2017 RANKING & REVIEWS
TOP RANKING BEST FAMILY CARS
What Are the Best Family Cars in 2017 and Best Cars for a Family of 5, 6, or more?
If you are shopping for the best family vehicle in 2017, there are several factors to consider. You want something safe, a best family car that gets good mileage, and one that has the entertainment features to keep everyone happy.
For many, family cars also need to accommodate growing and extended families. So, to still fit a vehicle long after it’s paid off, you may want to find the best vehicle for a family of 6 or more. Whether you transport a soccer team or dance squad, having one of the best family cars with decent cargo space is a real bonus.
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According to a recent survey by AAA, 35 percent of families are planning to take a family vacation of 50 miles or more during the next 12 months. Many of those include roadtrips (69 percent), which make a comfortable best family sedan a requisite for a happy trip.
In this article, we are going to take a look at the top six best family cars to consider in 2017. We’ll review some of the key things to look for in top family cars, like technology and safety, and consider the best vehicles for a family of 5 or more for the ultimate driving comfort.
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AdvisoryHQ’s List of the Top 6 Best Family Cars
List is sorted alphabetically (click any of the vehicle names below to go directly to the detailed review section for that vehicle):
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Top 6 Best Family Vehicle | Brief Comparison & Ranking
Best Family | Miles Per Gallon (MPG) Highway | Starting Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price | Seating Capacity |
| Chevrolet Traverse | 22 MPG | $28,700 | 8 |
| Ford Flex | 23 MPG | $30,025 | 7 |
| Honda Pilot | 27 MPG | $30,595 | 8 |
| Kia Sedona | 25 MPG | $26,800 | 7 |
| Nissan Pathfinder® | 27 MPG | $30,290 | 7 |
| Subaru Outback | 32 MPG | $25,645 | 5 |
Best Family Cars FAQ | What Safety Features Should I Consider in Top Family Cars?
Safety is important when you’re looking for good family cars, but what do all the safety features mean? That’s a question a lot of people ask when they’re trying to find the best family vehicle for their needs.
Image Source: Best Family Vehicle 2017
Below are a few key safety features you’ll want to consider when purchasing a best vehicle for a family of 6 or more:
High Test Crash Scores: You should look for a 4- or 5-star crash test rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administraion (NHTSA) and a “good” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Highway Loss Data Institute (IIHSHLDI). To qualify as a Top Safety Pick, a vehicle must earn good ratings in five crashworthiness tests.
Advanced Frontal Airbags: As airbags have evolved, auto makers have incorporated the ability to sense occupant size, seat position, and crash severity to determine the proper inflation level. A best family sedan with this advanced technology means less accidental injury due to air bags.
Antilock Braking System (ABS): Most best large and best small family car choices you’ll see nowdays include an antilock braking system. This stops a vehicle’s wheels from locking up by rapidly applying intermittent brake pressure.
Rear Camera Sensors: A fairly new safety feature, designed especially for large family cars, is a camera mounted on the rear of the vehicle with a connected sensor system. This is sometimes called Rear Park Assist, and it helps ensure that you’re made aware of objects behind you when the vehicle is in reverse.
Driver Assist Technology: This type of technology has come leaps and bounds in the last five years. You’ll see it now in most newer family cars. It can enable autonomous braking to avoid a front-end collision and give you alerts when you weave into another lane or have a car in your blind spot.
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Best Family Cars FAQ | What Technology Is Available in Large Family Cars?
If you haven’t purchased a new car in a few years, you may be surprised by the new technology advances available in a best family car. You can now be Wi-Fi connected wherever you go, and new apps allow you to speak to family cars in ways that were never possible before.
Here is some of the new technology available when you look for the best cars for a family of 5 or more:
Wi-Fi: You can now talk, text, and stay in touch with the world while in your car. Many top family cars have 4G LTE Wi-Fi to allow you to stream Netflix movies for the kids and keep you in touch with the world no matter where you are.
Mobile App: If you’re walking into the mall and can’t remember if everyone locked their doors, you can lock them at the click of a button. You can also start or stop your engine, send a destination to your navigation system, or view diagnostic information. New mobile apps give you more connection to your family cars than ever before.
Entertainment System: Many of the best vehicles for a family of 5, 6, or more have built-in entertainmemt systems to keep everyone happy during the trip. These can be a real life saver for parents. They typically have DVD and Blue-ray Disc™ compatibility.
