Family Cars: Reviews

Updated April 2012

Category intro: We define family cars as midsize and large sedans well-suited to the everyday needs of a typical family. The best have room for five people, generous trunk space for shopping trips and vacations, good safety ratings, and a wide array of available features. We cover smaller sedans and hatchbacks in our report on economy cars, and the old standbys –, the station wagon and minivan – are also covered separately. Here, we analyze expert feedback to determine which daily drivers might be best for your clan.

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Best family car overall

2012 Toyota Camry

Base MSRP: $21,955 to $29,845 Learn More

The redesigned 2012 Toyota Camry isn't just the best-selling car in the U.S. -- it also has the most to offer families. Experts say this is the car with just about everything: power, comfort, safety, great gas mileage,… expandvery good predicted reliability, and a bigger backseat than the budget-priced 2012 Kia Optima (Base MSRP: $19,500 to $26,500). The Camry holds its resale value better than any other family sedan, too. Still, critics point out that the Camry isn't as stylish or fun to drive as the Optima or the full-sized Chrysler 300 (Base MSRP: $27,470 to $47,470). The Camry carries three-year/36,000-mile basic and five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranties. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

ConsumerReports.org: ConsumerReports.org tests all three versions of the 2012 Toyota Camry -- the four-cylinder, V6 and hybrid.

Edmunds.com: Toyota has made enough changes to the 2012 Camry that it "has moved back up to be a top choice for a midsize sedan." Editors here can still name several family sedans buyers should also consider -- including the Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata and Volkswagen Passat -- but they say the Camry is a worthy competitor and a fine choice for buyers who value reliability, comfort and features.

ConsumerGuide.com: Editors here test every version of the Toyota Camry and rate each one in 11 categories -- acceleration, fuel economy, ride quality, value, etc.

Kelley Blue Book: The 2012 Toyota Camry wins Kelley Blue Book's Best Resale Value Award and a spot on its list of the top 10 midsize sedans.

Motor Trend: No matter whether you pick the four-cylinder, the V6 or the hybrid, the 2012 Toyota Camry can never beat the Volkswagen Passat in this three-round test.

Autoblog.com: Zach Bowman tests the V6 Toyota Camry and finds it powerful.

Cars.com: BreAnn Ahara of Mother Proof (a Cars.com affiliate) takes the 2012 Toyota Camry for a week-long test with her family and comes away impressed.

SaferCar.gov: In government crash tests, the 2012 Toyota Camry rates a perfect 5 stars for side crash protection and 4 stars for frontal crash protection and rollover resistance, averaging out to a 5-star overall rating.

IIHS.org: The 2012 Toyota Camry earns the highest rating of "good" in front, side, rear and rollover crash tests here, making it a Top Safety Pick.

FuelEconomy.gov: At 28 mpg combined, the four-cylinder version of the 2012 Toyota Camry joins the Hyundai Sonata and Kia Optima as the most fuel-friendly gas-powered midsize sedans you can buy, according to this government website.

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Best family-car value

2012 Kia Optima

Base MSRP: $19,500 to $26,500 Learn More

The 2012 Kia Optima offers lots of features for the money -- plus bold styling and sporty steering. And some say the Optima's European-inspired cabin feels more expensive than it is. The Optima offers less legroom and… expandheadroom than the top-rated Toyota Camry (Base MSRP: $21,955 to $29,845), and the Optima doesn't hold its resale value nearly as well. On the other hand, the Optima boasts perfect crash ratings and a much longer warranty (five years/60,000 miles basic and 10 years/100,000 miles powertrain) than the Camry. The Kia Optima is a mechanical twin to the 2012 Hyundai Sonata (Base MSRP: $19,795 to $28,195), but auto critics say the Kia version looks better and drives better. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Edmunds.com: Once again, the Kia Optima ranks as one of Edmunds.com's Top Recommended sedans.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: The 2012 Kia Optima earns a perfect 5 stars in all government crash tests -- front, side and rollover resistance.

IIHS.org: With the highest rating of "Good" in all crash tests here -- front, side, rear and rollover roof strength -- the 2012 Kia Optima earns an IIHS Top Safety Pick award.

FuelEconomy.gov: Achieving 28 mpg in combined city/highway driving, the base-engine Kia Optima ranks as one of the most fuel-efficient gas-only midsize sedans you can buy for 2012, according to this government website.

ConsumerSearch.com: The 2012 Kia Optima carries over largely unchanged from 2011.

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Best large family car

2012 Chrysler 300

Base MSRP: $27,470 to $47,470 Learn More

This 2012 Chrysler 300 is no demure family car. Swaggering style, potent power and rear-wheel drive (you can get all-wheel drive, if you prefer) are hallmarks in reviews, making for a fun stretch-out space, quality cabin… expandand stellar safety scores. You'll use more gas than with a midsize sedan like the 2012 Toyota Camry (Base MSRP: $21,955 to $29,845) or Kia Optima (Base MSRP: $19,500 to $26,500), but a new eight-speed automatic transmission lets the base Chrysler 300 eke out 23 mpg overall -- more than most other full-size sedans. If roaring power is more your thing, two available Hemi V8s -- including the tire-smoking, 470-horsepower Chrysler 300 SRT8 -- boost the fun factor exponentially. The Chrysler 300 carries three-year/36,000-mile basic and five-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranties. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Edmunds.com: "The definitive American sedan," the Chrysler 300 is now one of Edmunds.com's top recommended sedans.

Car and Driver: Aaron Robinson winds the high-powered version of this old-school American sedan down Beverly Hills' storied Mulholland Drive.

Car and Driver: Car and Driver prefers the V8-powered version of the Chrysler 300 (above), but the new optional eight-speed automatic makes the V6 version noticeably faster and more fuel-friendly than before.

Autoblog.com: Autoblog.com stages a showdown between the only two rear-wheel-drive luxury sedans in this price range: the V6 versions of the Chrysler 300 and the Hyundai Genesis.

Autoblog.com: Jeremy Korzeniewski casts yet another vote resoundingly in favor of the Hemi-powered Chrysler 300 SRT8.

ConsumerReports.org: ConsumerReports.org tests the 2011 Chrysler 300C with V8 engine and five-speed automatic transmission -- a trim level that hasn't changed for 2012.

SaferCar.gov: This federal agency crash-tests most cars on the market, including both the RWD and AWD versions of the 2012 Chrysler 300.

IIHS.org: With the highest rating of "good" in all independent crash tests here (front, side, rollover and rear), the 2012 Chrysler 300 earns a Top Safety Pick from this nonprofit organization funded by the insurance industry.

FuelEconomy.gov: According to EPA estimates, the 2012 Chrysler 300 (six-cylinder, eight-speed automatic version) is one of the most fuel-efficient large sedans you can buy.

GreenerCars.org: This site considers both fuel economy and emissions when picking the greenest cars.

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