10 Spacious Family Cars

2018 Honda Accord Touring bridge ・ Photo by Honda

Looking for a comfortable family hauler that will fit your budget and isn’t ungainly? Our list of ten spacious family cars focuses on sedans, station wagons, and hatchbacks in a range of sizes. It doesn't include any crossovers, traditional SUVs, or minivans. 

While American manufacturers have shied away from producing station wagons, largely due to CAFE standards, European manufacturers continue to produce a splendid selection of “shooting brakes” for stalwart fans. We’ve split our list of large family haulers 50/50. Half of the list are roomy four-door sedans, and half are five-door hatchbacks or wagons. We’ve included fuel economy ratings, along with fuel requirements, as vehicles that require high-octane premium will incur higher costs at the pump week-after-week.

2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid

If you hanker for a roomy family sedan with remarkable fuel economy, the fully-redesigned 2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid should be at the top of your list. The front-wheel-drive Toyota Camry Hybrid sedan is EPA rated at 51 city/53 highway MPG, and on regular gasoline with the 13-gallon fuel tank provides an extraordinary amount of driving range. The Camry rides on Toyota’s TNGA platform, which delivers a dramatic change from previous models. The general consensus is that the 2018 model is the best Camry ever built. The rear seat provides 37.6 inches of headroom, 38 inches of legroom, and 55.7 inches of shoulder room, while the trunk allows for 15.1 cubic feet of cargo space.

Photo by Toyota

2018 Volvo V90

Volvo refers to the magnificent 2018 Volvo V90 as a “crossover-wagon” to differentiate it from the taller XC90 SUV. Call it what you will, the V90 is sophisticated and sleek, with a superb and spacious cabin, along with a spectacular power plant. The 316 horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine is equipped with a turbocharger, as well as a supercharger, differentiating it from the more mundane family cars on our list. The V90’s second-row seats provide 37.8 inches of headroom, 35.9 inches of leg room, and 55.9 inches of shoulder room. The cargo area allows for 54 cubic feet of storage behind the rear seats. The all-wheel-drive Volvo V90 T6 R-design is EPA rated at 22 city/31 highway MPG on premium gasoline.

Photo by Volvo

2018 Honda Accord

The fully redesigned 2018 Honda Accord is a standout among spacious family cars. Not only is the 2018 Accord roomy, responsive, and stylish, but it’s also one of the only family sedans offered with a six-speed manual transmission. Interior and cargo space have been increased over the outgoing model, with 37.3 inches of rear seat headroom, 40.4 inches of legroom (an increase of 1.9 inches,) and 56.5 inches of shoulder room. The trunk provides 16.7 cubic feet of cargo space. The Accord is a fuel-efficient choice, with EPA ratings of 30 city/38 highway MPG when equipped with the 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and CVT transmission. A 2.0-liter turbo is offered as well and a Hybrid version will follow.

Photo by Honda

2018 Chevrolet Impala

The roomy 2018 Chevrolet Impala delivers exceptional value.The front-wheel-drive 2.5-liter sedan is EPA rated at 22 city/30 highway MPG, on regular gasoline and the 3.6-liter V6 version is offered with FlexFuel capability. The Impala’s rear seat allows for 37.4 inches of headroom, 39.8 inches of legroom, and 56.9 inches of shoulder room, while the trunk provides a whopping 18.8 cubic feet of cargo space. The available 4G LTE WiFi is a standout feature, allowing up to seven connected devices, so everyone can get online and stay productive on the road. If you’re in the market for a spacious family sedan, the Impala delivers plenty of bang for the buck.

Photo by General Motors

2018 Kia Soul

While the 2018 Kia Soul is one of the smaller vehicles on our list of spacious family cars, it offers a wonderfully roomy cabin, a range of power plants, and an affordable starting MSRP of just $16,100. The Soul rewards rear seat occupants with 39.5 inches of head room (without sunroof), 39.1 inches of legroom, and 54.7 inches of shoulder room. The cargo area provides a generous 30.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back seat. The rear seat folds down to provide a total of 66.5 cubic feet of storage. The front-wheel-drive turbocharged 1.6-liter 2018 Kia Soul hatchback is EPA rated at 25 city/31 highway MPG on regular gasoline. A full-electric version of the Soul is offered as well, with 111 miles of total range.

