The concept of a family car has changed over the years. First, the family car stood for a regular sedan with four doors and a big trunk. Then, the family car became a roomy station wagon with a big boot and loads of space. After that, the minivan was the most desired form and today, the perfect family vehicle is a crossover or SUV with bulky looks, maximum safety, and third-row seating. The times have obviously changed but also did the needs of the average family. Back in the day, everything could be packed in a normal sized trunk but today`s parents need a full-size SUV to pack all the necessary things for a short road trip over the weekend. Anyway, we have compiled a list of 15 best family cars for 2017. Here you can find SUVs, crossovers, minivans and sedans. Basically all types of vehicles that have plenty of space, that are family friendly and with a base price of under $30,000 which is the average amount of money a regular family can afford. We are sure that you will find a perfect car for your family on this list so let`s get straight to it.
Dodge Durango
With the base price of just under $30,000, this big SUV is one of the biggest and most powerful cars you can buy for that amount. It has a 3.6-liter V6 with 295 hp and a very spacious interior, including third-row seating. This means that the Durango can seat up to 7 people and still carry some amount of luggage. It is a perfect car for a big family with lots of kids. Of course, if you want to fully option your Durango you will have to spend more than our limit.
Ford Fusion
This mid-size sedan is not only one of the best vehicles in the class but a pretty good family car with a reasonable amount of space, great equipment, and safety. For the base model, the price of just $22,120 MSRP you will get a 2.5-liter engine and 6-speed automatic gearbox, good interior room and big boot. The affordable base price means you can spend on options and make your Fusion even more enjoyable. The hybrid version is also available and it is considered to be amongst the best hybrids in its class.
Chrysler Pacifica
The Chrysler Corp. was one of the first companies in the world to introduce the minivan back in the early ’80s and it revolutionized family transport as we know it. Today, more than 30 years later, we have the Pacifica, brand new Chrysler’s minivan with seating for up to 8 people, very sleek looks, luxury trim and 287 hp. The base price is $28,950 which is almost at the limit but for that kind of money, you will be driving a very nice and elegant minivan.
Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
Koreans are known to make good SUVs and Santa Fe Sport is one of those. Loads of space, great design, sporty appeal and 185 hp for $25,250 MSRP is a great deal for a great family car. The Sport version has a little more trunk space than the regular Tucson but it is smaller than the full-size Santa Fe. However, we are sure that you will be satisfied with the comfort and quality of this model.
Subaru Forester
One of the most interesting compact family SUVs on the market is the Subaru Forester due to the fact it has a permanent all-wheel drive, great comfort and lots of space. For 2017, Forester has been redesigned and with a lot more features but the base price remained the same. For just $22,595 this is one of the most affordable family cars and a great buy, too.
Toyota Prius V
The Prius has been among the most loved family vehicles since its introduction. But, despite great fuel economy, ordinary Prius has limited interior and trunk space. However, Toyota presented the Prius V, kind of a crossover version of the standard model. It has significantly more space but it is still very slow and lethargic due to the fact it uses regular model`s engine and drivetrain. The prices start at $26,650 MSRP and if fuel economy is more valuable to you than driving characteristics, then the Prius V is a car for you.
Nissan Rouge
The Rouge is a compact SUV but with one interesting feature – third-row seating. Most vehicles with this option are over our $30,000 limit but the Rouge starts at just $23,820 MSRP which makes it a very affordable and practical family transport. The hybrid version is available and this model has decent power and performance.
Ford Edge
Bigger than the compact Escape, Edge is a newer and more capable SUV. With the base price of $28,890 MSRP it is close to the limit but the amount of space, equipment, and power is just amazing. In fact, Edge is equipped like some much more expensive vehicles and the base engine is a 240 hp 2.0-liter unit. Nice, big and powerful SUV is perfect for an active family.
Chevrolet Malibu
The mid-size Malibu is one of the best Chevrolet models at the moment, great looking, spacious, well equipped and nice to drive. There are plenty of interior space as well as a nice-sized trunk. And the best thing is the base price of 2017 Malibu, which is $21,680 for the 1.5-liter turbocharged engine. More powerful engines and hybrid power are available as an option and even fully equipped model will not go over our $30,000 limit.
Honda CR-V
Despite the fact that Honda has bigger and roomier SUVs in their model lineup, the CR-V is the best choice for family buyers for a couple of reasons. First, it is spacious enough, has great technology and features, good power and drivetrain and affordable price. For $24,000 MSRP you will get one of the complete family compact SUVs on the market with a fresh design and good standard equipment.
Kia Sedona
If you are looking for a big minivan with third-row seating, nice design and decent power the Kia Sedona is a car for you. Starting at $26,900, it is much cheaper than other full-size minivans on the market and comes with a 3.3-litre V6 with 276 hp which will provide effortless cruising for this big family hauler.
Volkswagen Tiguan
Despite the fact that Tiguan has a little less trunk space than its competitors, we included it on our list due to the fact that it is affordable, quality made and nice to drive. The base price is $24,840 MSRP, and you will get a 200 hp engine, automatic transmission, nice interior and ride quality.
Mazda 6
Mazda 6 is a popular mid-size sedan with very nice, curved design, great features and very affordable price. Despite its low silhouette and sporty appeal, the interior has enough space for occupants and there is sufficient trunk space. The base version starts at just $22,995 MSRP and it comes equipped with an 184 hp engine. Even if you throw a couple of options on your Mazda 6 you won’t go over the $30,000 limit.
Toyota Sienna
The Toyota Sienna is one of the most popular and spacious minivans on the market. We thought whether we should include it on our list because its base price is just below $30K at exactly $29,750 MSRP, but if you want it properly equipped you must spend more than the limit. But even if you choose the base model you will still get a big boot, third-row seating, three-zone climate control, and integrated rear camera.
Jeep Cherokee
On the first glance, the Jeep Cherokee is a typical compact family SUV. It has plenty of space, decent power, equipment and is user-friendly. But there is another side to this model and those are its off-road capabilities. You can get the optional all-wheel drive, take your family to interesting off-road road trip and explore much more than you could with a regular FWD SUV or minivan. The base price is $23,695 and for just $2,000 more you can get Jeep`s intelligent AWD system.