SUVs and crossovers are selling sedans, eliminating station wagons and decimating minivans. They have become the family car in the US, and they're pretty good at that role. Motorists like the extra space and they have gotten used to sitting high. Almost all SUVs are decent family cars, but these four models stand out from the crowd.
Best family SUV: 2020 Kia Telluride
Why You Should Buy This: There's room for everyone and everything - including multiple devices - and it doesn't feel like driving a whale of an SUV.
Who is it for ?: Families on a budget who like to bring the whole gang with them.
How much will it cost?: $ 31,990
Why we chose the 2020 Kia Telluride: The Telluride is apparently built specifically for families. It is a medium-sized SUV with three rows of very spacious seating, the third row has room for adults on short trips. It has more cargo space than most SUVs in its class, even with all the seats in use.
The Telluride engine is powerful enough for most tasks without being nimble, though you wouldn't expect nimble from such a large vehicle. Fuel economy is good for a midsize SUV with 23 mpg combined (20 city / 26 highway).
Tech is where the Telluride blinds. The standard equipment includes Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. USB connections are available for all three lines. Upgrades include Driver Talk, which sends the driver's voice to the rear speakers, and Quiet Mode, which restricts the speaker output to the front so you can rock out after the kids fall asleep.
Every Telluride has a full range of safety technologies such as forward collision warning, lane departure warning and a warning that informs you that opening the vehicle doors on a busy road is safe.
Read our first 2020 Kia Telluride reviewBest compact family SUV: 2020 Honda CR-V
Why You Should Buy This: You get a lot of advanced safety technology and great mileage for a low price.
Who is it for ?: City families who need a lot of interior space and can fit into a parking lot.
How much will it cost?: $ 25,150
Why we chose the Honda CR-V 2020: Not every family has to pull half the soccer team, and some families like to fit into parking lots without swearing. These families may like the 2020 Honda CR-V. This compact SUV has been around since the 1990s, but its 2017 redesign made its game better. For 2020, the Honda Sensing Suite for security technology was made the standard.
The CR-V has excellent fuel economy for the class. The models range from 27 to 30 mpg together, depending on the powertrain. This is at the upper end for small SUVs without hybrid technology, and a hybrid has been added to the range for 2020.
The CR-V is compact, but offers a lot of cargo space, more than any other SUV of its size, and offers plenty of space for passengers. However, you will need to upgrade to use smartphone connectivity or a touchscreen.
Read our first 2020 Honda CR-V reviewBest Electric Family SUV: 2020 Audi e-tron
Why You Should Buy This: You want cutting-edge electric vehicle technology from a brand you know.
Who is it for ?: Luxury SUV fans ready to reduce their carbon footprint.
How much will it cost?: $ 65,900 +
Why we chose the Audi e-tron 2020: Electric SUVs are a new and growing category. You won't find many inexpensive and widely available options - yet. The top 2020 competitors have roomy interiors and long range batteries, but they also have price tags over $ 60,000. That applies to our choice, the Audi e-tron 2020.
If you're looking for an electric SUV for your family, you're probably looking for something that can rival gasoline SUVs for the same price, and the e-tron too. It has plenty of passenger and cargo space as well as a full suite of safety technologies, including Audi Pre Sense City, which detects pedestrians and can automatically apply the brakes. It also comes with Quattro all-wheel drive.
However, at 222 miles, the e-tron's estimated range is slightly shorter than that of its Tesla and Jaguar competitors. However, the Audi predicted better reliability than its competitors. It also offers the luxury and technical features that it should at a luxury price. The e-tron uses two touchscreens in the center console and offers the Audi Virtual Cockpit, a 12.3-inch screen between the temperature and fuel display. The driver can customize it to include navigation, audio information, and more.
Best SUV in the hybrid family: 2020 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
Why You Should Buy This: It's one of the world's proven hybrid systems in one of the most popular SUVs on the market.
Who is it for ?: Thrifty buyers looking to pay less than $ 30,000 for excellent mileage and a full range of technical and safety features.
How much will it cost?: $ 28,350
Why we chose the Toyota RAV4 2020: This SUV has been around for a long time and Toyota is consistently present in the hybrid vehicle market. It's currently one of the few hybrid SUVs available (although many more will hit the market in 2021). Hence, it is not surprising that the 2020 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid is a great choice for families.
Base price is a little under $ 30,000, it comes with all-wheel drive and it gets a combined 40 mpg. The high-torque hybrid system is also more fun than the conventional version.
The RAV4-Hybrid has comprehensive technical equipment, including the basic equipment. Amazon Alexa, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are just as standard as a Wi-Fi hotspot. It also comes with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, which offers pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control and much more. It has plenty of room for people and their gear, and the batteries don't invade the cargo hold like some hybrids do.
Read our 2019 Toyota RAV4 XSE Hybrid reviewEditor's recommendations