Photo by Kia

2018 Ford Taurus

The 2018 Ford Taurus is the largest sedan in the Blue Oval's lineup and offers plenty of go-fast potential in the SHO variant. The styling is conservative and the cabin is roomy, with a rear seat that provides 37.8 inches of headroom, 38.1 inches of legroom, and 56.9 inches of shoulder room. The trunk offers a magnificent 20.1 cubic feet of cargo space. The front-wheel-drive 2.0-liter EcoBoost-equipped Ford Taurus sedan is EPA rated at 20 city/29 highway MPG on regular gasoline. A 19-gallon fuel tank provides an exceptional amount of driving range. The 3.5-liter V6 Taurus is offered with FlexFuel capability, as well as all-wheel-drive. Rumor has it that Ford’s list of sedans will be tightened going forward, and the Taurus may be on the chopping block.

Photo by Ford

2018 VW Golf SportWagen 4Motion

The 2018 VW Golf SportWagen 4Motion proves that little wagons can be a big thing. While the VW Jetta and Passat sedans are notably roomy, we chose the SportWagen for its capacious boot. The 1.8-liter turbocharged all-wheel-drive SportWagen 4Motion is ideally suited for folks in northern climates and a compelling alternative to a typical crossover (if you need more ground clearance, opt for the Golf Alltrack.) There are 38.6 inches of rear seat headroom, 35.6 inches of legroom, and 53.9 inches of shoulder room. The cargo area provides a generous 30.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back seat. Folding down the split rear seat provides a total of 66.5 cubic feet of storage. The all-wheel-drive VW Golf SportWagen 4Motion is EPA rated at 22 city/30 highway MPG on regular gasoline.

Photo by Volkswagen

2018 Dodge Charger

The roomy 2018 Dodge Charger is among the last of its breed, with rear-wheel-drive (RWD,) and a range of powerful V6 and V8 engines. The Charger’s rear seat allows for 36.6 inches of headroom, 40.1 inches of legroom, and 57.9 inches of shoulder room, while the trunk offers a generous 16.5 cubic feet of storage space. The RWD 3.6-liter Pentastar V6-equipped Dodge Charger sedan is EPA rated at 19 city/30 highway MPG on regular gasoline. The V6 Charger is one of few large sedans offered with both FlexFuel capability and all-wheel-drive. If you like the Charger’s dimensions and drivetrain but are looking something a bit more luxurious, you’ll want to check out the Chrysler 300.

Photo by Dodge

2018 MINI Cooper Clubman

The 2018 MINI Cooper Clubman defies expectations. Though small in exterior dimensions, the stylish five-door Clubman wagon provides a surprisingly spacious cabin that’s well-suited for small families. There are 38 inches of headroom, 34.3 inches of legroom, and 52.8 inches of shoulder room. The unique split rear cargo doors allow easy access to 17.5 cubic feet of cargo space. Folding down the split rear seat allows for a total of 47.9 cubic feet of storage. The 2018 MINI Cooper Clubman is offered in a range of front-wheel- (FWD) or all-wheel-drive (AWD) models. The base 1.5-liter FWD Clubman is EPA rated at 24 city/34 highway on premium gasoline.

Photo by MINI

2018 Mercedes-Benz E400 4matic

The 2018 Mercedes-Benz E400 4matic wagon isn’t just one of the world’s most sumptuous shooting brakes, it also provides a nostalgic feature seldom seen on modern vehicles. A pop-up rear-facing third row offers occupants a view out the ample rear hatch. The second-row seat provides 39.6 inches of headroom, 35.8 inches of legroom, and 57.1 inches of shoulder room. There are 35 cubic feet of cargo space behind the 40/20/40 second row. Folding down the seats yields a total of 64 cubic feet. The all-wheel-drive wagon is EPA rated at 19 city/25 highway MPG on premium gasoline, with a factory rated 0-60 MPH time of 5.3 seconds for those that find themselves in a hurry.

Photo by Mercedes-Benz