12 Best Family Cars of two thousand seventeen – Kelley Blue Book
12 Best Family Cars of 2017
Families have moved on from the family sedan.
Looking at sales trends, soccer fields and school drop-off lines it’s clear that today’s family car is actually an SUV. And the family-friendliest vehicle of them all, the minivan, resumes to appeal with its purpose-built practicality. Reflecting this continued shift, this year’s list of Best Family Cars is our very first without a single sedan.
As SUVs have grown more convenient and more efficient over the years, families and car shoppers in general have demonstrated an enhancing preference for the elevated driving position, superior cargo versatility and higher profile of SUVs. Each of our twelve Best Family Cars of two thousand seventeen offers a unique but similarly compelling combination of safety, value, versatility, amenities, convenience and drivability. Whether it’s the sliding doors and cavernous interior of a minivan or the high-riding nature and available all-wheel drive of an SUV, each of these vehicles is simply more functional as a family car than a traditional sedan.
All of which isn’t to say a sedan isn’t a good choice for many families. Midsize sedans like the Honda Accord and full-size sedans like the Chevrolet Impala are roomy and comfy, and typically produce more features and greater efficiency than similarly priced SUVs. If a sedan meets your needs we certainly encourage you in that direction, and suggest you check out our list of top choices in family sedans.
Similarly, there are slew of excellent, family-focused luxury SUVs to recommend, but we concentrate stringently on mainstream brands for this annual collection. Kicking off prices for the SUVs and minivans below range from about $20,000 to the low $30,000 range, with only the Chevrolet Tahoe exceeding a $40,000 beginning price.
For a look at the qualities and characteristics we considered when naming this year’s family favorites, keep reading. But let’s embark with what you came for, the twelve Best Family Cars of 2017.
Best 2-Row SUVs for Families
In order of sales volume
Totally redesigned for 2017, the CR-V is the best-selling SUV in the country and one of our most awarded cars every year. Read more
Whether you see it as a higher-riding wagon or a lower-profile SUV, the Outback is a top choice for go-anywhere, do-anything families. Read more
Totally redesigned for 2017, the roomier fresh Sportage checks all the right boxes for families. Read more
The most affordable entry on this list outshines its subcompact SUV competitors in roominess, refinement and plasticity. Read more
Best 3-Row SUVs for Families
In order of sales volume
Updated and enhanced for 2017, the clever and reputable Highlander is among the industry standards in three-row transportation. Read more
Positively minivan-like in family-friendly features and amenities, the Pilot is also our Midsize SUV Best Buy of 2017. Read more
Boasting an outstanding array of enhancements for 2017, the Pathfinder maintains its position among the most family-oriented SUVs available. Read more
The lead workhorse of the active American family, the Tahoe combines available seating for nine with the capability to tow the family’s largest fucktoys. Read more
In order of sales volume
The only minivan with available all-wheel drive, the Sienna has been further improved for 2017. Read more
Even in its last model year before a utter redesign, the Honda Odyssey remains a slam-dunk minivan standout in almost every aspect. Read more
The all-new Pacifica is the best-driving minivan on the road and offers the longest, most incredible list of cool features. Read more
Sedona strengths include an attractive, intuitive interior and the peace of mind of the segment’s very best warranty. Read more
Here are the key elements we considered when choosing this year’s top family cars, most of which should also factor into your selection process.
Everyone wants a safe car, but family car shoppers are even more safety-minded. With the exception of the 4-Star Chevrolet Tahoe, every vehicle on this list has earned a 5-Star Overall Safety Rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. While the redesigned two thousand seventeen Honda CR-V has yet to receive an official rating as of this writing, its predecessor was a 5-Star vehicle and we fully expect the fresh model to be even safer.
Many of these vehicles are the very best in class in terms of our 5-Year Cost to Own calculations. By considering a vehicle’s Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price, predicted resale value, insurance, fuel and maintenance costs, our 5-Year Cost to Own figures make it effortless to compare actual vehicle costs over a utter buy-own-sell ownership cycle. Fairly often, spending a little more on the right car can save you thousands in the long run over going for the big rebate on another car. Our 5-Year Cost to Own figures make it effortless to see the big picture and make the wise decision.
Most of the models on this list have been around a long time and have earned strong reputations for durability, reliability and simply treating their owners right. In the case of the only all-new nameplate on the list, the Chrysler Pacifica minivan, its overall appeal helped earn it a spot on the list in lieu of an established track record. In most cases, however, a few-year-old version of most of the SUVs and minivans on this list would make excellent used cars as well. In fact, several of them are indeed on our most latest list of the Ten Best Used Family Cars Under $15,000.
Even in a vehicle designed primarily to get you and yours from Point A to Points B, C and D on a daily basis, good steering and pedal feel can make a big difference. A vehicle that goes, turns and stops sleekly and as expected is more satisfying and less fatiguing than one with acceleration delays or non-linear braking response, for example. Good outward visibility and parking-lot finesse also contribute to stress reduction for the driver.
Convenience and Convenience
A slick rail, quiet cabin and comfy seats all help keep a family blessed while on the budge. Convenience features also make a big difference in the overall practice. The sliding doors on some Chrysler Pacificas can be opened with a wave of your foot when your forearms are utter. The second-row seats on some Honda Pilots will fold and slide forward with the thrust of a button, granting effortless access to the third row. The passenger-side second-row seat in the Nissan Pathfinder can provide access to the third row even when there’s a child car seat installed. With all the loading and unloading that happens in a busy family car, the benefits of petite touches like these can indeed add up over the years.
Minivans and SUVs are the cargo-friendliest family vehicles on the road, but some are friendlier than others. Usable volume is a key differentiator, but we’re also looking for advantages like low geyser floors that ease loading and unloading of bulkier items, as well as second- and third-row seats that fold and redeploy with minimal thought or effort.
Child car safety seats are a hugely significant consideration for car shoppers with infants, toddlers or both. Is there enough distance inbetween the front seat and the back seat to accommodate both the seat and the child? Can you fit all the seats you need? Are the LATCH mounting points effortless to access? Can you access the third row when two car seats are mounted in the 2nd row? Do the vehicle’s seat height and door opening make it effortless to buckle the child in and lift them out? Our quiver of test equipment includes popular child seats from Graco and Safety 1st, which we’ve installed in uncountable vehicles over the years. While all these vehicles are among tops in their respective segments when it comes to car seats, we strongly recommend taking your child car seats and boosters along with you when shopping. How well they fit could make or break your decision. If you’re in or near the child car seat stage, be sure to check out the accompanying car-seat guide with useful tips and specific details regarding the car-seat strengths and weaknesses of each of the this year’s twelve Best Family Cars.
Technology is an increasingly significant factor in fresh vehicles, and for many buyers it’s the most arousing part. This is the joy stuff. Bluetooth phone connectivity and USB ports are almost standard fare at this point, while rearview cameras, keyless entry and push-button commence are heading in that direction. From the driver’s perspective, we look for capable and easy-to-use infotainment systems, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability leading the way here. Features like adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and lane-keep assists are both helpful and comforting in town and on the highway, while backup cameras/sensors and rear cross-traffic alerts greatly enhance parking-lot navigation.
The Kelley Blue Book editorial staff drives hundreds of fresh cars, trucks, SUVs and minivans every year, so our testing never stops. For this year’s Best Family Cars we compiled a list of last year’s winners and the best of the fresh and redesigned two thousand seventeen models and brought them all together for a back-to-back testing regimen. Ten editors spent two weeks driving, poking, prodding and researching all these vehicles. Our group includes several parents claiming a total of eleven children spanning a utter range of ages including an adorable toddler, elementary, middle, high school and college students, and even a duo who’ve made it out into the real world. We put family cars under a group microscope once a year, but we live them every day.
12 Best Family Cars of two thousand seventeen – Kelley Blue Book
12 Best Family Cars of 2017
Families have moved on from the family sedan.
Looking at sales trends, soccer fields and school drop-off lines it’s clear that today’s family car is actually an SUV. And the family-friendliest vehicle of them all, the minivan, proceeds to appeal with its purpose-built practicality. Reflecting this continued shift, this year’s list of Best Family Cars is our very first without a single sedan.
As SUVs have grown more convenient and more efficient over the years, families and car shoppers in general have demonstrated an enhancing preference for the elevated driving position, superior cargo versatility and higher profile of SUVs. Each of our twelve Best Family Cars of two thousand seventeen offers a unique but similarly compelling combination of safety, value, versatility, amenities, convenience and drivability. Whether it’s the sliding doors and cavernous interior of a minivan or the high-riding nature and available all-wheel drive of an SUV, each of these vehicles is simply more functional as a family car than a traditional sedan.
All of which isn’t to say a sedan isn’t a superb choice for many families. Midsize sedans like the Honda Accord and full-size sedans like the Chevrolet Impala are roomy and convenient, and typically supply more features and greater efficiency than similarly priced SUVs. If a sedan meets your needs we certainly encourage you in that direction, and suggest you check out our list of top choices in family sedans.
Similarly, there are slew of excellent, family-focused luxury SUVs to recommend, but we concentrate rigorously on mainstream brands for this annual collection. Beginning prices for the SUVs and minivans below range from about $20,000 to the low $30,000 range, with only the Chevrolet Tahoe exceeding a $40,000 embarking price.
For a look at the qualities and characteristics we considered when naming this year’s family favorites, keep reading. But let’s embark with what you came for, the twelve Best Family Cars of 2017.
Best 2-Row SUVs for Families
In order of sales volume
Totally redesigned for 2017, the CR-V is the best-selling SUV in the country and one of our most awarded cars every year. Read more
Whether you see it as a higher-riding wagon or a lower-profile SUV, the Outback is a top choice for go-anywhere, do-anything families. Read more
Totally redesigned for 2017, the roomier fresh Sportage checks all the right boxes for families. Read more
The most affordable entry on this list outshines its subcompact SUV competitors in roominess, refinement and plasticity. Read more
Best 3-Row SUVs for Families
In order of sales volume
Updated and enhanced for 2017, the clever and reputable Highlander is among the industry standards in three-row transportation. Read more
Positively minivan-like in family-friendly features and amenities, the Pilot is also our Midsize SUV Best Buy of 2017. Read more
Boasting an amazing array of enhancements for 2017, the Pathfinder maintains its position among the most family-oriented SUVs available. Read more
The lead workhorse of the active American family, the Tahoe combines available seating for nine with the capability to tow the family’s largest fucktoys. Read more
In order of sales volume
The only minivan with available all-wheel drive, the Sienna has been further improved for 2017. Read more
Even in its last model year before a total redesign, the Honda Odyssey remains a slam-dunk minivan standout in almost every aspect. Read more
The all-new Pacifica is the best-driving minivan on the road and offers the longest, most epic list of cool features. Read more
Sedona strengths include an attractive, intuitive interior and the peace of mind of the segment’s very best warranty. Read more
Here are the key elements we considered when choosing this year’s top family cars, most of which should also factor into your selection process.
Everyone wants a safe car, but family car shoppers are even more safety-minded. With the exception of the 4-Star Chevrolet Tahoe, every vehicle on this list has earned a 5-Star Overall Safety Rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. While the redesigned two thousand seventeen Honda CR-V has yet to receive an official rating as of this writing, its predecessor was a 5-Star vehicle and we fully expect the fresh model to be even safer.
Many of these vehicles are the very best in class in terms of our 5-Year Cost to Own calculations. By considering a vehicle’s Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price, predicted resale value, insurance, fuel and maintenance costs, our 5-Year Cost to Own figures make it effortless to compare actual vehicle costs over a total buy-own-sell ownership cycle. Fairly often, spending a little more on the right car can save you thousands in the long run over going for the big rebate on another car. Our 5-Year Cost to Own figures make it effortless to see the big picture and make the clever decision.
Most of the models on this list have been around a long time and have earned strong reputations for durability, reliability and simply treating their owners right. In the case of the only all-new nameplate on the list, the Chrysler Pacifica minivan, its overall appeal helped earn it a spot on the list in lieu of an established track record. In most cases, however, a few-year-old version of most of the SUVs and minivans on this list would make excellent used cars as well. In fact, several of them are indeed on our most latest list of the Ten Best Used Family Cars Under $15,000.
Even in a vehicle designed primarily to get you and yours from Point A to Points B, C and D on a daily basis, good steering and pedal feel can make a big difference. A vehicle that goes, turns and stops sleekly and as expected is more satisfying and less fatiguing than one with acceleration delays or non-linear braking response, for example. Good outward visibility and parking-lot finesse also contribute to stress reduction for the driver.
Convenience and Convenience
A sleek rail, quiet cabin and convenient seats all help keep a family glad while on the stir. Convenience features also make a big difference in the overall practice. The sliding doors on some Chrysler Pacificas can be opened with a wave of your foot when your mitts are total. The second-row seats on some Honda Pilots will fold and slide forward with the shove of a button, granting effortless access to the third row. The passenger-side second-row seat in the Nissan Pathfinder can provide access to the third row even when there’s a child car seat installed. With all the loading and unloading that happens in a busy family car, the benefits of petite touches like these can indeed add up over the years.
Minivans and SUVs are the cargo-friendliest family vehicles on the road, but some are friendlier than others. Usable volume is a key differentiator, but we’re also looking for advantages like low flow floors that ease loading and unloading of bulkier items, as well as second- and third-row seats that fold and redeploy with minimal thought or effort.
Child car safety seats are a hugely significant consideration for car shoppers with infants, toddlers or both. Is there enough distance inbetween the front seat and the back seat to accommodate both the seat and the child? Can you fit all the seats you need? Are the LATCH mounting points effortless to access? Can you access the third row when two car seats are mounted in the 2nd row? Do the vehicle’s seat height and door opening make it effortless to buckle the child in and lift them out? Our quiver of test equipment includes popular child seats from Graco and Safety 1st, which we’ve installed in innumerable vehicles over the years. While all these vehicles are among tops in their respective segments when it comes to car seats, we strongly recommend taking your child car seats and boosters along with you when shopping. How well they fit could make or break your decision. If you’re in or near the child car seat stage, be sure to check out the accompanying car-seat guide with useful tips and specific details regarding the car-seat strengths and weaknesses of each of the this year’s twelve Best Family Cars.
