2018 Best Cars for Families – U.S. News

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U.S. News & World Report announced the 2018 Best Cars for Families. U.S. News evaluated 127 vehicles and named winners across 11 categories. The awards are published on the U.S. News Best Cars website at usnews.com/cars-families.

The 2018 Best Cars for Families winners have the best combination of safety and reliability ratings, excellent reviews from the automotive press and the space and features that keep the entire family happy. Tech features, such as in-car wireless Internet, teen driver controls, automatic braking, surround-view cameras and hands-free cargo doors were considered alongside traditional criteria such as passenger and cargo space.

Ford, Audi and Honda tied with the most awards won by individual brands, taking home two awards each. The Ford Expedition, the Best Large SUV for Families, and the Ford Edge, the Best Two-Row SUV for Families, won their respective classes on the strength of their large, comfortable cabins. The Edge seats up to five people while the Expedition can seat up to eight across three rows. Both also offer in car Wi-Fi and Apple CarPlay – two features that go a long way toward keeping the entire family connected and entertained. The Ford Edge also won the 2018 Best Two-Row SUV for the Money award for having the best combination of quality and value in its class.

The Audi Q5, the Best Luxury Midsize SUV for Families, and the Audi A6, the Best Luxury Midsize Car for Families, respectively, both won in large part because their backseats are larger than the competition. That extra space makes it easier to install car seats, keep kids in boosters from kicking the front seats and give teens or older relatives plenty of space to stretch out. Both the Q5 and A6 also have plenty of safety tech, including automatic braking, surround-view cameras and lane keeping assist.

The Honda CR-V won Best Compact SUV for Families for the fourth year in a row. It’s the CR-V’s seventh win overall, maintaining its place as the top compact SUV for families with more passenger and cargo space than the competition. Families can also outfit the CR-V with a number of features to make life easier, such as Wi-Fi and a hands-free cargo door. Available safety features on the CR-V include lane keeping assist and automatic braking.

The Honda Odyssey, redesigned for 2018, is the Best Minivan for Families.  In addition to the space and utility that you’d expect in a minivan, the Odyssey also has innovative features, such as an in-cabin video system that monitors backseat passengers, a vacuum, a cooler and a system that projects the driver’s voice into the third row – something that can help drivers keep the peace without straining their vocal chords. Both the CR-V and Odyssey won 2018 Best Cars for the Money awards for having the best combination of quality and value in their classes.

“The baseline for a good family car is a roomy and comfortable interior,” said Jamie Page Deaton, managing editor of U.S. News Best Cars. “However, the very best family cars not only keep everyone comfortable, but also offer the latest in safety and connectivity features for every stage of family life. The Best Cars for Families award winners have what it takes to entertain toddlers, help teen drivers develop good driving habits and even help older family members stay on the road longer.”

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 2018 BEST CARS FOR FAMILIES

For the full set of winners and finalists, visit usnews.com/cars-families.

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