A new vehicle is only a good purchase if it suits your needs. If you have a family, sleekness and horsepower may come second to things like cargo space and overall utility.
Even with the latest technology — teen driver controls, surround-view cameras and more — if there’s not enough room for the kids, baby seats, maybe even the dog, the car may not pass muster.
Here are the best family cars for 2019
U.S. News & World Report’s newly released 2019 Best Cars for Families offers a list that gives car shoppers a little bit of everything: family vehicles with a lot of room as well as some that have some vroom.
To come up with the list, U.S News evaluated 128 models in 11 categories and used a handful of key criteria, including automotive features, reviews, safety ratings and reliability ratings.
Here are some of their top picks:
| Category | Make & Model | Other Finalists | |
| Best Minivan | Honda Odyssey |  |
Chrysler Pacifica, Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid |
| Best Large Car | Toyota Avalon |  |
Kia Cadenza, Toyota Avalon Hybrid |
| Best Luxury Midsize Car | BMW 5-Series |  |
Audi A6, Mercedes-Benz E-Class |
| Best Midsize Car | Honda Accord |  |
Toyota Camry, Toyota Camry Hybrid |
| Best Luxury Compact SUV | Acura RDX |  |
BMW X3, Audi Q5 |
| Best Large SUV | Ford Expedition |  |
Chevy Tahoe, Chevy Suburban |
| Best Compact SUV | Subaru Forester |  |
Toyota RAV4, Toyota RAV4 Hybrid |
Clark Howard: Here’s when you should go car shopping
Money expert Clark Howard has bought a family car or two (or three) and he says it’s important that you shop for a vehicle pressure-free. His advice is to check out the dealership after-hours.
“Look at cars when a dealership is closed, so there’s no salesperson to pressure you,” he says. “The best way to test-drive a car is to rent it for a day or two. It’s the ultimate test drive.”
Read more of Clark’s car-buying tips here.
Here are some more stories you might enjoy from Clark.com:
- Best and worst auto insurance companies
- Buying gas from a station on this list is better for your car
- How to get a free VIN report before buying a used car
