Best Vehicle for Family Holiday Travel

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Best Holiday Movers
Going out of town this holiday season? A new Minivan or SUV might make the trip more fun. With over 300 dealerships from coast to coast offering pretty much every automaker brand and model on the market, we took a look at the best vehicles for families based on real-world holiday travel. All the vehicles on our list are highly rated for safety, handling, comfort, fuel efficiency and cargo space. Be it gas-powered, hybrid, or all-electric, we've got the vehicle to deck your halls with holiday cheer.


Best Family Minivan - Toyota Sienna Hybrid

The Toyota Sienna is a family fun center on wheels. This hybrid comes in front-wheel or all-wheel drive, with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and hybrid electric motor that packs a combined 245 horsepower and is capable of taking seven happy holiday passengers to grandma's house through thick and thin. AWD versions include a third electric motor. 

The Platinum trim includes second row Captain's chairs with ottomans, a refrigerator for snacks and beverages, and even an onboard vacuum cleaner to pick up the popcorn after the trip. You'll find this minivan refined, comfortable, and extremely fuel efficient. The 2025 models include an upgraded interior, advanced rear seat reminder so that no one is left behind, and the latest Toyota infotainment system to keep the kiddies happy.
The EPA rates the front-wheel drive version of the Sienna at 36 mpg city and highway making it one of the most fuel thrifty family haulers around. Storage space behind the third row of seating gives you 34 cubic feet, and the Sienna to a five-star safety rating from the NHTSA. When it comes to driver assist features, it comes with automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning with lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control all as standard. Holiday singalongs not included. TSRP starts at $40,635. Platinum trim starts at $57,595.

Best Family Three-Row Midsize SUV - Kia Telluride

The faithful Telluride is hard to beat in its class. This three-row midsize SUV offers spacious seating in all three rows, and we find it quite luxurious with excellent build quality, especially at its price. It has been at the top of the heap for five years now and is a truly great vehicle for family adventures. It is available with front-wheel or all-wheel drive and the Pro X trim versions can easily take you off road.

Under the hood you'll find a strong V6 engine that makes 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. The meaty Telluride can pull 5,500 pounds and a self-leveling rear suspension is an option. The ride is firm, the steering is precise, and the braking is excellent. There is no hybrid option and the EPA estimate for front-wheel drive versions is 20 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway. AWD versions drop to 18 mpg city/24 mpg highway.
There's room for eight passengers with the second-row bench seat version, or seven with the optional Captain's chairs. There's 21 cubic feet of cargo room behind the third row but the second and third rows fold flat for up to 87 cubic feet of space. The mid-range SX model includes Nappa leather upholstery, heated and ventilated seats front and back, memory settings and a head-up display as well as a 10-speaker Harman-Kardon sound system. Forward collision warning, automated emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and blind-spot monitoring driver assist all come as standard. MSRP starts at $37, 585. SX trim starts at $47,285.

Best Hybrid Three-Row Family SUV - Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid

With a spacious third row, a well-equipped cabin, and two hybrid powertrains to choose from, the Grand Highlander Hybrid is our top choice for reliability, comfort, and all-out family fun this holiday season. It offers seating for eight passengers and plenty of cargo room. It is four inches longer than the standard Highlander giving extra foot room in that third row. It comes with three-zone climate control and a 12.3-inch infotainment touch screen.

The 2025 models expand with a base LE trim. There are new colors to choose from as well as a Nightshade Edition.  There is a 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid variant with two electric motors for a combined 245 horses and the Hybrid Max powertrain adds a turbocharger to a 2.4-liter four cylinder and an electric motor to make 362 hp and 400 pound-feet of torque. The standard Hybrid includes a CVT transmission while the Hybrid Max uses a six-speed automatic. Zero to 60 mph in the Hybrid Max happens in just 5.6 seconds.
The entry level Grand Highlander Hybrid with front-wheel drive gets the best EPA figures with 37 mpg city and 34 mpg highway. Even the entry level XLE includes a power liftgate, heated front seats, second row sunscreens, and a bunch of USB ports throughout. A second-row bench seat means there's room for eight passengers or switching to Captain's chairs in the back means it will hold seven. The Grand Highlander is packed with driver assist features including automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning and lane-keep assist. TSRP starts at $45,660. Platinum trim starts at $60,225.

Best Family EV SUV - Kia EV9

The World EV of the Year is also our pick for best family all-electric SUV for holiday shenanigans. The Kia EV9 has a third row that actually fits adults, and it is more affordable than many other family-sized EVs. Available in rear-wheel or all-wheel drive, the EPA tells us the range for this SUV is 230 miles for the standard model, or up to 304 miles for the extended range version. The 2025 models will come with a NACS port to accommodate the Tesla charging network.

The lineup starts with the Light trim which is rear-wheel drive that makes 215 horsepower. The all-wheel drive models come with two electric motors and boost power to a combined 379 horses. A more performance-oriented GT model is said to be coming in mid-2025. The EV9 gives you an excellent soft ride and one-pedal driving. Just take your foot off the accelerator and it will slow to a stop on its own and the AWD variant will blast you from zero to 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds.
The EV9 can be ordered with second row Captain's chairs or a bench seat, seating six or seven passengers respectively. The rear cargo area holds 20 cubic feet of gear or holiday goodies or up to 82 cubic feet with the second and third row seats stowed. All versions of the EV9 come with automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning with lane-keep assist, and advanced adaptive cruise control with hands-free driving. MSRP starts at $56,395. AWD models start at $65,395.
Let Lithia Help
No matter what kind of vehicle you have in mind for holiday travel, Lithia Motors can help. With over 300 dealerships from coast to coast and over 75 years of experience in providing personal transportation solutions for our customers, we can get you into the car of your dreams today.