Technology is an increasingly significant factor in fresh vehicles, and for many buyers it’s the most titillating part. This is the joy stuff. Bluetooth phone connectivity and USB ports are almost standard fare at this point, while rearview cameras, keyless entry and push-button commence are heading in that direction. From the driver’s perspective, we look for capable and easy-to-use infotainment systems, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability leading the way here. Features like adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and lane-keep assists are both helpful and comforting in town and on the highway, while backup cameras/sensors and rear cross-traffic alerts greatly enhance parking-lot navigation.
The Kelley Blue Book editorial staff drives hundreds of fresh cars, trucks, SUVs and minivans every year, so our testing never stops. For this year’s Best Family Cars we compiled a list of last year’s winners and the best of the fresh and redesigned two thousand seventeen models and brought them all together for a back-to-back testing regimen. Ten editors spent two weeks driving, poking, prodding and researching all these vehicles. Our group includes several parents claiming a total of eleven children spanning a total range of ages including an adorable toddler, elementary, middle, high school and college students, and even a duo who’ve made it out into the real world. We put family cars under a group microscope once a year, but we live them every day.
12 Best Family Cars of two thousand seventeen – Kelley Blue Book
12 Best Family Cars of 2017
Families have moved on from the family sedan.
Looking at sales trends, soccer fields and school drop-off lines it’s clear that today’s family car is actually an SUV. And the family-friendliest vehicle of them all, the minivan, resumes to appeal with its purpose-built practicality. Reflecting this continued shift, this year’s list of Best Family Cars is our very first without a single sedan.
As SUVs have grown more comfy and more efficient over the years, families and car shoppers in general have demonstrated an enlargening preference for the elevated driving position, superior cargo versatility and higher profile of SUVs. Each of our twelve Best Family Cars of two thousand seventeen offers a unique but similarly compelling combination of safety, value, versatility, amenities, convenience and drivability. Whether it’s the sliding doors and cavernous interior of a minivan or the high-riding nature and available all-wheel drive of an SUV, each of these vehicles is simply more functional as a family car than a traditional sedan.
All of which isn’t to say a sedan isn’t a good choice for many families. Midsize sedans like the Honda Accord and full-size sedans like the Chevrolet Impala are roomy and comfy, and typically produce more features and greater efficiency than similarly priced SUVs. If a sedan meets your needs we certainly encourage you in that direction, and suggest you check out our list of top choices in family sedans.
Similarly, there are slew of excellent, family-focused luxury SUVs to recommend, but we concentrate stringently on mainstream brands for this annual collection. Commencing prices for the SUVs and minivans below range from about $20,000 to the low $30,000 range, with only the Chevrolet Tahoe exceeding a $40,000 beginning price.
For a look at the qualities and characteristics we considered when naming this year’s family favorites, keep reading. But let’s embark with what you came for, the twelve Best Family Cars of 2017.
Best 2-Row SUVs for Families
In order of sales volume
Totally redesigned for 2017, the CR-V is the best-selling SUV in the country and one of our most awarded cars every year. Read more
Whether you see it as a higher-riding wagon or a lower-profile SUV, the Outback is a top choice for go-anywhere, do-anything families. Read more
Totally redesigned for 2017, the roomier fresh Sportage checks all the right boxes for families. Read more
The most affordable entry on this list outshines its subcompact SUV competitors in roominess, refinement and plasticity. Read more
Best 3-Row SUVs for Families
In order of sales volume
Updated and enhanced for 2017, the clever and reputable Highlander is among the industry standards in three-row transportation. Read more
Positively minivan-like in family-friendly features and amenities, the Pilot is also our Midsize SUV Best Buy of 2017. Read more
Boasting an amazing array of enhancements for 2017, the Pathfinder maintains its position among the most family-oriented SUVs available. Read more
The lead workhorse of the active American family, the Tahoe combines available seating for nine with the capability to tow the family’s thickest fucktoys. Read more
In order of sales volume
The only minivan with available all-wheel drive, the Sienna has been further improved for 2017. Read more
Even in its last model year before a total redesign, the Honda Odyssey remains a slam-dunk minivan standout in almost every aspect. Read more
The all-new Pacifica is the best-driving minivan on the road and offers the longest, most amazing list of cool features. Read more
Sedona strengths include an attractive, intuitive interior and the peace of mind of the segment’s very best warranty. Read more
Here are the key elements we considered when choosing this year’s top family cars, most of which should also factor into your selection process.
Everyone wants a safe car, but family car shoppers are even more safety-minded. With the exception of the 4-Star Chevrolet Tahoe, every vehicle on this list has earned a 5-Star Overall Safety Rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. While the redesigned two thousand seventeen Honda CR-V has yet to receive an official rating as of this writing, its predecessor was a 5-Star vehicle and we fully expect the fresh model to be even safer.
Many of these vehicles are the very best in class in terms of our 5-Year Cost to Own calculations. By considering a vehicle’s Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price, predicted resale value, insurance, fuel and maintenance costs, our 5-Year Cost to Own figures make it effortless to compare actual vehicle costs over a total buy-own-sell ownership cycle. Fairly often, spending a little more on the right car can save you thousands in the long run over going for the big rebate on another car. Our 5-Year Cost to Own figures make it effortless to see the big picture and make the clever decision.
Most of the models on this list have been around a long time and have earned strong reputations for durability, reliability and simply treating their owners right. In the case of the only all-new nameplate on the list, the Chrysler Pacifica minivan, its overall appeal helped earn it a spot on the list in lieu of an established track record. In most cases, however, a few-year-old version of most of the SUVs and minivans on this list would make excellent used cars as well. In fact, several of them are indeed on our most latest list of the Ten Best Used Family Cars Under $15,000.
Even in a vehicle designed primarily to get you and yours from Point A to Points B, C and D on a daily basis, good steering and pedal feel can make a big difference. A vehicle that goes, turns and stops slickly and as expected is more satisfying and less fatiguing than one with acceleration delays or non-linear braking response, for example. Good outward visibility and parking-lot finesse also contribute to stress reduction for the driver.
Convenience and Convenience
A sleek rail, quiet cabin and comfy seats all help keep a family blessed while on the stir. Convenience features also make a big difference in the overall practice. The sliding doors on some Chrysler Pacificas can be opened with a wave of your foot when your arms are utter. The second-row seats on some Honda Pilots will fold and slide forward with the shove of a button, granting effortless access to the third row. The passenger-side second-row seat in the Nissan Pathfinder can provide access to the third row even when there’s a child car seat installed. With all the loading and unloading that happens in a busy family car, the benefits of puny touches like these can truly add up over the years.
Minivans and SUVs are the cargo-friendliest family vehicles on the road, but some are friendlier than others. Usable volume is a key differentiator, but we’re also looking for advantages like low fountain floors that ease loading and unloading of bulkier items, as well as second- and third-row seats that fold and redeploy with minimal thought or effort.
Child car safety seats are a hugely significant consideration for car shoppers with infants, toddlers or both. Is there enough distance inbetween the front seat and the back seat to accommodate both the seat and the child? Can you fit all the seats you need? Are the LATCH mounting points effortless to access? Can you access the third row when two car seats are mounted in the 2nd row? Do the vehicle’s seat height and door opening make it effortless to buckle the child in and lift them out? Our quiver of test equipment includes popular child seats from Graco and Safety 1st, which we’ve installed in uncountable vehicles over the years. While all these vehicles are among tops in their respective segments when it comes to car seats, we strongly recommend taking your child car seats and boosters along with you when shopping. How well they fit could make or break your decision. If you’re in or near the child car seat stage, be sure to check out the accompanying car-seat guide with useful tips and specific details regarding the car-seat strengths and weaknesses of each of the this year’s twelve Best Family Cars.
Technology is an increasingly significant factor in fresh vehicles, and for many buyers it’s the most titillating part. This is the joy stuff. Bluetooth phone connectivity and USB ports are almost standard fare at this point, while rearview cameras, keyless entry and push-button begin are heading in that direction. From the driver’s perspective, we look for capable and easy-to-use infotainment systems, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability leading the way here. Features like adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and lane-keep assists are both helpful and comforting in town and on the highway, while backup cameras/sensors and rear cross-traffic alerts greatly enhance parking-lot navigation.
The Kelley Blue Book editorial staff drives hundreds of fresh cars, trucks, SUVs and minivans every year, so our testing never stops. For this year’s Best Family Cars we compiled a list of last year’s winners and the best of the fresh and redesigned two thousand seventeen models and brought them all together for a back-to-back testing regimen. Ten editors spent two weeks driving, poking, prodding and researching all these vehicles. Our group includes several parents claiming a total of eleven children spanning a total range of ages including an adorable toddler, elementary, middle, high school and college students, and even a duo who’ve made it out into the real world. We put family cars under a group microscope once a year, but we live them every day.
12 Best Family Cars of two thousand seventeen – Kelley Blue Book
12 Best Family Cars of 2017
Families have moved on from the family sedan.
Looking at sales trends, soccer fields and school drop-off lines it’s clear that today’s family car is actually an SUV. And the family-friendliest vehicle of them all, the minivan, proceeds to appeal with its purpose-built practicality. Reflecting this continued shift, this year’s list of Best Family Cars is our very first without a single sedan.
As SUVs have grown more convenient and more efficient over the years, families and car shoppers in general have demonstrated an enhancing preference for the elevated driving position, superior cargo versatility and higher profile of SUVs. Each of our twelve Best Family Cars of two thousand seventeen offers a unique but similarly compelling combination of safety, value, versatility, amenities, convenience and drivability. Whether it’s the sliding doors and cavernous interior of a minivan or the high-riding nature and available all-wheel drive of an SUV, each of these vehicles is simply more functional as a family car than a traditional sedan.
All of which isn’t to say a sedan isn’t a fine choice for many families. Midsize sedans like the Honda Accord and full-size sedans like the Chevrolet Impala are roomy and comfy, and typically supply more features and greater efficiency than similarly priced SUVs. If a sedan meets your needs we certainly encourage you in that direction, and suggest you check out our list of top choices in family sedans.
Similarly, there are slew of excellent, family-focused luxury SUVs to recommend, but we concentrate stringently on mainstream brands for this annual collection. Beginning prices for the SUVs and minivans below range from about $20,000 to the low $30,000 range, with only the Chevrolet Tahoe exceeding a $40,000 commencing price.
For a look at the qualities and characteristics we considered when naming this year’s family favorites, keep reading. But let’s embark with what you came for, the twelve Best Family Cars of 2017.
Best 2-Row SUVs for Families
In order of sales volume
Totally redesigned for 2017, the CR-V is the best-selling SUV in the country and one of our most awarded cars every year. Read more
Whether you see it as a higher-riding wagon or a lower-profile SUV, the Outback is a top choice for go-anywhere, do-anything families. Read more
Totally redesigned for 2017, the roomier fresh Sportage checks all the right boxes for families. Read more
The most affordable entry on this list outshines its subcompact SUV competitors in roominess, refinement and plasticity. Read more
Best 3-Row SUVs for Families
In order of sales volume
Updated and enhanced for 2017, the clever and reputable Highlander is among the industry standards in three-row transportation. Read more
Positively minivan-like in family-friendly features and amenities, the Pilot is also our Midsize SUV Best Buy of 2017. Read more
Boasting an amazing array of enhancements for 2017, the Pathfinder maintains its position among the most family-oriented SUVs available. Read more
The lead workhorse of the active American family, the Tahoe combines available seating for nine with the capability to tow the family’s largest fucktoys. Read more
In order of sales volume
The only minivan with available all-wheel drive, the Sienna has been further improved for 2017. Read more
Even in its last model year before a utter redesign, the Honda Odyssey remains a slam-dunk minivan standout in almost every aspect. Read more
The all-new Pacifica is the best-driving minivan on the road and offers the longest, most outstanding list of cool features. Read more
Sedona strengths include an attractive, intuitive interior and the peace of mind of the segment’s very best warranty. Read more
Here are the key elements we considered when choosing this year’s top family cars, most of which should also factor into your selection process.
Everyone wants a safe car, but family car shoppers are even more safety-minded. With the exception of the 4-Star Chevrolet Tahoe, every vehicle on this list has earned a 5-Star Overall Safety Rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. While the redesigned two thousand seventeen Honda CR-V has yet to receive an official rating as of this writing, its predecessor was a 5-Star vehicle and we fully expect the fresh model to be even safer.
Many of these vehicles are the very best in class in terms of our 5-Year Cost to Own calculations. By considering a vehicle’s Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price, predicted resale value, insurance, fuel and maintenance costs, our 5-Year Cost to Own figures make it effortless to compare actual vehicle costs over a utter buy-own-sell ownership cycle. Fairly often, spending a little more on the right car can save you thousands in the long run over going for the big rebate on another car. Our 5-Year Cost to Own figures make it effortless to see the big picture and make the brainy decision.
Most of the models on this list have been around a long time and have earned strong reputations for durability, reliability and simply treating their owners right. In the case of the only all-new nameplate on the list, the Chrysler Pacifica minivan, its overall appeal helped earn it a spot on the list in lieu of an established track record. In most cases, however, a few-year-old version of most of the SUVs and minivans on this list would make excellent used cars as well. In fact, several of them are indeed on our most latest list of the Ten Best Used Family Cars Under $15,000.
Even in a vehicle designed primarily to get you and yours from Point A to Points B, C and D on a daily basis, good steering and pedal feel can make a big difference. A vehicle that goes, turns and stops slickly and as expected is more satisfying and less fatiguing than one with acceleration delays or non-linear braking response, for example. Good outward visibility and parking-lot finesse also contribute to stress reduction for the driver.
Convenience and Convenience
A slick rail, quiet cabin and convenient seats all help keep a family glad while on the stir. Convenience features also make a big difference in the overall practice. The sliding doors on some Chrysler Pacificas can be opened with a wave of your foot when your arms are utter. The second-row seats on some Honda Pilots will fold and slide forward with the thrust of a button, granting effortless access to the third row. The passenger-side second-row seat in the Nissan Pathfinder can provide access to the third row even when there’s a child car seat installed. With all the loading and unloading that happens in a busy family car, the benefits of petite touches like these can indeed add up over the years.
Minivans and SUVs are the cargo-friendliest family vehicles on the road, but some are friendlier than others. Usable volume is a key differentiator, but we’re also looking for advantages like low explosion floors that ease loading and unloading of bulkier items, as well as second- and third-row seats that fold and redeploy with minimal thought or effort.
