Best Cars For New Families

When your family grows from two people to three, your '01 Corolla or two-door performance car might not continue to meet your needs. Here are some new cars to consider that will offer the space, comfort and safety your family needs.

(Photo Credit: Honda Motor Co.)

The space-efficient Fit is the smallest family-friendly car you can buy. A subcompact five-door with more interior room than even some crossover SUVs, it also offers the value, fuel-efficiency and maneuverability of a great economy car.

2014 Subaru Forester: $21,995

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One of the class leaders in room, safety and fuel-efficiency, the Forester – a compact crossover SUV – is one of the best family cars if you need more room than a Fit but not three rows of seats.

2014 Honda Accord: $21,955

(Photo Credit: Honda Motor Co.)

The Accord midsize sedan can't match the versatility of a hatchback, station wagon or crossover, but it's posher and more fuel-efficient than a similarly priced Forester, while also very comfortable and safe.

(Photo Credit: Honda Motor Co.)

You don't need a ton of space for a family of three, but if you're already planning ahead for your family to grow, nothing beats a minivan, and today's best minivan is the Odyssey. It has class-leading fuel economy and safety ratings, it's the only van that fits three child seats in the middle row and – if you opt for the fully-loaded model – it even gives you a built-in vacuum cleaner.

(Photo Credit: Hyundai Group)

If you want a three-row family car but can't stomach a minivan, the Santa Fe large seven-passenger crossover is a viable alternative. You don't have nearly as much cargo space, but you get similar levels of comfort and family-friendly features.