Best Cars for Small Families 2016
Recommended for Small Families
Size matters to small families looking for a comfortable, roomy family-hauler, and the Equinox is just right. Although it's in the compact SUV class, its backseat legroom is generous and the seats themselves are winners. The Equinox's flexible backseat slides forward and back with ease to accommodate full-size adults and bulky child-safety seats. The Equinox's two sets of lower Latch anchors are exposed, making them easy to use when installing a car seat, and its top tether anchors are clearly marked for quick connection.
Recommended for Small Families
Subaru's compact SUV has a lot to offer. Its affordable all-wheel drive, excellent safety ratings and competitive fuel economy make it a must-see. It also has advanced safety features unavailable on many others in this segment. Although the Forester is compact in size, its backseat easily has room for two child-safety seats. Bonus: The Forester's easy-to-access lower Latch and top tether anchors ease installation. Behind the seats, cargo room is also stroller-friendly.
Recommended for Small Families
The anti-SUV crowd will find a lot to like about this midsize wagon. The Outback's taller ride height means great visibility and its wagon body style translates into plenty of cargo room. Messy families (Oxymoron? Or simply redundant?) should appreciate the cargo area's removable, washable rubber cargo floormat, taking the headache out of carrying muddy shoes and sandy beach accessories. But don't let its rugged styling and attitude fool you; the cabin is comfy and full of convenience features.
Best Car for Small Families
Flexibility puts the Rogue at the top of its class. The Rogue has a handy cargo-management system that helps separate and organize the cargo area. It's not only versatile, it's good-looking, fuel-efficient and affordable. Busy families expect a lot out of their vehicle, and the Rogue delivers.
Best Deal for Small Families
At first glance, Honda's subcompact Fit might not look like a good choice for families, but its backseat offers impressive amounts of head- and legroom and its cargo area expands thanks to magic: the Magic Seat, that is. The backseat flips and folds flat, making room for science fair project supplies or a must-have antique-shop find. The 60/40-split seat bottoms flip up to accommodate taller items like an upright bicycle. Add in the Fit's low base price and small families on a budget should find the Fit magical indeed.
Recommended for Small Families
Honda has a full SUV lineup, from the tiny, new HR-V to the redesigned three-row Pilot, and small families should check out the compact CR-V. Winner of our Compact SUV Challenge in 2015, it does many things well, and offers a good blend of comfort, features and fuel economy. Its ample legroom and easy-to-access Latch anchors are accommodating for child-safety seats, and its cargo area is mammoth compared to others in the class. Bonus: Its backup camera is standard. And the optional side-view LaneWatch camera gives drivers an expanded view of the road next to the car for added safety.
Recommended for Small Families
There's a reason the Impala won Cars.com's Best of 2014 Award — several reasons, actually. Small families will have plenty of room in the Impala, with adult-friendly levels of head- and legroom in the cushy backseat, as well as a trunk large enough to swallow all the gear your family can throw in it. Add to all that its comfortable, refined road manners and the Chevrolet Impala makes for an impressive family road trip sedan.
Recommended for Small Families
Mazda's compact SUV delivers two things that others in the class just can't beat — style and fun-to-drive road manners. The CX-5 looks like nothing else on the road with its bold face and curvy body. Handling is a strong suit — it's agile around corners and maneuverable, making parking a breeze. It has a practical side too, though. With excellent fuel economy and enough backseat space to comfortably accommodate two child-safety seats, small families looking for a well-rounded compact SUV should check it out.
Recommended for Small Families
Utility, space and all-wheel drive: Subaru's small SUV delivers all three. The Crosstrek is one of the smallest vehicles on this list, but its interior is deceptively large. Winner of our Subcompact SUV Challenge, its backseat accommodates two child-safety seats with ease, and the cargo area can easily swallow a stroller. It has rugged, go-anywhere styling and the goods to back it up, with 8.7 inches of ground clearance and standard all-wheel drive. Families looking for a vehicle that can tackle both carpool runs and off-the-beaten-path adventures won't be let down.
Recommended for Small Families
For high-mileage families who try to be green and want to save a little green at the pump, Toyota's hybrid wagon is a good choice. The Prius v is the pumped-up version of the Prius hybrid and delivers more cargo room, a must-have for families of any size. The Prius v beats the Prius with an additional 12.7 cubic feet of space for a total of 34.3 cubic feet behind the second row. The backseat won't disappoint either; there's ample room for two car seats.