A family car must be versatile, capacious, economical and reliable. It should also be safe, have excellent crash test scores, and deliver good fuel economy. Because we know some people prefer cars, others prefer SUVs, and still others prefer minivans, we’ve ensured our list covers all of the above. However, a family car’s primary mission is to transport children, so any listing of the 10 Best family cars for 2015 should also make kids’ needs a priority.
Another thing to consider is how well the car performs. It should be quick enough to merge onto highways into fast-moving traffic with ease, and it should be responsive enough to work with you should the need arise for a sharply evasive maneuver. When evasion fails however, the car should be capable of protecting those inside. For this reason, all cars on our list of best family cars are also IIHS Top Safety Picks.
Finally, but not least importantly, these days, the average transaction price of a new car is hovering in the $32,000 range. For this reason, we’ve set the price ceiling for our 10 Best Family Cars of 2015 at $30,000.