Choosing a family car is not easy. There are many things to consider before buying a new vehicle for the loved ones. Space, price, reliability and safety are all factors that need to be taken into account before making a decision. Most importantly, the vehicle should be able accommodate children comfortably over long periods of time. The magazine Parents and the car site Edmunds.com took all these points into consideration and named the Best Family Cars 2012.
For the fifth consecutive year, car experts from both organizations examined hundreds of cars focusing on safety and reliability as top priorities. They test-drove, analyzed and compared prices and features. They also consulted with parents who own cars on their list to hear about real life experiences and every day practicalities of the vehicles.
Safety is a major concern for family cars. Therefore, every car Parents magazine and Edmunds.com tested is equipped with antilock brakes, electronic stability control and a minimum of six airbags.
“Buying a new car is a big family decision and our guide makes the process easier,” said Dana Points, Editor-in-Chief of Parents magazine. The 15 winners “made our list because they are safe and affordable, plus they have smart, family-friendly features to make kids and parents happy.”
The Volkswagen Passat, which was included in the sedan category, was chosen as one of the Best Family Cars 2012 for its many family-friendly features and space offered at an accessible price. There’s a lot of room in the back where the kids can stretch their legs (or kicked their feet) without bumping into the front seatback. The spacious backseats also make it easy to install children’s car seats. The boot offers enough storage room to fit the entire luggage needed for a trip to the beach or a two-week camping holiday.
Another point of review was high mileage to help families save money and to be easy on the environment. The Passat manages 25 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the motorway.
“More fuel efficient and more affordable than ever before, the sedan now offers one of the largest backseats in its class and still delivers the upscale, German-engineered ambiance Volkswagen vehicles are famous for,” said Scott Oldham, Editor-in-Chief at Edmunds.com, when explaining his choice.
The other winners of the Best Family pick were Toyota Prius V, Honda Civic Hybrid and Chevrolet Cruze Eco in the High Mileage Cars division. Chevrolet Sonic, Ford Focus and Hyundai Elantra won in the Budget category. Mazda 5, Kia Sorento and Honda CR-V were named best Crossovers. In the Sedans category, Toyota Camry and Kia Optima won alongside the Volkswagen Passat. Dodge Durango, Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey were chosen in the Large Vehicles segment.