Child car safety seats are a hugely significant consideration for car shoppers with infants, toddlers or both. Is there enough distance inbetween the front seat and the back seat to accommodate both the seat and the child? Can you fit all the seats you need? Are the LATCH mounting points effortless to access? Can you access the third row when two car seats are mounted in the 2nd row? Do the vehicle’s seat height and door opening make it effortless to buckle the child in and lift them out? Our quiver of test equipment includes popular child seats from Graco and Safety 1st, which we’ve installed in innumerable vehicles over the years. While all these vehicles are among tops in their respective segments when it comes to car seats, we strongly recommend taking your child car seats and boosters along with you when shopping. How well they fit could make or break your decision. If you’re in or near the child car seat stage, be sure to check out the accompanying car-seat guide with useful tips and specific details regarding the car-seat strengths and weaknesses of each of the this year’s twelve Best Family Cars.
Technology is an increasingly significant factor in fresh vehicles, and for many buyers it’s the most titillating part. This is the joy stuff. Bluetooth phone connectivity and USB ports are almost standard fare at this point, while rearview cameras, keyless entry and push-button begin are heading in that direction. From the driver’s perspective, we look for capable and easy-to-use infotainment systems, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability leading the way here. Features like adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and lane-keep assists are both helpful and comforting in town and on the highway, while backup cameras/sensors and rear cross-traffic alerts greatly enhance parking-lot navigation.
The Kelley Blue Book editorial staff drives hundreds of fresh cars, trucks, SUVs and minivans every year, so our testing never stops. For this year’s Best Family Cars we compiled a list of last year’s winners and the best of the fresh and redesigned two thousand seventeen models and brought them all together for a back-to-back testing regimen. Ten editors spent two weeks driving, poking, prodding and researching all these vehicles. Our group includes several parents claiming a total of eleven children spanning a utter range of ages including an adorable toddler, elementary, middle, high school and college students, and even a duo who’ve made it out into the real world. We put family cars under a group microscope once a year, but we live them every day.
12 Best Family Cars of two thousand seventeen – Kelley Blue Book
12 Best Family Cars of 2017
Families have moved on from the family sedan.
Looking at sales trends, soccer fields and school drop-off lines it’s clear that today’s family car is actually an SUV. And the family-friendliest vehicle of them all, the minivan, proceeds to appeal with its purpose-built practicality. Reflecting this continued shift, this year’s list of Best Family Cars is our very first without a single sedan.
As SUVs have grown more comfy and more efficient over the years, families and car shoppers in general have demonstrated an enhancing preference for the elevated driving position, superior cargo versatility and higher profile of SUVs. Each of our twelve Best Family Cars of two thousand seventeen offers a unique but similarly compelling combination of safety, value, versatility, amenities, convenience and drivability. Whether it’s the sliding doors and cavernous interior of a minivan or the high-riding nature and available all-wheel drive of an SUV, each of these vehicles is simply more functional as a family car than a traditional sedan.
All of which isn’t to say a sedan isn’t a fine choice for many families. Midsize sedans like the Honda Accord and full-size sedans like the Chevrolet Impala are roomy and comfy, and typically produce more features and greater efficiency than similarly priced SUVs. If a sedan meets your needs we undoubtedly encourage you in that direction, and suggest you check out our list of top choices in family sedans.
Similarly, there are slew of excellent, family-focused luxury SUVs to recommend, but we concentrate rigorously on mainstream brands for this annual collection. Kicking off prices for the SUVs and minivans below range from about $20,000 to the low $30,000 range, with only the Chevrolet Tahoe exceeding a $40,000 kicking off price.
For a look at the qualities and characteristics we considered when naming this year’s family favorites, keep reading. But let’s commence with what you came for, the twelve Best Family Cars of 2017.
Best 2-Row SUVs for Families
In order of sales volume
Totally redesigned for 2017, the CR-V is the best-selling SUV in the country and one of our most awarded cars every year. Read more
Whether you see it as a higher-riding wagon or a lower-profile SUV, the Outback is a top choice for go-anywhere, do-anything families. Read more
Totally redesigned for 2017, the roomier fresh Sportage checks all the right boxes for families. Read more
The most affordable entry on this list outshines its subcompact SUV competitors in roominess, refinement and plasticity. Read more
Best 3-Row SUVs for Families
In order of sales volume
Updated and enhanced for 2017, the clever and reputable Highlander is among the industry standards in three-row transportation. Read more
Positively minivan-like in family-friendly features and amenities, the Pilot is also our Midsize SUV Best Buy of 2017. Read more
Boasting an astounding array of enhancements for 2017, the Pathfinder maintains its position among the most family-oriented SUVs available. Read more
The lead workhorse of the active American family, the Tahoe combines available seating for nine with the capability to tow the family’s thickest fucktoys. Read more
In order of sales volume
The only minivan with available all-wheel drive, the Sienna has been further improved for 2017. Read more
Even in its last model year before a total redesign, the Honda Odyssey remains a slam-dunk minivan standout in almost every aspect. Read more
The all-new Pacifica is the best-driving minivan on the road and offers the longest, most incredible list of cool features. Read more
Sedona strengths include an attractive, intuitive interior and the peace of mind of the segment’s very best warranty. Read more
Here are the key elements we considered when choosing this year’s top family cars, most of which should also factor into your selection process.
Everyone wants a safe car, but family car shoppers are even more safety-minded. With the exception of the 4-Star Chevrolet Tahoe, every vehicle on this list has earned a 5-Star Overall Safety Rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. While the redesigned two thousand seventeen Honda CR-V has yet to receive an official rating as of this writing, its predecessor was a 5-Star vehicle and we fully expect the fresh model to be even safer.
Many of these vehicles are the very best in class in terms of our 5-Year Cost to Own calculations. By considering a vehicle’s Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price, predicted resale value, insurance, fuel and maintenance costs, our 5-Year Cost to Own figures make it effortless to compare actual vehicle costs over a utter buy-own-sell ownership cycle. Fairly often, spending a little more on the right car can save you thousands in the long run over going for the big rebate on another car. Our 5-Year Cost to Own figures make it effortless to see the big picture and make the brainy decision.
Most of the models on this list have been around a long time and have earned strong reputations for durability, reliability and simply treating their owners right. In the case of the only all-new nameplate on the list, the Chrysler Pacifica minivan, its overall appeal helped earn it a spot on the list in lieu of an established track record. In most cases, however, a few-year-old version of most of the SUVs and minivans on this list would make excellent used cars as well. In fact, several of them are indeed on our most latest list of the Ten Best Used Family Cars Under $15,000.
Even in a vehicle designed primarily to get you and yours from Point A to Points B, C and D on a daily basis, good steering and pedal feel can make a big difference. A vehicle that goes, turns and stops slickly and as expected is more satisfying and less fatiguing than one with acceleration delays or non-linear braking response, for example. Good outward visibility and parking-lot finesse also contribute to stress reduction for the driver.
Convenience and Convenience
A sleek rail, quiet cabin and convenient seats all help keep a family blessed while on the budge. Convenience features also make a big difference in the overall practice. The sliding doors on some Chrysler Pacificas can be opened with a wave of your foot when your palms are total. The second-row seats on some Honda Pilots will fold and slide forward with the thrust of a button, granting effortless access to the third row. The passenger-side second-row seat in the Nissan Pathfinder can provide access to the third row even when there’s a child car seat installed. With all the loading and unloading that happens in a busy family car, the benefits of puny touches like these can indeed add up over the years.
Minivans and SUVs are the cargo-friendliest family vehicles on the road, but some are friendlier than others. Usable volume is a key differentiator, but we’re also looking for advantages like low explosion floors that ease loading and unloading of bulkier items, as well as second- and third-row seats that fold and redeploy with minimal thought or effort.
Child car safety seats are a hugely significant consideration for car shoppers with infants, toddlers or both. Is there enough distance inbetween the front seat and the back seat to accommodate both the seat and the child? Can you fit all the seats you need? Are the LATCH mounting points effortless to access? Can you access the third row when two car seats are mounted in the 2nd row? Do the vehicle’s seat height and door opening make it effortless to buckle the child in and lift them out? Our quiver of test equipment includes popular child seats from Graco and Safety 1st, which we’ve installed in uncountable vehicles over the years. While all these vehicles are among tops in their respective segments when it comes to car seats, we strongly recommend taking your child car seats and boosters along with you when shopping. How well they fit could make or break your decision. If you’re in or near the child car seat stage, be sure to check out the accompanying car-seat guide with useful tips and specific details regarding the car-seat strengths and weaknesses of each of the this year’s twelve Best Family Cars.
Technology is an increasingly significant factor in fresh vehicles, and for many buyers it’s the most arousing part. This is the joy stuff. Bluetooth phone connectivity and USB ports are almost standard fare at this point, while rearview cameras, keyless entry and push-button begin are heading in that direction. From the driver’s perspective, we look for capable and easy-to-use infotainment systems, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability leading the way here. Features like adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and lane-keep assists are both helpful and comforting in town and on the highway, while backup cameras/sensors and rear cross-traffic alerts greatly enhance parking-lot navigation.
The Kelley Blue Book editorial staff drives hundreds of fresh cars, trucks, SUVs and minivans every year, so our testing never stops. For this year’s Best Family Cars we compiled a list of last year’s winners and the best of the fresh and redesigned two thousand seventeen models and brought them all together for a back-to-back testing regimen. Ten editors spent two weeks driving, poking, prodding and researching all these vehicles. Our group includes several parents claiming a total of eleven children spanning a total range of ages including an adorable toddler, elementary, middle, high school and college students, and even a duo who’ve made it out into the real world. We put family cars under a group microscope once a year, but we live them every day.
12 Best Family Cars of two thousand seventeen – Kelley Blue Book
12 Best Family Cars of 2017
Families have moved on from the family sedan.
Looking at sales trends, soccer fields and school drop-off lines it’s clear that today’s family car is actually an SUV. And the family-friendliest vehicle of them all, the minivan, proceeds to appeal with its purpose-built practicality. Reflecting this continued shift, this year’s list of Best Family Cars is our very first without a single sedan.
As SUVs have grown more convenient and more efficient over the years, families and car shoppers in general have demonstrated an enlargening preference for the elevated driving position, superior cargo versatility and higher profile of SUVs. Each of our twelve Best Family Cars of two thousand seventeen offers a unique but similarly compelling combination of safety, value, versatility, amenities, convenience and drivability. Whether it’s the sliding doors and cavernous interior of a minivan or the high-riding nature and available all-wheel drive of an SUV, each of these vehicles is simply more functional as a family car than a traditional sedan.
All of which isn’t to say a sedan isn’t a good choice for many families. Midsize sedans like the Honda Accord and full-size sedans like the Chevrolet Impala are roomy and comfy, and typically produce more features and greater efficiency than similarly priced SUVs. If a sedan meets your needs we undoubtedly encourage you in that direction, and suggest you check out our list of top choices in family sedans.
Similarly, there are slew of excellent, family-focused luxury SUVs to recommend, but we concentrate rigorously on mainstream brands for this annual collection. Embarking prices for the SUVs and minivans below range from about $20,000 to the low $30,000 range, with only the Chevrolet Tahoe exceeding a $40,000 commencing price.
For a look at the qualities and characteristics we considered when naming this year’s family favorites, keep reading. But let’s commence with what you came for, the twelve Best Family Cars of 2017.
Best 2-Row SUVs for Families
In order of sales volume
Totally redesigned for 2017, the CR-V is the best-selling SUV in the country and one of our most awarded cars every year. Read more
Whether you see it as a higher-riding wagon or a lower-profile SUV, the Outback is a top choice for go-anywhere, do-anything families. Read more
Totally redesigned for 2017, the roomier fresh Sportage checks all the right boxes for families. Read more
The most affordable entry on this list outshines its subcompact SUV competitors in roominess, refinement and plasticity. Read more
Best 3-Row SUVs for Families
In order of sales volume
Updated and enhanced for 2017, the clever and reputable Highlander is among the industry standards in three-row transportation. Read more
Positively minivan-like in family-friendly features and amenities, the Pilot is also our Midsize SUV Best Buy of 2017. Read more
Boasting an epic array of enhancements for 2017, the Pathfinder maintains its position among the most family-oriented SUVs available. Read more
The lead workhorse of the active American family, the Tahoe combines available seating for nine with the capability to tow the family’s largest fucktoys. Read more
In order of sales volume
The only minivan with available all-wheel drive, the Sienna has been further improved for 2017. Read more
Even in its last model year before a utter redesign, the Honda Odyssey remains a slam-dunk minivan standout in almost every aspect. Read more
The all-new Pacifica is the best-driving minivan on the road and offers the longest, most extraordinaire list of cool features. Read more
Sedona strengths include an attractive, intuitive interior and the peace of mind of the segment’s very best warranty. Read more
Here are the key elements we considered when choosing this year’s top family cars, most of which should also factor into your selection process.
Everyone wants a safe car, but family car shoppers are even more safety-minded. With the exception of the 4-Star Chevrolet Tahoe, every vehicle on this list has earned a 5-Star Overall Safety Rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. While the redesigned two thousand seventeen Honda CR-V has yet to receive an official rating as of this writing, its predecessor was a 5-Star vehicle and we fully expect the fresh model to be even safer.
Many of these vehicles are the very best in class in terms of our 5-Year Cost to Own calculations. By considering a vehicle’s Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price, predicted resale value, insurance, fuel and maintenance costs, our 5-Year Cost to Own figures make it effortless to compare actual vehicle costs over a utter buy-own-sell ownership cycle. Fairly often, spending a little more on the right car can save you thousands in the long run over going for the big rebate on another car. Our 5-Year Cost to Own figures make it effortless to see the big picture and make the brainy decision.
Most of the models on this list have been around a long time and have earned strong reputations for durability, reliability and simply treating their owners right. In the case of the only all-new nameplate on the list, the Chrysler Pacifica minivan, its overall appeal helped earn it a spot on the list in lieu of an established track record. In most cases, however, a few-year-old version of most of the SUVs and minivans on this list would make excellent used cars as well. In fact, several of them are indeed on our most latest list of the Ten Best Used Family Cars Under $15,000.
Even in a vehicle designed primarily to get you and yours from Point A to Points B, C and D on a daily basis, good steering and pedal feel can make a big difference. A vehicle that goes, turns and stops sleekly and as expected is more satisfying and less fatiguing than one with acceleration delays or non-linear braking response, for example. Good outward visibility and parking-lot finesse also contribute to stress reduction for the driver.
