U.S. News Announces the 2018 Best Cars for Families
U.S. News Announces the 2018 Best Cars for Families
Ford, Audi and Honda Tie for Most Wins
WASHINGTON, March 13, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- U.S. News & World Report, a nationally recognized publisher of consumer advice and information, today announced the 2018 Best Cars for Families. U.S. News evaluated 127 vehicles and named winners across 11 categories. The awards are published on the U.S. News Best Cars website at usnews.com/cars-families.
The 2018 Best Cars for Families winners have the best combination of safety and reliability ratings, excellent reviews from the automotive press and the space and features that keep the entire family happy. Tech features, such as in-car wireless Internet, teen driver controls, automatic braking, surround-view cameras and hands-free cargo doors were considered alongside traditional criteria such as passenger and cargo space.
Ford, Audi and Honda tied with the most awards won by individual brands, taking home two awards each. The Ford Expedition, the Best Large SUV for Families, and the Ford Edge, the Best Two-Row SUV for Families, won their respective classes on the strength of their large, comfortable cabins. The Edge seats up to five people while the Expedition can seat up to eight across three rows. Both also offer in car Wi-Fi and Apple CarPlay - two features that go a long way toward keeping the entire family connected and entertained. The Ford Edge also won the 2018 Best Two-Row SUV for the Money award for having the best combination of quality and value in its class.
The Audi Q5, the Best Luxury Midsize SUV for Families, and the Audi A6, the Best Luxury Midsize Car for Families, respectively, both won in large part because their backseats are larger than the competition. That extra space makes it easier to install car seats, keep kids in boosters from kicking the front seats and give teens or older relatives plenty of space to stretch out. Both the Q5 and A6 also have plenty of safety tech, including automatic braking, surround-view cameras and lane keeping assist.
The Honda CR-V won Best Compact SUV for Families for the fourth year in a row. It's the CR-V's seventh win overall, maintaining its place as the top compact SUV for families with more passenger and cargo space than the competition. Families can also outfit the CR-V with a number of features to make life easier, such as Wi-Fi and a hands-free cargo door. Available safety features on the CR-V include lane keeping assist and automatic braking.
The Honda Odyssey, redesigned for 2018, is the Best Minivan for Families. In addition to the space and utility that you'd expect in a minivan, the Odyssey also has innovative features, such as an in-cabin video system that monitors backseat passengers, a vacuum, a cooler and a system that projects the driver's voice into the third row - something that can help drivers keep the peace without straining their vocal chords. Both the CR-V and Odyssey won 2018 Best Cars for the Money awards for having the best combination of quality and value in their classes.
"The baseline for a good family car is a roomy and comfortable interior," said Jamie Page Deaton, managing editor of U.S. News Best Cars. "However, the very best family cars not only keep everyone comfortable, but also offer the latest in safety and connectivity features for every stage of family life. The Best Cars for Families award winners have what it takes to entertain toddlers, help teen drivers develop good driving habits and even help older family members stay on the road longer."
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 2018 BEST CARS FOR FAMILIES
-- Best 3-Row SUV for Families : 2018 Chevrolet Traverse
-- Best Midsize Car for Families: 2018 Toyota Camry
-- Best Luxury 2-Row SUV for Families : 2018 BMW X5
-- Best Minivan for Families: 2018 Honda Odyssey
For the full set of winners and finalists, visit usnews.com/cars-families.
The award methodology combines professional automotive reviews, safety and reliability ratings, seating and cargo volume and the availability of family-friendly features. Within each of the 11 automotive categories, the vehicle with the highest composite score is named the Best Car for Families in that category.
Award Contact: Jamie Page Deaton, (603) 717-2992, jdeaton@usnews.com
ABOUT U.S. NEWS BEST CARS
Since 2007, U.S. News Best Cars, the automotive channel of U.S. News & World Report, has published rankings of the majority of new vehicles sold in America. In addition, U.S. News publishes the Best Cars awards, including Best Vehicle Brands, Best Cars for the Money and Best Cars for Families. U.S. News Best Cars helps more than 250,000 shoppers a day with their car-buying decisions.
ABOUT U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT
U.S. News & World Report is a digital news and information company that empowers people to make better, more informed decisions about important issues affecting their lives. Focusing on Education, Health, Personal Finance, Travel, Real Estate, Cars and News & Opinion, www.usnews.com provides consumer advice, rankings, news and analysis to serve people making complex decisions throughout all stages of life. More than 30 million people visit www.usnews.com each month for research and guidance. Founded in 1933, U.S. News is headquartered in Washington, D.C.
CONTACT: Anna Beth Jager, 202-823-4831, ajager@usnews.com
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SOURCE U.S. News & World Report
