Any parent can tell you that once kids come along, your priorities shift. When it comes to buying cars, that can mean a newfound preference for space over style and comfort over horsepower. And, of course, safety becomes paramount.
With that in mind, Parents magazine and Edmunds.com have just released their ninth annual ranking of the 10 Best Family Cars on the market. While the list does, of course, include a station wagon and a minivan, it also includes other types of cars that could work for families so mom and dad don’t have to give up all hope of having a more stylish ride.
Slideshow: The 10 Best Family Cars in 2016
The editors of the list evaluated hundreds of cars on criteria such as quality of ride, safety, comfort and capacity, fuel efficiency, kid-friendly features, price and value, reliability and design. Top family-friendly features included standard 360-degree rear cameras, automatic braking systems, smartphone link systems and dual-display entertainment systems.
Kia and Honda are the only two brands with more than one entry on the list, with the Kia getting recognition for the Best Budget Vehicle (the Kia Soul) and Best Sedan (Kia Optima), and Honda winning for Best Small Sedan (Honda Civic) and Best Minivan (Honda Pilot).
