What comes to mind when you think of family cars? Commonly many of us think of wagons and minivans with moms doing the driving and half a dozen children strapped inside. That’s a general misconception of family cars that happens at times. If you do extensive research, you’ll find out that many family vehicles of today are actually SUVs and hatchbacks. The term family cars originated from Europe describing normal sized cars that are fitting for family use whether they are for long trips or used as transportation for bringing the kids to school.

Picture a man and his wife taking their kids up for a camping trip to the nearest park a good four hour trip from their home. When you have two rowdy little boys and a toddler, being on the road for more than an hour can be a real challenge. In this case, it would be a good thing to own one of the best family cars of this generation.  The Dodge Grand Caravan is perfect for such a family. This minivan has side-curtain airbags. When out on the road, the safety of your family is the number one priority and Dodge Grand Caravan features will really put your mind at ease on these long road trips. Camping equipment and the considerable luggage people may carry on camping trips can easily be stored in the back of the minivan thanks to its generous storage space. You can fold the third row to maximize the space while the kids are securely strapped in the second row. With all the chaos going on at the back of the car, i.e. bickering and food fights, you’ll appreciate the little pop up tables that are handy for the toys and other effects kids love to carry around everywhere they go. Parents will also love the dishwasher-friendly removable cup-holders and grocery bag hooks ideal for on the spot picnics inside the car. This minivan also has heated chairs for when the weather gets a little too cold. The best thing though is that the ride is really stable and quiet, which is important especially when the kids need to take a nap in the middle of the trip.

Driving a comfortable, spacious, safe family car makes long trips less stressful for the kids as well as for the grownups. This can help families achieve maximum quality time.

Even if you don’t have the biggest family on the block, once you’ve added a third child to your family, a sedan is no longer an option. This is especially true if all three children still need car seats. That is, unless you intend to travel in two vehicles all the time, which is definitely not practical. For families of five or six, a third row is definitely a necessity. Bigger than that, you have to start thinking of passenger vans. If you have a growing family, you probably want to know which vehicles are being patronized by big families. You may have to go out and get one yourself soon.

Some of the popular vehicles among big families are the Honda Odyssey, the Chevrolet Suburban, and the Toyota Sienna. If these are not enough to accommodate all of your members, you could go for a passenger van like the GMC Savana.

Before the advent of minivans and SUVs, mothers often had the inclination to opt for station wagons. Nothing would say “2.5 kids” quite like a good station wagon with sports paraphernalia in the cargo bay or, more flagrantly, on the roof rack. However, as of late, the average family has had minivans, SUVs, and crossovers added to their choices. Considering all the requirements of married-with-kids couples, which type of vehicle is the best option?

Many say that station wagons are a thing of the past. Even the term is no longer acceptable, the “station” part having already been dropped. However, today’s wagons, such as the Chevrolet Malibu Maxx and the Volkswagen Passat, no longer have the stodgy image of yesteryears. These wagons offer excellent performance and feature hi-tech safety equipment. With these new traits, wagons remain to be a great family hauler.

SUVs, like the Chevrolet Suburban and the Ford Expedition, are best for families that like to go out of town a lot. They are great for packing everything, including the kids, inside as well as towing a boat or a jet ski.

Minivans, on the other hand, are said to have the perfect setup for soccer moms. They generally have great safety ratings, ideal passenger room, and preferable fuel consumption. However, many people have an aversion to their style. Manufacturers have taken this into account and we now have sporty-looking minivans such as the Mazda5 and the Honda Odyssey.

Then, there are the crossovers. They are the combination of the features of two of the types of vehicles we have discussed. Examples are the Honda Pilot (SUV+wagon), the Chrysler Pacifica (minivan+wagon), and the Honda Element (SUV+minivan).

With all these choices, mothers can pick which car really suits their needs properly.