Look no further than the 2020 Subaru Outback when you are in the market for an uncompromising family car. It's spacious because it's a high beach car, and it can defend itself during the winter months because of Subaru's proven four-wheel drive system and nearly nine inches of ground clearance. Electronic driving aids keep the front of the outback in the right direction to ensure that your commuting does not involve improvised off-road driving, even though the roads are icy.
The outback can be a car that does it all. If it's not for you, there are other great family cars in almost every segment of the market. Digital trends have driven them all; we've published nearly 90 car reviews in 2018, and that we're going to every major auto show to find the latest models within the metal. We have also selected the simplest electric family car, and therefore the best luxury family car, among other things.
The best: Subaru Outback
The Subaru Outback is one of the simplest all-round vehicles currently available on the market. It's a reasonable car that will handle the grind of your daily commute, but with four-wheel drive and plenty of cargo space it's also perfect for weekend adventures. While the outback shows how versatile station wagons often are, it only survives during this SUV-hungry market by adopting tough body panels and increased ride height.
The Sedona comes with Kia's UVO infotainment system, which is dead easy to use and comes standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Upgrades include wireless device charging and more USB ports, so everyone can bring their own entertainment when they need to fine-tune their music choices. The starting price is low enough that you simply need space within the allow cool upgrades like touchless automatic liftgate and anti-pinch sliding doors.
Don't expect a sporty ride from the Sedona, although the V6 engine has plenty of power to tow everyone and their gear. But that also means the Sedona doesn't get a lot of fuel consumption, with a combined 24 mpg rating from the EPA.
The best performance family car: Dodge Durango SRT
Most people think family cars should be practical and sensible, but Dodge did not get that memo. The Detroit automaker decided to stuff a 475-horsepower 6.4-liter Hemi V8 into his Durango SUV, apparently only because he could. The result is a three-row tractor that seats six and can tow up to 8,700 pounds, but can also reach 60 mph from a stop in 4.4 seconds, run the quarter mile in 12.9 seconds and lay down four-wheeled burnouts.
Dodge siblings Jeep offers an SUV with even more power: the 707 hp Grand Cherokee SRT Trackhawk. Why did we not choose the Jeep? Two reasons: The Durango SRT offers the added flexibility of a third row, and it's $25,000, but the Jeep.
In addition to its great hemi-power, the Durango SRT also ticks practical family car boxes. It offers plenty of space and is equipped with Dodge's intuitive Uconnect infotainment system, complete with an 8.4-inch touchscreen and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The SRT also comes with a 9-speaker, 506-watt BeatsAudio system.
However, converting a family SUV into a muscle car involves some compromises. The Durango SRT is not cheap and combined with an EPA rated 15 mpg, it's thirsty. But few vehicles balance human and cargo hauling functionality with high-speed thrills like this Dodge.
The best luxury family car: Volvo
Just like the Subaru Outback, the Volvo V90 offers space and four-wheel drive capability, but without the handling and fuel consumption shortcomings of a bulkier SUV body. The race is Volvo's toughest car, with extra bodywork and higher ride height than the premium V90.
The race shares Volvo's Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) with the S90 sedan and thus the SUV XC90, among others. SPA gives the cars it underpins a powerful sophistication and that we love the design of Volvo's current design language on the body of the Cross Country. The interior is equally well equipped, with high-quality materials and an intuitive, portrait-oriented touchscreen for the infotainment system.
Volvo offers the race only in T6 configuration, with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine that is both turbocharged and supercharged. All this forced induction gives the small engine a lot of power (316 hp), making it easy to move this big car. Standard four-wheel drive gives the race additional breadth of capabilities, and it's eight-speed automatic drive shifts smoothly. This is a Volvo, a number of driver aids and safety features, including the car manufacturer's Pilot Assist, which prevents the car from going off track if the driving force becomes inattentive.
The best electric family car: Chevrolet Bolt
The number of companies that produce family-friendly electric vehicles is increasing, but the Chevrolet Bolt still stands out because it is the best for several reasons. First, it is relatively affordable. Prices start at $36,620, and most buyers are entitled to the full $7,500 federal reduction. Second, it is available nationwide. The Hyundai Kona Electric offers more range than the Bolt at an identical price, but it is only available in California and in some states in the northeast of the country. Finally, it is safe; the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave it a five-star rating.
Chevrolet designed the Bolt with electricity in mind from the start. It's not available with a completely internal combustion engine. Its engine produces 200 horsepower and 266 pounds of torque, so the recently updated lithium-ion battery stores enough power for up to 259 miles of range, in line with the EPA. Your real figure could be lower, but the Bolt still has enough range to meet the commuting needs of most families. It's also roomy. It can seat five passengers (although one rides in the middle, rubbing shoulders with the other two) and it offers 16.9 cubic feet of luggage space with two rows of seats in the upper left. Folding down the rear seat unlocks 56.6 cubes.
Like most electric cars, the Bolt can be a high-tech machine. It has a ten ,2 inch touchscreen for the infotainment system, and Chevrolet offers Apple CarPlay and Android car compatibility. The screen also gives drivers important information, such as what proportion of electricity they use and how many miles they'll drive before they have to look for a charging station. If you order the optional 240-volt charger, the Bolt can charge 25 miles per hour.
0 Comments