Parents Magazine and Edmunds.com Name the 10 Best Family Cars for 2014
New York, NY - June 3, 2014 — For the seventh year in a row, Parents magazine and car-shopping site Edmunds.com are revealing their list of the year's 10 Best Family Cars, a trusted guide for moms and dads who are in the market for a new car. Car experts from both organizations examined hundreds of vehicles and whittled the list to the safest, most family-friendly subcompacts cars, large SUVs and everything in between. All the cars share the features that make daily family journeys easier, such as reliability, impressive mileage and ample cargo capacity.
"Whether they're taking a summer road trip or just making a grocery run, families expect a lot from their vehicles," says Parents Editor-in-Chief Dana Points. "Safety is every parent's top priority, and we're excited by how many manufacturers are now offering blind-spot mirrors and collision-avoidance systems in addition to multiple airbags and government-required electronic stability control."
The list includes choices for everyone, from budget-conscious environmentalists to big families seeking more space. "The Best Family Cars of 2014" appears in the July issue of Parents magazine and online at www.Parents.com/best-family-cars.
"Every year we test drive hundreds of cars, crossovers and SUVs," says Edmunds.com Editor in Chief Scott Oldham. "We evaluate each vehicle from top to bottom, from safety and fuel economy to its performance, comfort and cup holders. We do this to save parents time during the car-shopping process and make it easier for them to buy the right vehicle to haul their family and their stuff."
According to Parents and Edmunds.com, the 10 Best Family Cars of 2014 (with starting prices) are:
BUDGET
Mazda3 ($17,740)
Ford Fiesta ($14,925)
HYBRID
Toyota Prius ($25,010)
Mazda6 ($21,785)
Honda Accord ($22,745)
WAGON
Subaru Outback ($24,320)
CROSSOVER
Nissan Rogue ($23,650)
SUVs
Hyundai Santa Fe ($30,750)
Chevrolet Traverse ($31,670)
MINIVAN
Honda Odyssey ($29,655)
Technology made a big impression on Parents and Edmunds.com editors. From lane departure warnings to the Honda Odyssey's popular built-in vacuum, each vehicle offers an affordable technology upgrade for safety or comfort.
A few technology package highlights include:
- Mazda3- $2,600 technology package includes Smart City Brake Support, which slows or stops your car when its front laser sensor detects a possible collision with a vehicle or object.
- Toyota Prius-A $1,500 embedded solar panel roof is an add-on that's available on most trim levels. It powers a fan to circulate ambient air through the cabin to keep your car cool in the hot sun.
- Honda Accord- Honda's LaneWatch, which is available on the $25,670 EX trim level, helps you check your right-side blind spot for pedestrians, cars and other objects. When the driver engages the right turn signal, a camera in the passenger side door mirror activates, sending a wide-angle view of the right rear area to your in-vehicle display.
About Parents
Parents was founded in 1926 and, along with American Baby, FamilyFun, and Ser Padres, makes up The Meredith Parents Network portfolio of parenthood brands. Parents is the leading voice for a community of more than 15 million moms who are engaged and inspired by the brand's trusted content. In turn, these moms enlighten and inspire others by joining ongoing conversations about parenthood via Parents.com as well through Parents' robust presence on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter,Instagram and Tumblr. Parents is dedicated to engaging and inspiring moms with the information they need, wherever they go. Parents can be found online at www.parents.com.
About Edmunds.com
Edmunds is a car-shopping Web site driven to make car buying easy. Almost 18 million visitors use our shopping tools every month to connect with over 9,500 dealer franchises across the U.S. Shoppers can browse our inventory listings for available cars and trucks, and with Edmunds.com's Price PromiseSM, they can get an instant, upfront price on those same vehicles. Recently named by Maritz Research as one of the most trusted online consumer review sites - and the only automotive site listed in the top ten - Edmunds.com is also home to comprehensive car reviews, shopping tips, photos, videos and feature stories. Even when you're at the dealership, we're always by your side. Visit our Help Center or use our acclaimed Edmunds.com iPhone and iPad apps or Edmunds.com Android App. We're based in Santa Monica, Calif., but you can connect with us from anywhere by following @Edmunds on Twitter or by becoming a fan of Edmunds.com on Facebook. You can also find us on Instagram, Google+, Pinterest, LinkedIn and Flipboard.
