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- 2008 Mazda5 5MT Sport w/ Popular Package
Parents magazine and Edmunds.com revealed their annual list of Best Family Cars. Having tested essentially every vehicle in the marketplace, the experts selected 15 top models three each in the budget, crossover, minivan, sedan and SUV categories. Each car was judged on safety, performance, interior, exterior and family friendly features.
In addition to analyzing, test-driving, and comparing specs, Parents/Edmunds.com took into account feedback from parents who own and drive these vehicles every day. All of the cars on the list are budget friendly five start at under $20,000 and one checks in at under $15,000. The Best Family Cars of 2009 will appear in the June 2009 issue of Parents magazine on newsstands nationwide today.
According to the Parents/Edmunds.com survey, the 15 Best Family Cars are:
BUDGET
Honda Fit
Mazda5
Volkswagen Rabbit
CROSSOVER
Honda CR-V
Toyota RAV 4
Subaru Forester
MINIVAN
Toyota Sienna
Honda Odyssey
Hyundai Entourage
SEDAN
Honda Accord
Chevrolet Malibu
Mazda6
SUV
Ford Flex
Mazda CX-9
Chevrolet Traverse
When it comes to combining family friendliness with value and performance, Honda was the leader: the Fit, Accord, CR-V, and Odyssey all made the Parents/Edmunds.com list. Reviewers raved about these models' spaciousness and thoughtful features such as convenient cup holders and steering-wheel mounted audio controls.
Mazda followed with three models, the Mazda5, 6 and CX-9 making the list, while Toyota and Chevrolet each had two models on the list. Nine of the 15 models are newcomers to the annually updated list.
"With the 2009 list, Parents and Edmunds.com made an extra effort to highlight the smartest, safest and most budget conscious cars," said Dana Points, editor-in-chief of Parents. "If your family is in the market for a new car, now is actually a good time because steep dealer discounts make this a buyer's market. This list plus our money saving car shopping tips will empower you with all the information you'll need."
According to the Parents/Edmunds.com Best Family Cars research, superior handling, efficient gas mileage and easy car seat installation are all "must haves" for parent drivers. The extras that won rave reviews from parents were storage related features, including bins under seats, easy to reach compartments in the dash and cup holders in the back seats. Remote start capability and multiple electronic plugs for portable electronics also impressed the reviewers and owners of the models on the Best Family Cars list.
"There are 340 new car models on sale this year, and busy families could undoubtedly use some help sorting through the choices to decide what is right for them," stated Edmunds.com editor-in-chief Karl Brauer. "As a parent myself, I feel sure that just about any family can find a car on this list that will serve their purposes well."
In addition to the 15 Best Family Cars featured in the magazine, six additional budget car recommendations are featured online at www.parents.com/bestfamilycars.
Sources:
http://www.edmunds.com/help/about/press/148466/article.html
http://www.parents.com/family-life/work-money-politics/buying-car/best-family-cars-2009/?page=5
