Best Family Car of 2026
2026 Kia EV9: Finalist
- Starting price: $56,495
- Estimated electric driving range: 230-305 miles
- Estimated combined fuel economy: 82-89 mpg-equivalent
- Number of seats: Six or seven
For families dedicated to the electric-vehicle lifestyle, there’s no better choice than the 2026 Kia EV9, which also is our Best Electric Vehicle of 2026. The Cars.com Editorial team has owned an EV9 for nearly two years as a long-term test car, and its smart use of space for both passengers and cargo helps make it a great family vehicle.
We appreciate the EV9 for its three rows of seating that offers room for seven with a standard second-row bench seat or space for six with the available second-row captain’s chairs that help separate dueling siblings. The back of the front center console can open for additional second-row storage — or as we like to use the space in our EV9, as a trash bin for wrappers, tissues, sucker sticks and more sucker sticks.
As an electric SUV, the EV9 is equally impressive thanks to its DC fast-charging capabilities, which can help minimize time spent charging on road trips. For 2026, the EV9 comes with a Tesla-style North American Charging Standard charge port for adapter-free charging at Tesla Superchargers, though charging at Superchargers limits maximum charging speed.
There aren’t many non-luxury choices for families who want an electric three-row SUV, and beyond simply being electric, the EV9’s greatest strength is that it can absolutely be used just like any other mid-size three-row SUV. That’s why it’s a finalist for our Best Family Car of 2026 award.
2026 Kia EV9 Specs and Reviews | Find a 2026 Kia EV9 Near You
2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid: Finalist
- Starting price: $46,205
- Estimated combined fuel economy: 27-36 mpg
- Number of seats: Seven or eight
Toyota’s dizzying lineup of SUVs includes two Highlanders, but it’s the Grand Highlander that stands out for its accommodating third row and usable cargo space behind the third row, separating it from the regular Highlander and most other three-row SUVs.
The Grand Highlander Hybrid has standard seating for eight occupants and room for seven with available second-row captain’s chairs. It offers comfort in all three rows, and its Cars.com-measured cargo space behind the third row is one of the largest in its class.
One of the features we really like about the Grand Highlander Hybrid is its ceiling-mounted rear climate vents. They provide a focused stream of hot or cool air to children in rear-facing car seats (or motion-sickness-prone adults). Another appreciated feature is Panoramic View Monitor that has under-car cameras to stitch together a view of what’s underneath (including parking space lines) for one of the simplest parking experiences out there.
The FWD Grand Highlander Hybrid’s estimated fuel economy of 36 mpg combined is impressive for a large three-row SUV, and Toyota actually offers a second hybrid powertrain dubbed Hybrid Max that favors power over efficiency and is rated at 362 horsepower versus the regular hybrid’s 245 hp. It’s enough to wow most three-row SUV shoppers who won’t find the Hybrid Max’s kind of acceleration in most other family haulers.
Overall, the upsized Grand Highlander Hybrid is one of the best three-row SUVs in its class, and that’s what makes it a finalist for this award.
2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid Specs and Reviews | Find a 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid Near You