Best Family Cars

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Looking for a new family vehicle? Well, today there are plenty of great family-friendly cars to choose from. That's why each year, Lithia Motors produces our list of the Top 10 Best Family Cars. For 2024, you'll find clever crossovers, awesome SUVs, and even a couple of minivans that could be a perfect fit for you and yours. All of the vehicles on our list of best family cars of 2024 combine everything you'll likely be looking for, from top safety picks and dependability to plenty of room, comfort for passengers and lots of cargo space. They also offer the latest safety and driver assist technology as well as innovative family-friendly features and infotainment marvels. 

Perfect People Movers

These vehicles tick all the boxes for great value, reliability, durability, comfort, and convenience. They have also received top safety ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). 

  

This selection of the Best Family Cars will get you and your loved ones where you're going safely and offer an excellent driving experience. There are literally hundreds of new makes and models of vehicles on dealer lots this year and we hope that our Top 10 picks will help to streamline your search in making a confident choice for a new far out family hauler. 

 Top 10 Best Family Cars
Our Best Family Cars are listed in alphabetical order by manufacturer | All mileage is EPA estimated
Best Two-Row Crossover SUVs

Honda CR-V

The popular and extremely reliable CR-V was all-new last year with a fresh design inside and out. It offers more passenger space, the latest tech, and has earned Car & Driver's 2024 Editor's Choice Award. A turbocharged four-cylinder engine makes 190 horsepower and there's an optional 204 horsepower hybrid version available in front-wheel or all-wheel drive.  

 

Standard driver assist features include automated emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane keep assist and lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. 

39.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row. 

EPA rated fuel economy is 43 mpg city/36 mpg highway. 

Starting MSRP $30,850. 

Hyundai Santa Fe

All new for 2024, the longer wheelbase, three-row Santa Fe is a great crossover SUV situated between Hyundai's compact Tucson and the mighty three-row Palisade. Choose between a 2.5-liter inline four engine with 191 horsepower, a turbocharged 277-horsepower version, a 226-horsepower hybrid powertrain, or a top-of-the-line plug-in hybrid variant.  

 

A 12.3-inch touchscreen brings your Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and driver assist goodies including standard forward collision warning, automated emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning and lane-keep assist. 

40 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row. 

EPA rated fuel economy is 20 mpg city/29 mpg highway. 

Starting MSRP $35,345. 

Subaru Outback

The perfect adventure wagon for families on the go, the all-wheel drive Outback has a higher ride height married to a station wagon body for more versatility. A redesign for 2023 adds a larger grille and front bumper as well as more advanced video cameras offering better views. You can choose between a standard 2.5-liter 182 horsepower engine, or a souped up turbocharged 2.4-liter 260 horsepower powertrain.  

 

With 8.7-inches of ground clearance and all-wheel drive, the Outback can take your family pretty much anywhere. Subaru EyeSight driver assist features include adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, forward collision warning, and automated emergency braking. 

32.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row. 

EPA rated fuel economy is 26 mpg city/32 mpg highway. 

Starting MSRP $30,290. 

 

Toyota RAV4

We round out the two-row family car picks with Toyota's best-selling RAV4. This practical and efficient crossover SUV is a great value, available with a 203 horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine in front- wheel or all-wheel drive. There are also fuel-efficient hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants for your consideration.  

 

An improved infotainment system and software interface was new for 2023 and Toyota's Safety Sense suite of driver assist features are standard in all six trim levels. The RAV4 took the NHTSA's highest safety rating. 

37.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats. 

EPA rated fuel economy is 27 mpg city/35 mpg highway. 

Starting MSRP $30,025. 

Best Three-Row Family Vehicles

Ford Expedition

The Mighty Expedition is a solid and well-rounded three-row SUV that offers a lot of room for big families and can tow 9,300 pounds. Choose between a 3.5-liter V6 that produces 380 horses or step up to the Timberline trim for 440 hp and estimated zero to 60 mph times of 5.1 seconds. Both the Expedition and the longer wheelbase Max version have spacious interiors. A three-passenger bench is standard in the second row but can be switched for captain's chairs.  

