10 Best Cars for Big Families

2019 Mercedes AMG E63 Wagon Blue Rear Three Quarter ・ Photo by Mercedes-AMG

If you ask most automakers about family vehicles these days, they’ll tell you to shop for an SUV. But what if you prefer a passenger sedan or station wagon? There are a lot of good reasons to choose a passenger car, including better fuel economy, better handling, and better insurance rates. Plus, you may simply prefer the look of a traditional car.

The tradeoff with cars is that a modern sedan or wagon is limited to five passengers. But if you can count your family on the fingers of one hand, there are some great options. Especially with the wagons, you can have the cargo capacity of an SUV with the driving experience of a passenger car. Read on to learn about our 10 best cars for big families.

2019 Volvo V90

Volvo built its brand reputation on station wagons, and it’s no stretch to say that the 2019 Volvo V90 is the best Volvo wagon ever made. There’s plenty of room to take five people in comfort. When it’s time to haul cargo, the rear seats go up and down at the touch of a button. With the rear seats folded down, you have 53.9 cubic feet of cargo capacity.

The V90 is powered by Volvo’s 2.0-liter engine. You can get the V90 with either 250 or 316 horsepower, and with your choice of front-wheel or all-wheel drive. If you prefer a car that’s a little more like a crossover SUV, consider the V90 Cross Country. This wagon has all-wheel drive, an off-road capable suspension, and special protective fender caps for off-pavement use.

Photo by Volvo

2019 Toyota Avalon

If you want a reliable family car with a trunk, you can’t go wrong with the 2019 Toyota Avalon. The Avalon has been updated for the 2019 model year with a bold new look and a long list of features, like a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment interface and standard adaptive cruise control. Blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alerts also are standard on all Avalon models.

The Avalon comes with an impressive 301-hp 3.5-liter V6 engine and an automatic transmission. With generous seating for five passengers, the 2019 Avalon starts at $35,550. The 2019 Avalon Hybrid starts just $1,000 higher at $36,550, and offers up to 44 mpg on the highway. Including the Avalon Hybrid, there are seven different trim levels from which to choose.

Photo by Toyota

2019 Chevrolet Impala

If you want an American classic, the 2019 Chevrolet Impala is the flagship of Chevy’s lineup. The most affordable Impala comes with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, but it will still carry five family members in comfort. The trim most buyers choose comes with a 305-hp 3.6-liter V6. A 6-speed automatic transmission is included with either engine choice, and the Impala drives the front wheels.

Chevrolet’s advanced in-car tech package is the best reason to choose the Impala for your family. All Chevrolet vehicles come with an onboard 4G/LTE data system, which allows you to create a Wi-Fi hot spot inside the car. An 8-inch touchscreen infotainment interface on the dash controls the whole system. The Impala also is equipped with OnStar for emergencies and subscription-based services.

Photo by General Motors

2019 Kia Cadenza

Kia has been winning all kinds of awards and recognition for overall quality lately, and the 2019 Kia Cadenza is a big part of the brand’s upgrade strategy. The Cadenza is a full-size executive car with ample room for five adults, so it will fit your family comfortably.

The Cadenza starts in economy car territory at $33,100. At all trim levels, the Cadenza is powered by a V6 engine rated at 290 hp, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission that drives the front wheels. The base trim includes heated front seats and a standard 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with support for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. If you choose a more luxurious trim, you can get the Cadenza with premium features like heated and ventilated leather seats, a surround-view camera, and a head-up display.

Photo by Kia

2019 Ford Taurus

This is the last year for a full-size five-passenger car from Ford, so the time to get a 2019 Ford Taurus is now. Families will appreciate the standard 3.5-liter V6 engine with 288 hp, but if you want something with a little more performance, consider the Taurus SHO with 365 turbocharged horsepower and all-wheel drive.

Inside, the Taurus is available with heated and ventilated front seats, heated outboard rear seats, and a heated steering wheel. The most basic trim comes with Ford’s SYNC 3 infotainment and connectivity system, plus a rear-view camera with moving guidelines. If your family is a little old-school, you’ll be happy to hear that an in-dash CD player still is standard equipment on the Taurus, starting at $27,800.

Photo by Ford

2019 Buick Regal TourX

The 2019 Buick Regal TourX is one of our favorite vehicles this year. This Opel-designed wagon is comparable to the best European wagons, but at a much better price. The interior provides plenty of space, including best-in-class cargo capacity of 73.5 cubic feet with the back seats folded down. The TourX comes standard with Buick’s QuietTuning system, which all but eliminates unwanted cabin noise.

The TourX is driven by a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine good for 250 hp. Buick also gives the TourX a quick 8-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. The TourX offers a smooth and controlled ride, plus remarkable European-style handling in the curves. If you happen to get on gravel or snow-covered roads, the TourX comes with 5.8 inches of ground clearance.

Photo by General Motors

2019 Subaru Legacy

If your family lives anywhere that sees winter weather, a Subaru is never a bad choice. If you want a five-passenger sedan with plenty of room, the 2019 Subaru Legacy could be the answer for you. Every Legacy comes with Subaru’s renowned symmetrical all-wheel drive, and you can have your choice of a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine at 175 hp or a 3.6-liter six-cylinder with 256 hp. All Legacy models come with a continuously variable transmission.

Inside, the Legacy offers heated front seats in all trims except the base, and Subaru’s STARLINK multimedia infotainment system. Every Legacy comes with the Subaru EyeSight system, which provides advanced safety in the form of adaptive cruise control, pre-collision braking, and lane keeping assistance.

Photo by Subaru

2019 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Wagon

If a luxury car is what your family is after, you can’t do better than the 2019 Mercedes-Benz E-Class. This five-passenger sedan offers the finest in interior appointments. Mercedes makes every luxury feature available, including fast-warming heated seats and a massage function for the front seats. Advanced safety also is included, with features like driver attention assist and vehicle-to-vehicle communications capability.

Mercedes performance comes from a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, or 362 hp from a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6. The E-Class is available with rear-wheel or all-wheel drive. If you want more space, the E-Class also is available as an E450 AWD 4MATIC station wagon. The wagon offers up to 64 cubic feet of cargo capacity behind the front seats, or 35 cubic feet behind the second row.

Photo by Mercedes-Benz

2019 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen

Volkswagen has long been known for its ability to deliver a functional family car at a bargain price. At a starting MSRP of $21,895, the 2019 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen is a compelling value. It’s not as big as some other options, but this compact wagon still will seat five people, and it’s available with VW’s 4Motion all-wheel-drive system.

The Golf Sportwagen provides up to 66.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the front seats. The rear seat has a 60/40 split, so you can mix and match your passenger and cargo needs. The Volkswagen App-Connect infotainment system supports both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, so the whole family can have access to streaming music and apps while on the go.

Photo by Volkswagen

2019 Dodge Charger

The 2019 Dodge Charger is a full-size sedan that seats five passengers. This four-door family car is available in five different trim levels, ranging from the basic SXT with a V6 engine starting at $29,220, all the way up to the breathtaking Hellcat model with more than 700 horsepower. All Charger models use an 8-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive, but the SXT trim is available with optional all-wheel drive.

Inside, the Charger starts with cloth sport seats, but a leather upgrade is available. Tech starts with a 7-inch touchscreen display, but a larger 8.4-inch unit is optional. Dodge’s ParkSense rear parking assistance system and a backup camera are standard on every Charger, along with a convenient remote start system for cold days.

Photo by Dodge