Biggest Family Sedans

Toyota Avalon is the full-sized pick for families

If you're looking for an even roomier family sedan than the Honda Accord or Toyota Camry, reviewers overwhelmingly recommend theToyota Avalon (*Est. $27,845 to $35,185). This full-size sedan starts at $7,000 more than the midsize Honda Accord, but experts say the Toyota Avalon's superb safety, reliability and overall quality make it worth the price if you need the extra room. The Avalon offers over 3.5 inches more rear legroom than the Accord (which already has quite a roomy backseat, reviewers say) or just about any other top-rated midsize sedan, plus more hip and shoulder room. The Toyota Avalon's trunk isn't quite as big as the Mazda6's or Hyundai Sonata's, but nobody's complaining, either. MotherProof.com reviewer Lori Hindman calls the Toyota Avalon's trunk "cavernous." She writes, "Every time I opened it up I couldn't help wondering how many bodies would fit nicely in there on their way to sleeping with the fishes -- it's that giant."

The Toyota Avalon's plush interior wouldn't be out of place in a luxury car, reviewers say -- especially the top-rung Avalon Limited trim (*est. $35,185), which includes heated and air-conditioned perforated-leather front seats as standard equipment. Fuel economy isn't bad for a car of this size, estimated at 23 mpg in mixed city/highway driving. That's just 2 mpg less than the best non-hybrid midsize sedans, earning the Avalon a GreenerCars award from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.

The Avalon also racks up awards from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine, ConsumerGuide.com, Kelley Blue Book and others. The Avalon leaves full-size competitors such as the Hyundai Azera (*Est. $24,970 to $28,920), Ford Taurus (*Est. $25,170 to $37,170) and Chrysler 300 (*Est. $26,665 to $44,160) eating its dust in reviews.

Critics say, however, that the Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable corporate twins make a better attempt than others. If you've lost track of the Taurus and Sable, you're not alone. The 2009 Ford Taurus (*Est. $25,170 to $37,170) is basically a renamed Ford Five Hundred (which was itself the replacement for the Taurus that preceded it). Ford did the same name dance with the Mercury Sable (*Est. $25,120 to $31,230), which was known as the Mercury Montego for a few years. Reviewers say these are largely decent cars, but not exceptional. 2009 is the final model year for the Mercury Sable, but Ford has unveiled a much more stylish new Taurus for 2010.

One top testing organization calls the Hyundai Azera (*Est. $24,970 to $28,920) one of the most overlooked bargains of 2009, but most critics don't recommend it. The Kia Amanti (*Est. $26,045) loses its value just as fast as the Hyundai Azera, experts say (Kia is owned by Hyundai). The Buick Lucerne (*Est. $29,265 to $40,205) is a dependability leader according to J.D. Power and Associates, but its appeal is generally limited to die-hard Buick loyalists. The Chevrolet Impala (*Est. $23,790 to $31,135) simply doesn't measure up to the Toyota Avalon on any meaningful level. The Mercury Grand Marquis (*Est. $29,270) aces its safety scores and tops J.D. Power's large-car dependability rankings, but remains the butt of critics' jokes involving land yachts and octogenarians.