 

Ford's excellent Sync4 system handles all the infotainment goodies and driver assist tech includes automated emergency braking, forward collision warning, available adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning and lane keep assist. 

63.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row of seats. 

EPA rated fuel economy is 17 mpg city/23 mpg highway. 

Starting MSRP $57,520. 

Honda Odyssey

The first minivan in our lineup, the Odyssey offers remarkably quick acceleration, a refined ride, and a flexible interior with reconfigurable seating. The third row even disappears into the floor for more cargo room. We think it is the best handling and driving minivan on the market. The seating is the roomiest in its class and the second row Magic Slide seats can move forward, backward, and side to side.  

 

An 8-inch touchscreen handles infotainment including Apple CarPlay and Android Audio and the Touring and Elite trim levels include a rear seat entertainment system. Standard driver assist features include automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning with lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. 

89.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row of seats. 

EPA rated fuel economy is 19 mpg city/29 mph highway. 

Starting MSRP $39,635. 

Hyundai Palisade

With an upscale interior and ample room for eight, the Palisade SUV offers amazing luxury for the price. Many high-tech features come standard while high end trim levels include a panoramic sunroof, in-dash navigation, and luxurious leather seats. Powered by a 3.8-liter V6 and eight-speed automatic transmission, this big SUV pushes 291 horsepower and surprising acceleration. Front-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive is optional.  

 

The Palisade is known for its smooth ride and quiet cabin. Choose a second row, three passenger bench or two captain chairs. Power folding second and third rows is a nice option. Hyundai's Blue Link app lets you start the SUV remotely and an impressive list of driver assist features come as standard. 

45.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row of seats. 

EPA rated fuel economy is 19 mpg city/26 mpg highway. 

Starting MSRP $38,045. 

Kia Telluride

This year's Telluride once again took Kelley Blue Book's Best Buy Award in the 3-Row SUV class. It's easy to see why due to its being an extremely practical and well-rounded SUV offering overall excellence and incredible value. We find that its spacious upscale cabin has a refined feel and is very comfortable for long distance cruising. With a total refresh last year, the Telluride has a new look and improved infotainment features. Navigation is standard as is a Wi-Fi hot spot.  

 

All ten trim levels feature a 291 horsepower V6 and eight-speed automatic tranny. All-wheel drive is optional. The Telluride gives you 8.5 inches of ground clearance and can tow up to 5,500 pounds. Standard driver assist tech includes blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, automated emergency braking and more. 

46 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row of seats. 

EPA rated fuel economy is 20 mpg city/26 mpg highway. 

Starting MSRP $37,585. 

Toyota Highlander

The best-selling three-row SUV in America, the Highlander is praised for its many standard safety features, a comfortable interior, amazing reliability, and a very fuel-efficient hybrid model. The base SUV features a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that pumps out 265 horses available in front-wheel or all-wheel drive. The hybrid version uses a 2.5-liter gas engine paired with two electric motors for better fuel economy. The EPA has rated the Hybrid Highlander as 36 mpg city and 35 mpg highway.  

 

Cabin materials have been much improved over the last generation and this Highlander offers an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen as standard and a 12.3-inch screen is optional. Another upgrade is an 11-speaker JBL audio system. The NHTSA has given this big SUV its top safety rating and a suite of advanced driver assist features are standard. 

48.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row of seats. 

EPA rated fuel economy is 21 mpg city/29 mpg highway. 

Starting MSRP $40,665. 

Toyota Sienna

The family-friendly Sienna Hybrid is the fuel-efficient leader, only available as a Hybrid model with a 245-horsepower hybrid system which marries a 2.5-liter gasoline engine to two electric motors. It is available in both front-wheel and all-wheel drive. Inside, you'll find an excellent combination of practical space, legendary reliability, refined road manners, and awesome fuel economy.  

 

A 9-inch touchscreen is standard, bringing a world of infotainment wonders to your fingertips. Limited and Platinum trim levels have such amenities as second row captain chairs that recline and have pop-up ottomans and even a rear seat entertainment system and an onboard vacuum cleaner. 

75.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row of seats. 

EPA rated fuel economy is 36 mpg combined. 

Starting MSRP $39,080.Â