Convenience and Convenience
A sleek rail, quiet cabin and convenient seats all help keep a family blessed while on the budge. Convenience features also make a big difference in the overall practice. The sliding doors on some Chrysler Pacificas can be opened with a wave of your foot when your forearms are total. The second-row seats on some Honda Pilots will fold and slide forward with the thrust of a button, granting effortless access to the third row. The passenger-side second-row seat in the Nissan Pathfinder can provide access to the third row even when there’s a child car seat installed. With all the loading and unloading that happens in a busy family car, the benefits of petite touches like these can indeed add up over the years.
Minivans and SUVs are the cargo-friendliest family vehicles on the road, but some are friendlier than others. Usable volume is a key differentiator, but we’re also looking for advantages like low explosion floors that ease loading and unloading of bulkier items, as well as second- and third-row seats that fold and redeploy with minimal thought or effort.
Child car safety seats are a hugely significant consideration for car shoppers with infants, toddlers or both. Is there enough distance inbetween the front seat and the back seat to accommodate both the seat and the child? Can you fit all the seats you need? Are the LATCH mounting points effortless to access? Can you access the third row when two car seats are mounted in the 2nd row? Do the vehicle’s seat height and door opening make it effortless to buckle the child in and lift them out? Our quiver of test equipment includes popular child seats from Graco and Safety 1st, which we’ve installed in uncountable vehicles over the years. While all these vehicles are among tops in their respective segments when it comes to car seats, we strongly recommend taking your child car seats and boosters along with you when shopping. How well they fit could make or break your decision. If you’re in or near the child car seat stage, be sure to check out the accompanying car-seat guide with useful tips and specific details regarding the car-seat strengths and weaknesses of each of the this year’s twelve Best Family Cars.
Technology is an increasingly significant factor in fresh vehicles, and for many buyers it’s the most arousing part. This is the joy stuff. Bluetooth phone connectivity and USB ports are almost standard fare at this point, while rearview cameras, keyless entry and push-button begin are heading in that direction. From the driver’s perspective, we look for capable and easy-to-use infotainment systems, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability leading the way here. Features like adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and lane-keep assists are both helpful and comforting in town and on the highway, while backup cameras/sensors and rear cross-traffic alerts greatly enhance parking-lot navigation.
The Kelley Blue Book editorial staff drives hundreds of fresh cars, trucks, SUVs and minivans every year, so our testing never stops. For this year’s Best Family Cars we compiled a list of last year’s winners and the best of the fresh and redesigned two thousand seventeen models and brought them all together for a back-to-back testing regimen. Ten editors spent two weeks driving, poking, prodding and researching all these vehicles. Our group includes several parents claiming a total of eleven children spanning a total range of ages including an adorable toddler, elementary, middle, high school and college students, and even a duo who’ve made it out into the real world. We put family cars under a group microscope once a year, but we live them every day.
12 Best Family Cars of two thousand seventeen – Kelley Blue Book
12 Best Family Cars of 2017
Families have moved on from the family sedan.
Looking at sales trends, soccer fields and school drop-off lines it’s clear that today’s family car is actually an SUV. And the family-friendliest vehicle of them all, the minivan, resumes to appeal with its purpose-built practicality. Reflecting this continued shift, this year’s list of Best Family Cars is our very first without a single sedan.
As SUVs have grown more comfy and more efficient over the years, families and car shoppers in general have demonstrated an enhancing preference for the elevated driving position, superior cargo versatility and higher profile of SUVs. Each of our twelve Best Family Cars of two thousand seventeen offers a unique but similarly compelling combination of safety, value, versatility, amenities, convenience and drivability. Whether it’s the sliding doors and cavernous interior of a minivan or the high-riding nature and available all-wheel drive of an SUV, each of these vehicles is simply more functional as a family car than a traditional sedan.
All of which isn’t to say a sedan isn’t a good choice for many families. Midsize sedans like the Honda Accord and full-size sedans like the Chevrolet Impala are roomy and convenient, and typically supply more features and greater efficiency than similarly priced SUVs. If a sedan meets your needs we undoubtedly encourage you in that direction, and suggest you check out our list of top choices in family sedans.
Similarly, there are slew of excellent, family-focused luxury SUVs to recommend, but we concentrate stringently on mainstream brands for this annual collection. Commencing prices for the SUVs and minivans below range from about $20,000 to the low $30,000 range, with only the Chevrolet Tahoe exceeding a $40,000 kicking off price.
For a look at the qualities and characteristics we considered when naming this year’s family favorites, keep reading. But let’s begin with what you came for, the twelve Best Family Cars of 2017.
Best 2-Row SUVs for Families
In order of sales volume
Totally redesigned for 2017, the CR-V is the best-selling SUV in the country and one of our most awarded cars every year. Read more
Whether you see it as a higher-riding wagon or a lower-profile SUV, the Outback is a top choice for go-anywhere, do-anything families. Read more
Totally redesigned for 2017, the roomier fresh Sportage checks all the right boxes for families. Read more
The most affordable entry on this list outshines its subcompact SUV competitors in roominess, refinement and plasticity. Read more
Best 3-Row SUVs for Families
In order of sales volume
Updated and enhanced for 2017, the clever and reputable Highlander is among the industry standards in three-row transportation. Read more
Positively minivan-like in family-friendly features and amenities, the Pilot is also our Midsize SUV Best Buy of 2017. Read more
Boasting an epic array of enhancements for 2017, the Pathfinder maintains its position among the most family-oriented SUVs available. Read more
The lead workhorse of the active American family, the Tahoe combines available seating for nine with the capability to tow the family’s thickest fucktoys. Read more
In order of sales volume
The only minivan with available all-wheel drive, the Sienna has been further improved for 2017. Read more
Even in its last model year before a utter redesign, the Honda Odyssey remains a slam-dunk minivan standout in almost every aspect. Read more
The all-new Pacifica is the best-driving minivan on the road and offers the longest, most astounding list of cool features. Read more
Sedona strengths include an attractive, intuitive interior and the peace of mind of the segment’s very best warranty. Read more
Here are the key elements we considered when choosing this year’s top family cars, most of which should also factor into your selection process.
Everyone wants a safe car, but family car shoppers are even more safety-minded. With the exception of the 4-Star Chevrolet Tahoe, every vehicle on this list has earned a 5-Star Overall Safety Rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. While the redesigned two thousand seventeen Honda CR-V has yet to receive an official rating as of this writing, its predecessor was a 5-Star vehicle and we fully expect the fresh model to be even safer.
Many of these vehicles are the very best in class in terms of our 5-Year Cost to Own calculations. By considering a vehicle’s Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price, predicted resale value, insurance, fuel and maintenance costs, our 5-Year Cost to Own figures make it effortless to compare actual vehicle costs over a total buy-own-sell ownership cycle. Fairly often, spending a little more on the right car can save you thousands in the long run over going for the big rebate on another car. Our 5-Year Cost to Own figures make it effortless to see the big picture and make the clever decision.
Most of the models on this list have been around a long time and have earned strong reputations for durability, reliability and simply treating their owners right. In the case of the only all-new nameplate on the list, the Chrysler Pacifica minivan, its overall appeal helped earn it a spot on the list in lieu of an established track record. In most cases, however, a few-year-old version of most of the SUVs and minivans on this list would make excellent used cars as well. In fact, several of them are indeed on our most latest list of the Ten Best Used Family Cars Under $15,000.
Even in a vehicle designed primarily to get you and yours from Point A to Points B, C and D on a daily basis, good steering and pedal feel can make a big difference. A vehicle that goes, turns and stops sleekly and as expected is more satisfying and less fatiguing than one with acceleration delays or non-linear braking response, for example. Good outward visibility and parking-lot finesse also contribute to stress reduction for the driver.
Convenience and Convenience
A slick rail, quiet cabin and convenient seats all help keep a family glad while on the stir. Convenience features also make a big difference in the overall practice. The sliding doors on some Chrysler Pacificas can be opened with a wave of your foot when your arms are total. The second-row seats on some Honda Pilots will fold and slide forward with the thrust of a button, granting effortless access to the third row. The passenger-side second-row seat in the Nissan Pathfinder can provide access to the third row even when there’s a child car seat installed. With all the loading and unloading that happens in a busy family car, the benefits of petite touches like these can truly add up over the years.
Minivans and SUVs are the cargo-friendliest family vehicles on the road, but some are friendlier than others. Usable volume is a key differentiator, but we’re also looking for advantages like low explosion floors that ease loading and unloading of bulkier items, as well as second- and third-row seats that fold and redeploy with minimal thought or effort.
Child car safety seats are a hugely significant consideration for car shoppers with infants, toddlers or both. Is there enough distance inbetween the front seat and the back seat to accommodate both the seat and the child? Can you fit all the seats you need? Are the LATCH mounting points effortless to access? Can you access the third row when two car seats are mounted in the 2nd row? Do the vehicle’s seat height and door opening make it effortless to buckle the child in and lift them out? Our quiver of test equipment includes popular child seats from Graco and Safety 1st, which we’ve installed in uncountable vehicles over the years. While all these vehicles are among tops in their respective segments when it comes to car seats, we strongly recommend taking your child car seats and boosters along with you when shopping. How well they fit could make or break your decision. If you’re in or near the child car seat stage, be sure to check out the accompanying car-seat guide with useful tips and specific details regarding the car-seat strengths and weaknesses of each of the this year’s twelve Best Family Cars.
Technology is an increasingly significant factor in fresh vehicles, and for many buyers it’s the most arousing part. This is the joy stuff. Bluetooth phone connectivity and USB ports are almost standard fare at this point, while rearview cameras, keyless entry and push-button begin are heading in that direction. From the driver’s perspective, we look for capable and easy-to-use infotainment systems, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability leading the way here. Features like adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and lane-keep assists are both helpful and comforting in town and on the highway, while backup cameras/sensors and rear cross-traffic alerts greatly enhance parking-lot navigation.
The Kelley Blue Book editorial staff drives hundreds of fresh cars, trucks, SUVs and minivans every year, so our testing never stops. For this year’s Best Family Cars we compiled a list of last year’s winners and the best of the fresh and redesigned two thousand seventeen models and brought them all together for a back-to-back testing regimen. Ten editors spent two weeks driving, poking, prodding and researching all these vehicles. Our group includes several parents claiming a total of eleven children spanning a utter range of ages including an adorable toddler, elementary, middle, high school and college students, and even a duo who’ve made it out into the real world. We put family cars under a group microscope once a year, but we live them every day.
12 Best Family Cars of two thousand seventeen – Kelley Blue Book
12 Best Family Cars of 2017
Families have moved on from the family sedan.
Looking at sales trends, soccer fields and school drop-off lines it’s clear that today’s family car is actually an SUV. And the family-friendliest vehicle of them all, the minivan, resumes to appeal with its purpose-built practicality. Reflecting this continued shift, this year’s list of Best Family Cars is our very first without a single sedan.
As SUVs have grown more comfy and more efficient over the years, families and car shoppers in general have demonstrated an enlargening preference for the elevated driving position, superior cargo versatility and higher profile of SUVs. Each of our twelve Best Family Cars of two thousand seventeen offers a unique but similarly compelling combination of safety, value, versatility, amenities, convenience and drivability. Whether it’s the sliding doors and cavernous interior of a minivan or the high-riding nature and available all-wheel drive of an SUV, each of these vehicles is simply more functional as a family car than a traditional sedan.
All of which isn’t to say a sedan isn’t a superb choice for many families. Midsize sedans like the Honda Accord and full-size sedans like the Chevrolet Impala are roomy and convenient, and typically supply more features and greater efficiency than similarly priced SUVs. If a sedan meets your needs we certainly encourage you in that direction, and suggest you check out our list of top choices in family sedans.
Similarly, there are slew of excellent, family-focused luxury SUVs to recommend, but we concentrate stringently on mainstream brands for this annual collection. Beginning prices for the SUVs and minivans below range from about $20,000 to the low $30,000 range, with only the Chevrolet Tahoe exceeding a $40,000 embarking price.
For a look at the qualities and characteristics we considered when naming this year’s family favorites, keep reading. But let’s commence with what you came for, the twelve Best Family Cars of 2017.
Best 2-Row SUVs for Families
In order of sales volume
Totally redesigned for 2017, the CR-V is the best-selling SUV in the country and one of our most awarded cars every year. Read more
Whether you see it as a higher-riding wagon or a lower-profile SUV, the Outback is a top choice for go-anywhere, do-anything families. Read more
Totally redesigned for 2017, the roomier fresh Sportage checks all the right boxes for families. Read more
The most affordable entry on this list outshines its subcompact SUV competitors in roominess, refinement and plasticity. Read more
Best 3-Row SUVs for Families
In order of sales volume
Updated and enhanced for 2017, the clever and reputable Highlander is among the industry standards in three-row transportation. Read more
Positively minivan-like in family-friendly features and amenities, the Pilot is also our Midsize SUV Best Buy of 2017. Read more
Boasting an epic array of enhancements for 2017, the Pathfinder maintains its position among the most family-oriented SUVs available. Read more
The lead workhorse of the active American family, the Tahoe combines available seating for nine with the capability to tow the family’s thickest fucktoys. Read more
In order of sales volume
The only minivan with available all-wheel drive, the Sienna has been further improved for 2017. Read more
Even in its last model year before a utter redesign, the Honda Odyssey remains a slam-dunk minivan standout in almost every aspect. Read more
The all-new Pacifica is the best-driving minivan on the road and offers the longest, most outstanding list of cool features. Read more
Sedona strengths include an attractive, intuitive interior and the peace of mind of the segment’s very best warranty. Read more
Here are the key elements we considered when choosing this year’s top family cars, most of which should also factor into your selection process.
Everyone wants a safe car, but family car shoppers are even more safety-minded. With the exception of the 4-Star Chevrolet Tahoe, every vehicle on this list has earned a 5-Star Overall Safety Rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. While the redesigned two thousand seventeen Honda CR-V has yet to receive an official rating as of this writing, its predecessor was a 5-Star vehicle and we fully expect the fresh model to be even safer.
