10 Best Vehicles for a Family of Six

2018 Mazda CX 9 interior cutaway ・ Photo by Mazda

There are plenty of vehicles that can handle a family of four or even five, but when you’re a family of six, finding the right car becomes more challenging. A larger family needs a larger vehicle with family-friendly features.

The trusty minivan is a solid choice, but the popularity of crossovers and SUVs means there are more options than ever. There are models small and large with room enough for six passengers and their cargo with a wide range of pricing, so even a family of six on a tight budget can find a vehicle to perfectly fit their needs. Here are the 10 best vehicles for families of six.

2018 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe has room for up to seven passengers and a choice of front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, so you won’t get stuck in the snow with a car full of kids. It also has an affordable starting price of $30,850. Even the top Limited trim, which features more comfortable second-row captain’s chairs instead of the bench seat found in the rest of the lineup, keeps pricing manageable at $39,550.

The Santa Fe offers stain-resistant cloth or leather seats for easy clean-ups and rear seat vents to keep the whole clan comfortable. There are four 12-volt outlets and an available third-row USB — so no matter where kids sit, their devices will stay charged.

Photo by Hyundai

2018 Honda Pilot

If you’re a family of six, then there are going to be times when you have other kids along for the ride. That’s when the Honda Pilot comes in handy, with seating for up to eight passengers. And with five trim levels, there’s a Pilot to fit every budget. The base Pilot starts at $30,900, while the luxurious Elite comes in at $47,470 and includes the coveted rear-seat entertainment system.

The kids will love available features like tri-zone automatic climate control, heated second-row captain’s chairs, second-row sunshades, and 15 cupholders located throughout the vehicle. Parents will appreciate the peace of mind that comes from available safety features like a forward collision warning and collision-mitigating automatic braking.

Photo by Honda

2018 Chrysler Pacifica

It wouldn’t be a list of family cars without a minivan — and the Pacifica is our top pick of the lot. It has seating for up to eight passengers with great features plus one thing you won’t find in any other minivan: a hybrid powertrain. If you want the versatility of a minivan with the fuel efficiency of a gas/electric hybrid, then the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid is your only choice.

Pricing starts at $26,995 for the Pacifica with the gas engine or $39,995 for the hybrid. Available three-zone manual temperature control, second- and third-row sunshades, and a fully featured rear entertainment system are perfect for keeping everyone happy whether it’s the annual family road trip or a day of errands.

Photo by Chrysler

2018 Kia Sorento

The 2018 Kia Sorento is all about choice with front-wheel or all-wheel drive, three available engines, and four different trims. Pricing starts at $25,900 and tops out at $46,300 with family-friendly features at every level. Standard cloth seats with easy-to-clean fabric take the stress out of the mess, and underfloor second-row storage provides room for all the little things you want to bring along just in case.

Higher trims feature rear air conditioning controls to keep everyone comfortable, a 10-speaker Infinity surround-sound system, and two rapid-charge USB ports. There are also power outlets in the center fascia, rear floor console, and luggage area.

Photo by Kia

2018 Volkswagen Atlas

The 2018 Volkswagen Atlas is an all-new model with room for up to seven passengers. It has a cavernous interior and space for all your cargo with up to 96.8 cubic feet behind the first row. Even loaded with passengers, it still provides up to 20.6 cubic feet of room behind the third row.

Its five available trims range in price from $32,150 to $41,140, making it an affordable choice for a full-size crossover suv. Standard features like air vents and reading lights in all three rows are perfect for large families. And despite its size, the Atlas handles like a smaller vehicle, making it easy to manage on long road trips.

Photo by Volkswagen

2018 Toyota Highlander

The 2018 Toyota Highlander offers room for up to eight passengers, meaning the kids can bring a few friends along for the ride. It comes in no less than five different models with pricing from $31,030 up to $42,080. There are also three hybrid trims with priced from $36,670 to $45,160. That’s eight different versions of the Highlander, making it a car that fits the needs of just about any family.

Five USB ports are located throughout the vehicle, and an available rear-seat entertainment system includes a 9-inch display screen and two wireless headphones. The Highlander can also tow up to 5,000 pounds when it’s full of passengers and you need more room for cargo.

Photo by Toyota

2018 Volvo XC90

There’s room for up to seven passengers in the Volvo XC90, and it provides a truly luxurious interior no matter which trim you choose. The four available trims are priced from $46,900 to $104,900, so it’s definitely a splurge, but it’s one the whole family will enjoy. There’s also a hybrid version of the XC90 priced from $64,950 to $70,050.

Standard features include a leather gearshift knob, aluminum inlays, power-folding second-row seats, and a four-zone air conditioning system that keeps even third-row passengers comfortable. The driver and front passengers get a power front seat with lumbar, while the optional 12.3-inch digital driver display makes infotainment easy to use and less distracting for the driver. No matter where you sit, it’s an incredible ride.

Photo by Volvo

2018 Chevrolet Suburban

Chances are good a family of six is going to run into situations where they need room for a few more kids. Whether it’s a ride home from school or a trip to soccer practice, the Suburban has you covered with seating for up to nine passengers. It offers both two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive options across all three trims with pricing starting at $50,200.

In addition to room for lots of people, the Suburban is ready to handle plenty of gear. It can tow up to 8,300 pounds and has 121.7 cubic feet of cargo room behind the front seats. Whatever the family adventure, the Suburban is ready.

Photo by Chevrolet

2019 Subaru Ascent

All-new for 2019, the Subaru Ascent finally returns a three-row SUV to the Subaru lineup, with seating for up to eight passengers. To serve all those people, a whopping 19 cupholders are located throughout the vehicle. The Ascent has a durable interior designed to stand up to the rigors of an active family and comes standard with all-wheel drive to manage winter weather and rough roads.

Subaru's X-Mode system with hill descent control makes handling off-road adventures easier, as does with 8.7 inches of ground clearance. If you need room for a family of six with an active lifestyle, the new Ascent is a great choice. Pricing starts at $31,995.

Photo by Subaru

2018 Mazda CX-9

The 2018 Mazda CX-9 offers room for up to seven passengers with an elegant and upscale interior. It’s also the rare SUV of this size that’s also fun to drive. There’s a choice of front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive and four trim levels, starting with the base Sport at $32,130 and topping out with the Signature at $44,315. Standard features include three-zone automatic climate control and two USB ports in the center console.

One of the challenges to getting a family of six into a vehicle is accessing that third row. It’s made easier in the CX-9 with a second row that tilts and slides forward so the kids and even adults can easily climb into the far back.

Photo by Mazda