The Best Family Cars of 2019 (According to Kelley Blue Book)

Here's what to look for if you're going to be in the market for a new ride next year.

By Erica Loop December 28, 2018

Safety. Value. Comfort. Cool. These are the elements of the best family cars. Kelley Blue Book (KBB) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) provide all of us parents with annual “best of” lists, including safety picks, the best values and so much more. If you’re in the market for a new car in 2019, what should you look for? Well, there are a few different ways to go when it comes to the best family cars of the year, so keep reading to figure out what’s best for you and your crew.

photo: Kelley Blue Book

Safety

As a parent, safety matters. Heck, as a person, safety matters too. And that’s why the IIHS compiles their annual top picks list. Split into categories based on car type, the safest cars include everything from the Hyundai Accent to the BMX X3.

Keeping up with carpool requires a car that can seat more than three in the backseat. And that means you need an SUV or minivan. The IIHS top 2019 picks in these categories include:

Hyundai Kona
Mazda CX-5
Honda CR-V
Hyundai Santa Fe
Kia Sorento
Nissan Pathfinder
Subaru Ascent
Chrysler Pacifica
Honda Odyssey

Of course, these aren’t the only top picks. Visit the IIHS’s website for the rest of the list.

Value

Your family’s budget is stretched to the max. The Kelley Blue Book wants to help you get a great car at a great value. According to KBB, the winners are the “best combinations of affordability, quality, driving dynamics, dependability and low cost to own.”

KBB “Best Buys” that parents will want to consider include the following 2019 models:

Hyundai Kona
Honda CR-V
Honda Pilot
Ford Expedition
Honda Odyssey
Volvo XC40

For the full list, with all of KBB’s categories, visit the website here.

Consumer Rated

The experts behind the KBB picks aren’t the only ones making all the decisions. Sometimes you want to know what real people like in a new car. And that’s why KBB publishes annual top consumer rated vehicle lists.

Parents who are looking for something larger than a sedan, but aren’t into minivans, may want to browse the list of “Top Consumer Rated SUVs of 2019.” The winners in this category include:

Mazda CX-9
Volkswagen Tiguan
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
Hyundai Kona
Audi Q5

But if you do want a minivan, these are the top consumer picks for the year:

Honda Odyssey
Dodge Grand Caravan
Chrysler Pacifica
Toyota Sienna

Expert Rated

Along with the consumer rating, the expert rating can go a long way. That is, when it comes to your potential pick list. The KBB in-house team chose these SUVs as the best of the best for 2019:

Acura MDX
Honda HR-V
Mazda CX-5
Audi Q7
Honda CR-V

Fuel Efficiency

An SUV or minivan can put a serious pinch on your wallet. And we’re not talking about the sticker price. Your annual gas budget shouldn’t have to exceed what stash away on your kiddo’s college account.

Fuel efficiency is a major factor for many parents when choosing a car—especially if you’re a long-distance commuter or have hours of carpool to drive. The KBB’s most fuel-efficient picks for 2019 SUVs include: