Best Family Cars For 2022

The Honda Accord took the ho-hum affordable sedan formula and honed it not one of the most versatile examples of the breed. It’s got the looks, handling and performance to be a reasonable sports sedan stand-in, particularly in higher-performance 2.0T form, but the comfort and practicality that families need. The hybrid model, which loses no space or convenience to its battery pack, also returns up to 48 mpg combined. That’s all topped off by generous standard equipment levels and excellent safety scores.

The Accord boasts 40.4 inches of rear legroom and 55 inches of rear hip room, enough for an adult or a full-size child car seat to fit with ease. The Accord’s segment-topping 16.7 cubic-feet of trunk space edges out that of its long-time rival, the Toyota Camry. Honda Sensing suite of advanced driver-assistance safety-tech helped it earn a Top Safety Pick+ designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and pick up five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA). Read the full review.

Entirely redesigned in 2020, The Hyundai Sonata is a stylish midsize sedan with available high-tech features that are a class above most of its competitors. It’s not the roomiest car in the segment—rear seat legroom is tight at just 34.8 inches—but it does just about everything very well and offers a wide array of trims and options to suit different buyers.

In addition to the SE, SEL, SEL Plus, and Limited trim levels there’s an N Line performance version and a hybrid that returns up to 52 mpg combined. The Sonata comes generously equipped and earns top marks from IIHS and NHTSA. The Sonata’s emphasis on value is also reinforced by its decade-long powertrain warranty and three years or 36,000-miles of free scheduled maintenance.

The Camry’s 2018 redesign transformed it from a familiar but talented wallflower into a modern jack of all trades. Toyota’s decision to add a sporty TRD (Toyota Racing Development) performance version went a long way to address its dowdy reputation. An available V6 powertrain offers vigorous acceleration, especially on the TRD model, while the hybrid offers best-in-class fuel economy with up to 52 mpg combined.

In the back, 38 inches of rear legroom provides plenty of space for passengers to get comfortable and or for large child seats. The trunk offers 15.1 cubic-feet of cargo room (though the space falls to 14.1 for the hybrid.). The Camry also comes standard with a long list of advanced safety features that helped it earn top ratings from both IIHS and NHTSA.

New in 2021, the Kia K5 builds on years of evolving (and ever more stylish) design cues from the Korean manufacturer to create a true style standout among midsize sedans. Borrowing some cues from the performance-oriented Kia Stinger, the K5’s sleek fastback roof, muscular curves, z-shaped headlights and gorgeous modern interior make it look and feel more expensive than it actually is.

It’s not as engaging to drive as it is to behold, but it’s still a pleasant and comfy companion. Rear seat legroom is on the shy side at 35.2 inches, but the back seat isn’t too badly affected by the car’s sleek sloping roof, which has a distinctly Genesis-like vibe. Unlike its corporate sister the Hyundai Sonata, the K5 lacks a hybrid option, but offers all-wheel drive where Hyundai does not. Both offer class-leading warranty coverage.

The 2022 Subaru Legacy isn’t much to look at, but its beauty is in the value and space packed inside its 190.6-inch long footprint. Plain and tall by sedan standards, the Legacy is a close relative of the Outback wagon-turned-crossover, and shares its huge headroom and big back seat. It doesn’t have the Outback’s cavernous interior, but it has a very space-efficient trunk. Its 15.1 cubic-foot volume is not best in class, but it is probably the easiest to use.

Beyond room, the Legacy also comes with a big list of desirable standard features including all-wheel drive is standard and a host of tech and driver-assist features. Those include adaptive cruise control and active lane keeping, even on the base model. Unsurprisingly, the Legacy earns top marks for safety. The downside is that it’s a non-nonsense, rather bland driver that’s underpowered in base form and costly with the optional turbo.

If there’s one car that’s unlike all the others on this list, it’s the Charger. A huge rear-drive design, the now-very-old Dodge dates way back to the mid-2000s but has seen periodic chassis, styling and technology updates. It’s focus is performance and excitement, and it’s the only car on this list to offer a V8 engine (in fact, there are four different ones to choose from) and real performance car options.

But even in its base-model V6 form, the Charger is fun to drive and excels as a family car. All-wheel drive is optional and the big footprint means lots of room inside, with Accord-like rear legroom and a huge, 16.5 cubic-foot trunk.

The quartet of V8s offers up to 797 horsepower and BMW M5-like speed, but fuel economy is weak in all versions (there’s certainly no hybrid and never will be) and downright abysmal on the hottest ones. There’s also a dearth of standard active-safety features, though Dodge does make many available for extra cost. Production will end in 2023, so get one while you can.

Introduced way back in 2015 and refreshed three years later, the current-generation Chevrolet Malibu keeps on keeping on without much fuss. Despite its age, its fastback shape has aged well as many alternatives have adapted that shape in the ensuing years, although the interior is dark and plasticky. That said, it offers sure-footed handling and a comfortable ride for those who aren’t looking for a sports sedan.

Rear seat legroom is slightly below class average 38.1 inches and hip room 53.4 inches. At 15.7 cubic-feet, the trunk is also above average for the class. Power comes from either a 163-hp turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine and CVT or, on the top-level Premier trim, a turbocharged 2.0-liter four rated at 250 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque.

The Malibu is often overlooked as rental-car counter fare and lacks some standard safety features, but it’s a good option for family buyers on a budget looking for hassle-free transportation and good interior room.