These Are the Best Cars for Families in 2023
It’s that time again: Our Good Housekeeping Institute experts have joined forces with the automotive authorities from Car and Driver to present a list of our favorite new family vehicles.
Backed up by the opinions of industry analysts, real-world familial experience, and instrumented testing, our winners cover all the relevant car categories, including familiar ones like minivans, crossovers and SUVs as well as excellent additional options from compact hatchbacks to luxury station wagons and full-size pickups. For those of you considering a switch to battery power, we even feature a range of electric and hybrid vehicles.
A car is the second most expensive purchase most families will make. With higher prices and limited inventory continuing to impact new-car buying, deals may be available on less popular but still appropriate and family-friendly options. So if you’re in the market for a new vehicle, whatever the price point, we encourage you to take your overall needs into consideration and think beyond the conventional. If you survey our list with an open mind, we feel confident you will find something that works for you and your family.
"There's never been a wider set of choices among family cars, and they've never been safer, more comfortable, or more feature-laden," says Eddie Alterman, chief brand and content officer for Hearst Autos and a judge for this program."In short, it's a golden era for the driving parent."
All prices and EPA fuel-economy listings are for base models. Check out fueleconomy.gov or the manufacturers' websites for fuel economy on related models.
Meet the Judges
Best Family Vehicles of 2023
Here, you'll find the right vehicle for your family, whether you’re looking for an SUV with a higher driving position, a highly maneuverable sedan or a highly capable yet still nimble crossover.
This year, based on the increase in interest in and purchase of electrics, we've included even more electric vehicles on our list. For each vehicle we have key details including mileage, occupants, trim options and length to help you make comparisons more readily.
Best Sedans
Best Compact Car: Honda Civic
Best Luxury Compact Car: Audi S3
Best Sedan: Honda Accord
Best Luxury Sedan: Genesis G80
Best Full-Size Sedan: Toyota Crown
Best Luxury Full-Size Sedan: Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Best Crossovers and SUVs
Best Subcompact SUV: Mazda CX-30
Best Luxury Subcompact SUV: Volvo XC40
Best Compact SUV: Honda CR-V
Best Luxury Compact SUV: Porsche Macan
Best Mid-Size 2-Row SUV: Ford Bronco
Best Luxury Mid-Size 2-Row SUV: Genesis GV70
Best Mid-Size 3-Row SUV: Kia Telluride
Best Luxury Mid-Size 3-Row SUV: Land Rover Defender 130
Best Large SUV: Chevrolet Tahoe
Best Luxury Large SUV: Lincoln Navigator L
More Great Family Cars We Tested
Best Electric Car: BMW i4
Best Electric Crossover: Hyundai Ioniq 5
Best Electric Pickup Truck: Ford F-150 Lightning
Best Hybrid Car: Toyota Prius
Best Minivan: Chrysler Pacifica
Best Station Wagon: Subaru Outback
Best Luxury Wagon: Volvo V90 Cross Country
Best Hatchback: Volkswagen Golf GTI
Best Pickup Truck: Ram 1500
Below our picks, you can learn more about our testing process and how we partner with Car and Driver.
Best Compact Car
2023 Honda Civic
Miles Per Gallon: 31/43/36 (city/highway/combined) as per EPA Fuel Economy
Seating: 5 seats
Available Trims: LX, Sport, EX, Touring
Length: 179 inches
The Civic celebrated its 50th birthday this year, and like many of us it has improved with age. Now in its 11th generation, the Honda Civic continues to be the standard-bearer in the small car category.
Available in both four-door sedan and five-door hatchback configurations, it is affordable, well-appointed, safety-focused, and stylish with a spacious interior that belies its dimensions. But the Civic’s secret weapon is its refinement — a Honda hallmark — a feature that is particularly impressive given the vehicle’s affordable starting price. Unlike some less-pricey vehicles, it feels rich: in terms of its material appointments, in the smooth function of its switchgear, in its distinguished appearance and its road manners. It’s what other economy cars aspire to be when (or if) they grow up, but like your favorite uncle, it maintains a youthful spirit. Think of it as a slightly smaller but no less mature version of the Honda Accord (another winner in our list.) We lean toward the hatchback for its practicality and await the addition of a hybrid to the lineup in 2024, but any Civic is a good choice.
Lab Results: In our test drives, we found the Civic to be a capable — and dare we say fun —driving experience with sharp handling. Thanks to a comfy interior, impressive fuel economy and an abundance of standard features, it was an easy add to this list. Dorian affirms, “The Civic is the quintessential small car and likely the one most people envision when they think of frugal, practical daily transport, but it’s the Honda’s fun-to-drive demeanor that endears it most to car enthusiasts like us.”
Our Fave Feature: We love the clean, technical look of the interior, especially the tessellated hexagon motif that runs across the center of the dash, capped by a legible touchscreen and featuring easy-to-use (and easy-to-locate) knobs and switches for commonly used features like entertainment volume, ventilation controls, and seat heaters.
2023 Honda Civic, from $25,545 (base price)
Best Luxury Compact Car
2023 Audi S3
Miles Per Gallon: 23/32/26 (city/highway/combined) as per EPA Fuel Economy
Seating: 5 seats
Available Trims: Premium, Premium Plus, Prestige
Length: 177.3 inches
The S3 takes everything that makes an Audi an Audi and distills it, shrinking it to dimensions that make it easy to drive, maneuver and park — especially practical for families in tighter urban areas — without sacrificing anything in the way of interior roominess and usable space.
