10 Best Cars for a Family of Four

2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV profile ・ Photo by General Motors

In this day and age, it might be blasphemy to say it, but not everyone in the world needs a crossover. Our collection of the most reliable, convenient, and fun-to-drive family vehicles is prima facie evidence that you can successfully live your life without owning a crossover SUV. Not only that, but you can also facilitate the lives of your significant other and two offspring while avoiding the rolling cliche that the crossover has become.

Not that we are anti-crossover. No, crossovers have their place — but that place doesn’t have to be in every garage, driveway and parking spot in the entire country. You’ll see that immediately as we present the 10 best cars for a family of four. 

1. 2018 Mazda Mazda3

The Mazda3 five-door compact hatchback offers utility that rivals a small crossover accompanied by the driving enjoyment that emanates from one of the best small four-doors in the country. It has room for up to five passengers, and the hatchback configuration and folding seats deliver surprisingly roomy and versatile cargo-carrying.

The standard equipment list is generous — remote entry and start, a collision mitigation system, a rearview system, and a six-speaker sound accompanied by 7-inch screen. If you judiciously add upgrades, you can even have alloy wheels, automatic climate control, heated seats, and a heated steering wheel without breaking the bank. Power from the 155-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine helps make the Mazda3 one of the most satisfying small cars on the road. "Zoom-zoom" lives on.

Photo by Mazda

2. 2018 Honda Accord

The Honda Accord mid-size sedan is legendary for its economy, ease of operation, and reliability. But Honda engineers took the car to the next level of excellence in the current platform. This is a reasonably large, comfortable five-passenger vehicle that is also more fun to drive than it has any right to be.

Even in base trim, the Accord offers niceties like push-button ignition, alloy wheels, automatic headlights, and automatic climate control. The 7-inch touchscreen-operated audio/info system features Bluetooth/USB integration and a helpful parking camera system. The split/folding rear seats and ample trunk add to the family-of-four utility. If you want upgrades, you can turn the Accord into a reasonable facsimile of a luxury sedan with leather upholstery. The base engine is a turbocharged 192-horsepower 1.5-liter four-cylinder.

Photo by Honda

3. 2018 Toyota Camry

For many years, the Toyota Camry was the best-selling car in the United States, so it has major cred as a family vehicle. For 2018, Toyota overhauled its mid-size sedan significantly — with every change adding to its abilities to satisfy four-person families. The new Camry's interior offers a serene, quiet place for five full-size adults, meaning that children will find the backseat more than ample.

Standard features include automatic LED headlights, remote entry, and a collision-mitigation system. A backup camera and Bluetooth/USB connectivity are integrated into the 7-inch touchscreen audio/info system. The available split/folding rear seats enable access to the trunk and can accommodate long items from the home center. The Camry offers a 3.5-liter V6 engine and a gas/electric hybrid powertrain in addition to the standard 203-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder.

Photo by Toyota

4. 2018 Honda Civic

The 2018 Honda Civic is the very definition of small-car versatility. The available hatchback configuration means the Civic can swallow up a lot of cargo or a mix of cargo and rear-seat passengers. It can be equipped very simply and economically, or buyers can pull out some stops and build themselves a sports sedan with capabilities that rival much more expensive European models. 

Even the base model offers LED running lights, split/folding rear seats, a 5-inch display screen with a backup camera, and Bluetooth. As you travel up the trim levels luxury items like heated front and rear seats, leather upholstery, a power-operated sunroof, LED headlights, and performance packages come onto the radar. The base 158-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine gives the Civic an unexpected driving lilt.

Photo by Honda

5. 2018 Kia Soul

Now in its second generation, the Kia Soul is seemingly designed for the four-person family. Scoring high in most third-party quality rankings, this squared-off little hatchback offers a lot of versatile interior space and a spunky demeanor. Three engines are available — a 130-horsepower 1.6-liter four-cylinder, a 161-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder, and a 201-horsepower 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. The turbo is fitted with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that turns the Soul into an involving sports machine while retaining its practicality.

