Top 10 Family Vehicles for 2013

Edmunds.com

Top 10 Family Vehicles for 2013

Edmunds.com and Parents magazine list the 10 best vehicles for family duty. When evaluating vehicles, safety was at the top of our list.

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On the Prius C, the highway mileage is rated 46mpg. Fine mileage, but you must get a 'hybrid mentality' to be satisfied with the turtle acceleration. Great conveniences with the hands-free, etc.. Poor upholstery, thin paint; but otherwise Toyota quality.

jwfink

I drive a family car. You probably drive a family car. There are probably more vehicles that fit into this category than any other. Yet, the rankings have changed very little over the years. Apparently, some companies have a secret formula.

1. The better than average family car: The Buick LaCrosse: The exterior is eyecatching (for the class), interior is immaculate and roomy as a house, the engine is powerful (over 300 horsepower in some versions), the transmission is smooth as silk, the ride is smooth, and the handling is actually better than competent. Fuel economy is nothing special but not objectionable. For 20 years, this pick would have been the Toyota Avalon which Toyota seems to have fouled up in its latest iteration. The ultimate stealth mobile.

2. The mainstream family sedan: $23,000.00 to 33,000.00: Toyota Camry/Honda Accord: The numbers don’t lie. If you want absolute competence, isolation, and great gas mileage, buy the Camry. If you want absolute confidence, engagement, and great gas mileage, buy the Accord. The vehicles respective strength and weaknesses offset each other. I bench mark all other cars against these vehicles.

3. The budget family sedan: $20,000.00 to 27,000.00: Hyundai Sonata: The Sonata splits the difference between the Camry and Accord. Maybe the interior is less plush, but it’s hard to tell. I don’t think you give up much, except paying about $2,000.00 more.

4. The performance family sedan: $23,000.00 to 30,000.00: The Mazda 6: It gives you the gas mileage and reliability of the above but is really dialed up. I would classify it as a budget performance sedan but the acceleration, while good, is nothing special.

5. The family sedan that cares: $26,000.00 to 30,000.00: The Volkwagen Passat TDI: It is as roomy as the Lacrosse, with the fit and finish of the Accord and Camry, better handling than anything other than the Mazda 6, and gets a bladder busting 50 miles per gallon on the highway.