Top 5 BestFamily Cars of 2011
Top 5 BestFamily Cars of 2011
Top 5 BestFamily Cars of 2011
"Just as there is no perfect family, there is no perfect family vehicle that is just right for all families, all the time," says said Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book's KBB.com.
"However, there are many great options available on the market today in various segments," he notes, and fortunately for those in the car-buying market, KBB.com has just provided their annual listing of the cars best suited for transporting families, large or small, and all that comes with them.
2011 Chevrolet Suburban
Fair Purchase Price: $39,781
The massive Chevy Suburban has room for big families and their pets and other cargo, with seating for up to nine, and impressive 45.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row. When called into service for moving or family vacations, it can also tow up to 9,600 pounds. Another point in its favor, the 2011 Chevy Suburban fuel economy is 15 city and 21 highway miles per gallon.
2011 Chevrolet Traverse
Fair Purchase Price: $29,219
The Chevy Traverse has appeared on this list a time or two before. It remains a popular SUV with families due to practical features like seating for up to eight passengers, abundant cargo space, reasonable fuel economy for its size, and a five-star overall crash rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). And all that sensible stuff aside, "the 2011 Chevy Traverse's attractive exterior styling and surprisingly nimble handling help win over our emotions," say the editors at KBB.com.
2011 Chrysler 300
Fair Purchase Price Not Yet Available; MSRP is $27,995
The idea of a large family sedan was much more common before the era of minivans and SUVs, note the editors at Kelley Blue Book. Today, only a few large sedans come with family-friendly starting prices. The 2011 Chrysler 300 electronic gadgets get the nod on this list due to its interior with roomy backseat, a near-silent highway ride (of course, this claim of silence does not account for any youthful passengers), keyless entry and ignition, not to mention 8.4-inch LCD control screen.
2011 Ford Explorer
Fair Purchase Price: $27,487
Previous Explorers featured truck-style body-on-frame construction, but the 2011 Ford Explorer is something completely different. This is a car-based crossover vehicle with unibody construction, to provide a better ride, improved handling and better fuel efficiency. Unlike earlier Explorers, this version of tech gadgets is not the best for off-roading and you can do better for towing capabilities, but for the non-extreme purposes of most families, it gets a thumbs up. Figure in the vehicle's design, both interior and exterior and you've got what KBB.com editors call "the best Explorer ever."
2011 Ford Flex
Fair Purchase Price: $29,316
This boxy, wagon-style vehicle is appropriately named-- the 2011 Ford Flex has a car-like lower center of gravity than most three-row vehicles, with amenities like an optional small refrigerator and SYNC audio system that make it comparable to a minivan. the 355-horsepower twin-turbo 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine allows parents to get a little speed-crazy after dropping the kids off.
No wonder the editors at KBB.com call the 2011 Ford Flex "the most fun-to-drive, most car-like family hauler you can get your hands on for less than $30,000."
Well, that's my idea of a perfect family car. Maybe some day I'll be able to buy one of the above mentioned electronic gadgets. I doubt it though. It seems like car makers always have to do it the hard way first.
Car Bulbs: 5 Car Lights That Will Get Your Ride Noticed! Car Bulbs: The Motor Guru's Car Bulbs Buyer's Guide The car DVD player GPS navigation system Offering Affordable, Dependable Steel Building is Only the Beginning The use of Applying Garage Bike Racks to store Your Mountain bike Enjoy a fantastic holiday and family moments during vacation Stanford University-One of the Most Popular Universities in California Myrtle Beach Condo Rentals provide thrill and fun to vacationers Family Vacation Ideas near Your London Hotels for a Dream Vacation Mobile Phone Deals - Affordable deals at cheap rates Save On Your Used Car Parts Computer Asset Management- Free Fascinating Roadmap For Digital Asset Management Software Medico's 460cc Twin Joint Car owner Evaluation