To decide on the 10 best family cars it is important to consider the following seven attributes: Safety, Passenger and Cargo  Space, Fuel economy, Comfort, Price, Maintenance Costs, and Re-sale Value.

The safety features of each one of the vehicles, on this top ten list, got ratings from safercar.gov and the vehicles had ratings of the other characteristics by the third party reviewers Edmunds and Parenting magazine. Since families come in all sizes, it was necessary to include everything from smaller budget vehicles to full-sized SUVs in the comparison.

10. Ford Fiesta - 3.6 out of 5 stars

The Ford Fiesta did not score as high on safety as the other vehicles on this list. It did however; get the top marks for price as having the most value in the category of budget vehicles. It has excellent fuel economy of 32 MPG city/45 MPG highway.

9. Nissan Rogue - 3.7 out of 5 stars

The Nissan Rogue is a crossover vehicle of a size between sedans and SUVs. It has the option of all-wheel drive.  The gas mileage has improved, however there is a huge rear blindspot and it's not very compact. 

8. Chevrolet Traverse - 3.8 out of 5 stars

The Chevrolet Traverse is a big SUV with the ability to carry lots of cargo and up to eight passengers. It lost points for having the lower fuel economy of 17 MPG city/24 MPG highway.

7. Mazda 3 - 3.9 out of 5 stars

Impressive fuel economy of 30 MPG city/41 MPG highway and great value for the price helped the Mazda 3 rank higher on the list, nevertheless this is a smaller vehicle so it would not accommodate large families.

6. Toyota Prius - 4.0 out of 5 stars

The Toyota Prius has the highest fuel economy of any vehicle on this list of 51 MPG city/48 MPG highway. This car also has a strong re-sale value. This car has quickly become a favroite car choice for familes.

5. Honda Accord - 4.1 out of 5 stars

This midsize sedan is always a top-seller for families because it is very comfortable and it has excellent safety features.  The car is sleek looking, has lots of legroom for the front seats, a roomy trunk ,and decent gas mileage.

4. Mazda 6 - 4.2 out of 5 stars

This roomy sedan gets a terrific fuel economy of 28 MPG city/40 MPG highway. It is stylish and fun to drive.

3. Subaru Outback - 4.3 out of 5 stars

The Subaru Outback is the best wagon for families. There is plenty of room for passengers and cargo. Because of the all-wheel drive, it handles all weather conditions nicely and even light off-road challenges.

2. Hyundai Santa Fe - 4.4 out of 5 stars

This is a seven passenger SUV, which scored high on this list because of the standard features included and a good value for the price.

1. Honda Odyssey - 4.5 out of 5 stars

This minivan won the top spot for safety, roominess, and comfort. It carries up to eight passengers and the fuel efficiency is respectable at 19 MPG city/28 MPG highway. It is the only minivan that comes with a built-in vacuum. It has an optional chilled box for soft drinks.