Top 5 Best Family Cars You Must Consider Buying in 2020
Posted on January 19, 2021
When you were single and the sole user of your vehicle, you were more concerned with color and style.
But these days, you've got a carload of kids to cart around. You need a car that works, and you need a car that works hard.
These days, minivans and SUVs are a dominating sector of the auto industry, which is great news for buyers like you. The question is: how do you make sense of your options?
If you're in the market for a true family vehicle, check out this list of the five best family cars available on the market.
1. 2020 Dodge Grand Caravan
If you're looking for a minivan at an affordable price, look no further than the 2020 Dodge Grand Caravan. It's also a minivan that's familiar -- if you've seen a Grand Caravan since 2011, you've seen the 2020 Dodge Grand Caravan.
Hop inside and you'll find a well-equipped, comfortable cabin with considerable versatility. The second- and third-row seats fold away into the floor, which provides a forgiving vehicle for changing cargo needs. This also means the seats are a bit less comfortable than other models, but the convenience is nothing to sneeze at.
It offers a 283-horsepower V-6 and 6-speed automatic for decent acceleration. Its driver assistance features are stripped down to the tacks and haven't evolved significantly since its predecessor in 2011.
But if you want a van that works hard and makes it feel easy, it's a great van for a great price.
2. 2020 Kia Telluride
The 2020 Kia Telluride offers big style for bigger value. It brings truly lavish features at a bargain price.
This vehicle is exciting because it addresses the two main issues of the Kia Sorento: cargo and rear passenger space. This is currently Kia's biggest vehicle and is a bold-looking SUV with all the key features of a great family hauler.
With three rows of seating, the Kia Telluride can seat up to eight people, and it has a whopping 87 cubic feet of cargo capacity. Some think it looks a bit truck-like, but in a large passenger vehicle meant for family barbeques and hockey games, that's a compliment.
But because Kia knows this is a family car, it also offers features that make life easier on drivers, as a driver intercom system.
The engine itself has eight-speed automatic transmission on a 291-horsepower V6, which isn't necessarily as efficient as some other options. That said, it has plenty of power to go around and the steering and braking are refreshingly precise for a car this size.
3. 2020 Hyundai Palisade
The 2020 Hyundai Palisade was an IIHS Top Safety Pick in 2019. That alone makes it worth a closer look -- after all, you're handling the most precious cargo.
Its real-life performance holds up to its accolades. It has extensive standard safety features and driver-assistance technology, and nearly every advanced safety feature can be added as trim. Our favorite standard features include:
- Standard lane-keeping assist
- Standard adaptive cruise control
- Standard forward-collision avoidance
That said, it's an all-around formidable offering. There's plenty of space for adults all throughout the car, with generous cargo space behind the third row. And no matter where you sit, you'll get a comfortable ride the whole way there.
There are only a few downsides to the Palisade. For one, the transmission is eager on the upshifts, though this is done to preserve fuel economy and requires a bit of gentle prodding to step down to the proper gear for acceleration. The powertrain also isn't the most engaging, but it stays out of the way.
However, even with these reservations, the Palisade offers a truly luxurious ride quality. The cabin is almost eerily quiet, and rough roads will pass under you as if they never even happened.
4. Honda Odyssey
The Honda Odyssey has been around a long time -- the 2020 model marks the 25th year the Odyssey has been in production. And while the 2020 Honda Odyssey may not look as outwardly cool as some other models on this list, it's still a fantastic minivan for the modern family.
For one thing, it offers an array of innovative features, like an in-cabin PA system and a rear-seat video feed so you can keep an eye on the kids while driving. Add in infotainment features, like full customization and smartphone connectivity with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, and you've got a tech-functional van.
Plus, the Odyssey passed safety reviews with flying colors, offering available features like lane-keep assist, automated emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control.
You can see the futurist view in the van's design. It has a clear Honda family resemblance in front, but hockey-stick character lines, a kinked beltline, and wraparound-look rear windows make it stand out.
As far as crossovers go, the Honda Odyssey is a standout. It's essentially a Swiss Army knife on wheels, and you'll feel that functionality with every mile.
5. 2020 Ford Explorer ST
On the outside, the 2020 Ford Explorer ST looks like a familiar friend. Don't let appearances deceive you. Under the hood, it's a whole new ballgame.
The 2020 model of the Ford Explorer ST is a sporty SUV with a focus on fast. It can hit 96.5 km (60 mph as measured by its American makers) in a mere 5.2 seconds, with 400 horsepower delivered on a tweaked 3.0-liter twin-turbo V-6.
It uses rear-wheel drive, which is a scary phrase for folks in snowy parts of the world, but the reality is that modern driver-assist has advanced so much that the Explorer ST can handle almost any conditions and have fun doing it. If anything, it handles difficult roads with greater agility than its predecessors.
Be forewarned that shifts are quicker than previous models, even abrupt. Ford engineers say this is on purpose. In sport mode, the transmission holds gears longer.
If there's a hard brake, the transmission downshifts to stay within the powerband on the assumption you'll get right back into it.
As for the interior, the Explorer ST offers tons of cargo space, though the seats are a bit low to the ground and the second-row seats don't flip forward, so climbing into the third row isn't as easy as other vehicles on this list.
Check Out Our Selection of the Best Family Cars
Between kids, pets, and a packed schedule, you've got a lot on your plate. Your vehicle has to handle all of it. Every one of these vehicles was designed with your busy life in mind, working so well that you get to where you need to go without missing a beat.
We're proud to offer some of the best family cars on the market today. Make sure to check out our full selection to find the perfect new car for the whole family.