Many of these vehicles are the very best in class in terms of our 5-Year Cost to Own calculations. By considering a vehicle’s Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price, predicted resale value, insurance, fuel and maintenance costs, our 5-Year Cost to Own figures make it effortless to compare actual vehicle costs over a total buy-own-sell ownership cycle. Fairly often, spending a little more on the right car can save you thousands in the long run over going for the big rebate on another car. Our 5-Year Cost to Own figures make it effortless to see the big picture and make the brainy decision.
Most of the models on this list have been around a long time and have earned strong reputations for durability, reliability and simply treating their owners right. In the case of the only all-new nameplate on the list, the Chrysler Pacifica minivan, its overall appeal helped earn it a spot on the list in lieu of an established track record. In most cases, however, a few-year-old version of most of the SUVs and minivans on this list would make excellent used cars as well. In fact, several of them are indeed on our most latest list of the Ten Best Used Family Cars Under $15,000.
Even in a vehicle designed primarily to get you and yours from Point A to Points B, C and D on a daily basis, good steering and pedal feel can make a big difference. A vehicle that goes, turns and stops slickly and as expected is more satisfying and less fatiguing than one with acceleration delays or non-linear braking response, for example. Good outward visibility and parking-lot finesse also contribute to stress reduction for the driver.
Convenience and Convenience
A slick rail, quiet cabin and comfy seats all help keep a family glad while on the stir. Convenience features also make a big difference in the overall practice. The sliding doors on some Chrysler Pacificas can be opened with a wave of your foot when your mitts are utter. The second-row seats on some Honda Pilots will fold and slide forward with the shove of a button, granting effortless access to the third row. The passenger-side second-row seat in the Nissan Pathfinder can provide access to the third row even when there’s a child car seat installed. With all the loading and unloading that happens in a busy family car, the benefits of petite touches like these can indeed add up over the years.
Minivans and SUVs are the cargo-friendliest family vehicles on the road, but some are friendlier than others. Usable volume is a key differentiator, but we’re also looking for advantages like low fountain floors that ease loading and unloading of bulkier items, as well as second- and third-row seats that fold and redeploy with minimal thought or effort.
Child car safety seats are a hugely significant consideration for car shoppers with infants, toddlers or both. Is there enough distance inbetween the front seat and the back seat to accommodate both the seat and the child? Can you fit all the seats you need? Are the LATCH mounting points effortless to access? Can you access the third row when two car seats are mounted in the 2nd row? Do the vehicle’s seat height and door opening make it effortless to buckle the child in and lift them out? Our quiver of test equipment includes popular child seats from Graco and Safety 1st, which we’ve installed in innumerable vehicles over the years. While all these vehicles are among tops in their respective segments when it comes to car seats, we strongly recommend taking your child car seats and boosters along with you when shopping. How well they fit could make or break your decision. If you’re in or near the child car seat stage, be sure to check out the accompanying car-seat guide with useful tips and specific details regarding the car-seat strengths and weaknesses of each of the this year’s twelve Best Family Cars.
Technology is an increasingly significant factor in fresh vehicles, and for many buyers it’s the most titillating part. This is the joy stuff. Bluetooth phone connectivity and USB ports are almost standard fare at this point, while rearview cameras, keyless entry and push-button begin are heading in that direction. From the driver’s perspective, we look for capable and easy-to-use infotainment systems, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability leading the way here. Features like adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and lane-keep assists are both helpful and comforting in town and on the highway, while backup cameras/sensors and rear cross-traffic alerts greatly enhance parking-lot navigation.
The Kelley Blue Book editorial staff drives hundreds of fresh cars, trucks, SUVs and minivans every year, so our testing never stops. For this year’s Best Family Cars we compiled a list of last year’s winners and the best of the fresh and redesigned two thousand seventeen models and brought them all together for a back-to-back testing regimen. Ten editors spent two weeks driving, poking, prodding and researching all these vehicles. Our group includes several parents claiming a total of eleven children spanning a utter range of ages including an adorable toddler, elementary, middle, high school and college students, and even a duo who’ve made it out into the real world. We put family cars under a group microscope once a year, but we live them every day.
12 Best Family Cars of two thousand seventeen – Kelley Blue Book
12 Best Family Cars of 2017
Families have moved on from the family sedan.
Looking at sales trends, soccer fields and school drop-off lines it’s clear that today’s family car is actually an SUV. And the family-friendliest vehicle of them all, the minivan, resumes to appeal with its purpose-built practicality. Reflecting this continued shift, this year’s list of Best Family Cars is our very first without a single sedan.
As SUVs have grown more convenient and more efficient over the years, families and car shoppers in general have demonstrated an enhancing preference for the elevated driving position, superior cargo versatility and higher profile of SUVs. Each of our twelve Best Family Cars of two thousand seventeen offers a unique but similarly compelling combination of safety, value, versatility, amenities, convenience and drivability. Whether it’s the sliding doors and cavernous interior of a minivan or the high-riding nature and available all-wheel drive of an SUV, each of these vehicles is simply more functional as a family car than a traditional sedan.
All of which isn’t to say a sedan isn’t a excellent choice for many families. Midsize sedans like the Honda Accord and full-size sedans like the Chevrolet Impala are roomy and comfy, and typically supply more features and greater efficiency than similarly priced SUVs. If a sedan meets your needs we certainly encourage you in that direction, and suggest you check out our list of top choices in family sedans.
Similarly, there are slew of excellent, family-focused luxury SUVs to recommend, but we concentrate rigorously on mainstream brands for this annual collection. Beginning prices for the SUVs and minivans below range from about $20,000 to the low $30,000 range, with only the Chevrolet Tahoe exceeding a $40,000 beginning price.
For a look at the qualities and characteristics we considered when naming this year’s family favorites, keep reading. But let’s commence with what you came for, the twelve Best Family Cars of 2017.
Best 2-Row SUVs for Families
In order of sales volume
Totally redesigned for 2017, the CR-V is the best-selling SUV in the country and one of our most awarded cars every year. Read more
Whether you see it as a higher-riding wagon or a lower-profile SUV, the Outback is a top choice for go-anywhere, do-anything families. Read more
Totally redesigned for 2017, the roomier fresh Sportage checks all the right boxes for families. Read more
The most affordable entry on this list outshines its subcompact SUV competitors in roominess, refinement and plasticity. Read more
Best 3-Row SUVs for Families
In order of sales volume
Updated and enhanced for 2017, the clever and reputable Highlander is among the industry standards in three-row transportation. Read more
Positively minivan-like in family-friendly features and amenities, the Pilot is also our Midsize SUV Best Buy of 2017. Read more
Boasting an exceptional array of enhancements for 2017, the Pathfinder maintains its position among the most family-oriented SUVs available. Read more
The lead workhorse of the active American family, the Tahoe combines available seating for nine with the capability to tow the family’s fattest fucktoys. Read more
In order of sales volume
The only minivan with available all-wheel drive, the Sienna has been further improved for 2017. Read more
Even in its last model year before a utter redesign, the Honda Odyssey remains a slam-dunk minivan standout in almost every aspect. Read more
The all-new Pacifica is the best-driving minivan on the road and offers the longest, most exceptional list of cool features. Read more
Sedona strengths include an attractive, intuitive interior and the peace of mind of the segment’s very best warranty. Read more
Here are the key elements we considered when choosing this year’s top family cars, most of which should also factor into your selection process.
Everyone wants a safe car, but family car shoppers are even more safety-minded. With the exception of the 4-Star Chevrolet Tahoe, every vehicle on this list has earned a 5-Star Overall Safety Rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. While the redesigned two thousand seventeen Honda CR-V has yet to receive an official rating as of this writing, its predecessor was a 5-Star vehicle and we fully expect the fresh model to be even safer.
Many of these vehicles are the very best in class in terms of our 5-Year Cost to Own calculations. By considering a vehicle’s Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price, predicted resale value, insurance, fuel and maintenance costs, our 5-Year Cost to Own figures make it effortless to compare actual vehicle costs over a utter buy-own-sell ownership cycle. Fairly often, spending a little more on the right car can save you thousands in the long run over going for the big rebate on another car. Our 5-Year Cost to Own figures make it effortless to see the big picture and make the clever decision.
Most of the models on this list have been around a long time and have earned strong reputations for durability, reliability and simply treating their owners right. In the case of the only all-new nameplate on the list, the Chrysler Pacifica minivan, its overall appeal helped earn it a spot on the list in lieu of an established track record. In most cases, however, a few-year-old version of most of the SUVs and minivans on this list would make excellent used cars as well. In fact, several of them are indeed on our most latest list of the Ten Best Used Family Cars Under $15,000.
Even in a vehicle designed primarily to get you and yours from Point A to Points B, C and D on a daily basis, good steering and pedal feel can make a big difference. A vehicle that goes, turns and stops sleekly and as expected is more satisfying and less fatiguing than one with acceleration delays or non-linear braking response, for example. Good outward visibility and parking-lot finesse also contribute to stress reduction for the driver.
Convenience and Convenience
A slick rail, quiet cabin and comfy seats all help keep a family glad while on the budge. Convenience features also make a big difference in the overall practice. The sliding doors on some Chrysler Pacificas can be opened with a wave of your foot when your forearms are total. The second-row seats on some Honda Pilots will fold and slide forward with the shove of a button, granting effortless access to the third row. The passenger-side second-row seat in the Nissan Pathfinder can provide access to the third row even when there’s a child car seat installed. With all the loading and unloading that happens in a busy family car, the benefits of puny touches like these can truly add up over the years.
Minivans and SUVs are the cargo-friendliest family vehicles on the road, but some are friendlier than others. Usable volume is a key differentiator, but we’re also looking for advantages like low flow floors that ease loading and unloading of bulkier items, as well as second- and third-row seats that fold and redeploy with minimal thought or effort.
Child car safety seats are a hugely significant consideration for car shoppers with infants, toddlers or both. Is there enough distance inbetween the front seat and the back seat to accommodate both the seat and the child? Can you fit all the seats you need? Are the LATCH mounting points effortless to access? Can you access the third row when two car seats are mounted in the 2nd row? Do the vehicle’s seat height and door opening make it effortless to buckle the child in and lift them out? Our quiver of test equipment includes popular child seats from Graco and Safety 1st, which we’ve installed in uncountable vehicles over the years. While all these vehicles are among tops in their respective segments when it comes to car seats, we strongly recommend taking your child car seats and boosters along with you when shopping. How well they fit could make or break your decision. If you’re in or near the child car seat stage, be sure to check out the accompanying car-seat guide with useful tips and specific details regarding the car-seat strengths and weaknesses of each of the this year’s twelve Best Family Cars.
Technology is an increasingly significant factor in fresh vehicles, and for many buyers it’s the most titillating part. This is the joy stuff. Bluetooth phone connectivity and USB ports are almost standard fare at this point, while rearview cameras, keyless entry and push-button commence are heading in that direction. From the driver’s perspective, we look for capable and easy-to-use infotainment systems, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability leading the way here. Features like adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and lane-keep assists are both helpful and comforting in town and on the highway, while backup cameras/sensors and rear cross-traffic alerts greatly enhance parking-lot navigation.
The Kelley Blue Book editorial staff drives hundreds of fresh cars, trucks, SUVs and minivans every year, so our testing never stops. For this year’s Best Family Cars we compiled a list of last year’s winners and the best of the fresh and redesigned two thousand seventeen models and brought them all together for a back-to-back testing regimen. Ten editors spent two weeks driving, poking, prodding and researching all these vehicles. Our group includes several parents claiming a total of eleven children spanning a total range of ages including an adorable toddler, elementary, middle, high school and college students, and even a duo who’ve made it out into the real world. We put family cars under a group microscope once a year, but we live them every day.
12 Best Family Cars of two thousand seventeen – Kelley Blue Book
12 Best Family Cars of 2017
Families have moved on from the family sedan.
Looking at sales trends, soccer fields and school drop-off lines it’s clear that today’s family car is actually an SUV. And the family-friendliest vehicle of them all, the minivan, proceeds to appeal with its purpose-built practicality. Reflecting this continued shift, this year’s list of Best Family Cars is our very first without a single sedan.
As SUVs have grown more convenient and more efficient over the years, families and car shoppers in general have demonstrated an enlargening preference for the elevated driving position, superior cargo versatility and higher profile of SUVs. Each of our twelve Best Family Cars of two thousand seventeen offers a unique but similarly compelling combination of safety, value, versatility, amenities, convenience and drivability. Whether it’s the sliding doors and cavernous interior of a minivan or the high-riding nature and available all-wheel drive of an SUV, each of these vehicles is simply more functional as a family car than a traditional sedan.
All of which isn’t to say a sedan isn’t a excellent choice for many families. Midsize sedans like the Honda Accord and full-size sedans like the Chevrolet Impala are roomy and comfy, and typically supply more features and greater efficiency than similarly priced SUVs. If a sedan meets your needs we undoubtedly encourage you in that direction, and suggest you check out our list of top choices in family sedans.
Similarly, there are slew of excellent, family-focused luxury SUVs to recommend, but we concentrate rigorously on mainstream brands for this annual collection. Commencing prices for the SUVs and minivans below range from about $20,000 to the low $30,000 range, with only the Chevrolet Tahoe exceeding a $40,000 commencing price.
For a look at the qualities and characteristics we considered when naming this year’s family favorites, keep reading. But let’s begin with what you came for, the twelve Best Family Cars of 2017.
Best 2-Row SUVs for Families
In order of sales volume
Totally redesigned for 2017, the CR-V is the best-selling SUV in the country and one of our most awarded cars every year. Read more
Whether you see it as a higher-riding wagon or a lower-profile SUV, the Outback is a top choice for go-anywhere, do-anything families. Read more
Totally redesigned for 2017, the roomier fresh Sportage checks all the right boxes for families. Read more
The most affordable entry on this list outshines its subcompact SUV competitors in roominess, refinement and plasticity. Read more
Best 3-Row SUVs for Families
In order of sales volume
Updated and enhanced for 2017, the clever and reputable Highlander is among the industry standards in three-row transportation. Read more
Positively minivan-like in family-friendly features and amenities, the Pilot is also our Midsize SUV Best Buy of 2017. Read more
Boasting an awesome array of enhancements for 2017, the Pathfinder maintains its position among the most family-oriented SUVs available. Read more
The lead workhorse of the active American family, the Tahoe combines available seating for nine with the capability to tow the family’s largest fucktoys. Read more
In order of sales volume
The only minivan with available all-wheel drive, the Sienna has been further improved for 2017. Read more
Even in its last model year before a utter redesign, the Honda Odyssey remains a slam-dunk minivan standout in almost every aspect. Read more
The all-new Pacifica is the best-driving minivan on the road and offers the longest, most extraordinaire list of cool features. Read more
Sedona strengths include an attractive, intuitive interior and the peace of mind of the segment’s very best warranty. Read more
Here are the key elements we considered when choosing this year’s top family cars, most of which should also factor into your selection process.
