Top 10 Family Cars in 2022

Cars are like our second home, we rely on them to take our family to school, work, soccer games, and maybe even cross country vacations. After test driving over 35 finalist vehicles and checking safety ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the parents.com team narrowed down a list of top family vehicles.

So whether you’re looking to expand your leg room, or downsize to a sedan, here’s parents.com full list of best family cars in 2022, we’ve condensed it to the top 10.

• #1. Best New Minivan: Kia Carnival

  V6 engine estimated to get 22 MPG. With seating for seven or eight, it’s great for kids; sliding doors and slide-and-fold center row seats make getting in and out of the third row easy. This minivan is priced less than $47,000, and that’s with all the extra features like rear seat entertainment system.

• #2. Best Fuel-Efficient Minivan: Toyota Sienna

  Estimated to get 36 MPG and AWD (all wheel drive), the Toyota Sienna has seating for seven or eight; the center row has a removable center seat to create captains chairs, and the center row seats slide forward for more leg room

• #3. Best Adventure SUV: Nissan Pathfinder

  Estimated to get 23 MPG and seats up to 8 passengers, this SUV is above the rest of its class. Buyers can chose “peacemakers,” or center row captains chairs to give themselves more space, and it’s easier to clean (available on SV, SL, and Platinum grades.)

• #4. Best For Road Trips: Subaru Ascent

  Subaru is known to fit the outdoor lifestyle, but this 2022 edition is also perfect for families. This car is durable and easy to clean while also being comfortable.

• #5. Best Quiet Ride: Honda Pilot

  This vehicle is a favorite for its reliability and interior space; the third row is sized for full-size people and good for daily use. Valued under $40,000 and is estimated to get 23 MPG.

• #6. Best Braking: Mazda CX-9

  With seating for 6 (with captains chairs) or 7 (with a center row bench) this is definitely a great family car. AWD is available and it is estimated to get 23 MPG.

• #7. Best Compact Hybrid SUV: Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid

  Its smaller size makes it easier to manage in traffic, estimated to get 17 miles of electric range and 35 MPG. For being Subaru’s smallest SUV, this car is equipped with two LATCH systems (lower anchor and tethers for child passenger car seats) which means there might be less leg room for front passengers if child seats are installed.

• #8. Best For Road Trips: Subaru Forester

  This compact SUV has more headroom, legroom, and cargo space than the slightly larger but more bullet-shaped Outback. Easy-to-clean interiors and a whooping estimated 29 MPG make this a favorite for Subaru fans.

   

• #9. Best City SUV: Volkswagen Taos

  4-cylinder engine estimated to get 32 MPG, this SUV is great for the city or small families. The Taos offers two sets of child car seat LATCHes and a good amount of cargo space. Base models can be found under $25,000.

• #10, Best Sporty Hybrid: Toyota Camry Hybrid

  Equipped with 208 horsepower 4-cylinder hybrid engine that is estimated to get 53 MPG. It’s roomy and reliable, and with Toyota’s proven hybrid system, it has unbeatable fuel economy.