It features taut and unencumbered design inside and out, easy-to-use tech, myriad intuitive safety features, and luxurious materials, all put together in a solid all-wheel-drive package that moves through any circumstance with confidence. More than that, the “S” in the name signifies an upgrade in performance and features, courtesy of a potent 306-hp turbocharged engine and standard niceties like a panoramic sunroof and separate climate controls for driver and front and rear seat passengers, decreasing opportunities for conflict if some kids like it hot and others prefer to play it cool.
Lab Results: Rothman has long been a fan of the sharp handling afforded by this Audi. Dorian is too, and he sums up the overall S3 experience nicely: "Considering the S3's relatively affordable starting price, it provides an impressive combination of luxury and performance."
Our Fave Feature: Opt for the Premium Plus trim level and prepare to be wowed by Audi’s industry-leading digital gauge display, which integrates navigation maps, entertainment choices, and other features into the LCD instrument panel binnacle right in front of the driver’s eyes, where they’re easiest—and safest—to see.
2023 Audi S3, from $47,895 (base price)
Best Sedan
2023 Honda Accord
Miles Per Gallon: 29/37/32 (city/highway/combined) as per EPA Fuel Economy
Seating: 5 seats
Available Trims: LX, EX, Sport Hybrid, EX-L Hybrid, Sport-L Hybrid, Touring Hybrid
Length: 195.7 inches
The Honda Accord is the epitome of an affordable family sedan. Now in its 11th generation, it has been consistently impressing American drivers for nearly 50 years with its almost alchemical just-rightness. Roomy enough for a quartet of adults (or five in a pinch for short rides) its huge back seat is limousine-like for kids.
Its trunk can swallow a surprising amount of grocery bags, suitcases, equipment, home repair goods or anything else that you can throw in it. Everything you need or need to touch or find is within reach. And the Accord telegraphs reliability, not just in the usual terms of efficiency or the profoundly thoughtful engineering that lasts for hundreds of thousands of miles but also in terms of steadfastness, the Accord is your friend. From its suite of standard safety features to its placid and controlled driving dynamics to how surprisingly fun to drive it is, it has your back.
Lab Results: In our more extensive Honda Accord review, we shared that every detail feels carefully considered and assembled such that the car behaves not just telepathically but almost empathically, as if it’s concerned for the well-being and happiness of its driver and occupants.
Our Fave Feature: Opt for any of the hybrid models and prepare to achieve a stunning 48 mpg combined fuel efficiency. That would be superlative in a compact hatchback; in a big sedan, it is stellar.
2023 Honda Accord, from $28,390 (base price)
Best Luxury Sedan
2023 Genesis G80
Miles Per Gallon: 22/32/26 (city/highway/combined) as per EPA Fuel Economy
Seating: 5 seats
Available Trims: 2.5T, 2.5T Advanced, 2.5T Sport Prestige, 3.5T Sport, 3.5T Sport Prestige
Length: 196.7 inches
If you haven’t heard of Genesis yet, you should check it out. The upstart upscale luxury brand from the rising Korean Hyundai group, whose brands include Hyundai and Kia, it is borrowing from the playbook Toyota used when it introduced the Lexus nearly 35 years ago: Build a stylish, top-tier luxury car that challenges the German standard-bearers, load it with features, and sell it for a price that undercuts the competition.
The G80 does just that, combining distinctive good looks, high-quality interior materials, unique trim treatments, refined and potent powertrains, and standard equipment, and still manages to cost thousands less than similar offerings from Mercedes and BMW. Its focus on refinement, insulation and comfort will soothe your fried nerves even when you’re running errands with the kids in back. And like one of those online brands of high-quality linens or clothing, it will let you stand out from the crowd while announcing your insider knowledge of a superior bargain.
Lab Results: The elegant exterior turns heads, and Rothman was equally impressed by the refined, upscale nature of the vehicle's interior. As in other Genesis vehicles, there is a comprehensive suite of standard safety and technology features, like a large 14.5-inch touchscreen infotainment display.
Our Fave Feature: We’re infuriated when someone edges too close to us in the parking lot, blocking access to our doors. The Genesis can be equipped with Smart Park, which allows you to back the car out using just the key fob so you won’t have to Houdini yourself into the driver’s seat.
2023 Genesis G80, from $51,125 (base price)
Best Full-Size Sedan
2023 Toyota Crown
Miles Per Gallon: 42/41/41 (city/highway/combined) as per EPA Fuel Economy
Seating: 5 seats
Available Trims: XLE, Limited, Platinum
Length: 196.1 inches
Contemporary consumer expectations support vehicles that have all-wheel-drive and a higher seating position. This has driven much of our ongoing shift away from traditional four-door sedans and toward trucks, vans and SUVs. These latter categories now account for well over three-quarters of new-car sales in America. Toyota’s response may be a prescient one. To replace its top-of-the-line Avalon four-door sedan, it has revived a nameplate from its past, Crown, and given it a higher ride and all-wheel drive.
It continues its assault on tradition by providing the new sedan with a sophisticated hybrid propulsion system that allows it to sip gas like a sub-compact. All this while providing near-luxury interior materials, creature comforts, and ride quality that are steps above what was offered in the vehicle it replaces.
Lab Results: Sportier people should consider springing for the $12,000 Platinum trim, which packs far more power and additional performance and luxury upgrades. Dorian agrees: “Don’t expect cornering heroics from the Crown, but the top-spec Platinum model does come with adaptive dampers that sharpen things up and give the big four-door a more fun-loving nature.”
Our Fave Feature: The styling of the Crown is controversial, with a thick mouth and color-contrasting flanks and rear. But we give kudos to Toyota for trying out an interesting new form and breathing new life into the conventional sedan category.