Everyone wants a safe car, but family car shoppers are even more safety-minded. With the exception of the 4-Star Chevrolet Tahoe, every vehicle on this list has earned a 5-Star Overall Safety Rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. While the redesigned two thousand seventeen Honda CR-V has yet to receive an official rating as of this writing, its predecessor was a 5-Star vehicle and we fully expect the fresh model to be even safer.
Many of these vehicles are the very best in class in terms of our 5-Year Cost to Own calculations. By considering a vehicle’s Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price, predicted resale value, insurance, fuel and maintenance costs, our 5-Year Cost to Own figures make it effortless to compare actual vehicle costs over a total buy-own-sell ownership cycle. Fairly often, spending a little more on the right car can save you thousands in the long run over going for the big rebate on another car. Our 5-Year Cost to Own figures make it effortless to see the big picture and make the brainy decision.
Most of the models on this list have been around a long time and have earned strong reputations for durability, reliability and simply treating their owners right. In the case of the only all-new nameplate on the list, the Chrysler Pacifica minivan, its overall appeal helped earn it a spot on the list in lieu of an established track record. In most cases, however, a few-year-old version of most of the SUVs and minivans on this list would make excellent used cars as well. In fact, several of them are indeed on our most latest list of the Ten Best Used Family Cars Under $15,000.
Even in a vehicle designed primarily to get you and yours from Point A to Points B, C and D on a daily basis, good steering and pedal feel can make a big difference. A vehicle that goes, turns and stops slickly and as expected is more satisfying and less fatiguing than one with acceleration delays or non-linear braking response, for example. Good outward visibility and parking-lot finesse also contribute to stress reduction for the driver.
Convenience and Convenience
A slick rail, quiet cabin and convenient seats all help keep a family glad while on the budge. Convenience features also make a big difference in the overall practice. The sliding doors on some Chrysler Pacificas can be opened with a wave of your foot when your arms are total. The second-row seats on some Honda Pilots will fold and slide forward with the thrust of a button, granting effortless access to the third row. The passenger-side second-row seat in the Nissan Pathfinder can provide access to the third row even when there’s a child car seat installed. With all the loading and unloading that happens in a busy family car, the benefits of puny touches like these can truly add up over the years.
Minivans and SUVs are the cargo-friendliest family vehicles on the road, but some are friendlier than others. Usable volume is a key differentiator, but we’re also looking for advantages like low flow floors that ease loading and unloading of bulkier items, as well as second- and third-row seats that fold and redeploy with minimal thought or effort.
Child car safety seats are a hugely significant consideration for car shoppers with infants, toddlers or both. Is there enough distance inbetween the front seat and the back seat to accommodate both the seat and the child? Can you fit all the seats you need? Are the LATCH mounting points effortless to access? Can you access the third row when two car seats are mounted in the 2nd row? Do the vehicle’s seat height and door opening make it effortless to buckle the child in and lift them out? Our quiver of test equipment includes popular child seats from Graco and Safety 1st, which we’ve installed in uncountable vehicles over the years. While all these vehicles are among tops in their respective segments when it comes to car seats, we strongly recommend taking your child car seats and boosters along with you when shopping. How well they fit could make or break your decision. If you’re in or near the child car seat stage, be sure to check out the accompanying car-seat guide with useful tips and specific details regarding the car-seat strengths and weaknesses of each of the this year’s twelve Best Family Cars.
Technology is an increasingly significant factor in fresh vehicles, and for many buyers it’s the most arousing part. This is the joy stuff. Bluetooth phone connectivity and USB ports are almost standard fare at this point, while rearview cameras, keyless entry and push-button embark are heading in that direction. From the driver’s perspective, we look for capable and easy-to-use infotainment systems, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability leading the way here. Features like adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and lane-keep assists are both helpful and comforting in town and on the highway, while backup cameras/sensors and rear cross-traffic alerts greatly enhance parking-lot navigation.
The Kelley Blue Book editorial staff drives hundreds of fresh cars, trucks, SUVs and minivans every year, so our testing never stops. For this year’s Best Family Cars we compiled a list of last year’s winners and the best of the fresh and redesigned two thousand seventeen models and brought them all together for a back-to-back testing regimen. Ten editors spent two weeks driving, poking, prodding and researching all these vehicles. Our group includes several parents claiming a total of eleven children spanning a utter range of ages including an adorable toddler, elementary, middle, high school and college students, and even a duo who’ve made it out into the real world. We put family cars under a group microscope once a year, but we live them every day.
12 Best Family Cars of two thousand seventeen – Kelley Blue Book
12 Best Family Cars of 2017
Families have moved on from the family sedan.
Looking at sales trends, soccer fields and school drop-off lines it’s clear that today’s family car is actually an SUV. And the family-friendliest vehicle of them all, the minivan, proceeds to appeal with its purpose-built practicality. Reflecting this continued shift, this year’s list of Best Family Cars is our very first without a single sedan.
As SUVs have grown more comfy and more efficient over the years, families and car shoppers in general have demonstrated an enhancing preference for the elevated driving position, superior cargo versatility and higher profile of SUVs. Each of our twelve Best Family Cars of two thousand seventeen offers a unique but similarly compelling combination of safety, value, versatility, amenities, convenience and drivability. Whether it’s the sliding doors and cavernous interior of a minivan or the high-riding nature and available all-wheel drive of an SUV, each of these vehicles is simply more functional as a family car than a traditional sedan.
All of which isn’t to say a sedan isn’t a superb choice for many families. Midsize sedans like the Honda Accord and full-size sedans like the Chevrolet Impala are roomy and convenient, and typically supply more features and greater efficiency than similarly priced SUVs. If a sedan meets your needs we undoubtedly encourage you in that direction, and suggest you check out our list of top choices in family sedans.
Similarly, there are slew of excellent, family-focused luxury SUVs to recommend, but we concentrate rigorously on mainstream brands for this annual collection. Beginning prices for the SUVs and minivans below range from about $20,000 to the low $30,000 range, with only the Chevrolet Tahoe exceeding a $40,000 beginning price.
For a look at the qualities and characteristics we considered when naming this year’s family favorites, keep reading. But let’s embark with what you came for, the twelve Best Family Cars of 2017.
Best 2-Row SUVs for Families
In order of sales volume
Totally redesigned for 2017, the CR-V is the best-selling SUV in the country and one of our most awarded cars every year. Read more
Whether you see it as a higher-riding wagon or a lower-profile SUV, the Outback is a top choice for go-anywhere, do-anything families. Read more
Totally redesigned for 2017, the roomier fresh Sportage checks all the right boxes for families. Read more
The most affordable entry on this list outshines its subcompact SUV competitors in roominess, refinement and plasticity. Read more
Best 3-Row SUVs for Families
In order of sales volume
Updated and enhanced for 2017, the clever and reputable Highlander is among the industry standards in three-row transportation. Read more
Positively minivan-like in family-friendly features and amenities, the Pilot is also our Midsize SUV Best Buy of 2017. Read more
Boasting an amazing array of enhancements for 2017, the Pathfinder maintains its position among the most family-oriented SUVs available. Read more
The lead workhorse of the active American family, the Tahoe combines available seating for nine with the capability to tow the family’s thickest fucktoys. Read more
In order of sales volume
The only minivan with available all-wheel drive, the Sienna has been further improved for 2017. Read more
Even in its last model year before a utter redesign, the Honda Odyssey remains a slam-dunk minivan standout in almost every aspect. Read more
The all-new Pacifica is the best-driving minivan on the road and offers the longest, most incredible list of cool features. Read more
Sedona strengths include an attractive, intuitive interior and the peace of mind of the segment’s very best warranty. Read more
Here are the key elements we considered when choosing this year’s top family cars, most of which should also factor into your selection process.
Everyone wants a safe car, but family car shoppers are even more safety-minded. With the exception of the 4-Star Chevrolet Tahoe, every vehicle on this list has earned a 5-Star Overall Safety Rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. While the redesigned two thousand seventeen Honda CR-V has yet to receive an official rating as of this writing, its predecessor was a 5-Star vehicle and we fully expect the fresh model to be even safer.
Many of these vehicles are the very best in class in terms of our 5-Year Cost to Own calculations. By considering a vehicle’s Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price, predicted resale value, insurance, fuel and maintenance costs, our 5-Year Cost to Own figures make it effortless to compare actual vehicle costs over a total buy-own-sell ownership cycle. Fairly often, spending a little more on the right car can save you thousands in the long run over going for the big rebate on another car. Our 5-Year Cost to Own figures make it effortless to see the big picture and make the wise decision.
Most of the models on this list have been around a long time and have earned strong reputations for durability, reliability and simply treating their owners right. In the case of the only all-new nameplate on the list, the Chrysler Pacifica minivan, its overall appeal helped earn it a spot on the list in lieu of an established track record. In most cases, however, a few-year-old version of most of the SUVs and minivans on this list would make excellent used cars as well. In fact, several of them are indeed on our most latest list of the Ten Best Used Family Cars Under $15,000.
Even in a vehicle designed primarily to get you and yours from Point A to Points B, C and D on a daily basis, good steering and pedal feel can make a big difference. A vehicle that goes, turns and stops slickly and as expected is more satisfying and less fatiguing than one with acceleration delays or non-linear braking response, for example. Good outward visibility and parking-lot finesse also contribute to stress reduction for the driver.
Convenience and Convenience
A sleek rail, quiet cabin and comfy seats all help keep a family glad while on the stir. Convenience features also make a big difference in the overall practice. The sliding doors on some Chrysler Pacificas can be opened with a wave of your foot when your palms are total. The second-row seats on some Honda Pilots will fold and slide forward with the shove of a button, granting effortless access to the third row. The passenger-side second-row seat in the Nissan Pathfinder can provide access to the third row even when there’s a child car seat installed. With all the loading and unloading that happens in a busy family car, the benefits of puny touches like these can truly add up over the years.
Minivans and SUVs are the cargo-friendliest family vehicles on the road, but some are friendlier than others. Usable volume is a key differentiator, but we’re also looking for advantages like low explosion floors that ease loading and unloading of bulkier items, as well as second- and third-row seats that fold and redeploy with minimal thought or effort.
Child car safety seats are a hugely significant consideration for car shoppers with infants, toddlers or both. Is there enough distance inbetween the front seat and the back seat to accommodate both the seat and the child? Can you fit all the seats you need? Are the LATCH mounting points effortless to access? Can you access the third row when two car seats are mounted in the 2nd row? Do the vehicle’s seat height and door opening make it effortless to buckle the child in and lift them out? Our quiver of test equipment includes popular child seats from Graco and Safety 1st, which we’ve installed in uncountable vehicles over the years. While all these vehicles are among tops in their respective segments when it comes to car seats, we strongly recommend taking your child car seats and boosters along with you when shopping. How well they fit could make or break your decision. If you’re in or near the child car seat stage, be sure to check out the accompanying car-seat guide with useful tips and specific details regarding the car-seat strengths and weaknesses of each of the this year’s twelve Best Family Cars.
Technology is an increasingly significant factor in fresh vehicles, and for many buyers it’s the most titillating part. This is the joy stuff. Bluetooth phone connectivity and USB ports are almost standard fare at this point, while rearview cameras, keyless entry and push-button begin are heading in that direction. From the driver’s perspective, we look for capable and easy-to-use infotainment systems, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability leading the way here. Features like adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and lane-keep assists are both helpful and comforting in town and on the highway, while backup cameras/sensors and rear cross-traffic alerts greatly enhance parking-lot navigation.
The Kelley Blue Book editorial staff drives hundreds of fresh cars, trucks, SUVs and minivans every year, so our testing never stops. For this year’s Best Family Cars we compiled a list of last year’s winners and the best of the fresh and redesigned two thousand seventeen models and brought them all together for a back-to-back testing regimen. Ten editors spent two weeks driving, poking, prodding and researching all these vehicles. Our group includes several parents claiming a total of eleven children spanning a utter range of ages including an adorable toddler, elementary, middle, high school and college students, and even a duo who’ve made it out into the real world. We put family cars under a group microscope once a year, but we live them every day.
12 Best Family Cars of two thousand seventeen – Kelley Blue Book
12 Best Family Cars of 2017
Families have moved on from the family sedan.
Looking at sales trends, soccer fields and school drop-off lines it’s clear that today’s family car is actually an SUV. And the family-friendliest vehicle of them all, the minivan, resumes to appeal with its purpose-built practicality. Reflecting this continued shift, this year’s list of Best Family Cars is our very first without a single sedan.
As SUVs have grown more comfy and more efficient over the years, families and car shoppers in general have demonstrated an enlargening preference for the elevated driving position, superior cargo versatility and higher profile of SUVs. Each of our twelve Best Family Cars of two thousand seventeen offers a unique but similarly compelling combination of safety, value, versatility, amenities, convenience and drivability. Whether it’s the sliding doors and cavernous interior of a minivan or the high-riding nature and available all-wheel drive of an SUV, each of these vehicles is simply more functional as a family car than a traditional sedan.
All of which isn’t to say a sedan isn’t a fine choice for many families. Midsize sedans like the Honda Accord and full-size sedans like the Chevrolet Impala are roomy and convenient, and typically produce more features and greater efficiency than similarly priced SUVs. If a sedan meets your needs we certainly encourage you in that direction, and suggest you check out our list of top choices in family sedans.
Similarly, there are slew of excellent, family-focused luxury SUVs to recommend, but we concentrate stringently on mainstream brands for this annual collection. Beginning prices for the SUVs and minivans below range from about $20,000 to the low $30,000 range, with only the Chevrolet Tahoe exceeding a $40,000 embarking price.
For a look at the qualities and characteristics we considered when naming this year’s family favorites, keep reading. But let’s commence with what you came for, the twelve Best Family Cars of 2017.
