Family cars are becoming more popular in the U.S. When it comes to family cars, however, you want to be ensured that your family is safe and convenient for everyone in the car. Kelly Blue Book built what they think are the best family cars for the 2018 year. We are going to review some of those vehicles, their specs, and overall likeability when it comes to picking the best of 2-row SUVs, 3-row SUVs, Full-sized SUVs, and Minivans.
1. 2018 Honda CR-V
We believe that the 2018 Honda CR-V is the best out of the 2-Row SUV category because it is amazing all around. The Honda CR-V even got the Kelly Blue Book’s Best Buy Award. The standard CR-V comes with Honda Sensing, driver assist, forward collision warning, blond-spot monitoring, and automatic emergency braking. It seats the standard 5 people but has plenty of trunk space. The 2018 edition comes with a new and improved with sporty trimming that doesn’t make the car feel like a family vehicle.
2. 2018 Toyota Highlander
The new Highlander is not much different from its previous model, but its appearance is fresh. The Highlander did not need much improvement in the first place, thus why it hasn’t changed much, but it still suffers a bit for have having a four-cylinder engine. What it does have though is a powerful V6 engine, plenty of room in the cabin, and driver assistance features that come in the standard model and the other 2018 models.
3. 2018 Chevrolet Traverse
The 2018 Chevy Traverse has been fully redesigned in looks and specs. The new Chevy has tons of room, can seat 7 passengers, is now updated with modern technology (new touch screen, sleek interior design, and little features that make driving more enjoyable), and has plenty of cargo space. The only downfall to the new Traverse is that is does not have any exciting driving dynamics, but you would not want a family car going over 150mph or have the capability of drifting.
4. 2018 Honda Pilot
The new Honda Pilot does not have many major changes, but it has improved in space and driving capability. The 2018 Pilot has smoother rides overall, more cargo room, and can seat adults comfortably in its second and third row seats. The interior is lacking in any updated screens and buttons, but it is quickly outlooked by its pros. The 2018 Pilot comes with all-wheel or four-wheel driving capability and gets 27mpg at highway speeds.
5. 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe
The new Chevy Tahoe comes with a couple major changes. First, the Tahoe comes with an optional RST package (will cost a bit more than the standard), and now comes with a 6.2-liter V8 and 10-speed auto transmission. For a full-sized SUV, it comes with cushioned seats and surprisingly produces a quiet ride. The new Tahoe is rated as one of the safest vehicles because Chevy put numerous safety features into the Tahoe. It can seat 7 passengers, but the third row is a little small, so only kids can comfortably sit in the back. Compared to other competitors, the Tahoe is lacking in cargo space, but it still has a decent amount of it.
6. 2019 Honda Odyssey
The new Odyssey does not have any major redesigns in terms of looks, but it has improved in terms of performance. This minivan has plenty of positives under its belt, such as more comfortable seats, a great “infotainment” system, above-average driving dynamics, and a great interior. The main flaw of the new Odyssey is that you must remove the second-row seats to get the maximum amount of cargo space. It can easily seat 7 passengers and gets 28mpg at highway speed.
7. 2018 Toyota Sienna
The 2018 Sienna comes with a bunch of safety features, even at standard. This minivan is meant to serve the family well with 5 USB ports, modern smartphone integration, and a great “infotainment” system. The new Sienna has plenty of cargo space and is the only minivan to offer all-wheel drive. The 2018 Sienna is great, but it does suffer in some categories such as reliability, it is more expensive than most other minivans, and is not smooth if you have the SE trim. Overall, however, the new Sienna is a great family vehicle.
Buying Your Next Family Car
Consumers have access to online tools that allow to research information of the vehicle’s manufacturer’s suggested retail price, trade-in values, financing, expert ratings and even user reviews. Many dealerships across the U.S. now have an “Internet sales department” with its own sales manager and auto transport options to get your vehicle to you. In other words, you can research and negotiate buying your next family car right from home without ever having to visit a dealership.
We hope that this list can help you choose the best vehicle for your family and that at least one of them meet your family’s needs. All these vehicles stand out at the top of their class because they push the boundaries by integrating better safety or redesigning to fit more with modern technology. All of these vehicles prioritize the most important things to you, your family, their entertainment, and their safety.