2023 Toyota Crown, from $41,045 (base price)
Best Luxury Full-Size Sedan
2023 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Miles Per Gallon: 20/28/23 (city/highway/combined) as per EPA Fuel Economy
Seating: 4 or 5 seats
Available Trims: S500, S580e, S580
Length: 208.2 inches
For over 50 years, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class has maintained its position as the pinnacle luxury sedan, and the latest (seventh-generation) car is no exception. Aided by standard all-wheel drive, a trio of smooth and powerful engines — six- and eight-cylinder gas motors and a gas/electric hybrid (e) good for around 40 miles of battery-only power — the S-Class does an amazing job of insulating riders from the strains of modern life, both physically and emotionally. With thickly padded, supportive heated/cooled/massaging seats in the four primary positions, an in-car perfume atomizer, seemingly more screens than a Best Buy and enough safety tech to impress a first responder, the S-Class will leave you and your precious cargo feeling nearly impervious.
Lab Results: Cosseting, potent, insulating and surprisingly nimble, the S-Class excels in everything it attempts. Add in an exterior shape that exudes restrained elegance and interior materials that rival those of sedans from Bentley and Rolls-Royce, and it’s easy to convince yourself that the S-Class is almost a bargain.
Our Fave Feature: The navigation system is available with an augmented-reality feature that combines with the head-up display to project directional arrows that hover on the roadways right in the driver’s line of sight.
2023 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, from $115,650 (base price)
Best Subcompact SUV
2023 Mazda CX-30
Miles Per Gallon: 26/33/29 (city/highway/combined) as per EPA Fuel Economy
Seating: 5 seats
Available Trims: Base, Select, Preferred, Premium, Turbo Premium, Turbo Premium Plus
Length: 173 inches
Mazda takes its own road, and more often than not, that road is a twisty one. The brand privileges driving pleasure and a connection between human and machine, and that shows in products like the CX-30, which is a true delight to drive — a standard deviation above competitors. Even if you don’t consider yourself a racer in training, you’ll find that the driving joy the Zoom-Zoom brand bakes into its vehicles leaves you feeling more in control and thus more relaxed behind the wheel.
Likewise, Mazda’s use of upscale materials on its interior will make you and your passengers feel pampered and coddled, as if you’re in a luxury vehicle instead of an affordable one, and its focus on elegant exterior design will have passersby, parking attendants, and friends in the school-pickup line doing a double take. Standard all-wheel drive adds to this sense of security, as do a broad range of standard advanced driver-assistance and safety features.
Lab Results: Though this is a subcompact SUV, we were pleasantly surprised that we could still fit six carry-on suitcases behind the rear seats, or 16 with the rear seats folded. We also appreciate that desirable driver-assistance and tech features like adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and automated emergency breaking are standard.
Our Fave Feature: The handsome exterior design is almost Italianate — sensuous, thoughtful, handsome, and distinctive without being aggressive.
2023 Mazda CX-30, from $24,225 (base price)
Best Luxury Subcompact SUV
2023 Volvo XC40
Miles Per Gallon: 23/32/26 (city/highway/combined) as per EPA Fuel Economy
Seating: 5 seats
Available Trims: B4/B5 Core, B4/B5 Plus, B4/B5 Ultimate
Length: 174.8 inches
Volvo is synonymous with stolidity and safety, and the XC40 conforms strongly to this heritage. But if you haven’t looked at the Volvo lineup recently, you might not equate it with refined and upscale styling. This charming “cute ute” brings all that to the category with an organic, modern Scandinavian take on the brand’s classic squared-off design language. We love its spunky upright attitude, which translates inside to excellent visibility and lots of room for passengers and cargo.
Opt for the B5 versions, and you’ll get a more potent engine and all-wheel-drive, both of which seem worth the additional $2,000 at each of three trim levels. We also appreciate Volvo’s use of intriguing interior materials like textured metal, fun felted fabrics, recycled plastics, unvarnished driftwood, and even crystal (!) as well as its funky throwback interior and exterior color schemes, which lend further delight to a delightful package.
Lab Results: Though this is the younger sibling to the more robust XC60 and XC90, we still found all passengers, front and rear, to have ample, comfortable seating. Our team appreciates that the XC40 has the towing capacity to handle an impressive 3,500 pounds, a rarity in the subcompact luxury crossover space.
Our Fave Feature: You might not think you need a hook for your shoulder bag or reusable grocery bag until you experience the ones that flip out from the XC40’s glove box and rear cargo divider. Likewise for the integrated trash can in the center console, the extra-deep door pockets, and especially the drawers under the front seats.
2023 Volvo XC40, from $37,445 (base price)
Best Compact Crossover/SUV
2023 Honda CR-V
Miles Per Gallon: 28/34/30 (city/highway/combined) as per EPA Fuel Economy
Seating: 5 seats
Available Trims: LX, EX, Sport Hybrid, EX-L, Sport Touring Hybrid (check these)
Length: 184.8 inches
Are you detecting a pattern here? Honda continues to wow us across numerous vehicle categories, and the not-so-small yet still compact CR-V crossover is among the marque’s current standouts. As with its small and large car siblings, the Civic and the Accord, the CR-V’s strength lies in its all-around excellence at doing the things it was designed to do: move people and their things in absolute comfort and safety, with the least possible fuss and a level of refinement well above its price point.
This year the CR-V is all-new, with an exterior design that is larger and more elegant and an interior that grows in all the right places (rear seat, cargo hold), and it simultaneously offers increased efficiency and enhanced security. Check out all the standard advanced driver-assistance features, which include systems that note when a car is in your blind spot, help you stay centered in your lane, monitor your attentiveness, and even read speed limit signs.
Lab Results: Practicality has gotten a makeover with the CR-Vs new look. Which is not to we don’t still love the smooth and comfy ride, the easy-to-use tech features, and the impressive cargo capacity.
