If you want to get the best family car for the money but have no idea where to start, don’t fret. Consumer advice experts that specialize in vehicle testing have created guidelines for choosing the best cars for families and comprehensive lists of top models.
USA TODAY Cars interviewed Zach Doell, vehicle testing editor at U.S. News and World Report, to find out what makes a great family car. Here’s what he shared about the best family cars on the market and why consumers should consider them over rivals.
The Best Family Cars Are Safe, Reliable and Comfortable
“We’re looking at things like, how did it score in testing, how many safety features come standard, how easy is it to install a child car seat?” says Doell. The U.S. News and World Report team also considers the “availability of family-friendly features like seats, charging ports, wireless phone charging” and more.
“We create the Best Family Cars award to highlight vehicles that offer an overall best combination of safety, reliability, space and comfort. Every family is different, and there’s going to be certain considerations that some families may have and others might not,” Doell told USA TODAY Cars.
Every family has different needs, but many of those needs align when it comes to how adept a vehicle is at preventing and responding to accidents, the standard features on every trim and how practical it is for everyday driving. A vehicle’s “overall value and an overall mix” of attributes pulls one car above another.
Honda Makes the Best Midsize and Hybrid Family Cars, According to U.S. News
The Honda Accord was awarded U.S. News and World Report’s 2026 Best Midsize Car for Families. Its hybrid variant won the award for 2026 Best Hybrid Car for Families.
The 2026 Honda Accord is a midsize sedan that regularly competes against the Toyota Camry. It’s known for being sporty and spacious. The base model starts at $28,395 and comes standard with a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 192 horsepower, earning 29 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the highway.
Standard features include a wireless phone charger, a collision mitigation braking system and a lane-keeping assist system.
The Best Compact SUV for Families Is a Hyundai
Hyundai’s Tucson won the 2026 Best Compact SUV for Families award from U.S. News and World Report. It’s an affordable small SUV that holds its own against heavy-hitters like the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V.
The 2026 Hyundai Tucson starts at $29,450 and comes in five trims. It uses a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 187 horsepower and achieves 25 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway. Standard features include blind-spot collision warning, rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto.
If you’re looking for a solid affordable family car, truck or SUV, there’s no shortage of options for 2026. Once you prioritize safety, features and practicality, it’s tough to make the wrong vehicle choice.
Reported by Charles Singh, USA TODAY.
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