In the second part of our series, six
national automotive experts name their picks for
the best family sedans. Their opinions take into
account a variety of features and car styles
that are as diverse as our readers’ needs and
interests. Perhaps their recommendations will
meet the needs of your family.
View part 1:
Wagons, Minivans and
SUVs
Going Small
Many compacts can handle a family's needs.
by Keith Turner
Barbara has a dilemma. While anxiously
awaiting the birth of her first grandchild, she
is concerned that her current vehicle won’t be
able to handle the transportation duties of
today’s active grandparents.
“I love my two-door [Toyota Celica] sports
car, but there’s no room in the back for a child
seat,” laments Barbara. “And a convertible just
isn’t right for a newborn baby.”
So, in preparation for her granddaughter’s
arrival, Barbara is going car shopping.
For most new parents – and sometimes
grandparents – the transition to life with
children means many changes, including a
family-friendly vehicle upgrade. Because
children are in a car seat or booster seat until
age 6, and the safest place for children to ride
is in the back, accessibility and legroom are of
the utmost importance for growing families.
Here’s a quick look at the best small cars for
today’s active families:
Chevrolet Aveo: With a new, hip design due out in 2007,
the Aveo comes packed with value-added features,
including front side airbags and a price that
starts below $10,000.
Ford Focus: With a base price of around
$13,000 and high fuel mileage, the Focus is a
truly economical pick for young families.
Honda Civic: Comfort, reliability and fuel
economy combine to make the Civic one of the
most impressive small cars on the market.
Although its styling may be on the conservative
side, the value – and resale value – is tough to
beat.
Hyundai Elantra: Although not overly exciting
design-wise, the Elantra makes up for it in
value, with an attractive starting price in the
mid-teens and fuel economy in the low 30s.
Mazda Mazda3: Mazda replaced the Protégé with
this model but didn’t sacrifice value, comfort
or style in doing so.
Mini Cooper: The Mini Cooper’s tall, flat roof
provides extra headroom, and the coolness factor
is undeniable.
Nissan Sentra: Like the Corolla and Civic, the Sentra is a mainstay among young families. The
latest Sentra adds style, space and interior
flexibility for active families.
Suzuki Aerio: The Aerio’s sporty styling may
catch your eye, but it’s the interior space and
spunky performance that will hold your
attention.
Toyota Corolla: Right there with the Civic is
Toyota’s extremely popular Corolla, which
continues to impress young families with its
handling and interior space versatility.
Keith Turner writes the auto review column The
Family Car and maintains the website
TheFamilyCar.com.
Sedans
Toyota Prius
Base price: $21,725
Fuel economy: 60/51 MPG
Recommended by: Joanne Helperin, Keith Turner,
Kristin Varela
Helperin says, “The Prius lets a family go green
affordably and with little sacrifice.” She likes
not only its fuel economy but also its
“ultra-low emissions, generous interior room and
excellent build quality.” She adds: “For the
safest ride, be sure to order the optional side
and rear curtain airbags.”
Turner likes the Prius for its legroom and its
gadgets, including keyless entry, push-button
startup and a Bluetooth cellular phone
connection that synchs with your cell phone and
mutes the stereo when a call comes in.
Varela cautions that the fuel savings may not,
in the end, offset the higher sticker price of a
hybrid, but buyers can take comfort from the
fact that they will be “contributing to cleaner
air for our children.” She notes a couple of
important safety features, including a back-up
detection camera, which could prevent back-over
injuries, and a tire pressure monitoring system,
which could prevent tire blowouts.
Honda Accord
Base price: $23,350
($30,990 for the hybrid)
Fuel economy: 24/34 MPG
(25/34 for the hybrid)
Recommended by: Consumer Reports, Keith Turner
The Honda Accord is Consumer Reports’ Top Pick
family sedan. They like its agile handling,
smooth engine, roomy cabin and impressive
crash-test results.
Turner points out that the hybrid version of the
Accord has all of those features, plus the
world’s first V6 hybrid engine, which seamlessly
shifts from six cylinders to three when less
power is required.
Toyota Avalon
Base price: $26,625
Fuel economy: 22/31 MPG
Recommended by: Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports says this large sedan “combines
comfort and convenience with a powerful and
smooth V6 engine.” They like the secure
handling, quiet ride and expansive rear seating.
Ford 500
Base price: $22,930
Fuel economy: 19/26 MPG
Recommended by: Lauren Fix
Fix calls the overhauled 2007 Ford 500 “a great
family car” and a “safe choice for any driver.”
She likes all the head and knee room and the
fact that drivers facing tough winters can opt
for all-wheel drive.
 Volvo C70
Base price: $38,710
Fuel economy: 21/29 MPG
Recommended by: Kristin Varela
Varela calls the Volvo C70 “a fun and sexy
hard-top convertible for families not ready to
trade in the sportster for the minivan.” A
convertible seems like a real family-car option
when you can still count on safety features like
these: Hidden roll bars pop up when an imminent
roll-over is detected and extend if the car is
rear ended at more than 20 mph (with the top
down) to protect rear passengers from flying
debris. Side curtain airbags protect front
passengers’ heads in the event of a rollover.
Varela also notes that, although the car seats a
family of four, it’s a lot more fun if you leave
the back two passengers with a sitter.
 BMW 5 Series
Base price: $42,495
Fuel economy: 21/29 MPG
Recommended by: Joanne Helperin “Chauffeuring the kids around doesn’t mean
giving up a fun ride,” Helperin says. She
credits the entire BMW 5 Series lineup with “an
incredible balance of ride, performance and
comfort,” as well as “velvet-smooth engines that
inspire driver confidence.” Although the sedan
is roomy enough for a family of four, Helperin
says larger families should choose the wagon,
which has all those “killer driving
characteristics” and even more room for baggage.
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