Our Fave Feature: As with the Accord sedan, we’re wowed by the fuel efficiency of the CR-V hybrid system, which achieves 43 city/36 highway/40 combined mpg in front-wheel-drive configuration and 40/34/37 in all-wheel-drive. If you want a CR-V, we suggest you go for the hybrid.
2023 Honda CR-V, from $29,705 (base price)
Best Luxury Compact Crossover
2023 Porsche Macan
Miles Per Gallon: 19/25/21 (city/highway/combined) as per EPA Fuel Economy
Seating: 5 seats
Available Trims: Base, T, S
Length: 110.5 inches
The Macan is at once a gateway to the famed German brand and the model that die-hard fans might move to when they have a family and need to give up their less utilitarian Porsches. But the trade-off isn’t so severe. Though the Macan is an SUV, with a higher ride height and standard all-wheel drive, it has the ability to convincingly mimic a sports sedan. It thus has all the typical Porsche hallmarks — communicative steering, quick acceleration, telepathic handling, a purposeful exhaust note — while still providing enough space for five passengers (the three in the back should be kid-size) and their cargo.
As a driver’s car, it beats out all rivals. As a luxury car, and even in terms of its safety equipment, you will have to get a bit spendy in the options list to bring it up to other brands’ comps. But that is a Porsche hallmark as well: priciness and its correlative exclusivity. And every time you get behind the wheel and rip through the curves on the way to work, the carpool, or drag queen story time at the library, you will remember why it was all worth it.
Lab Results: In test drives, Rothman noted that she forgot for most of the drive that she was in an SUV and could have sworn she was behind the wheel of a sports car. Overall, our team was very happy with the abundance of outlets and ports throughout the cabin.
Our Fave Feature: Opt for the Sport Chrono package, and you’ll be rewarded with a number of performance upgrades, including Launch Control, which allows you to peel off computer-controlled standing starts, destroying all the other parents in stoplight races.
2023 Porsche Macan, from $58,950 (base price)
Best Midsize 2-Row SUV
2023 Ford Bronco
Miles Per Gallon: 20/21/20 (city/highway/combined) as per EPA Fuel Economy
Seating: 5 seats
Available Trims: Base, Big Bend, Black Diamond, Outer Banks, Heritage, Badlands, Everglades, Wildtrak, Heritage Limited Edition
Length: 173.3 inches
The latest Bronco exudes the same kind of rugged and ready style that made the original Bronco such a hit when it was first introduced in the 1960s. But this high-riding all-wheel-drive SUV is a lot more family-friendly than that tinny trucklet could ever have hoped to be. For one thing, the modern Bronco can be had with four doors, something never available on previous iterations, simplifying the ingress and egress of kids and pets and stuff (though if you and your passengers don’t mind flipping the front seats forward and back regularly, the two-door Bronco is significantly cheaper).
A stellar and capable all-wheel-drive system makes this SUV a Jeep Wrangler challenger if you want that kind of capability or just want to look like you do. And the roof panels (whether fabric or hard plastic) come off, as do even — for the non-risk-averse — the doors, for a convertible-like experience, adding even more joy to an already joyous package.
Lab Results: Without dispute it’s cool, from its impressive off-road capabilities to the ability to remove its doors for a coastal cruise. Abigail Bailey, a GH Institute staffer, test-drove it and noted that she really loved how comfortable it was despite what she was doing: "We crawled up rock walls and drove through water so deep it was coming up the hood of the car, but the inside stayed dry and comfortable. If someone has a camping family and they get into trails and off-roading, this is a great car to do it in."
Our Fave Feature: The retro appearance packages in this year’s Heritage trim levels — with their white roofs, stripes, grilles, lettering and wheels, calling to mind the original Bronco— make us smile, and we think they will make you smile as well.
2023 Ford Bronco, from $35,890 (base price)
Best Luxury Midsize 2-Row SUV
2023 Genesis GV70
Miles Per Gallon: 22/28/24 (city/highway/combined) as per EPA Fuel Economy
Seating: 5 seats
Available Trims: 2.5T, 2.5T Select, 2.5T Advanced, 2.5T Sport Prestige, 3.5T Sport Advanced, 3.5T Sport Prestige
Length: 185.6 inches
Remember what we said about the Genesis G80 sedan? Well, the same goes for the SUVs in the upscale Korean brand’s lineup. And while we love the somewhat larger and more traditionally luxurious GV80 SUV that is that four-door’s sport-ute analogue, we’re even more compelled by the slightly outré form of the smaller and more affordable GV70. Its exterior and interior styling is bold, with a confident swoopiness that a brand typically acquires only after decades in the market. The fact that Genesis is willing to experiment like this is made all the more compelling by the fact that the GV70 is such a pleasure to drive and live with. Higher-spec versions have a sumptuous interior that reminds us of the 1970s in the best ways, and it has features that seemingly belong in vehicles costing 50% more.
Lab Results: Dorian is a fan: "Instead of creating a low-cost value-player that feels cut-rate, Genesis has created a luxury SUV that’s in many ways nicer and posher than similarly priced rivals."
Our Fave Feature: Do you remember rotary phones? The GV70 has a rotary shift knob for moving the transmission from park to reverse to drive — and it’s made of glass. It put a smile on our faces every time.
2023 Genesis GV70, from $44,275 (base price)
Best Midsize 3-Row SUV
2023 Kia Telluride
Miles Per Gallon: 18/24/21 (city/highway/combined) as per EPA Fuel Economy
Seating: 7 or 8 seats
Available Trims: LX, S, EX, EX-X-Line, SX, SX X-Line, SX X-Pro, SX Prestige, SX Prestige X-Line, SX Prestige X-Pro
Length: 196.9 inches
Kia, another brand from the Hyundai Motor Group, is, like Genesis, making its own play for customers seeking upscale vehicles for a bargain price, and it is attracting them with distinctively styled vehicles packed with features. The Telluride three-row SUV is one of its biggest hits, and it’s easy to see why. Its smoothly boxy shape mimics classically elegant sport utility vehicles like the Land Rover Range Rover, but where a Range Rover starts at over $100,000, the Telluride can be had for under $40,000.