Best 2-Row SUVs for Families
In order of sales volume
Totally redesigned for 2017, the CR-V is the best-selling SUV in the country and one of our most awarded cars every year. Read more
Whether you see it as a higher-riding wagon or a lower-profile SUV, the Outback is a top choice for go-anywhere, do-anything families. Read more
Totally redesigned for 2017, the roomier fresh Sportage checks all the right boxes for families. Read more
The most affordable entry on this list outshines its subcompact SUV competitors in roominess, refinement and plasticity. Read more
Best 3-Row SUVs for Families
In order of sales volume
Updated and enhanced for 2017, the clever and reputable Highlander is among the industry standards in three-row transportation. Read more
Positively minivan-like in family-friendly features and amenities, the Pilot is also our Midsize SUV Best Buy of 2017. Read more
Boasting an amazing array of enhancements for 2017, the Pathfinder maintains its position among the most family-oriented SUVs available. Read more
The lead workhorse of the active American family, the Tahoe combines available seating for nine with the capability to tow the family’s largest fucktoys. Read more
In order of sales volume
The only minivan with available all-wheel drive, the Sienna has been further improved for 2017. Read more
Even in its last model year before a utter redesign, the Honda Odyssey remains a slam-dunk minivan standout in almost every aspect. Read more
The all-new Pacifica is the best-driving minivan on the road and offers the longest, most extraordinaire list of cool features. Read more
Sedona strengths include an attractive, intuitive interior and the peace of mind of the segment’s very best warranty. Read more
Here are the key elements we considered when choosing this year’s top family cars, most of which should also factor into your selection process.
Everyone wants a safe car, but family car shoppers are even more safety-minded. With the exception of the 4-Star Chevrolet Tahoe, every vehicle on this list has earned a 5-Star Overall Safety Rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. While the redesigned two thousand seventeen Honda CR-V has yet to receive an official rating as of this writing, its predecessor was a 5-Star vehicle and we fully expect the fresh model to be even safer.
Many of these vehicles are the very best in class in terms of our 5-Year Cost to Own calculations. By considering a vehicle’s Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price, predicted resale value, insurance, fuel and maintenance costs, our 5-Year Cost to Own figures make it effortless to compare actual vehicle costs over a total buy-own-sell ownership cycle. Fairly often, spending a little more on the right car can save you thousands in the long run over going for the big rebate on another car. Our 5-Year Cost to Own figures make it effortless to see the big picture and make the clever decision.
Most of the models on this list have been around a long time and have earned strong reputations for durability, reliability and simply treating their owners right. In the case of the only all-new nameplate on the list, the Chrysler Pacifica minivan, its overall appeal helped earn it a spot on the list in lieu of an established track record. In most cases, however, a few-year-old version of most of the SUVs and minivans on this list would make excellent used cars as well. In fact, several of them are indeed on our most latest list of the Ten Best Used Family Cars Under $15,000.
Even in a vehicle designed primarily to get you and yours from Point A to Points B, C and D on a daily basis, good steering and pedal feel can make a big difference. A vehicle that goes, turns and stops slickly and as expected is more satisfying and less fatiguing than one with acceleration delays or non-linear braking response, for example. Good outward visibility and parking-lot finesse also contribute to stress reduction for the driver.
Convenience and Convenience
A sleek rail, quiet cabin and comfy seats all help keep a family blessed while on the budge. Convenience features also make a big difference in the overall practice. The sliding doors on some Chrysler Pacificas can be opened with a wave of your foot when your arms are utter. The second-row seats on some Honda Pilots will fold and slide forward with the thrust of a button, granting effortless access to the third row. The passenger-side second-row seat in the Nissan Pathfinder can provide access to the third row even when there’s a child car seat installed. With all the loading and unloading that happens in a busy family car, the benefits of petite touches like these can truly add up over the years.
Minivans and SUVs are the cargo-friendliest family vehicles on the road, but some are friendlier than others. Usable volume is a key differentiator, but we’re also looking for advantages like low explosion floors that ease loading and unloading of bulkier items, as well as second- and third-row seats that fold and redeploy with minimal thought or effort.
Child car safety seats are a hugely significant consideration for car shoppers with infants, toddlers or both. Is there enough distance inbetween the front seat and the back seat to accommodate both the seat and the child? Can you fit all the seats you need? Are the LATCH mounting points effortless to access? Can you access the third row when two car seats are mounted in the 2nd row? Do the vehicle’s seat height and door opening make it effortless to buckle the child in and lift them out? Our quiver of test equipment includes popular child seats from Graco and Safety 1st, which we’ve installed in uncountable vehicles over the years. While all these vehicles are among tops in their respective segments when it comes to car seats, we strongly recommend taking your child car seats and boosters along with you when shopping. How well they fit could make or break your decision. If you’re in or near the child car seat stage, be sure to check out the accompanying car-seat guide with useful tips and specific details regarding the car-seat strengths and weaknesses of each of the this year’s twelve Best Family Cars.
Technology is an increasingly significant factor in fresh vehicles, and for many buyers it’s the most titillating part. This is the joy stuff. Bluetooth phone connectivity and USB ports are almost standard fare at this point, while rearview cameras, keyless entry and push-button commence are heading in that direction. From the driver’s perspective, we look for capable and easy-to-use infotainment systems, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability leading the way here. Features like adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and lane-keep assists are both helpful and comforting in town and on the highway, while backup cameras/sensors and rear cross-traffic alerts greatly enhance parking-lot navigation.
The Kelley Blue Book editorial staff drives hundreds of fresh cars, trucks, SUVs and minivans every year, so our testing never stops. For this year’s Best Family Cars we compiled a list of last year’s winners and the best of the fresh and redesigned two thousand seventeen models and brought them all together for a back-to-back testing regimen. Ten editors spent two weeks driving, poking, prodding and researching all these vehicles. Our group includes several parents claiming a total of eleven children spanning a utter range of ages including an adorable toddler, elementary, middle, high school and college students, and even a duo who’ve made it out into the real world. We put family cars under a group microscope once a year, but we live them every day.
12 Best Family Cars of two thousand seventeen – Kelley Blue Book
12 Best Family Cars of 2017
Families have moved on from the family sedan.
Looking at sales trends, soccer fields and school drop-off lines it’s clear that today’s family car is actually an SUV. And the family-friendliest vehicle of them all, the minivan, proceeds to appeal with its purpose-built practicality. Reflecting this continued shift, this year’s list of Best Family Cars is our very first without a single sedan.
As SUVs have grown more convenient and more efficient over the years, families and car shoppers in general have demonstrated an enhancing preference for the elevated driving position, superior cargo versatility and higher profile of SUVs. Each of our twelve Best Family Cars of two thousand seventeen offers a unique but similarly compelling combination of safety, value, versatility, amenities, convenience and drivability. Whether it’s the sliding doors and cavernous interior of a minivan or the high-riding nature and available all-wheel drive of an SUV, each of these vehicles is simply more functional as a family car than a traditional sedan.
All of which isn’t to say a sedan isn’t a fine choice for many families. Midsize sedans like the Honda Accord and full-size sedans like the Chevrolet Impala are roomy and comfy, and typically supply more features and greater efficiency than similarly priced SUVs. If a sedan meets your needs we certainly encourage you in that direction, and suggest you check out our list of top choices in family sedans.
Similarly, there are slew of excellent, family-focused luxury SUVs to recommend, but we concentrate rigorously on mainstream brands for this annual collection. Embarking prices for the SUVs and minivans below range from about $20,000 to the low $30,000 range, with only the Chevrolet Tahoe exceeding a $40,000 embarking price.
For a look at the qualities and characteristics we considered when naming this year’s family favorites, keep reading. But let’s begin with what you came for, the twelve Best Family Cars of 2017.
Best 2-Row SUVs for Families
In order of sales volume
Totally redesigned for 2017, the CR-V is the best-selling SUV in the country and one of our most awarded cars every year. Read more
Whether you see it as a higher-riding wagon or a lower-profile SUV, the Outback is a top choice for go-anywhere, do-anything families. Read more
Totally redesigned for 2017, the roomier fresh Sportage checks all the right boxes for families. Read more
The most affordable entry on this list outshines its subcompact SUV competitors in roominess, refinement and plasticity. Read more
Best 3-Row SUVs for Families
In order of sales volume
Updated and enhanced for 2017, the clever and reputable Highlander is among the industry standards in three-row transportation. Read more
Positively minivan-like in family-friendly features and amenities, the Pilot is also our Midsize SUV Best Buy of 2017. Read more
Boasting an astounding array of enhancements for 2017, the Pathfinder maintains its position among the most family-oriented SUVs available. Read more
The lead workhorse of the active American family, the Tahoe combines available seating for nine with the capability to tow the family’s thickest fucktoys. Read more
In order of sales volume
The only minivan with available all-wheel drive, the Sienna has been further improved for 2017. Read more
Even in its last model year before a total redesign, the Honda Odyssey remains a slam-dunk minivan standout in almost every aspect. Read more
The all-new Pacifica is the best-driving minivan on the road and offers the longest, most extraordinaire list of cool features. Read more
Sedona strengths include an attractive, intuitive interior and the peace of mind of the segment’s very best warranty. Read more
Here are the key elements we considered when choosing this year’s top family cars, most of which should also factor into your selection process.
Everyone wants a safe car, but family car shoppers are even more safety-minded. With the exception of the 4-Star Chevrolet Tahoe, every vehicle on this list has earned a 5-Star Overall Safety Rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. While the redesigned two thousand seventeen Honda CR-V has yet to receive an official rating as of this writing, its predecessor was a 5-Star vehicle and we fully expect the fresh model to be even safer.
Many of these vehicles are the very best in class in terms of our 5-Year Cost to Own calculations. By considering a vehicle’s Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price, predicted resale value, insurance, fuel and maintenance costs, our 5-Year Cost to Own figures make it effortless to compare actual vehicle costs over a total buy-own-sell ownership cycle. Fairly often, spending a little more on the right car can save you thousands in the long run over going for the big rebate on another car. Our 5-Year Cost to Own figures make it effortless to see the big picture and make the clever decision.
Most of the models on this list have been around a long time and have earned strong reputations for durability, reliability and simply treating their owners right. In the case of the only all-new nameplate on the list, the Chrysler Pacifica minivan, its overall appeal helped earn it a spot on the list in lieu of an established track record. In most cases, however, a few-year-old version of most of the SUVs and minivans on this list would make excellent used cars as well. In fact, several of them are indeed on our most latest list of the Ten Best Used Family Cars Under $15,000.
Even in a vehicle designed primarily to get you and yours from Point A to Points B, C and D on a daily basis, good steering and pedal feel can make a big difference. A vehicle that goes, turns and stops slickly and as expected is more satisfying and less fatiguing than one with acceleration delays or non-linear braking response, for example. Good outward visibility and parking-lot finesse also contribute to stress reduction for the driver.
Convenience and Convenience
A sleek rail, quiet cabin and convenient seats all help keep a family blessed while on the stir. Convenience features also make a big difference in the overall practice. The sliding doors on some Chrysler Pacificas can be opened with a wave of your foot when your mitts are total. The second-row seats on some Honda Pilots will fold and slide forward with the thrust of a button, granting effortless access to the third row. The passenger-side second-row seat in the Nissan Pathfinder can provide access to the third row even when there’s a child car seat installed. With all the loading and unloading that happens in a busy family car, the benefits of petite touches like these can truly add up over the years.
Minivans and SUVs are the cargo-friendliest family vehicles on the road, but some are friendlier than others. Usable volume is a key differentiator, but we’re also looking for advantages like low explosion floors that ease loading and unloading of bulkier items, as well as second- and third-row seats that fold and redeploy with minimal thought or effort.
Child car safety seats are a hugely significant consideration for car shoppers with infants, toddlers or both. Is there enough distance inbetween the front seat and the back seat to accommodate both the seat and the child? Can you fit all the seats you need? Are the LATCH mounting points effortless to access? Can you access the third row when two car seats are mounted in the 2nd row? Do the vehicle’s seat height and door opening make it effortless to buckle the child in and lift them out? Our quiver of test equipment includes popular child seats from Graco and Safety 1st, which we’ve installed in innumerable vehicles over the years. While all these vehicles are among tops in their respective segments when it comes to car seats, we strongly recommend taking your child car seats and boosters along with you when shopping. How well they fit could make or break your decision. If you’re in or near the child car seat stage, be sure to check out the accompanying car-seat guide with useful tips and specific details regarding the car-seat strengths and weaknesses of each of the this year’s twelve Best Family Cars.
Technology is an increasingly significant factor in fresh vehicles, and for many buyers it’s the most arousing part. This is the joy stuff. Bluetooth phone connectivity and USB ports are almost standard fare at this point, while rearview cameras, keyless entry and push-button begin are heading in that direction. From the driver’s perspective, we look for capable and easy-to-use infotainment systems, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability leading the way here. Features like adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and lane-keep assists are both helpful and comforting in town and on the highway, while backup cameras/sensors and rear cross-traffic alerts greatly enhance parking-lot navigation.
The Kelley Blue Book editorial staff drives hundreds of fresh cars, trucks, SUVs and minivans every year, so our testing never stops. For this year’s Best Family Cars we compiled a list of last year’s winners and the best of the fresh and redesigned two thousand seventeen models and brought them all together for a back-to-back testing regimen. Ten editors spent two weeks driving, poking, prodding and researching all these vehicles. Our group includes several parents claiming a total of eleven children spanning a total range of ages including an adorable toddler, elementary, middle, high school and college students, and even a duo who’ve made it out into the real world. We put family cars under a group microscope once a year, but we live them every day.
12 Best Family Cars of two thousand seventeen – Kelley Blue Book
12 Best Family Cars of 2017
Families have moved on from the family sedan.
Looking at sales trends, soccer fields and school drop-off lines it’s clear that today’s family car is actually an SUV. And the family-friendliest vehicle of them all, the minivan, proceeds to appeal with its purpose-built practicality. Reflecting this continued shift, this year’s list of Best Family Cars is our very first without a single sedan.
As SUVs have grown more convenient and more efficient over the years, families and car shoppers in general have demonstrated an enlargening preference for the elevated driving position, superior cargo versatility and higher profile of SUVs. Each of our twelve Best Family Cars of two thousand seventeen offers a unique but similarly compelling combination of safety, value, versatility, amenities, convenience and drivability. Whether it’s the sliding doors and cavernous interior of a minivan or the high-riding nature and available all-wheel drive of an SUV, each of these vehicles is simply more functional as a family car than a traditional sedan.