GPS & Touch Screen: When choosing the best family car, it’s good to know that most now come with their own GPS navigation incorporated into a touch screen that also often can sync with your smartphone to play music, receive incoming hands-free calls, and more.
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Detailed Review – Top Ranking Best Family Cars
Below, please find a detailed review of each vehicle on our list of best cars for a family of 5, 6, or more. We have highlighted some of the factors that allowed these top family cars to score so highly in our selection ranking.
Chevrolet Traverse Review
Well-known American car company Chevrolet has been making some of the top family cars since 1911. They’ve also earned more J.D. Power Initial Quality and Dependability Awards than any other brand in 2016.
Image Source: Chevrolet Best Family Vehicle
The Chevrolet Traverse has a sleek body design and may look like a best small family car on the outside, but on the inside it seats up to eight and also has 116.3 cubic feet of cargo space. This best famly sedan also has a Government 5-Star 2017 Safety Rating from NHTSA.s
The combination of technology and excellent safety features earned the Chevrolet Traverse a spot on our list of best vehicles for a family of 6 or more. Rear vision camera, park assist, and alerts for rear cross traffic, forward collision, and lane departure are great safety components in this best family car.
Best Family Vehicle Features:
- 4G LTE Wi-Fi Connectivity
- SiriusXM Satellite Radio or Pandora® Internet Radio
- Bluetooth® Wireless Technology
- 3 USB Ports
- Sync To Smart Phone With Chevrolet MyLink
- GPS Navigation System
- Front Center Air Bag
- 3.6-liter V6 Engine
- MPG City 15, Highway 22
- No Built-in Entertainment System
Learn more about this best family car.
Ford Flex Review
Ford is another American icon, making good family cars since 1903. They have stayed on the forefront of technology since that time, including announcing a new “driverless” car coming in 2021.
Image Source: Ford Flex Best Vehicle for Family of 6
If you want a unique body style combined with with plenty of room and all the technology to keep you connected, then the Ford Flex is a great choice for one of the best vehicles for a family of 5, 6, or 7. With up to 83.2 cubic feet of storage capacity, this is one of the large family cars that can seat up to 7 comfortably.
The eco-friendly feature for a 3.5L EcoBoost® engine delivering 365 horsepower is a great option in their Flex Limited if you like your best family car to be more planet-friendly. There are also some great safety features, such as active park assist, a rear view camera with backup grid lines, and AdvanceTrac® with RSC®, to help keep your car under control.
Best Family Vehicle Features:
- SYNC® 3 Voice-Activated Technology
- SiriusXM Traffic and Sirius XM Travel Link®
- Power Liftgate
- Push-Button Start
- Sync to Smart Phone With Siri® Eyes Free
- GPS Navigation System
- MyKey® Technology for Sharing Personal Settings
- Adaptive Cruise Control and Forward Collision Warning
- 3.5-liter V6 Engine
- MPG City 16, Highway 23
- No Built-in Entertainment System
Learn more about this best family car.
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Honda Pilot Review
Honda has been known for their best small family car, the Civic, for many years. The company was founded in 1949, when they first brought out the “Dream” D-type motorcycle. They have evolved since then, adding several best cars for a family of 5 or more.
The Honda Pilot is another one of the best family cars on our list that may look compact on the outside but is roomy on the inside; this one seats up to eight people. This best family sedan also boasts the Kelley Blue Book Best Buys of 2017: Midsize SUV award.
The family-friendly tech features and roomy 109 cubic feet of cargo space are two of the reasons this car made our best vehicle for a family of 6 or more list. The fold away 9-inch rear entertainment system, available on the EX-L, Touring, and Elite is a huge bonus for road trips.
Best Family Vehicle Features:
- Tri-Zone Automatic Climate Control
- Honda Sensing™ Driver-Assistive Alert Technology
- 5 USB Ports
- Adaptive Cruise Control
- Collision Mitigation Braking System™
- Remote Engine Start
- 3.5-liter V6 Engine
- MPG City 19, Highway 27
- Built-in Entertainment System, DVD & Blue-ray Disc™ Capability
Learn more about this best vehicle for a family of 6 or more.
Kia Sedona Review
Korean-based car manufacturer Kia opened their first plant in January of 1945. It took a while for them to become a beloved maker of good family cars in the U.S., but in the late 1970s to early 1980s, their family cars started showing up on U.S. roadways in larger numbers.