Even the shockingly well-equipped all-wheel-drive SX model ekes in at under $50,000. For that price, you get a quiet, smoothly-operating powertrain, a Harmon/Kardon stereo, heated and ventilated seats in the first- and second-row captain’s chairs, LCD dash and infotainment screens, an onboard Wi-Fi hot spot, and one of the longest-term and most comprehensive warranties in the industry. If that feels unbeatable for the price, that’s because it is. If you haven’t considered a Kia recently, we strongly recommend that you do so.
Lab Results: As we said in reviewing the Telluride “The bossy-looking Telluride shines in every category, from its refined powertrain and quiet operation to its luxurious interior that mimics the material quality of high-end vehicles.” Dorian seconds this: "Well-priced, nicely equipped, and unquestionably refined, the Telluride is the complete package."
Our Fave Feature: Back-row passengers tend to get mischievous. If you want to get them back in line without yelling threats, the Telluride has a “Passenger Talk” option that allows the driver to use a front-mounted microphone and rear-mounted speakers to address them without wrecking the driver’s vocal cords.
2023 Kia Telluride, from $37,255 (base price)
Best Luxury Midsize 3-Row SUV
2023 Land Rover Defender 130
Miles Per Gallon: 17/21/19 (city/highway/combined) as per EPA Fuel Economy
Seating: 8 seats
Available Trims: S, SE, X-Dynamic SE, First Edition, X
Length: 210.9 inches
The Defender traces its roots to the genesis of the Land Rover brand, where it positioned itself as a handsome, capable vehicle intended for farmers, whether actual or gentleman. The truck remained quite agricultural for subsequent decades, resolutely adept at off-roading through mire and muck, but quite unpleasant on the road. The all-new Defender, which debuted a couple years back, completely remedied that, with unprecedented refinement. Now, the brand has grafted more than a foot onto the rear of the longest previous Defender, the 110, to create a next-level iteration, the 130. With three proper rows, you can carry an entire ballet troupe to the auditorium, and, with seat heaters and plenty of USB ports in all three rows, they’ll all arrive recharged.
Lab Results: Rothman test-drove the Defender 130 for a week in her suburban town, and tallied no fewer than a dozen parents who stopped to admire and talk her up about her ride. She ventured for a bit of off-roading and found it impressively capable. And if the weather or roads get rough, you can depend on legendary Defender sure-footedness; we recently drove one through a three-foot-deep pond without a whimper of protest.
Our Fave Feature: The rearmost row gets its own sunroof. Though it’s fixed and doesn’t open, it lets in additional light and a glimpse of the sky, which everyone needs.
Land Rover Defender 130, from $69,475 (base price)
Best Large SUV
2023 Chevrolet Tahoe
Miles Per Gallon: 15/20/17 (city/highway/combined) as per EPA Fuel Economy
Seating: 7 or 8 seats
Available Trims: LS, LT, RST, Z71, Premier, High Country
Length: 210.7 inches
At over 17.5 feet long, the Chevy Tahoe puts the full in full-size SUV, but for those of us who have big families, big pets, or big car pools, it is hard to beat its immense carrying capacity. With the rear seats folded, there is 123 cubic feet of space inside — that’s more than the entire interior of a new Honda Civic, including the trunk. So the Tahoe is a big box capable of hauling the hoard from your big box store runs.
And the Tahoe drives smaller than it is, especially with the optional Magnetic Ride Control, which prevents body pitch and roll and keeps the ship steady. Even the base Tahoe has safety niceties like lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, front collision warning and automated emergency braking, as well as sliding second row seats that provide more room for third row passengers — even a growth-spurting teen will find comfort back there. And higher test iterations like the Premier or High Country become downright luxurious.
Lab Results: When test-driving, we placed two adults in the third row for a 2+ hour trip — and neither complained upon arriving! They even lauded the ease of moving the second-row seats to get comfortable in the way back.
Our Fave Feature: The console between the front seats power-slides back to reveal a spacious bin, as well as a hidden drawer. As a bonus, sliding it back brings the charging ports in its rear closer to power-hungry second row occupants.
2023 Chevrolet Tahoe, from $56,095 (base price)
Best Luxury Large SUV
2023 Lincoln Navigator L
Miles Per Gallon: 16/23/19 (city/highway/combined) as per EPA Fuel Economy
Seating: 7 or 8 seats
Available Trims: Reserve, Black Label
Length: 222 inches
Do you require more luxury, and more scale, than that offered by even the Chevrolet Tahoe? Well then, step right up to the power-operated running board alongside the Lincoln Navigator L, which is more than a foot longer, and laden with enough leather and wood to keep an executive office furniture factory running. In fact, the Navi L could be a mobile executive office, with roomy workspace consoles, an insular conference room-like vibe, onboard Wi-Fi, available heated/cooled/massaging captain’s chairs in the first and second rows, and bounteous seating for your whole team.
These same features allow it to function as an ideal shuttle bus for your brood. Or, if you power-fold the seats, to skip the Home Depot delivery charge and bring that new chest freezer home on your own. And, unlike the dour interior palettes from other manufacturers, Lincoln dazzles with broad expanses of colorful leather, particularly the periwinkle “Yacht Club” or olive green “Central Park” themes available on the top-of-the-line Black Label versions.