Kia's easy-to-understand UVO3 infotainment system is available across the line. For those seeking electronic safety aids, the Soul Plus Primo package features advanced cruise control and autonomous emergency braking. Forward-collision warning, a lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring are also available.

Photo by Kia

6. 2018 Chevrolet Cruze

If you’re seeking big-car quiet, comfort, and features on a small-family budget, the Chevrolet Cruze compact car is a very good choice. Get a sedan if you must, but for a family, there is a lot to like about the versatile hatchback model. A variety of trim levels enable you to equip your Cruze to fit your tastes and budget.

The standard 153-horsepower 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine enables the Cruze to accelerate from 0-60 mph in a brisk 7.7 seconds. If you specify the 1.6-liter turbodiesel you get just 137 horsepower but serious torque and stellar fuel economy ratings of 31 mpg in the city and 47 mpg on the highway. The standard Chevrolet Infotainment 3 system features a 7-inch touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. OnStar with a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot comes as a three-month trial in all trim levels.

Photo by Chevrolet

7. 2018 Kia Forte

The compact Kia Forte delivers quality, reliability, and features to families of four across the country. In the Kia tradition of equipping its vehicles with lots of stuff, the Forte includes tilt/telescoping steering wheel, heated power-operated mirrors, and Bluetooth integration. An affordable option package enables Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

The uplevel Forte EX is fitted with electronic driver aids that include a rear cross-traffic alert and blind-spot monitoring with lane change assist. Also available are leather seats, a rearview camera, remote start, and a collision mitigation system. The base engine is a 147-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder, while a 164-horsepower 2.0-liter direct-injection four-cylinder is also available to give the Forte a sportier mien. On the quality front, the Forte has scored high in several third-party studies.

Photo by Kia

8. 2018 Hyundai Sonata

The Hyundai Sonata mid-size sedan offers families handsome styling, a roomy interior, and an abundance of easy-to-use features. It can be a logical alternative to the Japanese-brand mid-size sedans. The standard 7-inch color touchscreen is the entryway to a system that offers both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. On the safety front, the Sonata is equipped with seven standard airbags and a battery of safety systems, including blind-spot monitoring with a rear cross-traffic alert.

The Sonata earned the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety’s highest accolade for safety, receiving a Top Safety Pick+ award when equipped with optional front-crash prevention and dynamic bending headlights. Families will also appreciate the flexibility offered by its split/folding rear seat and trunk pass-through. The base engine is a 185-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder that delivers smooth power.

Photo by Hyundai

9. 2018 Chevrolet Bolt

A pure battery-electric vehicle isn’t right for every family, but the Chevrolet Bolt EV is an electric car many small families will find very appealing. First off, of course, is the fact that it offers no-emission driving in a sprightly package that will accommodate a four-person family well. Its 238-mile range on a charge means the Bolt EV can be an inexpensive-to-operate and utterly practical daily driver. A 240-volt car charger can restore a full charge overnight. 

Standard features include alloy wheels, xenon headlights, remote entry, a rearview camera, and split/folding rear seats. Collision mitigation, rear parking sensors, and leather upholstery are on the options list. The electric motor delivers 200 horsepower and abundant low-end torque for nearly instant acceleration.

Photo by Chevrolet

10. 2018 Toyota Prius

The Toyota Prius liftback is known for its incredible fuel efficiency and for its utterly practical demeanor. There is a reason that so many city taxicabs these days are Priuses. This is a solidly built vehicle that's inexpensive to maintain. Its eye-popping fuel economy numbers are 58 mpg city/53 mpg highway/56 mpg combined in the EPA ratings, better than almost any other mass-produced vehicle that doesn’t plug in.

The Prius also takes a leadership position in safety with Toyota Safety Sense P driver-assist technology standard across the board. These features include a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, a lane-departure alert with steering assist, adaptive radar cruise control, and automatic high-beam headlights. Its hybrid system combines the output of a 1.8-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine and two motor/generators through an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission.

Photo by Toyota