Kia does not disappoint with their 2017 Kia Sedona, which is one of our picks for best family vehicle. Comfort is a main feature, with heated and ventilated seats, dual sunroofs, and tri-zone climate control.
Safety is also paramount in the design of this best vehicle for a family of 6 or 7. This car was chosen as a Top Safety Pick of IIHS. Also featured are intelligent systems such as Cornering Brake Control (CBC), Hill-Start Assist Control (HAC), and the Traction Control System (TCS).
Best Family Vehicle Features:
- Smart Phone Compatibility with Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™
- Smart Power Liftgate
- Surround View Monitor Using Four Cameras
- Autonomus Emergency Braking
- Lane Departure Warning System
- UVO eServices System with Voice Control
- Stain-resistant Fabric
- 3.3-liter V6 Engine
- MPG City 18, Highway 25
- No Built-in Entertainment System
Learn more about Kia best cars for a family of 5 or more.
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Nissan Pathfinder® Review
Japan’s first mass produced vehicle was built by Nissan. The company began in 1933 and brought their unique take on the best small family car to the U.S. in 1958, with the Datsun. Their best vehicles for a family of 5 or more still have that unique Nissan look.
If you’re looking for popular family cars with lots of accolades, then the Nissan Pathfinder® won’t disappoint. This best family sedan was chosen by Kelley Blue Book as one of the Best Family Cars of 2016 and was included as a Most Popular Vehicle at Edmunds.
Image Source: Nissan Best Cars For Family of 5 or More
With the Nissan Pathfinder®, you get a lot more than just a stylish design; this is one of the best cars for a family of 5 or more with a 5-Star 2017 Safety Rating from NHTSA. It also has an 8-inch touch screen with navigation and two built-in screens behind the front seats for entertainment.
Best Family Vehicle Features:
- NissanConnect™ Services for Remote Engine Start and More
- Bluetooth® Wireless Technology
- Tri-zone Entertainment System
- Advanced Drive-Assist® Display
- Nissan Intelligent Key® With Push Button Ignition
- Tri-zone Climate Control
- 360-degree Bird’s-eye View Cameras
- 3.5-liter V6 Engine
- MPG City 20, Highway 27
Learn more about this best vehicle for a family of 6 or 7.
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Subaru Outback Review
Subaru rounds out our list of manufacturers with the best cars for a family of 5 or more. Founded in 1968, Subaru of America, Inc (SOA) is a subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI) of Japan. The company earned an award from Kelley Blue Book as a 2016 Best Overall Brand, Most Trusted Brand, and Best Resale Value.
If you’re looking for the best small family car, the Subaru Outback makes a great choice. Some people prefer a more compact SUV, and this one fits the bill, seating a maximum of 5 people. But this best family sedan still has plenty of the same great features as the large family cars.
One reason we chose this smaller SUV as one of the best cars for a family of 5 is the excellent miles per gallon (MPG). It has the best of any family cars on the list, 25 MPG in the city and 32 MPG on the highway. You’ll also find a lot of the same great smart phone and safety technologies.
Best Family Vehicle Features:
- Subaru STARLINK™ Safety & Security Features
- Connects to SiriusXM, Pandora® Radio, and More
- Hands-free Smartphone Connectivity
- Power Rear Gate
- Rear-Vision Camera & Reverse Automatic Braking
- Blind-Spot Detection & Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
- Premium Audio, 12 Speakers
- EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology
- 175-hp 4-cylinder Subaru Boxer® Engine
- MPG City 25, Highway 32
- No Built-in Entertainment System
Learn more about this best small family car.
Conclusion – Top 6 Best Family Cars
Family comfort, safety, and well-being come first and foremost when looking for the best cars for a family of 5 or more. But having one of the top family cars that turns heads and is stylish too definitely doesn’t hurt.
Families today also have a lot more technology available in the best small family cars and large family cars alike. DVD and Blu-Ray players, MP3 players, and Wi-Fi connection all ensure that kids stay entertained through any road trip. Technology has become an important consideration when you’re looking for good family cars.
The top best family cars on our list check all the above boxes and more. They have excellent safety ratings and are some of the most popular models. Whether you’re looking for the best vehicle for a family of 6, 7, or 8, you can find a perect fit for your crew with one of these top 6 large family cars.
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