Lab Results: As Rothman noted in her review, whether she was toting her young kids to and from school, soccer or a weekend visit to their grandparents, passengers and driver were all very happy thanks to its spacious and comfy interior, ample cargo space and lavish interior details.
Our Fave Feature: If you can’t find a comfortable position with the Navigator’s eminently adjustable 30-way power seats, you should seek chiropractic attention.
2023 Lincoln Navigator L, from $96,860 (base price)
Best Electric Car
2023 BMW i4
Miles Per Gallon: 260 miles/109 mpgE as per EPA Fuel Economy
Seating: 5 seats
Available Trims: eDrive35, eDrive40, M50
Length: 188.5 inches
BMW has taken an intriguing approach to electrifying much of its product range, producing one platform that can accommodate gasoline, hybrid and battery power, and allowing consumers to select the one that suits them. In some models, the electric iteration supersedes the others in terms of performance, comfort and luxury. The i4 is one of these models. The sweet spot for families might be the middle child, eDrive40, which offers the practicality and cargo-stowage capabilities of a five-door hatchback body style and a larger battery pack, yielding the greatest (301 mile) range. Though the hot rod M50, despite decreased range (245 miles) is also compelling with its all-wheel drive capabilities and rocket-like acceleration, perfect for delighting (or taking the breath away from) sullen backseat occupants.
Lab Results: So admired by the Car and Driver team, the BMW i4 nabbed a coveted 10Best spot thanks to its acceleration, handling, smart packaging, and value.
Our Fave Feature: We like jewelry and delight, so the availability of rose gold trim makes us smile, perhaps more than it should (but can you ever have too much gold?).
2023 BMW i4, from $52,995 (base price)
Best Electric Crossover
2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5
Miles Per Gallon: 220 miles/110mpgE as per EPA Fuel Economy
Seating: 5 seats
Available Trims: SE, SEL, Limited
Length: 182.5 inches
From its sharply-faceted retro-futuristic exterior, to its clean modern-futuristic minimalist interior, the Ioniq 5 carves its own path. And that doesn’t even take into account its potent and efficient electric powertrain, which can achieve up to 301 miles on a charge, or its clever reappropriation of the classic hatchback shape that Hyundai first utilized in attempting to conquer the North American market back in the '80s.
The brand has come an immensely long way in the past four decades, and the Ioniq 5 now dances atop the pyramid of contemporary, affordable electric vehicles. It looks great, it’s absolutely huge inside, and it considers the driver in ways that other EVs have yet to even think about. With some options, it can even drive itself, hands-free, in specific highway situations (an attentive driver is still necessary), giving you more time to look at the passing scenery and talk to your passengers.
Lab Results: The distinctive styling makes you feel like you've arrived in the future, one where electrics are standard fare with fast-charging capabilities and engaging drives like this beaut.
Our Fave Feature: You can spec your Ioniq 5 with a driver’s seat that reclines and extends, like a chaise lounge, for those often-long waits during battery charging sessions.
2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5, from $42,785 (base price)
Best Electric Pickup
2023 Ford F-150 Lightning
Miles Per Gallon: 230 miles/69 mpgE as per EPA Fuel Economy
Seating: 5 seats
Available Trims: Pro, XLT, Lariat, XLT Extended Range, Lariat Extended Range, Platinum Extended Range
Length: 232.7 inches
Most people who drive a full-size pickup don’t really need a full-size pickup. But vehicle purchases often aren’t about “need.” They’re about want. And if you want a nearly 20-foot long, 7,000-pound pickup, with luxurious seating for five people, a giant bed out back for hauling manure or gear or ATVs, and a cavernous “frunk” up front where the engine should go, you are the target audience for the F-150 Lightning, Ford’s electrified iteration of America’s best-selling vehicle for the past four or five decades. Like the BMW i4, the Lightning is a superior version of an already good vehicle, with improved acceleration, road manners, and the aforementioned enhancement in storage. Opting for a larger battery will cost you $10,000 but yields 90 more miles per charge, maxing out at 320 miles.
Lab Results: Rothman has yet to meet a frunk she doesn't adore, and this one delighted her thanks to its notable size and its ability to carry up to a whopping 400 pounds inside!
Our Fave Feature: Because its battery is so huge, when the Lightning is charged up, it can act as an electricity source for your power tools, other EVs, or even your house in the event of a blackout.
2023 Ford F-150 Lightning, from $57,869 (base price)
Best Hybrid
2023 Toyota Prius
Miles Per Gallon: 57/56/57 (city/highway/combined) as per EPA Fuel Economy
Seating: 5 seats
Available Trims: LE, XLE, Limited
Length: 181.1 inches
The Prius has always been a solid pick for families who prioritize fuel economy and flawless reliability. As a bonus, its teardrop shape yielded a roomy and capacious interior. But, throughout four innovative generations, the Prius was never what one could consider handsome. Until now. The all-new fifth-generation Prius is now lower, wider, smoother and a real looker! With a fresh interior layout that places an instrument panel in front of the driver, instead of in the middle of the car, it’s a bit more traditional but doesn’t trade off any of its efficiency. In fact, it’s even more parsimonious with a gallon of gas than prior Priuses. And with available all-wheel drive, it promises additional sure-footedness as well. Rounding out its balanced package is a compelling suite of standard advanced driver assistance systems, for enhanced on-road safety.
Lab Results: Our pros noted that the driver assistance technology was well-attuned, and that so much was included standard, like automated emergency braking and lane-keeping assist. The new model also sports larger screens for infotainment and controls that were appreciated.
Our Fave Feature: It bears repeating: The new Prius is H-O-T. But even sexier is its ability to nurse nearly 60 miles from a gallon of gas.
