Top 10 Family Cars of 2010

Having the right family car is essential. You'll also find that the needs for family transportation change drastically as your family grows. For instance, while a coupe or even a modest family sedan might have been fine when your family was small and young, as your children grow, you will need more and more room. In addition, a good family vehicle needs to offer some significant benefits. What should such a vehicle offer you?

A good family ride should be eminently reliable. There's nothing quite so teeth-grindingly frustrating as being broken down on the side of the road on your way to the most important piano recital in your daughter's young life. A family car also needs to be efficient, safe and affordable. Each of these qualities factors into making a vehicle a good (or bad) choice for your family's needs. Remember, every one of these factors can have an enormous impact on your family's budget, as well as on your life.

We went to considerable effort to rank the top 10 cars for families in 2010. Each of the vehicles on our list had to pass our thorough inspection and we didn't cut any slack for anyone. We based our decision on child friendliness, cargo space, safety features, NHTSA safety rating, reliability, warranty coverage, the cost of ownership, purchase price, convenience, ease of access and overall value. On our list, you will find the right choice for your family, no matter how large or small that family might be.

• Child Friendliness
• Cargo Space
• Safety Features
• NHTSA Safety Rating
• Expected Reliability
• Warranty Coverage
• Cost of Ownership
• Initial Purchase Price (MSRP)
• Convenience Features
• Ease of Access
• Overall Value