. The ride is comfortable and quiet on the highway, making this sleek sedan one of the best fast family cars.

As an added bonus, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard. The Kia K5 also comes with driver assistance technology, like highway driving assist, front collision avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and more. The Kia K5 also offers wireless charging capabilities.

When it comes to choosing the best family car for your family, the choice can be overwhelming. Take time to consider your and your family’s lifestyle before choosing the best family car for you.