2023 Toyota Prius, from $28,545 (base price)
Best Minivan
2023 Chrysler Pacifica
Miles Per Gallon: 19/28/22 (city/highway/combined) as per EPA Fuel Economy
Seating: 7 or 8 seats
Available Trims: Touring, Touring L, Limited, Hybrid Touring L, Pinnacle, Hybrid Limited, Hybrid Pinnacle
Length: 204.3 inches
The Pacifica is the Swiss Army Knife of vehicles. It has the people-carrying capacity of a school bus. With available all-wheel drive, it has the all-weather sure-footedness of the most goat-like SUV. With an available hybrid system, it has the efficiency of a much smaller car. With two rows of seats that literally disappear into the floor, it has the carrying capacity of a tractor trailer. It has more bins, charging ports, and cup holders than a tech-start-up headquarters in 2013. And with the availability of singular features — including an onboard vacuum, an intercom system, panopticon cameras for spying on your passengers, and quilted leather seats with matching pillows — it out-luxuries some six-figure luxury sedans. Also, there’s not another vehicle category on the market that features power-operated sliding doors, which make getting kids, kids’ stuff, safety seats and cargo in and out remarkably easy.
Lab Results: We've said it in our review of the Pacifica and we'll say it again: “There’s no better family vehicle than a minivan in terms of usability, capability, and features. And there’s no better minivan than a Pacifica.”
Our Fave Feature: The way the Pacifica drives like a car, instead of like a truck (like many SUVs.) This makes it easier to maneuver in and out of traffic, and in and out of trouble, rendering it safer.
2023 Chrysler Pacifica, from $38,615 (base price)
Best Station Wagon
2023 Subaru Outback
Miles Per Gallon: 26/32/28 (city/highway/combined) as per EPA Fuel Economy
Seating: 5 seats
Available Trims: Base, Premium, Onyx, Limited, Wilderness, Limited XT, Touring, Touring XT
Length: 191.3 inches
The Outback has existed for so long, and remained so true to its mission, that it has almost become a generic proprietary eponym, like Kleenex for facial tissues or Band-Aid for plastic adhesive strips. Moreover, in the nearly 30 years since its introduction, the market has come to it with an endless proliferation of high-riding, all-wheel drive, car-based “crossovers.” But the Outback remains special because it still adheres to the nearly defunct but compelling category of station wagon.
Though this form harkens back to a series of bygone eras in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, it remains extremely germane, because wagons are more slippery and nimble, and thus more efficient and safely maneuverable, than higher-riding and bulkier crossovers. With standard all-wheel drive, available advanced driver assistance systems, and the ability to be optioned up from basic to near-luxury without ever betraying its functional roots, the Outback is that rarity in the current vehicle market: devoid of pretense.
Lab Results: In our review of the Outback we said, “Subaru didn’t invent the high-riding, AWD station wagon, but it did popularize and perfect it.” Dorian agrees it's well-suited for many, touting "its rugged looks make it attractive to those with outdoorsy lifestyles, but the Outback's practicality and ride comfort make it a good choice for families too."
Our Fave Feature: Subarus have legendary reliability, with many models hitting the 200,000-mile mark with just basic maintenance.
2023 Subaru Outback, from $29,620 (base price)
Best Luxury Station Wagon
2023 Volvo V90 Cross Country
Miles Per Gallon: 22/29/25 (city/highway/combined) as per EPA Fuel Economy
Seating: 5 seats
Available Trims: Plus, Ultimate
Length: 195.2 inches
For many consumers, Volvo is synonymous with wagons, and it recognizes that, which is why it still sells a few different ones in the U.S. But if you haven’t checked out a Volvo wagon since the brand’s boxy zenith, it’s time to take another look. The Swedish marque had lost its rectilinearity and gone upscale — in a distinctly Scandinavian paradigm.
There is no ostentation or glitz here. Just a refined and elegant functionality that is felt throughout the experience of driving and being a passenger. The XC90 coddles, but it never panders. It is secure without the need to telegraph that constantly. And, despite its slightly jacked-up all-wheel-drive utilitarianism, it is so chic and handsome that it can easily pass muster in places a Subaru would be snubbed. Capacious and serene in a way similar to only the most expensive SUVs, it provides a distinct and distinguished sensation.
Lab Results: Definitely a splurge, Dorian insists, "The V90 Cross Country's warm and comforting cabin offers a compelling argument for its premium price."
Our Fave Feature: Splurge for the upmarket “Ultimate” trim, and find yourself coddled by fine leathers, woods and even a crystal shift knob, while never feeling like a show-off.
2023 Volvo V90 Cross Country, from $59,545 (base price)
Best Hatchback
2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI
Miles Per Gallon: 23/32/27 (city/highway/combined) as per EPA Fuel Economy
Seating: 5 seats
Available Trims: S, 40th Anniversary Edition, SE, Autobahn
Length: 168.8 inches
Volkswagen popularized the concept of the “Hot Hatch” 40 years ago with its first GTI. Now well into its eighth generation, it continues to define the segment, combining the practicality of a compact five-passenger hatchback with the elation of a sports car. The GTI is one of those vehicles that is so intuitive that it feels like it knows you, making you feel more connected to the road, and, somehow, to yourself.
How does this help as a family car? Well, a car that is easier to maneuver, place, and push through traffic is a car that is fundamentally safer. Not that the GTI doesn’t have its own suite of advanced driver assistance safety features, both standard and optional. But not all of us want to give up the joy of driving when we become parents, and vehicles like the GTI allow us not to. This is what makes it the definitive “cool mom” or “cool dad” car.
Lab Results: Versatility often means sacrificing in some regard, but the GTI delivers impressive acceleration and nimble handling while still delivering ample cargo space.
Our Fave Feature: GTIs have always sported a black, white, and red tartan plaid on their seats, and this current one maintains the tradition.