All of which isn’t to say a sedan isn’t a good choice for many families. Midsize sedans like the Honda Accord and full-size sedans like the Chevrolet Impala are roomy and comfy, and typically supply more features and greater efficiency than similarly priced SUVs. If a sedan meets your needs we undoubtedly encourage you in that direction, and suggest you check out our list of top choices in family sedans.
Similarly, there are slew of excellent, family-focused luxury SUVs to recommend, but we concentrate rigorously on mainstream brands for this annual collection. Embarking prices for the SUVs and minivans below range from about $20,000 to the low $30,000 range, with only the Chevrolet Tahoe exceeding a $40,000 commencing price.
For a look at the qualities and characteristics we considered when naming this year’s family favorites, keep reading. But let’s begin with what you came for, the twelve Best Family Cars of 2017.
Best 2-Row SUVs for Families
In order of sales volume
Totally redesigned for 2017, the CR-V is the best-selling SUV in the country and one of our most awarded cars every year. Read more
Whether you see it as a higher-riding wagon or a lower-profile SUV, the Outback is a top choice for go-anywhere, do-anything families. Read more
Totally redesigned for 2017, the roomier fresh Sportage checks all the right boxes for families. Read more
The most affordable entry on this list outshines its subcompact SUV competitors in roominess, refinement and plasticity. Read more
Best 3-Row SUVs for Families
In order of sales volume
Updated and enhanced for 2017, the clever and reputable Highlander is among the industry standards in three-row transportation. Read more
Positively minivan-like in family-friendly features and amenities, the Pilot is also our Midsize SUV Best Buy of 2017. Read more
Boasting an exceptional array of enhancements for 2017, the Pathfinder maintains its position among the most family-oriented SUVs available. Read more
The lead workhorse of the active American family, the Tahoe combines available seating for nine with the capability to tow the family’s thickest fucktoys. Read more
In order of sales volume
The only minivan with available all-wheel drive, the Sienna has been further improved for 2017. Read more
Even in its last model year before a total redesign, the Honda Odyssey remains a slam-dunk minivan standout in almost every aspect. Read more
The all-new Pacifica is the best-driving minivan on the road and offers the longest, most exceptional list of cool features. Read more
Sedona strengths include an attractive, intuitive interior and the peace of mind of the segment’s very best warranty. Read more
Here are the key elements we considered when choosing this year’s top family cars, most of which should also factor into your selection process.
Everyone wants a safe car, but family car shoppers are even more safety-minded. With the exception of the 4-Star Chevrolet Tahoe, every vehicle on this list has earned a 5-Star Overall Safety Rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. While the redesigned two thousand seventeen Honda CR-V has yet to receive an official rating as of this writing, its predecessor was a 5-Star vehicle and we fully expect the fresh model to be even safer.
Many of these vehicles are the very best in class in terms of our 5-Year Cost to Own calculations. By considering a vehicle’s Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price, predicted resale value, insurance, fuel and maintenance costs, our 5-Year Cost to Own figures make it effortless to compare actual vehicle costs over a total buy-own-sell ownership cycle. Fairly often, spending a little more on the right car can save you thousands in the long run over going for the big rebate on another car. Our 5-Year Cost to Own figures make it effortless to see the big picture and make the brainy decision.
Most of the models on this list have been around a long time and have earned strong reputations for durability, reliability and simply treating their owners right. In the case of the only all-new nameplate on the list, the Chrysler Pacifica minivan, its overall appeal helped earn it a spot on the list in lieu of an established track record. In most cases, however, a few-year-old version of most of the SUVs and minivans on this list would make excellent used cars as well. In fact, several of them are indeed on our most latest list of the Ten Best Used Family Cars Under $15,000.
Even in a vehicle designed primarily to get you and yours from Point A to Points B, C and D on a daily basis, good steering and pedal feel can make a big difference. A vehicle that goes, turns and stops sleekly and as expected is more satisfying and less fatiguing than one with acceleration delays or non-linear braking response, for example. Good outward visibility and parking-lot finesse also contribute to stress reduction for the driver.
Convenience and Convenience
A slick rail, quiet cabin and convenient seats all help keep a family blessed while on the budge. Convenience features also make a big difference in the overall practice. The sliding doors on some Chrysler Pacificas can be opened with a wave of your foot when your palms are total. The second-row seats on some Honda Pilots will fold and slide forward with the thrust of a button, granting effortless access to the third row. The passenger-side second-row seat in the Nissan Pathfinder can provide access to the third row even when there’s a child car seat installed. With all the loading and unloading that happens in a busy family car, the benefits of petite touches like these can indeed add up over the years.
Minivans and SUVs are the cargo-friendliest family vehicles on the road, but some are friendlier than others. Usable volume is a key differentiator, but we’re also looking for advantages like low blast floors that ease loading and unloading of bulkier items, as well as second- and third-row seats that fold and redeploy with minimal thought or effort.
Child car safety seats are a hugely significant consideration for car shoppers with infants, toddlers or both. Is there enough distance inbetween the front seat and the back seat to accommodate both the seat and the child? Can you fit all the seats you need? Are the LATCH mounting points effortless to access? Can you access the third row when two car seats are mounted in the 2nd row? Do the vehicle’s seat height and door opening make it effortless to buckle the child in and lift them out? Our quiver of test equipment includes popular child seats from Graco and Safety 1st, which we’ve installed in innumerable vehicles over the years. While all these vehicles are among tops in their respective segments when it comes to car seats, we strongly recommend taking your child car seats and boosters along with you when shopping. How well they fit could make or break your decision. If you’re in or near the child car seat stage, be sure to check out the accompanying car-seat guide with useful tips and specific details regarding the car-seat strengths and weaknesses of each of the this year’s twelve Best Family Cars.
Technology is an increasingly significant factor in fresh vehicles, and for many buyers it’s the most titillating part. This is the joy stuff. Bluetooth phone connectivity and USB ports are almost standard fare at this point, while rearview cameras, keyless entry and push-button embark are heading in that direction. From the driver’s perspective, we look for capable and easy-to-use infotainment systems, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability leading the way here. Features like adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and lane-keep assists are both helpful and comforting in town and on the highway, while backup cameras/sensors and rear cross-traffic alerts greatly enhance parking-lot navigation.
The Kelley Blue Book editorial staff drives hundreds of fresh cars, trucks, SUVs and minivans every year, so our testing never stops. For this year’s Best Family Cars we compiled a list of last year’s winners and the best of the fresh and redesigned two thousand seventeen models and brought them all together for a back-to-back testing regimen. Ten editors spent two weeks driving, poking, prodding and researching all these vehicles. Our group includes several parents claiming a total of eleven children spanning a total range of ages including an adorable toddler, elementary, middle, high school and college students, and even a duo who’ve made it out into the real world. We put family cars under a group microscope once a year, but we live them every day.
12 Best Family Cars of two thousand seventeen – Kelley Blue Book
12 Best Family Cars of 2017
Families have moved on from the family sedan.
Looking at sales trends, soccer fields and school drop-off lines it’s clear that today’s family car is actually an SUV. And the family-friendliest vehicle of them all, the minivan, resumes to appeal with its purpose-built practicality. Reflecting this continued shift, this year’s list of Best Family Cars is our very first without a single sedan.
As SUVs have grown more convenient and more efficient over the years, families and car shoppers in general have demonstrated an enhancing preference for the elevated driving position, superior cargo versatility and higher profile of SUVs. Each of our twelve Best Family Cars of two thousand seventeen offers a unique but similarly compelling combination of safety, value, versatility, amenities, convenience and drivability. Whether it’s the sliding doors and cavernous interior of a minivan or the high-riding nature and available all-wheel drive of an SUV, each of these vehicles is simply more functional as a family car than a traditional sedan.
All of which isn’t to say a sedan isn’t a excellent choice for many families. Midsize sedans like the Honda Accord and full-size sedans like the Chevrolet Impala are roomy and convenient, and typically supply more features and greater efficiency than similarly priced SUVs. If a sedan meets your needs we undoubtedly encourage you in that direction, and suggest you check out our list of top choices in family sedans.
Similarly, there are slew of excellent, family-focused luxury SUVs to recommend, but we concentrate stringently on mainstream brands for this annual collection. Kicking off prices for the SUVs and minivans below range from about $20,000 to the low $30,000 range, with only the Chevrolet Tahoe exceeding a $40,000 commencing price.
For a look at the qualities and characteristics we considered when naming this year’s family favorites, keep reading. But let’s commence with what you came for, the twelve Best Family Cars of 2017.
Best 2-Row SUVs for Families
In order of sales volume
Totally redesigned for 2017, the CR-V is the best-selling SUV in the country and one of our most awarded cars every year. Read more
Whether you see it as a higher-riding wagon or a lower-profile SUV, the Outback is a top choice for go-anywhere, do-anything families. Read more
Totally redesigned for 2017, the roomier fresh Sportage checks all the right boxes for families. Read more
The most affordable entry on this list outshines its subcompact SUV competitors in roominess, refinement and plasticity. Read more
Best 3-Row SUVs for Families
In order of sales volume
Updated and enhanced for 2017, the clever and reputable Highlander is among the industry standards in three-row transportation. Read more
Positively minivan-like in family-friendly features and amenities, the Pilot is also our Midsize SUV Best Buy of 2017. Read more
Boasting an awesome array of enhancements for 2017, the Pathfinder maintains its position among the most family-oriented SUVs available. Read more
The lead workhorse of the active American family, the Tahoe combines available seating for nine with the capability to tow the family’s largest fucktoys. Read more
In order of sales volume
The only minivan with available all-wheel drive, the Sienna has been further improved for 2017. Read more
Even in its last model year before a total redesign, the Honda Odyssey remains a slam-dunk minivan standout in almost every aspect. Read more
The all-new Pacifica is the best-driving minivan on the road and offers the longest, most exceptional list of cool features. Read more
Sedona strengths include an attractive, intuitive interior and the peace of mind of the segment’s very best warranty. Read more
Here are the key elements we considered when choosing this year’s top family cars, most of which should also factor into your selection process.
Everyone wants a safe car, but family car shoppers are even more safety-minded. With the exception of the 4-Star Chevrolet Tahoe, every vehicle on this list has earned a 5-Star Overall Safety Rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. While the redesigned two thousand seventeen Honda CR-V has yet to receive an official rating as of this writing, its predecessor was a 5-Star vehicle and we fully expect the fresh model to be even safer.
Many of these vehicles are the very best in class in terms of our 5-Year Cost to Own calculations. By considering a vehicle’s Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price, predicted resale value, insurance, fuel and maintenance costs, our 5-Year Cost to Own figures make it effortless to compare actual vehicle costs over a utter buy-own-sell ownership cycle. Fairly often, spending a little more on the right car can save you thousands in the long run over going for the big rebate on another car. Our 5-Year Cost to Own figures make it effortless to see the big picture and make the clever decision.
Most of the models on this list have been around a long time and have earned strong reputations for durability, reliability and simply treating their owners right. In the case of the only all-new nameplate on the list, the Chrysler Pacifica minivan, its overall appeal helped earn it a spot on the list in lieu of an established track record. In most cases, however, a few-year-old version of most of the SUVs and minivans on this list would make excellent used cars as well. In fact, several of them are indeed on our most latest list of the Ten Best Used Family Cars Under $15,000.
Even in a vehicle designed primarily to get you and yours from Point A to Points B, C and D on a daily basis, good steering and pedal feel can make a big difference. A vehicle that goes, turns and stops slickly and as expected is more satisfying and less fatiguing than one with acceleration delays or non-linear braking response, for example. Good outward visibility and parking-lot finesse also contribute to stress reduction for the driver.
Convenience and Convenience
A slick rail, quiet cabin and comfy seats all help keep a family glad while on the stir. Convenience features also make a big difference in the overall practice. The sliding doors on some Chrysler Pacificas can be opened with a wave of your foot when your arms are total. The second-row seats on some Honda Pilots will fold and slide forward with the thrust of a button, granting effortless access to the third row. The passenger-side second-row seat in the Nissan Pathfinder can provide access to the third row even when there’s a child car seat installed. With all the loading and unloading that happens in a busy family car, the benefits of petite touches like these can indeed add up over the years.
Minivans and SUVs are the cargo-friendliest family vehicles on the road, but some are friendlier than others. Usable volume is a key differentiator, but we’re also looking for advantages like low geyser floors that ease loading and unloading of bulkier items, as well as second- and third-row seats that fold and redeploy with minimal thought or effort.
Child car safety seats are a hugely significant consideration for car shoppers with infants, toddlers or both. Is there enough distance inbetween the front seat and the back seat to accommodate both the seat and the child? Can you fit all the seats you need? Are the LATCH mounting points effortless to access? Can you access the third row when two car seats are mounted in the 2nd row? Do the vehicle’s seat height and door opening make it effortless to buckle the child in and lift them out? Our quiver of test equipment includes popular child seats from Graco and Safety 1st, which we’ve installed in uncountable vehicles over the years. While all these vehicles are among tops in their respective segments when it comes to car seats, we strongly recommend taking your child car seats and boosters along with you when shopping. How well they fit could make or break your decision. If you’re in or near the child car seat stage, be sure to check out the accompanying car-seat guide with useful tips and specific details regarding the car-seat strengths and weaknesses of each of the this year’s twelve Best Family Cars.
Technology is an increasingly significant factor in fresh vehicles, and for many buyers it’s the most arousing part. This is the joy stuff. Bluetooth phone connectivity and USB ports are almost standard fare at this point, while rearview cameras, keyless entry and push-button begin are heading in that direction. From the driver’s perspective, we look for capable and easy-to-use infotainment systems, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability leading the way here. Features like adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and lane-keep assists are both helpful and comforting in town and on the highway, while backup cameras/sensors and rear cross-traffic alerts greatly enhance parking-lot navigation.
The Kelley Blue Book editorial staff drives hundreds of fresh cars, trucks, SUVs and minivans every year, so our testing never stops. For this year’s Best Family Cars we compiled a list of last year’s winners and the best of the fresh and redesigned two thousand seventeen models and brought them all together for a back-to-back testing regimen. Ten editors spent two weeks driving, poking, prodding and researching all these vehicles. Our group includes several parents claiming a total of eleven children spanning a total range of ages including an adorable toddler, elementary, middle, high school and college students, and even a duo who’ve made it out into the real world. We put family cars under a group microscope once a year, but we live them every day.