The poet and critic Leigh Hunt believed that “traveling in the company of those we love is home in motion.”
If you're going by car, then you want the best ride for your moveable home.
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Since 2007, U.S. News Best Cars, the automotive channel of U.S. News & World Report, has published rankings of the majority of new vehicles sold in America.
In deciding the Best Cars for Families, the publication evaluated 92 vehicles and named winners across nine categories. Scores are based on quality, safety, and reliability data, as well as the collective opinion of the automotive press.
Within each of the nine automotive classes, the vehicle with the highest composite score is named the Best Car for Families in that category.
"These awards highlight the cars, SUVs and minivans that offer the best combination of safety, reliability, space, convenience and connectivity," U.S. News said.
For 2023, the Hyundai Santa Fe was named Best two-row SUV for Families, and, for a second time ,the Hyundai Tucson was deemed Best Compact SUV for families.
"The Hyundai Santa Fe and Tucson perform exceptionally well in our rankings, and both of these SUVs stand out as great choices for your family," Jim Sharifi, managing editor of U.S. News Best Cars said in a statement.
Cars Feature Family-Friendly Tech
"Buyers will find an impressive list of standard features, plenty of passenger space and great fuel economy with either model," he added. "These crossovers also offer strong safety ratings and intelligent teen driver controls through Hyundai's Bluelink system."
Other winners included the Toyota Camry Hybrid, which was named Best Hybrid Car for Families.
The award for Best Large SUV for Families went to the Chevrolet Suburban, while the Kia Telluride won for Best 3-Row SUV for Families. The Toyota Highlander Hybrid was named Best Hybrid SUV for Families.
The Kia EV6 was named Best Electric Vehicle for Families and the Honda Odyssey was awarded Best Minivan for Families.Kia K5 won Best Midsize Car for Families.
U.S. News noted that many new safety features have been built with families in mind. Rear-seat alert prompts the driver to look in the back seats before exiting the car, helping to make sure a sleeping baby or pet isn’t left behind.
Front and rear automatic braking help when maneuvering in spaces where small kids might be difficult to see.
"Every winner has some form of teen driver control available, which is perfect for families who want to help new drivers develop good habits behind the wheel,” U.S. News said. "These systems can help parents keep track of their teen’s driving, and in some cases, set limits on things such as speed and audio volume."
U.S. News said that all but three of the award winners have in-car Wi-Fi, while all feature Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for enhanced smartphone connectivity.