2023 Volkswagen Golf GTI , from $31,625 (base price)
Best Pickup Truck
2023 Ram 1500
Miles Per Gallon: 20/25/22 (city/highway/combined) as per EPA Fuel Economy
Seating: 5 seats
Available Trims: Tradesman, HFE, Big Horn, Laramie, Rebel, Longhorn, Limited
Length: 241.8 inches
Contemporary full-size pickup trucks are so popular in part because they do so many things well. In addition to handling the typical tasks of hauling people and stuff — lots of stuff — they’ve also become the locus for domestic automakers' long-term focus on cushy insularity. Trucks are our current version of the big, wide, floaty living room-on-wheels sedans of the past, with luxurious appointments, limousine-like legroom and cavernous carrying capacity.
The fact that they happen to ride on jacked-up frames, with available four-wheel drive and frequent callbacks to cowboy/military themes says something about our desire to bunker up and protect our precious cargo. The current Ram 1500 is the ultimate expression of this sentiment, and it does, superlatively, everything a 20-foot-long family vehicle should.
Lab Results: Considering its frame, we were notably impressed with its handling and its spacious, quiet interior. Lest we forget though, it is big, bold, and brash, and it telegraphs to other motorists not to mess with you. As a parent, there can be something empowering about that.
Our Fave Feature: The locking compartments built into the side of the pickup bed are just one of many inventive and integrated cubbies and storage solutions.
2023 Ram 1500, from $39,305 (base price)
How We Tested
Each year, our analysts drive tens of thousands of miles on varied terrains and differing climates to ensure the vehicles we're selecting live up to being solid family-friendly vehicles.
We check safety ratings to help ensure you can get safely from point A to point B, but we also take into account elements within the vehicles that can thrill and delight. This past year alone, our team has installed, uninstalled, and reinstalled over 150 car seats; fed hungry toddlers; vacuumed up the crevices of dozens of cars; and paired and unpaired each vehicle with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto where applicable. While we look at a lot of criteria, we ultimately want to ensure that the cars deliver well enough across the board, from comfort and convenience, intuitive infotainment and controls, practical features, and of course, core vehicle performance.
Here, more details on how we evaluate vehicles:
PERFORMANCE:
✔️ Transmission: We note the smoothness, and reaction time of transmissions. While many are good while cruising, we take note under varied loads (intermittent passing, mid-speed turns, etc.). We look not only at how responsive the transmissions are, but also at how well (the computer) is able to select the appropriate (upshift, downshift, CVT RPM range) gear.
✔️ Visibility: We evaluate each car’s forward facing, side, and rear visibility to see where, if any, blind spots are located.
✔️ Handling and maneuverability: After driving dozens of vehicles for hundreds of miles, we assess how nimble they are. The more maneuverable, the better!
✔️ Smoothness over bumps: We assess how well a vehicle can absorb bumps and potholes in the road without adding obtrusive noise.
✔️ Parking/Turning radius: We check the ability to park the car in a space that is approximately 19 feet long.
COMFORT:
✔️ Ease of getting in and out: Low sports cars can require the driver to roll out of their seat to exit the vehicle, while higher set cars such as crossovers are more akin to getting out of a chair or stepping down from a stool. This factor is very important for the elderly and people with disabilities, and something we are mindful of while performing our evaluations.
✔️ Cup holders and console layout: Our analysts evaluate the position and layout of the cup holders and console controls with respect to the driver position. Are they easy to reach for the driver? Design focused on the driver is important in this scoring category.
✔️ Trunk space: We look at the size and usability of rear trunk space. Storage nets, spare tire placement, and freedom from intrusions (e.g., wheel wells, asymmetry, etc.) are also considered.
✔️ Car seat installation: We account for the location and accessibility of anchor points and other space requirements that make some cars easier to install in than others.
✔️ Interior storage layout: Our team assesses the thoughtfulness of storage options throughout the car, taking into account overhead storage options, center console, door storage, back of seat storage, and adequacy of cup holder options.
✔️ General comfort: We assess the general comfort in both the first and second rows. We consider ease of entering and exiting the second row, overall use of space, and center legroom.
INFOTAINMENT:
✔️ Ease of connecting a phone: We evaluate the phone system for the simplicity of Bluetooth or other setup, ease of placing a call, accessibility of controls, and overall integration.
✔️ Display of infotainment: The media display placement is evaluated by its clarity and orientation to the driver in order not to obstruct the view or draw attention away from the road. In the case of touch screens, whether the screen is within reach is considered. The primary display is evaluated for clarity, size, placement and field of view, likeliness for obstruction by hands based on standard 10/2 placement, and the range of options. Good primary displays have large font speedometers and are easy to see without taking eyes off the road.
✔️ HVAC controls: The layout of the heating, ventilation, and Air conditioning is evaluated for its placement, simplicity, and isolation from other controls which could confuse its function.
✔️ Steering wheel controls: Steering wheel controls (e.g. audio, media, voice & phone commands, cruise control, etc.) are rated more positively for clear placement, accurate symbols or words, and categorization.
✔️ Exterior controls: Exterior controls (e.g. windshield wipers, lights, cruise, etc) are evaluated for their accessibility, both dash and steering wheel mounted (when applicable), and function/usefulness and responsiveness in the case of touch screens.
TRACK TESTING:
And of course, we are privileged to leverage the expertise and authority of the brilliant team at Car and Driver, also owned by our parent company Hearst, to help support all of our picks. This team has track-tested all of the cars, performed both regimented and long-term rides, and can attest to the reliability and practicality of these vehicles. They can provide us with metrics on acceleration, passing acceleration, noise while cruising and idle, braking and road holding.
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